Ohio History Journal

MAJOR DAVID ZIEGLER.

 

 

BY GEORGE A. KATZENBERGER.

A custom has grown up of commemorating the Centennial

anniversary of the birth or death of prominent men as well as

of other important events, and, as it is a hundred years since

the death of the subject of this sketch, and I fail to find David

Ziegler's name in any of the indices of the nineteen volumes of

the publications of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society, I have gathered a number of items concerning the first

Mayor of Cincinnati in the belief that some recognition is due

the memory of this pioneer and that the above named publication

is the most fitting medium.

Besides, the share of the Germans in the wars of the United

States has not been adequately recognized in the prevailing lan-

guage, nearly all articles of appreciation of their services appear-

ing in German books and magazines. I have been able to find

but two articles of any length on the life and services of Ziegler,

one, a biographical sketch of seven pages by Mary D. Steele of

Dayton, Ohio, appearing in the Magazine of Western History,

May, 1885, which article is reprinted in substance in Howe's

Historical Collections of Ohio, and the other by the leading Ger-

man-American Historian, H. A. Rattermann of Cincinnati, being

an article read by him before the Literary Club of Cincinnati in

June, 1883. Mr. Rattermann, at the advanced age of eighty, is

still gathering material, writing articles and editing his com-

plete works which will appear in eighteen volumes, and in one

of which appears a lengthy poem commemorating Ziegler's

feats.

For centuries our European brothers have entered heartily

into the pious duty of bringing to remembrance the character and

deeds of their forefathers. But little over a century ago we

were but three millions of people, huddled together upon the

border land of the Atlantic, weak and regarded with scorn by

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128      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

those to whom we owed allegiance, with the fear of the Red

Man and the fear of the unknown West in our hearts; with the

fear and the hate of the so-called mother country in our breasts.

Men still living have seen the western line of civilization push

steadily forward to the forests of Ohio, sweep beyond the Mis-

sissippi and strike across the plains to the west and leap to the

Pacific. Men now living have seen all this; have seen a waste

wilderness converted into a blooming garden dotted with the

peaceful homes of more than ninety million people. Whatever

may be our place in this great wonderland we ought not to be

without a knowledge of the causes that made it what it is. We

have no right to allow the names of those great men who won for

us from the forests, the savages and wild beasts, our fair domain

of fertile fields, to fade into oblivion.

One of the men of considerable importance in the Revolu-

tionary War, and prominent in the conquest and development

of early southern and western Ohio, was David Ziegler. He

was born in the city of Heidelberg, on the Neckar in western

Germany, August 16, 1748, according to one authority, but upon

inquiry through civil and church authorities at Heidelberg, I

have ascertained that one Johann David Ziegler's name appears

recorded in a Lutheran register of births in the Providenz Kirche

as having been born July 13, 1748, has father being Johann

Heinrich Ziegler, hatmaker, and his mother Louise Friedericka,

nee Kern. Of his family and the younger days of his life, little

is known. His father, according to Rattermann, was an inn

keeper, or vintner, whose inn was frequented largely by students

of the University who had their "Paukboden" (a room for duel-

ing or rapier-fighting) there. Whether these customary fights of

the academicians stimulated Ziegler's appetite for war-like pur-

suits cannot be answered. However, in his earliest youth he pos-

sessed a liking for military life, and as the boundaries of the Holy

Roman Empire's wine cellar, as Klauprecht calls his immediate

fatherland, the Neckar valley, did not give him sufficient play

room for his ambitions, he is said to have served in the Seven

Year's War under Frederick the Great, of whom he was an

ardent admirer. Certain it is that later he went to Russia, and

enlisted under the banners of Empress Catherine 11, who had

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Major David Ziegler.                129

just then declared war against the Ottoman Empire, 1768. Zieg-

ler served under General Weissmann in the Campaign of this

Celebrated Marshal in Wallachia, the lower Danubian Provinces,

and the Crimea, during which time he participated, among other

minor engagements, in the battles of Tulcza, Maczin and Babadag.

After the conquest of the Crimea on the part of Russia when

the peace of Kutschuk was concluded July 21, 1774, and after the

larger part of the Russian army was disbanded, Ziegler resigned

his commission.

He had served for almost six years with meritorious dis-

tinction, and been promoted to an officership. He had shown

bravery on the field of battle, and was wounded on the head by a

Turkish sabre, and as a mark of appreciation was awarded a

badge and an honorable discharge.

A soldier from crown to feet he felt lonesome in the then

peaceful Europe. At about the age of twenty-seven he emi-

grated to America settling in Lancaster County, Pa. Klaup-

recht says that he arrived in Philadelphia in 1775. It is not

certain just when Ziegler came to this country, but it is certain

that he was in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, when the news of the

Battle of Lexington reached there. When the cry for resistance

to British tyranny sounded over the land a meeting was held

at Carlisle to deliberate upon the raising of volunteers, to resist

by dint of arms the usurpations of the mother country, at which

meeting David Ziegler was present. In June, 1775, he was

commissioned 3rd Lieutenant in Captain Ross's Company which

was recruited in Lancaster County, Pa., and immediately sent

to escort an ammunition wagon, of which Washington's army

was desperately in need, to Cambridge. This duty he carried

out with such satisfaction that on June 2₅th he was advanced

to Adjutant in Colonel William Thompson's Battalion of Sharp-

shooters. Colonel Thompson the more gladly accepted his ser-

vices as he was aware of the fact that Ziegler was an experienced

soldier and officer of a great European conflict and therefore

familiar with the art of war. This Battalion consisted almost

wholly of Germans and was, with the assistance of Ziegler so

quickly and efficiently formed as to be the first organization out-

side of a Massachusetts regiment that appeared upon the scene

Vol. XXI - 9.

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130       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

of war. After the first of January, 1776, it became the first

regiment "of the army of the United Colonies commanded by

his Excellency, George Washington, Esquire, General and Com-

mander-in-Chief". A return dated headquarters at Cambridge

August 18th, 1775, shows that there were three field officers,

nine captains, twenty-seven lieutenants, the adjutant, quarter-

master, surgeon and mate, twenty-nine sergeants, thirteen drums

and fife and seven hundred and thirteen rank and file present

fit for duty. This Battalion formed a picket guard of two

thousand provincials, who, on the evening of the twenty-sixth

of August took possession of and threw up entrenchments on

Ploughed Hill, and on the morning of the twenty-seventh met

with its first loss, private Simpson of Smith's Company, who

was wounded in the leg and died therefrom. Other interesting

details of the services of this Battalion can be found in "Penn-

sylvania in the War of the Revolution", Vol. 1, pp. 3-24.

That Ziegler, who believed in discipline, had his troubles

with men unaccustomed to obedience, the prime requisite in a

soldier, is evidenced by a cotemporary letter from which we

quote:

"The remissness of discipline and care in our young officers has

rendered the men rather insolent for good soldiers. They had twice be-

fore broken open our guard house and released their companions who

were confined there for small crimes, and once it was with the utmost

difficulty that they were kept from rescuing an offender in the presence

of all their officers. They openly damned them and behaved with great

insolence. However, the Colonel was pleased to pardon the men and

all remained quiet; but on Sunday last the Adjutant having confined a

Sergeant for neglect of duty and murmuring the men began again and

threatened to take him out. The adjutant, being a man of spirit, seized

the principal mutineer and put him in also, and coming to report the

matter to the Colonel, where we were all sitting after dinner were

alarmed with a huzzaing and upon going out found they had broken

open the guard house and taken the man out."

The insubordination above detailed did not subside until

Generals Washington, Lee and Greene came and ordered the

mutineers surrounded with loaded guns and the ring leaders

bound. The men were subsequently tried by General Court

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Major David Ziegler.               131   Martial, convicted of mutiny, and fined twenty shillings each for the use of the hospital. In a letter from Lieut. Colonel Hand to his wife dated Camp on Prospect Hill, 10th November, 1775, there is an account of an incident that must have pleased some of the men whom the adjutant had disciplined. "David Ziegler, who acts as Adjutant, tumbled over the bridge into ten or twelve feet of water; he got out safe with the damage of his rifle only." The ability shown by Ziegler in the efficient organization of this Battalion

was soon recognized by the military  authorities,  and when the army was reorgan- ized he was promoted to the Second Lieutenancy in the First Regiment Continental Infantry, January 1, 1776. With this regiment Zeigler participated in the Battle of Long Island, August 27th, 1776, where he was severely wounded, and had to be transferred to the hospital. In Volume VI of the Jour- nals of the Continental Con- gress it appears on page 904 that on October 25th, 1776, a resolution was offered "that two month's pay be advanced to Lieutenant David Zeigler,

who was wounded and come to Philadelphia for the purpose of perfecting his cure." He was commissioned First Lieutenant Jan- uary 16, 1777, and at the session of the Continental Congress of July 19th, 1777, a report was received from a Board of War of same date at which Mr. John Adams, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Clymer were present, "agreed, that Lieut. David Ziegler of Colonel Chamber's regiment who was wounded at Long Island and is incapable of doing field duty be appointed a Captain

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132       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. in the corps of invalids, the relative rank of the officers of said corps to be hereafter settled." When he rejoined his regiment he participated in the suffer- ings of that dreadful winter at Valley Forge. During the next campaign Ziegler fought in the battles of Brandywine, Bergen's

Point, Germantown and Paoli, and in the year 1778 distinguished himself at the battle of Monmouth or Freehold church. He received a meritorious mentioning in the report of General St. Clair followed by a promotion to a Captaincy December 8, 1778. From his promotion until the end of the Revolution he served as

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Major David Ziegler.                   133

 

Senior Captain in a famous regiment which General Wayne said

"always stepped first for glory." The same day that he was

commissioned, Captain Ziegler was made Brigade Inspector of

the Pennsylvania Brigade, Department of the South, he being

like Von Steuben and DeKalb, an excellent drill master. Par-

enthetically on account of his name and coming with Lafayette,

DeKalb was credited to France, but he was a German by birth, his

father being Johann L. Kalb, a farmer near Altdorf, Germany.

We next find Ziegler detailed by General St. Clair, then

the commander of the Department of Pennsylvania, as Com-

missary General of that department with headquarters at Waynes-

boro (from May, 1779 to May, 1780).

It is quite interesting in connection herewith to introduce

extracts from a couple of official letters written by Ziegler dur-

ing that period, as bearing upon the characteristics of the man,

as well as on the progress he made in acquiring the English

language during the short period of his stay in America. These

letters, in his own handwriting, are preserved, among the nu-

merous letters, in the Archives of the State of Pennsylvania

at Harrisburg.

Extract from a letter of Ziegler to the Supreme Executive

Council of Pa., dated at Waynesborough, May 4, 1779:

"Your Honors Instruction, received from Major Gen. St. Clair

the first May, shall strictly observe.  (On account of) The scarcity

of some articals received by the last cargo, (I) Issued of every artical

one Week(s); Allowance to the non commissioned Officers and Soldiers

only, (and will) keep the rest for the Gentleman Officers, except spirit

and Soap, which will be sufficient Quantity on hand for distribution for

the Line this (these) 3 weeks the(y) approve of it, if it would have

your Honours Approbation by doing so alwase (always) in the future.

This moment have an opportunity to send with Captain Heydrick, of

Philadelphia, 6000 dollars to Lieut. Col'o. Farmer.

"Honourable Gentlemen, I am, &c.,

"DAVID ZIEGLER,

"Capt. 1st Penn'a Reg't."

Extract from a letter dated December 26th, 1779, and

addressed to President Joseph Reed:

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134       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

Honourable General:

"Great Uneasiness was among the Gentlemen Officers in not re-

ceiving Tea and Coffee, or some article in Liu of said. After inform-

ing them that it could not be procured, they all was Satisfay'd. Humbly

I beg your Excellency of (for) a few Lines to the Officers Commanding

the Division in regard to this, which would have more to say than if (I)

was Able to Speak a week long to them, and would take (give) general

Satisfaction in the Line. I am no writer to make Expressions, how well

it would be for the Gentlemen which takes my place after this.

"The Artillery, 4th and 11th P. Regiments proposed to draw from

me by the 1st January. I therefore send my Serjeant to Philad'a for

forwarding a Large Cargo, which will be transported by Land from

Philadelphia.

"Honourable General, I have the Honour to be &c.,

"DAVID ZIEGLER,

"Capt 1 P. Reg't."

Ziegler, however, loved the active service better than the

attending to the troublesome business affairs of the commissary

department. Again and again he applied to the Supreme Execu-

tive Council to relieve him of this disagreeable position, so that

he might take to the field once more - his original love. In

the beginning of the year 1780, during a temporary illness, he

was gratified by receiving a successor in the person of Captain

Lytle, but the latter proved inefficient for the place, and Ziegler

was again ordered on duty at the commissariat department.

Under date of April 27, 1780, he writes to President Reed:

"I should be very happy if Mr. Lytle could fulfil the post, as

I would rather do my duty in the Regiment: but as it is the desire

of the Honble. Counsil that I should resume the office (that of

Commissary General) I should be very happy if agreeable to the

Honble. Counsil that Mr. Lytle should issue and other (another)

Cargo, and then if he does not get acquainted with the Business,

I cannot refuse, etc."

Of the high estimation in which Ziegler's services were

held in this department by the authorities, we have appreciative

testimony in the correspondence between Colonel Francis Johns-

ton and President Reed. Colonel Johnston, in a letter to Reed,

dated Morristown, May 2, 1780, complains that the Council

intended to again put Captain Ziegler in the charge of the com-

missary-general's department, and dismissing Mr. Lytle there-

from, to this President Reed replies, on May 10, 1780, as follows:

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Major David Ziegler.                    135

 

"Sir:-I received your Favour of the 2d Inst. As Mr. Lytle

only acted during Capt. Ziegler's Absence from Camp, and the office

of issuing the stores must be attended with a great deal of Trouble,

we didn't expect our Intimation to Captain Ziegler could have given

any Uneasiness. As we had no intention to hurt Mr. Lytle's feel-

ings, or injure his character, we have no Difficulty in saying so, and

hope on a like occasion he will express himself more cautiously. At

the same Time from our Knowledge and Experience of Capt. Zieg-

ler, the Regularity of his Accounts, his Accommodating himself to

our Circumstances, and I may also add his respect and attention to

the authority of the state, we did not desire any change, and always

considered Mr. Lytle as temporary officer during Capt. Ziegler's

Illness. * * * If Capt. Ziegler can resume the office, it would

be most agreeable to us; if he cannot, Mr. Lytle may continue, or

the command'g Officer of the Division may nominate one who will

be agreeable to the officers."

It seems that his wishes were gratified, for we find him,

August 2, again with his Regiment at Verplanck's Point on the

Hudson, where he presided that day at a Court-Martial. Never-

theless, when in the division to which his regiment belonged,

(St. Clair's) there were derelictions in the commissary or quarter-

master's departments, he would invariably be sent to attend to

the matter. Notices like the following: "Capt. Ziegler was sent

to look after the Commissary, who failed to appear;" and "Capt.

Ziegler was dispatched to procure a new store of clothing, or of

provisions"; or "Capt. Ziegler arrived this morning with his

stores", may be found all through Feltman's or Denny's Journals.

He was, likewise, considered a model disciplinarian, and

many proofs are extant on the order books of St. Clair's division

testifying to this fact. For instance, on June 23, 1779: "Capt.

Ziegler is to take the Command of Capt. Hamilton's Company,

which appeared very lax at the maneuvres last evening, and drill

the same, and he is to be obeyed and respected."  Or the follow-

ing notice from  Feltman's Journal of March 31, 1782: "Capt.

Ziegler was ordered to take command of Capt. Stevenson's

Company for drilling, until otherwise commanded."

An excellent and intrepid soldier, he was particularly proud

of the discipline and military appearance of the company he

commanded, "which", as Alexander Garden, adjutant of Lee's

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136      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Legion testifies, "was a model company in the service." On one

occasion, while Ziegler was commanded to conduct a number of

prisoners to a British out-post, he addressed himself to his men,

whom he was ambitious to show to the best advantage: assuming

an erect posture and with an air of great dignity said: "Schentel-

mens, you are now to meed with civility the enemy of your

country, and you must make dem regard you with profound and

respectful admiration. Be please, den, to look great [German,

gerade-(straight-erect)] to look graceful-to look like der

Devil-to look like me."

The article of Miss Steele is authority for this paragraph.

Once during the Revolutionary war he was taken prisoner. The

following account of the adventure is given by The American

Pioneer: "General Samuel Findley, Major Ziegler and Major

Thomas Martin were captured by the British and imprisoned in

Philadelphia. They made their escape, Martin killing the British

officer in pursuit with a club. Reaching the house of a German

Major Martin passed Ziegler-who was a Prussian-for a Ger-

man doctor, who, by making pills of bread cured the landlady

and escaped a bill of charges." A niece of the Major often

related this story, but she said that he dosed the landlady with

hair powder, shaken from a powder puff which he carried in a

box in his pocket. His powder puff figured in many a joke at

a later date. He was very witty and fond of a good story and

numerous humorous anecdotes about him used to be in circula-

tion among his friends.

In 1780 just before the mutiny of the troops at Morris-

town when an effort was at last being made to satisfy their just

demand Ziegler was appointed by Pennsylvania State Clothier

and Issuing Commissary of State stores, and was sent to Presi-

dent Reed with an estimate of the clothing needed for the troops

by Wayne, who stated in his letter that the British were dis-

tributing proclamations among the poorly fed and scantily clothed

colonial soldiers and added "Captain Ziegler will be able to

inform Your Excellency of matters I don't choose to commit

to paper."

Beginning Jan. 1, 1781, there was a revolt in the Pennsyl-

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Major David Ziegler.               137   vania lines due to the wants and sufferings of the men and some misrepresentation that had been made in the matter of enlist- ment. Ziegler's company was not among the mutineers owing to the strict discipline enforced by him.

The Pennsylvania line was almost wholly dissolved by the revolt, and it was a long time before the people recovered from the panic produced by it. The Congressional Committee, which was probably not very strict in examining the claims for dis- charge, set free about 1250 men, being more than one half of

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138      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

the division. Measures were at once taken to recruit the Regi-

ments and to reorganize the division. It was decided to reduce

the number of regiments to six and it was of course necessary to

retire a number of officers. Ziegler was among those retained,

and participated in the Virginia campaign and was present at

the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, his company

belonging to the division of Baron von Steuben that held the

trenches on the day of capitulation.

The fall of Yorktown virtually ended the war. Neverthe-

less, there was as yet no peace, nor was there a cessation of

hostilities agreed upon. So the Pennsylvanians under Wayne

were ordered to South Carolina, where they joined the army of

General Greene at Round O January 4, 1782.      Meanwhile,

Ziegler was again detached on commissary duties, but on March

29, 1782 rejoined his regiment. From that time on we have

very little information of his movements, excepting that on April

12, he was sent with a flag of truce to the enemy's lines. (Felt-

man's Journal).

The end of the war came, however, and, though it was

acceptable in the highest degree to the American people, it was

not quite so welcome to the soldiers of fortune, who sought not

only reputation but also support, by their swords. This was like-

wise the case with Captain Ziegler, retired Jan. 1, 1783.

Alexander Garden, in his "Anecdotes of the American Rev-

olution," (Vol. ii, p. 370) relates the following of our meritorious

officer: "I remember full well, when the army was reviewed for

the last time on James' Island, and a 'feu de joie' was fired to

celebrate the return of peace, that Captain Ziegler of the Pennsyl-

vania line, after saluting General Greene, significantly shrugging

his shoulders, and dropping the point of his sword, gave vent

to an agony of tears. The review ended. On being questioned

as to the cause of his emotion, he feelingly said: 'Although I

am happy in the thought that my fellow soldiers may now seek

their homes to enjoy the rewards of their toils and all the delights

of domestic felicity, I cannot but remember that I am left alone

on the busy scene of life, a wanderer, without friends, and with-

out employment; and that a soldier from infancy, I am now com-

pelled to seek a precarious subsistence in some new channel,

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Major David Ziegler.              139 where ignorance and inability may mar my fortune, and con- demn me to perpetual obscurity.'" Garden adds that that was only the purport of his speech in plain language, but that it was not the exact words, as Ziegler's usual style of speaking at that time was a mixture of German and English words, by which he formed a dialect not easily to be comprehended.

But Captain Ziegler should not end his life in obscurity- a fate which he dreaded so much. He was destined to continue a useful American citizen, and besides to earn the distinction of becoming the first chief magistrate of the metropolitan city of the Ohio Valley. With the chronicles of Cincinnati his name

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140        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

will be forever associated, and when the historians of the "Queen

City" delineate the events which indicate the tracings of that

city's annals, they find the footmarks of David Ziegler imprinted

so indelibly on its monumental rock that they cannot but take

that cognizance thereof, which is due to one of its most distin-

guished and honorable citizens.

Before returning to the narrative of Ziegler's life it is

proper to here insert a short account of an organization to

which he belonged and of which membership he was very proud.

Many representatives of the American army being assembled

at the quarters of Major General Baron von Steuben in May

1783, the following was adopted:

 

It having pleased the Supreme Governor of the Universe, in the

Disposition of Human Affairs, to cause the Separation of the Colonies

of North America from the Domination of Great Britain, and after a

bloody Conflict of Eight Years to establish them free and independent

sovereign States, connected by Alliances founded on reciprocal Ad-

vantage with some of the Great Princes and Powers of the Earth.

To perpetuate, therefore, as well the Remembrance of this Vast

Event as the mutual Friendships which have been formed under the

Pressure of common Danger, and in many Instances cemented by the

Blood of the Parties, the Officers of the American Army do hereby in

the most Solemn Manner associate, constitute, and combine themselves

into one Society of Friends, to endure as long as they shall endure or

any of their Eldest Male Posterity, and in failure thereof the Collateral

Branches, who may be judged worthy of becoming its Supporters and

Members.

The Officers of The American Army, having generally been taken

from the Citizens of America, possess high Veneration for the Character

of that illustrious Roman Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, and being re-

solved to follow his Example by returning to their Citizenship, they think

they may with Propriety denominate themselves The Society of the

Cincinnati.

The following Principles shall be immutable, and form the Basis

of the Society of the Cincinnati.

An Incessant Attention to preserve inviolate those exalted Rights and

Liberties of Human Nature for which they have fought and bled and

without which the high Rank of a Rational Being is a Curse Instead of a

Blessing.

An unalterable Determination to promote and cherish between the

respective States, that Union and National Honour, so essentially neces-

sary to their happiness, and the future Dignity of the American Empire.

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Major David Ziegler.                 141

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142       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Without giving further details of the institution of this

Society and the various State branches, it is sufficient to add

that on the fourth day of October, 1783, the state Society of the

Cincinnati of Pennsylvania met at the city tavern in Philadel-

phia pursuant to notice, elected Major General St. Clair Presi-

dent, Brigadier General Wayne Vice-President and Lieut. Col-

onel Harmar Secretary. However laudable the objects of the

organization, it appears from a letter of General Irvine to

Wayne in April 1784 "The Society of the Cincinnati is now

bandied about in this quarter, and held up as a growing evil of

vast importance-in short as the forerunner of the entire loss of

liberty. I was informed yesterday that a scheme is on foot if

the election can be carried, to disfranchise every member of

the society as a preparation; in case they have spirit to resent

-to drive every soul out of the state." Wayne in his reply cor-

rectly says "envy-that green-eyed monster, will stimulate them

to seize with avidity every opportunity (or rather pretext) to

depreciate the merits of those who have filled the breach, and

bled at every pore, nor is caitiff ingratitude the growth of any

particular country or climate."

Continuing the narrative of Ziegler's life we find that when

the Revolutionary soldiers were mustered out of service, which

in his case took place January 1st, 1783, he settled in Carlisle,

Pa., where he opened a grocery and produce store. This was,

however, not precisely in accordance with the disposition of our

man at that period in his life. Born to military life, and having

had eight years experience with American troops he doubtless

realized the truth of some of the lessons to be drawn from the

Revolution as set out in Upton's most valuable work "The Mili-

tary Policy of the United States;"

 

That nearly all the dangers which threatened the cause of inde-

pendence may be traced to the total inexperience of our statesmen in

regard to military affairs, which led to vital mistakes in army legislation.

That the war resources of a nation can only be called forth and

energetically directed by one general government to which the people

owe a paramount allegiance.

No matter what reasons may be given for the adoption of an un-

wise military policy, that these are powerless to diminish or modify the

disastrous effects which inevitably follow.

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Major David Ziegler.                   143

 

That when a nation attempts to combat disciplined troops with raw

levies, it must maintain an army of at least twice the size of that of the

enemy, and even then have no guarantee of success.

That neither voluntary enlistments based on patriotism, nor the

bounty, can be relied upon to supply men for the army during a pro-

longed war.

That short enlistments are destructive to discipline, constantly expose

an army to disaster, and inevitably prolong war with all its attendant

dangers and expenses.

That regular troops, engaged for the war, are the only safe reliance

of a government, and are in every point of view the best and most

economical.

That troops become reliable only in proportion as they are dis-

ciplined; that discipline is the fruit of long training, and cannot be at-

tained without the existence of a good corps of officers.

Notwithstanding adverse military conditions at that time

(and which have since but partially been remedied by the Dick

bill, making every member of the National Guard a soldier in the

first line of defense, at the outbreak of war) Ziegler was

desirous of returning to the army, and consequently was highly

gratified when, through the intercession of General Irvine, he

received again a Captain's commission from President Dickin-

son of Pennsylvania to take part in the then threatening Indian

War.

In Rosengarten's "The German Soldier in the Wars of the

United States," it is stated, "In the Indian border warfare be-

tween 1786 and 1791 a leading figure was that of David Ziegler,

whose story is typical of that of many of our early German

soldiers."

Ziegler was assigned to the first Pennsylvania regiment un-

der command of Colonel Josiah Harmar and soon after detailed

for the recruiting service and raised himself a company of which

he was commissioned Captain, August 12, 1784. Strong's, Ham-

tramck's and Ziegler's Companies of the first regiment were on

October 6, 1785, stationed at West Point. Major Wyllis ar-

rived from New York Nov. 17, 1785, with orders for the troops

to march immediately for the western frontier, where they ar-

rived in December. They rested four days at Fort Pitt and then

proceeded to Fort McIntosh, Beaver, Pa., twenty-nine miles

• 17
 

144       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

below Pittsburg. April 12th (1786) an express arrived at Fort

McIntosh from Fort Pitt with information that a number of

Indians had come in there the night before, their design unknown.

Captain Ziegler set out immediately to ascertain their intentions.

On May ₄th Ziegler's and Strong's companies embarked for

Muskingum where they arrived on May 8 and encamped in the

woods a little distance from Fort Harmar, which had been built

by Major Doughty the preceding autumn.

 

All along the winding river,

And adown the shady glen,

On the hill and in the valley,

The voice of war resounds again.

For the following four years these two companies marched

from one place to another in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Ken-

tucky, under command of Harmar, not remaining long anywhere,

protecting settlers, guarding surveyors, and government agents

or army officers who were endeavoring to make treaties with the

Indians.

In addition to the fatigue and dangers of these summer

marches through the wilderness, they often, in the winter dur-

ing the first years, suffered from the lack of sufficient food. The

Journal of one Joseph Buel records that one Christmas was very

melancholy, as they had little to eat and nothing to make merry

with. Later they cultivated fine gardens and orchards, at Fort

Harmar, and their regularly employed hunters brought them game

and venison from the woods. When they returned to winter

headquarters at Marietta from their military expeditions, the

soldiers collected boat loads of provisions from the settlers along

the river.

During his stay at Fort Harmar Ziegler had a contest of rank

with Captain Ferguson, who had joined the service after Ziegler,

but whose company was mustered into the service of Congress

a few days before Ziegler's. In spite of Colonel Harmar's sid-

ing with Captain Ferguson, Ziegler came out the victor, General

Knox, then Secretary of War, ruling that the service began with

the mustering of the troops by the Province of Pennsylvania, be-

fore Congress had resolved to make the army general, and of

• 18
 

Major David Ziegler.                  145

 

the United States. Ziegler, therefore, was unquestionably the

senior in the service, and had the priority of rank. When Wash-

ington-1789-became President, he settled the dispute by ap-

pointing Ferguson to a captaincy of the artillery in Harmar's

little army, and promoting Ziegler to be Major of the regular

army; "a deserved rebuke," writes Klauprecht, "to the intrigues

that sought to shove a highly meritorious officer to the rear, be-

cause he happened to be a foreigner." (The records of this quar-

rel are fully set forth in "Pennsylvania Archives," O. S., vol. xi;

p. 240 et seq., and the "Colonial Records of Pennsylvania," vol.

xv, pp. 381, 394, 437.)

The little army led a stirring life though at times there

was no fighting, and Major Ziegler and his company seem to

have marched or embarked with every party of soldiers that

was sent out. May 10th Captain Ziegler's company embarked

for the Miami (Losantiville, Columbia, North Bend, etc.), The

Military Journal of Ebenezer Denny stating that Captain Zieg-

ler's company had then seventy men. Under date of June 15th

Denny wrote to Colonel Harmar stating among other facts:

The arrival of Captain Ziegler's Company has added much to the

appearance of this place, and something to the other companies. For

since, a better spirit of emulation has subsisted, which has been of

service. Capt. Ziegler tells me the regimental book for last year was

left at M'Intosh, and not used very well by the officers last winter;

I am sorry for it, but hope you will get it.

In July of this year Ziegler's and Finney's Company were

sent from the Miami to the Rapids of the Ohio to protect the in-

habitants from Indians. About October 1786 they erected Fort

Finney, later they evacuated that place and erected a small works

opposite Louisville.

During the summer of 1787 Harmar made his western ex-

pedition for the purpose of treating with the Indians and deciding

difficulty among the settlers about public and private property.

An official report of the Colonel commanding to the Secre-

tary of War under date of June 7th, 1787, reads:

The following is the arrangement which I have made of the troops

and I hope it will meet with your approbation; at the rapids of the Ohio

Vol. XXI. - 10.

• 19
 

146       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   Captain Finney, Captain Ziegler, Captain Strong, Captain Mercer and Captain Smith with their companies and Captain Ferguson with forty artillerymen and a brass three pounder, making, in the whole, three hundred and twenty nine men.

From a camp on the Kentucky shore just below the rapids, on July 7th, 1787, Harmar writes: Last night I detached Captain Ziegler with sixty six men in eight Kentucky boats, two large keel boats, one small keel boat and two canoes laden with flour, cattle, whiskey etc., being three months provisions for three hundred men with orders to halt at what is called the Landing and carrying-place, a few miles on this side of Greene River, called in Hutchinson's map "Buffalo River." Tomorrow morning, early, I shall

• 20
 

Major David Ziegler.                     147

 

move with the troops and the remainder of the fleet and shall overtake

Ziegler. I propose to march by land from this carrying place to Post

Vincennes; the distance I am well informed is no more than fifty miles.

The foregoing is confirmed in Denny's Journal, and this ex-

pedition Buel refers to in the following extract:-

July 8th, 1787, our regiment embarked (at the falls of the Ohio,

now Louisville, for Post Vincennes) at 6 o'clock A. M. on board of

boats, with their horses and cattle.

July 10th, we arrived at Pigeons Creek one hundred miles below

the falls, at one o'clock P. M., sent off our boats with an escort of 100

men to transport the baggage up the Wabash river.

July 27th an express arrived and informed that the indians had

attacked one of our boats and killed one man of Ziegler's Company and a

number of inhabitants.

October 1st, Ziegler's and Strong's companies marched at 11 A. M.

for the Rapids of the Ohio through the wilderness. The tour was more

pleasant than in July.

October 7th, we arrived at the rapids a little before sunset after a

fatiguing march.

October 29th, the two companies embarked at 11 A. M. for Fort

Harmar.

November 1st, we continue our passage and make about fifteen miles

a day up stream. Every night we encamp on the shore and embark early

in the A. M.

November 21st, we had a fine breeze, and reached Muskingum at 10

o'clock A. M. and took possession of our old quarters.

Denny's notes for December 1787 and Jan., Feb., March, are

meagre, but on March 9th he wrote:

"Although the time, for which the men now in service were enlisted,

does not expire until mid summer, yet, to provide recruits and to have

them out in season, it was thought advisable that a few officers should

go to their respective States for that purpose. Accordingly Captain

Ziegler and Bradford and Lieut. Pratt, all volunteering this service,

set out."

Part of the spring and summer was spent by Ziegler in Penn-

sylvania securing recruits. A letter of Ziegler to President

Franklin, dated Philadelphia, May 9, 1788, gives another side

light on the man:

Abraham Widdow (Wittau) a soldier in my company, which was

killed last July in the river Wabash by the Kickabus left in my posses-

• 21
 

148        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

sion his Patent of 200 acres in Westmoreland County granted him by

this state, for his passed Services rendered last war, made no will, has

also no relation in this Country to my knowledge, would wish of your

honorable Body to be informed how to act (here part of manscript miss-

ing) with respect of the Pay and Arrears is, when no will or relation

are to be found, all those are gains to the United States According to the

rules of the Articles of last war. When I marched from the city, Col.

Harmar directed me to furnish my men with small Jackets (called

fatigue coats) to preserve the New Clothing. I did so and purchased

the cloathing and trimmings at a great price at Pittsburg and as Casual-

ties will happen in a Company, meet with a considerable los, and also

my fond is of a little Weight, mus for the Ambition Sex (for ambition's

sake) have some again made, if only your honorable Body grant me the

Allowance the Hon'ble House of Assembly voted to the recruiting officers

(which was one Dollar pr men) and some Expenses rendering that

service to enable me to outshin every one of the Vestern station (mean-

ing that if the promised money were paid to him he would expend it for

the better equipment of his company).

As indicated Ziegler had recruited a company with which

he arrived at Fort Pitt early in August, 1788.

The following letter has been preserved:-

 

FORT HARMAR, August 7, 1788.

DEAR SIR:-I have received your several letters from Philadelphia

and one from Carlisle. I expect this will find you at Fort Pitt. The

Six Nations are on their way by water to the treaty, which is to be

held at this post. I am informed that several vagabonds in the neighbor-

hood of Wheeling, mean to fire upon these Indians on their passage

down the Ohio to this post. Such a step might be attended with ruinous

consequences. You are hereby ordered to take the said Indians under

your protection and safely escort them to this garrison. Treat them

kindly, and if any of these lawless rascals should presume to fire upon

them, you are ordered to land and attack them in return, for their

insolence and defiance of the supreme authority.

I am, dear sir &c.,

Jos. HARMAR.

CAPT. DAVID ZIEGLER at Fort Pitt.

Captain Ziegler returned to Fort Harmar in September es-

corting from Fort Pitt, General Butler, Captain O'Hara and the

friendly chief Cornplanter, with about 50 Seneca Indians, who

came to negotiate a treaty with the United States government.

Major Denny says that "Ziegler and his party were received with

• 22
 

Major David Ziegler.                149

 

a salute of three rounds of cannon and the music;" and Buel

says "we saluted them with our field pieces which they returned

with a running fire from their rifles."

"Soon after we left the point" Dr. Cutler writes in his

journal "saw the soldiers and a number of Indians expected

from Fort Pitt coming down on the other side of Kerr's Island.

We crossed the river and met them. Captain Ziegler commanded

the company of new levies of 55 men. There were about fifty

Indians in canoes lashed together. The soldiers were paraded in a

very large boat, stood upon a platform and were properly parad-

ed with the American flag in the stern. Just as we got up to

them they began to fire by platoons. After they had fired, the In-

dians fired from their canoes singly, or rather confusedly. The

Indians had two small flags of thirteen stripes. They were ans-

wered from the garrison by train, who fired three field pieces;

flag hoisted."

The foregoing is confirmed in an official letter of Harmar

of September 4th who mentions Halftown, an Oneida Chief,

as being in the party, and several of the six nations amounting

in the whole to about fifty, including men, women and children.

In December 1789 General Harmar left Marietta for Fort

Washington (Cincinnati, O.), which had been built a few

months before by a body of troops under Major Doughty. The

site selected was a little east of Broadway just outside the vil-

lage limits and where Third street now crosses it. The fort was

a solid substantial fortress of hewn timber, about 180 feet

square, with block houses at the four angles, and two stories

high. Fifteen acres were reserved there by the government;

It was the most important and extensive military work then in

the territories, and figured largely in the Indian wars of the

period. General Harmar left Captain Ziegler at Fort Harmar

with twenty soldiers. Those who remained received their pay

the day before Christmas as is shown by Captain David Ziegler's

receipt, dated December 24th, for $859.45, paid himself and his

company, which is still preserved.

 

"Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve,

And hope without an object cannot live."

• 23
 

150      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. Ziegler, during his stay at Marietta, gained the good will of the inhabitants, and, says Klauprecht, (in his "Deutsche Chronik in der Geschichte des Ohio-Thales") the love and affec- tion of a fair young lady belonging to one of the first and most respectable families in New England, Miss Lucy Anne Sheffield, youngest child of Benjamin and Hannah Coggeshall Sheffield. She was a native of Jamestown, Rhode Island, and came to

Marietta December 17, 1788, with her mother, then a widow. Mrs. Sheffield owned five shares in the funds of the Ohio Company. Of her party were also her daugh- ters and sons-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Peirce, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Green, and their children, her brother, Daniel Coggeshall and fam- ily and her nephew, Wanton Casey, though all did not arrive the same day. It will be interesting to note from   the Journal of Denny, Ziegler's fellow offi- cer, in the First Regiment of the army, the following extract:

"22nd (Feb. 1789), married this evening, Captain David Ziegler, of the First Regiment, to Miss Sheffield, only single daughter of Mrs. Sheffield of Campus Martius, City of Marietta.  On this occasion I played the Captain's aid, and at his request the memorandums made. I exhibit a character not more awkward than strange at the celebration of Captain's nuptials, the first of the kind I have been a witness to."   Major Denny records at another place the following high compliment to Ziegler's soldiership- "Ziegler is a German and has been in the Saxon service previous to our late war with England, takes pride in having the handsomest Com- pany in the regiment, to do him justice his company has been always

• 24
 

Major David Ziegler.                    151

 

considered the first in point of discipline and appearance. Four fifths

of the company have been Germans, majority of the present are men who

served in Germany."

Ziegler was in frequent communication with his superior

officers as is shown by the following letter:-

 

FORT WASHINGTON, April 5, 1790.

DEAR SIR:-I have received your several letters of the 18th Feb-

ruary, and the 6th, 24th, 26th and 27th ult.

You did right in sending the two men with the contractor's boat, as

the Indians begin already to be very troublesome on the river near Scioto.

The clothing, sheet iron, cartridges and flints all arrived safe. The

remainder of the clothing I shall be expecting when Lieut. Denny arrives.

Mrs. Harmar joins me in respectful compliments to Mrs. Ziegler

and Mrs. Hart. Give my compliments to all our New England acquaint-

ances. I wish their settlement may prosper. We have a delightful

situation here, and an excellent garrison; on danger, as there is with

you, of an inundation.

I am dear sir, &c.,

Jos. HARMAR.

CAPTAIN DAVID ZIEGLER, Commanding officer at Fort Harmar.

It was about January 2, 1790, when Governor St. Clair ar-

rived at Losantiville, and being a member of the Society of Cin-

cinnati, officially changed the name of the settlement to its present

name.

In the summer or fall of 1790 Ziegler joined Harmar at Fort

Washington, and in September of that year he accompanied

Harmar in the expedition against the Indian villages near the

present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and which ended in a retreat

to Fort Washington. The real object of the campaign was, how-

ever, accomplished by a party of six hundred militia under Col-

onel Hardin including fifty regulars under command of Captain

Ziegler. They burned the deserted Indian villages and destroyed

corn, provisions, and all the property of the Indians. After dis-

banding his army Harmar resigned his commission and demand-

ed a court of inquiry at which Captain Ziegler was one of the

principal witnesses, and attributed the defeat to the insubordina-

tion of the militia. Governor St. Clair wrote from Marietta,

Nov. 26th, 1790, to the Secretary of War, "I got to this place

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152       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

• 26
 

Major David Ziegler.                153

Saturday in company with the remains of Captain Ziegler's

and Captain Hart's companies which formed the garrison at

Fort Harmar; but there is not an ounce of provisions of any kind

for them; nor is it known when any will arrive. The conse-

quence is that provisions must be obtained from the inhabitants;

but what can an infant settlement like this supply?"

St. Clair hoped that there would be soon received from the

Indians "an humble supplication for peace," but in this St.

Clair and the President were doomed to disappointment. The

influence of the British and the effort of Brant to establish a

confederacy restrained the Indians and led them to believe it

possible to drive the whites back across the Ohio. The savages

intoxicated with joy over their victory began to swarm all over

the settlements on the Ohio, carrying death and destruction with

them. They even rushed under the guns of Forts Washington

and Harmar in the attempt to besiege them. Ziegler, who was

commissioned Major of the First Regiment U. S. Infantry Oct.

22, 1790, cleared the Muskingum district from the besieging

Indians and inaugurated such measures that the settlers once

more felt confident under his command. In order to relieve the

settlements from the threats of the intrepid red skins St. Clair

resolved to undertake another campaign against their villages on

the Maumee. An army of two thousand men, regulars and vol-

unteers, was recruited and drilled and the militia of the territory

and the adjoining Kentucky was called into service. Provision's

and quartermaster's stores were collected at Forts Washington

and Hamilton and vigorous preparations were made for an effi-

cient stroke against the savages. Major Ziegler arrived at Fort

Washington June 20, 1791, with soldiers from Fort Harmar, to

join the army of St. Clair.

General St. Clair left Ludlow Station, now Cumminsville,

to invade the Indian country September 17, 1791, with over

2,000 men and built Fort Jefferson near Greenville, Ohio. On

the 24th of October the army began the march from Fort Jeffer-

son in the direction of the present site of Greenville. Imme-

diately after the outset the scarcity of provisions was felt in the

army, especially the militia. A great dissatisfaction at once

began, and on the 31st when beyond the present site of Green-

• 27
 

154       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   ville, several of the militia deserted.  General St. Clair, being afraid that these deserters would plunder the baggage wagons which had been ordered up with fresh supplies dispatched Major Ziegler with a part of the First Regiment of regulars after the deserters with the object of protecting the stores. The details of this disastrous campaign have been very thoroughly depicted in

Wilson's "Peace of Mad Anthony," and in numerous articles heretofore appearing in the 19 volumes of the Ohio State Archaeo- logical and Historical Society Quarterly. In the Steele article ap- pearing in the Magazine of Western History it is stated "Major Ziegler (promoted before this expedition) during this fierce and cruel engagement in which half the army was killed, exhibited the

• 28
 

Major David Ziegler.                155

 

coolness and courage which were characteristic of him. His duty

obliging him to remain for some time stationary on a spot ex-

posed from every direction to the bullets and tomahawks of

the Indians, he seated himself on the stump of a tree, took out

his pipe, filled and tranquilly smoked it, apparently utterly fear-

less of danger and unmoved by the harrowing sights around

him."

On the arrival of the routed army at Fort Jefferson, St. Clair

called a Council of the few field officers remaining (Major Zieg-

ler being one) and all advised an immediate retreat to Fort Wash-

ington. It began at ten o'clock that night and for nearly two

days they had nothing to eat. On the flight of the remnants of

the army, Major Ziegler was ordered to cover the retreat. This

was indeed a difficult and extremely dangerous task, but Ziegler

was the man for the occasion and managed with cool circumspec-

tion to keep the discipline of his force intact until the frag-

ments of St. Clair's army were again safely within the walls of

Fort Washington, which they reached on the 8th of November.

This was a time of danger and dread to all the inhabitants of the

Northwest Territory. The Indians, sufficiently feared before,

were emboldened by St. Clair's defeat. The garrison of the Fort

as well as the people of Losantiville (or Cincinnati), again as-

sumed a degree of confidence and security when St. Clair, in

the absence of Colonel Wilkinson, the next in command, gave

his powers as commander in chief into the hands of Major

Ziegler, himself hastening to Philadelphia in December to lay

before a court of inquiry the information about the causes of the

calamity.

So Ziegler was, however for a short period only, the interim-

istic commander in chief of the United States forces. "Envy

does merit as its shade pursue," and at once intrigues were begun

for his decapitation. Ziegler knew full well that being inferior

in rank to Wilkinson, Butler and others, he would have to give

way at an early date to them; but the mean spirit with which the

intriguers went to work was disgusting to him in the highest

degree. Of course Wilkinson could not assume the command

except upon proper orders which had not arrived. A know

nothing, or nativistic spirit and jealousy which had been mani-

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156      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

fested against Von Steuben, De Kalb and others not of English

ancestry, was aroused. Wilkinson's resourcefulness at intriguing

became notorious subsequently in the affair of Aaron Burr, and

his treasonable letter can be found in Albach's "Annals of the

West."

Roosevelt says of him in "The Winning of the West": "In

character Wilkinson can only be compared to Benedict Arnold,

though he entirely lacked Arnold's ability and brilliant courage."

Ziegler was made the victim  of slanderous charges, he

being accused of drunkenness and insubordination. The corre-

spondence between General Wilkinson, Ziegler's successor, and

Captain John Armstrong removes any doubt as to the secret

activities against Ziegler. Weary of coping with schemes and

machinations he not only gave up his command but resigned from

the army, March 5th, 1792.

Prior to his resignation, Major Ziegler went to Philadelphia

as a witness for St. Clair, before a congressional committee ap-

pointed to inquire into the causes of the failure of the last cam-

paign. His testimony covers several pages of the St. Clair Pa-

pers and will not here be copied in detail. He confirms the un-

easiness among the officers on the hearing of Hodgdon's appoint-

ment as quartermaster to the army, that the pack saddles were

too large, that the tents were truly infamous by reason of which

many hundred dozen cartridges were destroyed, and the troops

not being kept dry were sick in great numbers. That the powder

was poor, was proved from his own experiment, as he tried it

and found it extremely weak; that it would not carry a ball, but

a small distance compared with genuine powder. That he fre-

quently noticed General St. Clair, the first up in the morning,

going from shop to shop to inspect the preparations and that

he seemed very uneasy at the delay in different preparations that

were necessary for the campaign. He thought from his own

experience he had never seen such a degree of trouble thrown

on the shoulders of any other general that he had served with,

as upon General St. Clair, from the absence of the Quartermaster

and the preparations necessary to be made in his department in

order to be able to take the field in season. That it was well

for the quartermaster that he served in a republican govern-

• 30
 

Major David Ziegler.                157

 

ment; that the axes were too soft, and when used would bend

up like a dumpling; that in consequence of the badness of the

axes, he purchased a good one for himself, and used it vigorously

no doubt, for he says even the officers showed a pride in

working with the men in order to expedite the work.

Again quoting Upton, "the great lessons of the Revolution,

as well as those taught by the recent Miami expedition were

wasted upon the government." The committee of the House of

Representatives appointed to investigate this disaster, reported

that "the militia appear to have been composed principally of

substitutes and totally ungovernable and regardless of military

duty and subordination." In the opinion of the committee "the

want of discipline and experience of the troops" was one of the

main causes of the defeat. The report concludes as follows:

"The committee conceive it but just to the Commander in Chief to

say that, in their opinion, the failure of the late expedition can in no

respect be imputed to the conduct of St. Clair, either at any time before

or during the action."

 

Ziegler's acts, while in command at Fort Washington, seem

to have given general satisfaction, and no less an authority in

those days than John C. Symmes in a letter to Captain Dayton

dated January 17th, 1792, referring to the settlement at Coleraine

(whither General St. Clair, by much importunity, had first sent

a guard of six soldiers, and then ordered them back to Fort

Washington,) says "but the next day General St. Clair set out

for Philadelphia, and Major Ziegler came to the command. His

good sense and humanity induced him to send the six men back

again in one hour's time as I am told, after General St. Clair left

Fort Washington, and he assured Mr. Dunlap that he should

have more soldiers than six, rather than the station should

break." Symmes naively adds, "Majors sometimes do more good

than Generals."

Ziegler then went to farming. He bought a tract of land,

then said to be four miles distant from Cincinnati, but at present

in the first ward of the city, in the vicinity of the East End Gar-

den, where he erected the first stone house in the territory, from

which his farm acquired the soubriquet "Ziegler's Stone House

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158        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Farm." Farming however did not agree with his tastes and so

he sold the farm to one John Smith, 1797, and then settled in

Cincinnati where he opened a store on Front Street east of Syca-

more, next to Griffin Yeatman's tavern.

He must at one time have been inclined to sell out, as he

inserted the following characteristic advertisement in the local

Western Spy:

"David Ziegler hereby announces that he wishes to sell his supply

of wares, and wishes to rent his store to some man who can make money

in it. My chief reason for giving up my business can be found in the

scarcity of money and in the disinclination of the people to pay their

debts. To those who did not patronize me to buy goods on credit, I

extend my thanks. The Squire bringing along my ledger will soon pay

his respects to those who are delinquent."

However Ziegler remained in business perhaps realizing as

a later American poet wrote:

"Be firm; one constant element of luck

Is genuine, solid, old Teutonic pluck."

Illustrating the form of advertisement of those days and

the variety of goods kept by him for sale, we copy the follow-

ing from The Centinel of the North West Territory, Feb. 15,

1794.

"David Ziegler has lately arrived from Philadelphia with a valuable

and choice assortment of West Indian & dry goods, which are now

exposed for sale at the store lately occupied by Robert Tait, deceased.

Corn will be taken equal to cash."

On April 25th, 1795, he announces that he has just arrived

from Philadelphia with a large assortment of drygoods and gro-

ceries.

A year later, April 9, 1796, David Ziegler announces that a

fresh supply of dry goods, among which are beautiful Vest

Patterns, Pour de Roix, Pour Princes, and Pour Siegneur and for

Republican Gentlemen; the latter are superior to the first. He

also offers stationery, Books, almost of every Religious Princi-

ple. Those who come first will first be served, as none will remain

after they are sold.

• 32
 

Major David Ziegler.                159

The news of Washington's death in December 1799 having

reached Fort Washington, arrangements were made to have ap-

propriate ceremonies, an account of which appears in the West-

ern Spy, February 5, 1800. The morning of the solemn day was

announced by sixteen discharges of cannon, in quick succession.

At twelve o'clock the troops formed on the flat in front of the

Garrison where they were joined by Captain Findlay's troop

of horse, the Masonic brethren, and a large concourse of citi-

zens, all eager to testify their high veneration for the character

of the illustrious deceased, and the deep sense which they enter-

tained of his loss by paying this mournful tribute of respect to

his memory. The bier was received by the troops formed in lines

with presented arms, officers, drums and colors saluting. The

procession moved through different streets, minute guns firing

from the garrison. Major Ziegler was one of the pall bearers,

and arrived at the place representing that of interment the mili-

tary halted, the troops leaning on reversed arms. The coffin hav-

ing been deposited in the grave a prayer suitable for the occasion

was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Wallace, after which the Masonic

brethren performed their ceremony. Three discharges of mus-

ketry over the grave concluded the military ceremony. His ex-

cellency, Gov. St. Clair, then delivered an address.

We ascertain from Charles T. Greve's valuable Centennial

History of Cincinnati that Independence Day was observed in

1800 at Cincinnati by the members of a political party, the Re-

publicans, who had a dinner at Major Ziegler's.

By the year 1802 Cincinnati had grown rapidly, so much so

that the legislature of the territory thought proper to incorporate

the same as a village on January 2, 1802, vesting the legislative

and executive power in a Board of Council of seven, a President,

who was to act as the Chief Magistrate of the place, a Recorder,

a Clerk and a Marshall.

 

JUNCTA JUVANT.

The first election was held on the ₃rd of April, 1802, when

Ziegler was chosen President of the town-that is to the Chief

Magistracy-by a large majority. "This was expressly done,"

said Judge Burnet, "as a recognition of Ziegler's valuable ser-

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160      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

• 34
 

Major David Ziegler.                161

vices in the protection of the place during the perilous days of

1791-1792, as well as to make a public amende for the ill treat-

ment which he had received at the hands of the General Gov-

ernment."

His residence at the time of his election to the Presidency

of the Council was just east of Griffin Yeatman's tavern.

According to Henderson's Council, pages 8-9, "His was a

stately and commanding presence, especially when he chose to

array himself, literally, in the purple and fine linen of his elab-

orate wardrobe. His was an erect, military bearing, with broad

shoulders, full round face. Smooth shaven (of course at the

hand of John Arthurs, the first barber and hair dresser of the

settlement and military post), with large regular features; in all

a fine, open countenance, that challenged inspection and invited

confidence. He had ceased to wear his hair "en queue" although

the fashion was still quite in vogue, but used powder plentifully

on his full natural hair, which was rolled back from forehead

and temples, and fell behind upon the high collar of a plum col-

ored velvet coat upon the left lapel of which glittered the great

gold badge of the Society of the Cincinnati. Lace ruffles to his

shirt, lace falls to his sleeves, a long buff waistcoat, close fitting

knee breeches or smalls, silk stockings, highly polished shoes

with silver buckles, and silver buttons on garments and at knees,

made up his gala costume as a civilian. Such was the appearance

in his fifty-fourth year of David Ziegler, the first President of

Cincinnati's first Council."

The foregoing description is verified in several important

points, by a beautiful miniature painted on ivory by Pine at Phila-

delphia in 1799, and now in the possesson of Wm. C. Steele, of

Rocky Ford, Colorado, to whom we are indebted for a photo-

graphic copy used in this article. The first ordinance passed by

the Select Council was an appropriate one for a city to be known

later as "Porkopolis." It was an ordinance for preventing swine

from runing at large in certain places.

The next year Ziegler was unanimously reelected and would

have been for a third term in 1804, had he not declined. An

ordinance establishing a night watch for the more effectual pre-

vention of fires was the last ordinance signed by David Ziegler

Vol. XXI. -11.

• 35
 

162      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   as President. About this time Cincinnati must have had about 750 inhabitants, having had 500 in 1795 increased to about 960 by 1805. The principal affairs agitating the mind of the inhabitants

at the time were, first, their own protection from the constant attacks of the Indians, who continued to swarm about the set- tlement until the Tecumseh war (1811), and second, the con- trolling of the rougher elements, who were at the time infesting

• 36
 

Major David Ziegler.                163

all the backwoods towns. Nor were the inhabitants themselves,

in general of the finest class. Fights and gambling, brawls,

thefts, murders, and plunder prevailed everywhere. Heckewel-

der, the Moravian missionary, who visited the Ohio towns at an

early period, and whose sons and descendants afterwards set-

tled there, writes that the people of the town were, indeed, a

hard set, and that drunkenness and fights were of daily occur-

rence. This testimony is corroborated by Judge Burnet in his

"Notes on the Settlement of the Northwestern Territory." In

an emergency of this kind, "Burgomaster" Ziegler was the suit-

able person to hold the reins of the unmanageable village team.

He organized the militia of the town and enforced the most rigid

discipline. Every able bodied man had to be a member of the

militia and there was no skulking permitted from the drills and

musters which were regularly held by the vigorous commander.

Ziegler, likewise, established the rule which afterwards was

adopted at most of the new settlements of the west, that all

male persons over fourteen years of age, when they went to

church on Sundays, had to bring with them their muskets,

powder-flasks, bullet pouches, well filled, on penalty of a fine.

When Ziegler retired from the Chief Magistracy of the

village he was unanimously chosen commander of the militia,

and in the year 1807 he was the Adjutant General of Ohio. In

a speech at Cincinnati in 1876 Mr. William P. Stockton stated

that he had been a resident of the place for 69 years and well

remembered that Ziegler, frequently in his official capacity, had

the local militia paraded for review, more particularly when a

large body of Indians were in the city, his motive being to im-

press the redskins. He was appointed by President Jefferson

in 1804 the first Marshal of the Ohio District. In politics

he was a Democratic-Republican, Judge Burnet says in his

notes (p. 342)  "Only four individuals in Cincinnati and its

vicinity are now remembered who then (1800) advocated

the election of Mr. Jefferson against Mr. Adams (Fed-

eralist). These were Major David Ziegler, William Henry

Harrison, William  McMillan and John Smith."     In a land

warrant granted to Ziegler in 1792 he is spoken of as "of

the State of Pennsylvania." He also received from the State

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164      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

of Pennsylvania in 1794 a patent for 500 acres of land in the

eleventh donation district Allegheny Co. "in consideration of

services rendered as a Captain in the late army of the United

States."

His wife being a zealous Presbyterian, his name appears

together with that of Martin Baum and others on a subscription

list dated June 11th, 1794, for the purpose of further finishing

the first meeting house which had been begun in 1792 and was a

plain frame about 30 x 40 roofed and weatherboarded with clap-

boards but neither lathed, plastered nor ceiled. Mrs. Zeigler

gave largely to the church and to every other good cause from

her settlement in Cincinnati until her death. Again in 1812 when

it became necessary to arrange for a larger building, we find

that Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler subscribed the sum of $400.00 towards

the erection of a 68 x 85 feet brick church situated at the rear

of the old building. Judging from tradition and the printed

testimony of friends, few pioneer women were more highly

esteemed  and influential than she.  Mrs. Ludlow   writes:

"Major Ziegler said to me on his first visit (April, 1797)

our ladies are not gay, but they are extremely affectionate,

one to the other, I believe he spoke the truth. Perfect harmony

and good will appear to exist in all their intercourse." Certain-

ly this could have been truly said of Mrs. Ziegler. Among the

friends of the Zieglers whom Mrs. Ludlow mentions are the

following gentlemen and their wives: Judge McMillan, Colonel

Wallace, Judge Burnet, General Gano, General Findley, Gen-

eral Harrison, Judge J. C. Symmes, General St. Clair, Governor

Sargeant, George Burnet, Dr. Allison, Jessie Hunt, John Smith,

M. C. In the collection of the Historical and Philosophical

Society of Ohio are a number of invitations which reflect upon

the social life of that time. One reads, "The honor of Mrs.

Findlay's company is solicited at a ball, on Friday evening, the

₄th inst., at 7 o'clock, p. m., at Griffin Yeatman's Hotel. D.

Ziegler, E. Stone, E. Cutler and N. Longworth Managers. July

1, 1806."

Major Ziegler was as warm hearted and generous as his

wife and their married life was very happy. Some of Mrs. Zieg-

ler's nieces or nephews were always with them. The nieces,

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Major David Ziegler.                 165

 

even to old age, talked with enthusiasm of these charming visits.

The uncle and aunt were both fond of company, but Major Zieg-

ler was especially gay and social in his tastes and habits, and no

doubt shared as well as promoted all the amusements of these

young relatives who in turn felt for him the warmest gratitude

and affection.

Mrs. Ziegler describes one of these visits in a letter dated

October 26th, 1806, written to a young lady in the east who was

her father's house keeper and obliged that Fall to be content

to amuse herself in Belpre with her diary and spinning wheel,

while her sister and cousin were dancing and drinking tea with

the belles and beaux of Cincinnati. She writes:

 

"Sophia and Susanne have been here more than six weeks. They go

home tomorrow. Eliza goes with them to stay two or three weeks.

When she returns Maria will go out. The girls had a variety of amuse-

ments, plays, balls, and tea parties. I could wish that you could have

partaken of them, since I know you are fond of them. But it will be

over when they get to Dayton, and I think they will want rest."

 

A curious old ball ticket, addressed to the Eliza of the

letter, dated Cincinnati, Feb. 17, 1809, and printed, as was then

the fashion, on the back of a playing card (the queen of hearts)

is still in existence. The ball was given (in commemoration of

Washington's birthday) at the Columbian Inn, on Wednesday

evening 22nd, at 6 o'clock. "William Ruffin, E. H. Stall, J.

Baymiller, J. W. Sloan, managers."

Visitors to Cincinnati, when it was a small place, were sur-

prised by the luxurious manner of living and the generous hos-

pitality of the merchants and retired army officers who resided

there. Mrs. Ludlow, writing as early as 1797, says "the arrival

of General Wilkinson has imparted an air of gayety to the town

and groups of officers in uniform give a show of fete. There

has been a succession of dinners and evening parties."

Major Ziegler shared the prevailing tastes and gladly enter-

tained both friends and strangers.

A visitor to the town in the early part of the last century

(Flint, in his letters) speaks of the well informed people from

all parts of the world, of the ladies of "superior information,

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166       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

dignity of deportment and affectionate kindness of character"

whom he met in Cincinnati. He says that "the elegance of the

houses, the parade of servants, the display of furniture, and more

than all, the luxury of their over loaded tables, would compare

with the better houses in the Atlantic cities."  He gives    this

discription of their market:

"In another place the Tunkers with their long and flowing beards

have brought their teams with their fat mutton and fine flour. Fowls,

domestic and wild turkeys, venison, those fine birds which are here called

partridges, but which we call quails, all sorts of fruits and vegetables,

equally excellent and cheap."

The abundant good cheer and hearty welcome guests re-

ceived reminded him of accounts of old English hospitality.

General Harrison, for instance, kept open house to all respectable

visitors.

Mrs. Ludlow, describing Cincinnati in 1797, says that it was

then "a village of wooden buildings with a garrison of soldiers.

The society consisted of a small number of ladies, united by the

most perfect good will, and desire for mutual happiness. The

gentlemen were social and intelligent." For several of the latter,

among whom she mentioned Major Ziegler, she felt "an almost

fraternal regard," a regard which others whom the kindly Major

at that or a later day, had welcomed with cordial and genial

hospitality, shared with her.

A characteristic story is related by Mr. Israel Ludlow:

"Our brilliant Fourth of July Celebration was terminated by a

sad accident. The party opposed to the Governor, glowing with all the

heroism of 'Seventy-six' mounted a blunderbus on the bank of the

river, and with a few hearts of steel made its shores resound, rivaling

in their imagination the ordnance of the garrison. Delighted with their

success, the load was increased in proportion to their enthusiasm, and

when the 'Western Territory' was toasted the gun summoned every

power within it carried its thunders through the Kentucky hills, and

burst in pieces, Major Ziegler, on taking a view of the field reports as

follows: wounded, four men; killed, one gun."

The Major's interest in the Order of the Cincinnati con-

tinued through life, and we find that the few years before his

death he wrote the following letter to a fellow member:

• 40
 

Major David Ziegler.                     167

 

CINCINNATI, June 4th, 1805.

DEAR SIR:-Captain Henry Kerberry of Colorado. Hartley's Regi-

ment Penna. Line, late Adjt. General to the State of Maryland, at

present the Navy Agent in this quarter, the long intimacy that subsisted

between us and the long & Painful Service he rendered, in which he had

the misfortune to be badly Wounded, make me bold to Addresse myself

in his behalf to the Society of Pennsylvania for a seat in the State So-

ciety of Cincinnati, his Absence at the close of the War, and then residing

Partly in the State of Maryland and Kentucky was the reason that he

did not make application at the time when we formed and Arranged

ourself, fully I am Persuaded that our friends will not only look over

if there was any neglect, but have his name Assigned to the Book when

after many Ages those may be found that belong to the Numbers that

fought and Defended our right and privilege, the Amount of $40. will

by him, through my Agent in Philadelphia be paid at sight, the Diploma,

if some be on hand may be forwarded to this place, where he will re-

main part of this Summer.

DAVID ZIEGLER.

ROBERT PATTON, Esq.

 

It appears from subsequent records of the society that

Ziegler's request was complied with.

Ziegler was appointed Collector or Inspector of the Port

(Egle and Greve both say Surveyor of the Port) in 1809, which

position he held until the time of his death.

He died childless September 24th, 1811, at his residence

on Broadway near the lower market, mourned by the entire in-

habitants of the town whose first Chief Magistrate he had been.

"The Western Spy" in its next edition contained the following

memorial of Ziegler's death, clad in mourning borders:

"Died in this town on Tuesday evening, the 24th inst, David Ziegler,

Esquire, Collector of the Port. He was a native of Germany, and came

into Pennsylvania sometime before the commencement of the Revolu-

tionary War. He was among the first in that war who entered the field

as a sub-altern, in the cause of his adopted country, and in the course of

it received several wounds,-maintaining on all occasions the character of

a zealous, a brave and active officer, to the end of the glorious struggle."

 

After a brief account of his services, not necessary to repeat

here, the obituary notice concluded;

From some cause of disgust, the Major soon afterwards resigned

his commission, and once more retired to private life. He returned to

• 41
 

168        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   the western country, and commenced a successful commercial career in this town, until sickness disabled him, for several months before his death, from the further prosecution of business. He was a good husband, a good neighbor, a punctual dealer, and in truth an upright man. The funeral of the deceased here, which was performed with great military pomp, is described in the same paper as follows:- On Thursday the 26th instanter, the corpse of Major Ziegler was interred with military honours, and was accompanied to the grave by the Harmonical society, who played on various wind-instruments during the procession, which was extremely numerous and respectable. The order of the procession was: The Major's horse with his saddle, holster and pistols. The clergy and Physicians of the town. Cincinnati Band of Music. The Military, Infantry, Capt. Mansfield; Artillery, Capt. Jenkinson; Cavalry, Capt. Sloan, with arms reversed. Next came the hearse of the deceased, accompanied by the following pall-bearers:

Captain Sloan. Captain Torrence. Major Ruffin. General Gano.   Mourners. Militia Officers in Uniform Citizens.

Captain Jenkinson. Captain Carr. Major Stanley. Colonel Riddle.

His body was interred in the cemetery of the Presbyterian congregation, of whose official Board he was a member, on Fourth Street. On the Sunday evening following a funeral ser- mon was preached on his death by the Reverend Joshua L. Wil- son at the Presbyterian Meeting House." "Thus," says the Western Spy, "has America lost another of her Revolutionary officers." This necrology was reprinted on October 2nd, 1811, in Liberty Hall, the political adversary of the deceased, with some remarks of its own. Major Ziegler was a man of medium height, dark complex- ion, and proud military carriage, always polite and affable in his

• 42
 

Major David Ziegler.                 169

 

manners. His face was round and bore the character of good

nature bordering on humorousness. Judge Burnet said of him

in connection with Martin Baum, another of Cincinnati's earliest

and best citizens, that they were his two black German friends,

he himself being of dark complexion.

According to the last will and testament, dated August 24,

1811, probated in Hamilton County, December 9, 1811, Ziegler

died a wealthy man. To his sister, Mrs. Susannah Elizabeth

Detrosch, he bequeathed $3,000.00, and his wife's nephews and

nieces he also remembered, one of the former, Joseph Peirce,

named as his executor, received, besides the sum of $500.00, a

gold watch and the iron chest of the Major, his gold eagle

seal and his diploma of the Cincinnati with all the immunities

and privileges thereto belonging. The seal and diploma are now

in the possession of J. Elliott Peirce, of Dayton, a grandson of

Joseph Peirce. Another nephew of his wife, Charles R. Green,

received $500.00, Ziegler's sword and walking cane with gold

head. Each of the four nieces, Phoebe Peirce, Sophia Cooper,

Maria Green and Susan Green, received $500.00. His wife,

Lucy Anna, inherited the stately mansion, seven lots in the

city, near Broadway, thirty acres of forest, a mill with one

half section of land on Greenville Creek in the Miami district,

two shares of stock in the Ohio Land Company, a farm in Colum-

bia, his cash, and shares in the Miami exporting company, and in

the Bank of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia.

Mrs. Ziegler is represented as a very philanthropic woman,

and was Treasurer of the Dorcas Society for the relief of the

poor. She was said to be very attractive in person and manner.

A letter writer of the last century describes her as very hand-

some. Her letters indicate that she was a woman of elevated

character, and unusual intelligence. Colonel May was one of her

Marietta friends and alludes to her when a bride, in his journal.

Mrs. Israel Ludlow records her death in her diary in these af-

fectionate words:

"A late paper from Cincinnati mentioned the decease of Mrs.

Ziegler. My heart pays a tribute to her merit. Faithful, candid, and kind

I ever found her, and life has lost another charm which gilded its sor-

rows with a smile of love. Dear and valuable Lucy Ziegler, my heart

bids thee a short farewell."

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170        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

I am indebted to Mrs. R. C. Schenck, of Dayton, for the

following copy of a letter in her possession and written by

Ziegler's sister to his wife.

 

BELOVED AND DEAR LADY SISTER:

In compliance with my faithful promise to write to you, at least

once every year as long as God spares my life, I do not fail to pre-

sent these few lines through the goodness of the Kings banker at

Amsterdam.

With the pious wish on the present New Year that the Heavenly

Father would keep you this year and many others composed in purest

contentment and in the best prosperity and not withdraw from me, your

noble heart as the amiable consort of my ever memorable and in God

reposing brother David.

His memory, will ever remain sacred with me and in your person

I shall constantly honor the noble consort whom he so solely loved,

and encompassed with love until death.

Lastly may God take you into His holy keeping and accomplish all

your other actions through life according to His Holy will and pleasure,

and as the great distance between us will not favor us with a per-

sonal acquaintance in this life it is my comfort that the beloved God will

more closely unite us beyond the grave forever. In this sweet persuasion

I embrace you in spirit as a sister, and with a composed mind in faith-

ful truth honor you as a loving sister.

S. E. VON TRAGE,

Heidelberg, 1. Jan. 1820.

P. S.--Commend me and my consort to the beloved Lord cousin

Joseph Peirce, most affectionately.

Miss Steele's article gave the date of her death as 1820, and

another source of information states that she removed to Day-

ton where she died. Her tombstone gives the date of her death

November 18, 1820, in the 59th year of her age, and adds "The

poor and needy found in her a friend to whom their petitions

for relief were never presented in vain. In her a charitable dis-

position was united with the means of gratifying it."

In a history of Montgomery county I find that Joseph

Peirce settled in Dayton, where one of his daughters married

Robert W. Steele, one of whose daughters wrote the article in

the Magazine of Western History, from which I have obtained

much of the information of this article.

A generation followed and the comparatively unknown

• 44
 

Major David Ziegler.                   171   marketplace became a magnificant city, gracefully recognized in Longfellow's praiseful song "To the Queen of the West In her garlands dressed, On the banks of the beautiful river."

With the progress of time the old Presbyterian cemetery on the Fourth Street front had to give way to the pressure of commerce and industry, and under the rubbish and thorns was found the fallen headstone of Ziegler. Its brief biographical inscription revived the memory of the hero. A movement was

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172       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

set on foot and in 1844 various German military and pioneer

societies assembled at the old cemetery and participated in the

transfer of the ashes of the early pioneer to their resting place

in the cemetery on Twelfth street where they were again in-

terred. But that cemetery has likewise disappeared, together with

the stone bearing the legend of his memory.

In 1840 a movment was made in Dayton to establish a

rural cemetery where every possible safeguard should be thrown

around the resting place of the dead, and on the ₇th day of

June 1843 Woodland Cemetery was opened and the lots offered

at public sale. Among the early interments in Woodland was

that of Mrs. Ziegler, whose remains were removed from their

former resting place and reinterred on the lot of D. C. Cooper,

founder of the first grave yard in Dayton.

Several years later the remains of Major Ziegler were

brought from Cincinnati together with the original tablet, bear-

ing the following inscription:-

 

MAJOR DAVID ZIEGLER.

To whose memory this monumental

Stone is erected,

Was born in the City of Heidelberg

in the year 1748.

Having held a commission and

served with reputation in the

Army of Russia,

he migrated to Pennsylvania.

In 1775

he joined the standard of

WASHINGTON

and served with honor in the Army

of the Revolution,

till by the Treaty of 1783 the

Independence of his adopted country

was acknowledged.

In the Western Country he served under

Generals HARMAR and ST. CLAIR,

and died in this city in

Sept. 1811, universally

esteemed and

respected.

• 46
 

Major David Ziegler.                173   Doubtless further interesting details concerning this man's life and actions could be gleaned if I had access to governmental and state archives, but I feel amply repaid for the research thus far undertaken.

The above bronze tablet in the Memorial Hall at Dayton was placed by the citizens of German birth or ancestry in Montgom- ery County, and represents first Reverend Peter Muhlenberg casting aside his ministerial robe and appearing in the regimentals of a Virginia Colonel, second, General Herchheimer, though wounded, winning a victory for the Colonists at Oriskany and third, General Von Steuben drilling re- cruits, all co-patriots with Ziegler.

• 47
 

174       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. Underneath the green lawn of beautiful Woodland Ceme- tery at Dayton, lies buried the first Chief Magistrate of the Great Metropolis of the Ohio Valley, unknown perhaps or for- gotten by most of its inhabitants, oblivious of the fact that a true Cincinnatus, a noble warrior and a good citizen sleeps there his last sleep.   Tread lightly, this is hallowed ground! tread reverently here! Beneath this sod in silence sleeps, the brave old Pioneer, Who never qualied in darkest hour, whose heart ne'er felt a fear, Tread lightly then, and here bestow the tribute of a tear.

• 48