Ohio History Journal

BOWMAN'S CAMPAIGN OF 1779.

 

(Copied and published, by permission of the Wisconsin Historical

Society, from the Draper MSS., Bedinger Papers, "A"-Vol. I., pp. 19-31

inclu.-EDITOR.)

Started about 1st of June-and continued about 4 weeks-

(vide page -, for bear killing). Holder commanded a com-

pany-not over 20 or 25 belonged to Boonesboro-the remainder

in neighboring Stations, if any then settled, marched to Lex-

ington, thence on to the mouth of Licking. When near the mouth,

here one of the party rambled off to hunt, & while clambering a

hill, discovered a buffalo below him, & in attempting to run, fell,

when the hunter, desirous of performing some valiant exploit,

ran up, bounded upon its back, & with his knife he actually killed

the animal. This hero of a hunter was greatly complimented by

the troops.

At the place of rendezvous, at the mouth of Licking, beside

other troops were a party of some 70 from the Falls of the

Ohio, under Col. Wm. Harrod. They belonged near Red Stone

Old Fort on the Monongahela, & had visited the country to

locate lands down the Ohio. On their way up from the Falls,

they had visited Big Bone Lick & had brought a large quantity

of the bones of the Mastodon or mammoth in a canoe, which

they designed carrying to Pittsburg. It was the presence of these

men in the country whose aid could be secured, that chiefly led

to the expedition.

Bowman had also reached, by another rout. But a day or

two elapsed & the necessary arrangements effected, the little

army took up the line of march, up the valley of the Little

Miami. Soon after commencing the march Maj. Bedinger was

introduced for the first time to Col. Bowman, who, having heard

that Bedinger had seen service to the eastward, desired him to

act as Adjutant and Quarter Master, to which he readily con-

sented.

(502)

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.            503

 

During the march, and when pursuing a trail in Indian file,

they passed a rattlesnake by the side of the path unobserved, &

the man who had brought up the rear was bitten by the reptile-

& sent back to the boats, with wh. a few men were left to

guard, & ordered to be sent clown to the Falls. No Indians were

seen. When within 8 or 10 miles of the Indian town, & near

the close of day, a council was held to determine upon the mode

of attacking the town. The troops divided into three parties-

one under Logan-another under Jas. Harrod, & the third under

Holder. Logan with his own & Wm. Harrod's company was

to go to the left of the town, Harrod with Bowman to the right

-and Holder in front-take their respective positions as early in

the night as they could reach, & between Logan's and Harrod's

command a space to be left through which for the Indians, when

roused from their cabins by Holder's party, to escape; it being

deemed the better policy to suffer them first to get out of the

town & then fall upon them, rather than completely surround

them & compel to keep their cabins or take to their council

house, from which, as the sequel proved, they might make a

successful stand. These arrangements made, the march was re-

sumed with proper care & secrecy. Each party posted itself as

originally designed-Logan on the left between the town & the

Miami-Harrod on the right, & Holder directly in front of the

town, in the high grass.

It was early in the night when the town was reached & the

several designated positions occupied. All was quiet until about

midnight, when an Indian came running in on the trail the troops

had pursued. He had evidently, when out hunting, or something

of the kind, discovered the signs of a large army invading the

country & directing their course towards the Shawanese town

of Chillicothe on the Little Miami, & was then on his way to give

the alarm. As he neared Holder's party, puffing & blowing, &

seeming to suspect or discover the trap into which he was run-

ning, he suddenly stopped & made a kind of interrogative ejacula-

tion, as much as to say, "Who's there?"-when one of the party

by the name of Ross shot him, upon which he gave a weak, con-

fused yell, & falling to the ground Jacob Stearns (who escaped

a few months before when his father was defeated on Boone's

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504       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Trace) ran up, scalped & tomahawked him.* By this time the

town was aroused to a sense of their danger; the dogs set up a

great noise, & the squaws with cries & whimperings were heard

to say "Kentuck! Kentuck!"   Finding themselves surprised &

their town surrounded, they fled in dismay to the large council

house near the center of the town.

In the hurry of the moment, Holder's men marched into the

town, killed a few dogs, & may have shot Indians; when the Mon-

ongaheleans set up a confused hallooing within plain hearing of

the council house, saying, "if there were any prisoners, with the

Indians, they had better flee; that the Kentuckians were strong, &

that all that remained in the council house would be killed in the

morning." Portions at least of Harrod's & Logan's men, since the

plan of attack had been so changed by circumstances, now run into

the town-occasional shots were interchanged, but the most were

busily engaged in searching the deserted cabins, from which their

occupants had so suddenly decamped they carried nothing with

them. The articles of plunder consisted chiefly of silver orna-

ments, of which a large number were found, together with a

goodly quantity of clothing; and lastly, a fine scarlet vest & a

double-barreled gun. Simon Girty's, recognized by a soldier

along, who had but recently been a prisoner with the Shawanoese.

It was during this scene, or perhaps at its close, that Logan at-

tempted the moveable battery. While these things were pro-

gressing the Indians in the Council house seemed busily employed

in cutting port holes until near day light. ("B". It sh(oul)d be

remembered, that among the troops were several who had been

prisoners with the Indians & understood their language suffi-

ciently well, at least to comprehend whatever Black Fish said to

his warriors-& he spoke in a very sonorous manner, exhorting

them to remember that "they were men & Warriors; that they

must fight and be strong; that their enemies, who had invaded

 

* (Holder's party laid close & still a short time, giving time for

some 6 or 7 of the Indians to come out and ascertain the cause of the

alarm, who approached cautiously with the arms recovered & one behind

another & sufficiently near Holder's party, cocking their guns, the noise

of wh. was heard by the Indians who stopped, when they were fired

upon & fled, leaving some blood behind.)

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.         505

 

their firesides, were merely Kentucky squaws, and his braves

could easily whip them." To all this they would subscribe by a

kind of simultaneous & rapidly spoken gutteral affirmative, very

much like "ye-aw, ye-aw, ye-aw, ye-aw," &c.

"A man or two were wounded," says Maj. Bedinger-&

perhaps with Logan. "C." This sacking did not continue long

-nearly all left, and went to hunting up Indian horses outside

the town; while a little party of 15, among whom were Maj.

Bedinger, Jesse Hodges, Thomas & Jack South, & one or two of

the Proctors, had screened themselves behind a large oak log

not over 40 paces from the council house & there awaited the

approach of day break, after wh(ich) for several hours frequent

shots were exchanged by the respective parties. While this little

party lay thus awaiting patiently a vigorous support from their

friends, they were doomed to disappointment. There was some

firing from some cabins on the left, from Logan's party; but

nothing like a concerted action. Wm. Hickman, who had served

with Bedinger at the siege of Boston, & who, by-the-way, was

strongly suspected of having stealthily killed a man below Pitts-

burg during Dunmore's War,--while peeping around the corner

of a cabin to the left of Bedinger's party, was shot through the

head, and died instantly. He remarked the previous evening that

he had a presentiment that he sh(oul)d be killed in the expected

attack in the morning.

Bedinger's little band continued to lay close behind their

rude & uncertain breast work. The log (it was an oak) was

something over two feet in diameter, & lay a little up from the

ground, but the grass & weeds grew thickly beneath and around

it. Had the Indians known it, they might have killed the entire

party by directing their fire under the log; as it was, whenever a

Kentuckian would venture to expose himself to get a more sat-

isfactory shot, several instantaneous cracks from the enemy's port

holes would tell how closely they watched the old oak log, & the

every movement of those screened behind it. Several were al-

ready killed, though repeatedly cautioned by Bedinger to avoid ex-

posure. Tom South, who lay directly to the right of Bedinger,

eager to get an effective shot, ventured to take a preliminary

peep, and Bedinger had scarcely exclaimed "down with your

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head," when South was shot in the forehead & with a single

groan fell down partly upon his side. His young brother John,

or Jack, as he was familiarly called, then a lad of about 17, who

was on Maj. Bedinger's left, was affected at the fate of Thomas,

& shed some tears, & asked Bedinger if he could not place his

brother in a position in wh(ich) he could die easier. This could

not with safety be done; but he expired in a few minutes after.

By this time seven of the fifteen behind the log were killed, be-

side Hickman at the corner of the cabin, & still the survivors

awaited a regular & combined attack from their friends. But

they hoped in vain. About nine o'clock, Col. Bowman made his

appearance partly behind the hill, on horseback some 200 yards

to the right of Bedinger's party, & waiving his hand exclaimed

at the top of his voice-"Make your escape !-make your escape!

I can bring no one to your assistance!" Bedinger then said to

his seven surviving companions, that he would take the lead

and they sh(oul)d dodge in oblique directions, with a quick zig-

zag movement, & in this way make for a few scattering trees

some sixty or 70 yards to the left but still within reach of the

enemy's fire. It was discovered that the Indians had compre-

hended Bowman's orders, and a few were scattering out of the

council house; no time was to be lost-Bedinger started, jump-

ing through the grass, frog-like, first in one direction, & then as

suddenly in another, sometimes seizing a shrub violently to aid

in throwing him to some opposite and distant point-and the

while balls whistling past & around him like so many hail; but

being strong and remarkably active in his zig-zag movements,

singularly enough he escaped them all, & reached a good-sized

tree, behind which he made a few moments' rest. Upon looking

around he was surprised to see that none had followed his ex-

ample; but it must be confessed after all that they acted wisely,

for by this time, and it was all the work of a moment, the In-

dians had discharged their rifles, & before they could reload the

whole party were beyond their reach, without so much as re-

ceiving a single shot. The retreat was as successful as it was

singular. Just before leaving the log, he espied his old friend

Ralph Morgan behind a tree to the left, fighting single-handed

on his "own hook"-every now and then the Indians from the

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.             507

 

council house would pay him their respects, & make the bark fly

merrily from the tree behind wh(ich) he was posted; Bedinger

called out to him, that he was needlessly exposing himself, &

had better get out of the way of danger.

("C". About this time, a negro woman came running from

the council-house to Logan's party on the left, pretending to have

made her escape, but very evidently sent by the Indians pur-

posely to deceive & frighten their invaders. She represented that

Girty was at the Pickaway town (some 8 or 10 miles distant, per-

haps) with a hundred of his Mingoes & would soon arrive. This

intelligence, notwithstanding the evidence of stratagem it bore

upon its face-for Girty's scarlet vest & rifle had been found &

he was very likely in the council-house-spread among the

troops; & the Monongaheleans who did not exactly relish the

idea of fighting, were not slow to magnify the number of the ex-

pected reinforcement of the enemy under Girty, & in this way

the one hundred soon reached the terrible number of six hun-

dred. While all this was transpiring, the negro woman, who had

been unmolested, secretly disappeared-another evidence that

hers had been an errand of deception.)

When Bedinger & his little band reached their friends,

partly behind the hill within long rifle shot of the council-house,

in a confused mass-some distance still farther to the south,

were some three hundred horses, guarded by a large number of

men. (Jesse Hodges' deposition will tell the number of horses.)

Bedinger ordered the men to form in a line of battle just be-

hind the brow of the hill, which with here & there a tree, served

as a protection; here they were to make a stand, & check the

Indians who were advancing at a distance, sheltered behind the

scattering trees, & firing upon the Kentuckians. Not more than

a fourth of the men could be got into the line, & as the others

were scampering off out of harm's way, these could not be

expected long to expose themselves; & while here & there some

brave spirit would venture a chance fire upon the distant foe,

the more timid would every now & then dart off singly & in

squads, until after a short lapse of time when, the remaining

few, seeing the foolhardiness of attempting to maintain their

ground unaided & unprotected, sought their safety in flight.

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Bedlinger, who as adjutant, & in the absence of any apparent

movement on the part of Bowman, had assumed the command

& formed the line, was not a little mortified at the needless con-

sternation that seemed to pervade the troops-he had hoped to

have made a stand & defeated the enemy in open battle. When

the last of the line commenced retreating, he fortunately found

his horse, mounted and moved on with the fugitives; soon over-

took his old friend & companion-in-arms at the siege of Boston,

Wm. Oldham, who had been with Morgan's riflemen in the dis-

astrous attack on Quebec, & the same who was subsequently

killed in St. Clair's defeat-consulted with Oldham, & then

ordered the officers to form their respective companies in single

file, Logan's command to the right, Harrod's to the left, &

Holder's in the center, and about 30 paces apart; with orders

for Holder's line, when the word "halt" was given, to divide

& the rear half to fall back & close the rear, while the other

portion were as quickly to close the front-thus forming a hol-

low square. This order was effected, & the men formed, about

a mile from the hill. In this order the three divisions moved

on rapidly, with an Indian but seldom seen or heard, & cer-

tainly they did no execution-some three, or four, or five miles

were gained, and a creek, (less in size, probably, than Cesar's,

where they subsequently followed) easily forded on foot-for

nearly all were on foot; when Bedinger, who was in the rear,

on reaching the elevated ground, on the southern bank, look-

ing back perceived a shaking among the tall grass & herbage in

the flat on the opposite side, & soon after, some of the enemy

were seen to make demonstrations of crossing the creek,-or-

dered a halt some 40 or 50 rods south of the stream; Holder's

company, according to previous understanding, closed the front

and rear. Until now the drove of horses, with a suitable guard

for their protection, had been driven in front-separated fre-

quently from their colts, no small neighing was kept up. They

were now placed within the hollow square. The ground for

making a stand was very judiciously chosen, elevated, and a

sufficiency of trees & fallen timber for the protection of the men.

There had evidently been a small windfall & some of the fallen

trees were piled upon each other, affording in many instances, a

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.         509

 

very desirable shelter from the enemy's fire. The men were

ordered to shelter themselves as well as they could, compatible

with the design of a hollow square: some accordingly treed,

while others screened themselves behind the fallen timber. "D."

It was now about half-past ten o'clock in the forenoon. The

firing & yelling of the Indians were first heard in front-& soon

all around; with the loud & distinct voice of Black Fish heard,

first in one direction & then another, encouraging his braves,

repeating in substance the speech he made them at the council-

house, adding, "that, as they now had the Kentuck surrounded,

they must have them   all-not suffer one to escape."  And

wherever the well-known voice of their beloved War Chief was

heard, their hearty responses and reiterated whoops would make

the woods resound again. Their number was small, it could

scarcely have exceeded fifty,-but their deficiency in numbers

they remedied as well as they could by resort to stratagem &

greater activity. While at one point Black Fish, the life & soul

of his people, was exhorting his warriors to "be strong and

fight,-load well & shoot sure," in another direction a little

squad would feign to have killed some unfortunate Kentuck, &

raise with their schrill voices their accustomed scalp yell,-alike

to encourage their friends, & strike terror to the hearts of their

foes. The Indians were careful not to show or expose them-

selves, but would creep up as near as they could with safety,

fire, then skulk away to re-load, & renew the zig-zag fight. When-

ever the Kentuckians, on the other hand, fancied they saw the

trembling of some distant cluster of bushes, or luxuriant bunch

of tall grass, or peradventure really nodding to some passing

breezes they would fire upon the suspected covert. This singular

and irregular contest, which lasted nine hours, was compara-

tively bloodless. The Kentuckians, without positive evidence,

claimed to have made several effectual shots; & lost, it is be-

lieved, some one or two killed, & perhaps as many slightly

wounded. It was now past sundown. Bedinger went to Col.

Bowman, & said, in substance, "As the surrounding enemy

seemed to be increasing in numbers, and redoubling their zeal

with their success; and as our men were sinking under fatigue

and hunger, it was necessary that a vigorous effort should be

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510       Ohio Arch and Hist. Society Publications.

made to disperse them." Col. Bowman, who seemed disheartened,

replied, "Do as you please; I don't know what to do." Bedinger

added, "We must rush upon them on foot with tomahawk in

hand, advance rapidly, dodging as we proceed, & in this way

we shall avoid the enemy's fire, then with ours reserved, we can

dash upon them and force them to retreat." Accordingly Bed-

inger and some other officers called out, "Come, boys, let's rush

on with tomahawks in hand, and reserved fire," & leading the

way, a party of 40 or 50 of the boldest of the men followed, and

made for the well-known voice of Black Fish, not then more

than 40 or 50 yards off. In this well-planned charge, Black

Fish was mortally wounded, the Indians were seen hurriedly to

place their fallen chief upon a horse, with a faithful warrior

mounted behind him, & then fled toward their town. It was ob-

served that Black Fish was dressed in a beautiful white shirt

richly trimmed with brooches & other silver ornaments; &, from

white prisoners who subsequently escaped or were liberated, it

was ascertained that the brave Shawaone chief expired as he

entered his town. Though an enemy as he was, we cannot but

admire the intrepid bearing and self-devotedness of the brave

eloquent but unfortunate Black Fish.

("D." As the troops halted, one Elisha Bethiah, who be-

longed to James Harrod's company & had been badly wounded

in the thigh (in) the night attack on the Indian town, was now

in (the) front & favored with a good horse, concluded he would

choose to risk his chances of escape alone, rather than hazard

himself, already wounded as he was, in another fight with the

Indians. He dashed off, & just at this moment the enemy gained

the front, & four of them pursued Bethiah. His horse proved

that his rider had not over-estimated his good qualities, & soon

out-stripped his pursuers. That night the wounded man, fatigued

& not a little exhausted, selected some suitable spot, dismounted,

fastened the horse's rein to one of his wrists, with perhaps some

protection between himself & animal, laid himself down & sleep

was soon upon him. When he awoke the next morning, he was

alarmed to find his horse gone. The horror of his situation

rushed upon him far away in the wilderness, he knew not where,

save that it was in an enemy's country; destitute even of the

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.            511

 

commonest food-& utterly unable to walk! While thus in

despair brooding over his misfortunes, his horse came up to him

-doubtless at home he had been tolled to the habit; & Bethiah,

with a joyous heart, mounted his good steed & continued on his

way. In due time he reached Harrodsburg, recovered from his

wound; & often used to allude, with grateful feelings, to this

instance of singular sagacity in his horse, in returning to the aid

of his helpless master.)

The retreat was now resumed at dusk, & within 4, 5, 6

miles struck Cesar's Creek; this, tho bearing a little to the right

of their route, was taken as a guide for a considerable distance,

sometimes following along down (the) stream on its banks, &

at others along its bed knee-deep in water: All who wished

were mounted upon the horses taken from the Shawanees. Maj.

Bedinger, who riding his own horse, soon after the march re-

commenced and before reaching the creek,-got his hat brushed

off by the branch of a tree, jumped off, and feeling around for

it in the dark, some one coming up behind gave the horse a little

rap to make him step aside, when he took fright and broke

away, carrying off saddle, bridle, camp kettle & blanket-the

distant tinkle of the kettle at it came in contact with brush or

trees, told but certainly that the horse was beyond reach. Maj.

Bedinger plodded along on foot through brush, & briars &

nettles, & lagged behind somewhat. The party halted a short

time; but fearing lest the Indians should be re-inforced & follow

in pursuit, they soon resumed their slow & weary retreat. At

this point Maj. Bedinger got a poor, sharp-backed excuse of a

horse, without saddle or blanket, & jogged on with the others

-& while sitting sidewise upon his horse, the animal jumped

one side & threw him off backwards down a little ravine, but

luckily escaped with a few knocks & bruises. Then the retreat

continued-it was a meandering rout that they pursued. They

suffered exceedingly from hunger; nor did they venture to hunt

the following day-the fear of an attack from a pursuing foe,

to recover their horses, was enough to impel them forward, &

as quickly as possible to leave the enemy's country. The second

night, worn down with fatigue & hunger, they ventured to take

a little repose, & it was but little, then up, & on for the land

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of Ky. Early the ensuing day they reached the long-wished

for Ohio, crossed just above the mouth of the Little Miami.

Maj. Bedinger was careful to place several sentinels in the rear,

to guard against surprise; one of these, Thornton Farrow, saw

an Indian dog at a distance-which was considered, at the time,

satisfactory evidence that the Indians, not being able to collect

together a sufficiently formidable army in time for pursuit, had

sent a few spies to see that their invaders had actually left the

country. Bedinger and the sentinels were the last to leave the

enemy's shore.

The army now felt more at ease-moved on some three or

four miles in the rear of the elevated hills skirting the river,

reached a fine large spring-here a halt was made. Hunting &

fishing soon supplied the camp; these with rest soon gave new

life and vigor to them all. They were once again in a land

of plenty, where pea-vines, wild clover, & wild rye, furnished

abundance of food for the half-famished horses. It was now

agreed to have a sale of the horses & other booty, & then make

an equal division of the amount realized. The conditions were

simply these: a credit of a year-the captains were to keep the

accounts with their respective companies, and when it should

be subsequently ascertained that any one had bid in property

exceeding the amount of his dividend, he was to pay the surplus;

and this excess to be given to such as had fallen short of theirs.

The theory was very pretty, & all seemed well pleased with it;

& excepting such horses as had been stolen from the settlements,

identified by their owners present, or kept in reserve for the

proper claimants, the sale commenced. Some of the finest horses

were struck off at fifty or sixty dollars, but generally much

less; & a pound of silver trinkets would bring some twenty

dollars. Thus went the large drove of horses, the silver orna-

ments, clothing, and other articles. The Monongaheleans, who

seemed to figure prominently in everything save fighting, were

far from being modest in the number of their bids, or the amount

of property they purchased. The result was, scattered as the

purchasers were, from Red Stone Old Fort to the Falls of the

Ohio, & thence to Boonesboro on the Kentucky, no collections

were ever made; of if made, never accounted for to those who

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Bowman's Campaign of 1779.             513

 

had a right to expect them. The spring where Bowman's party

camped, and where the sale took place, is to this day known as

The Horse Camp Spring.

Thus ended the celebrated campaign of 1779-a campaign,

it sh(ould)d be remarked, the real history of which has been

but imperfectly understood. Made at so early a day, & not as

fortunate in its results as some of its successors, it is not strange

that its true character should have been misconstrued or unde-

signedly misrepresented. Bowman, when too late to retrieve his

error, seems to have felt keenly the miscarriage of the expedition.

& given himself up to despondency and inaction. Nor is it at all

certain, that he should be made the scape goat for the failure of

the enterprise. The numbers engaged were amply sufficient, the

officers confessedly brave and experienced; & withal, they reached

the Indian town entirely undiscovered; they evidently found less

than its full quota of warriors there, & the plan of attack seemed

proper and judicious. And notwithstanding all these auspicious

circumstances, superadded to their great superiority of numbers,

the campaign was well-nigh a total failure. The Monongaheleans,

upon whose aid so much reliance had been placed, seemed to

have engaged in it more from motives of plunder than patriotism.

They were the first to disobey express orders and set up a noise,

when they should have remained silent; they were the first, after

the cabins had been sacked, to seize upon & magnify the foolish

story of Girty's pretended reinforcement, thereby engendering a

panic among the troops, who abandoned the immediate vicinity of

the town; & it appears highly probable, & perfectly in character,

that they should be foremost in searching for horses, foremost

in not fighting, & foremost in the retreat. Their desire for gain

was sufficiently manifest at the sale at the horse-camp spring.

With such a body of almost semi-savages, whose pernicious ex-

amples were but too contagious, is it to be wondered at that Bow-

man, chagrined & disheartened, should ride up and call out to

Bedlinger's little band behind the memorable oak log, to make

their escape, for he could bring no one to their assistance-not

that he would not, but truth extorted the confession that he could

not.

Vol. XXII.-- 33.

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514       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. There is still another feature in the case worthy of notice. When the hope was expressed to Bowman during the outward march, that at least the women and children that might be taken should be spared; some of the Monongaheleans slipped in their notions about such matters, with "No! indeed; kill them all, the d-m savage! we are ordered to destroy the heathen off the land -& as for these little Indians, if not killed, they will soon be big ones !" Such were the men, very like, who two years after went out from West Penna. under Col. David Williamson and butch- ered in cold blood the unoffending Moravian Indians on the Muskingum- & such doubtless were the men from that same region of country, who, by their timid, nay dastardly conduct, contributed in no small degree to the defeat & misfortunes of the ill-fated Crawford in 1782. At all events, it was the conviction of Maj. Bedinger & others on the expedition of Bowman, that had the Monongaheleans not have been along, the result would have been more creditable; but with them, defeat was preferable to victory-for an indiscriminate massacre, as with the Mor- avians, would doubtless have followed success, & an eternal dis- grace would have attached to the campaign of 1779.

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