Ohio History Journal

A LETTER FROM COLONEL JOHN ALLEN

 

 

BY EDGAR B. WESLEY

 

John Allen, author of the following letter, was the

son of James Allen and was born in Rockbridge

County, Virginia, on December 30, 1772.1 The family

moved to Kentucky, in 1787, and settled near the present

Hustonville, Lincoln County. John experienced the

usual excitements of the frontier, and on one occasion

pursued a band of Indians down Rolling Fork into

what is now Casey County.² About 1790, the family

moved to Simpson's Creek in Nelson County. Young

Allen was sent to school at Bardstown and then to

Staunton, Virginia, to study law. He returned and

opened his law practice at Shelbyville, in 1795, and be-

came unusually successful within a short time. On

October 19, 1799, he married Jenny Logan, daughter

of Benjamin and Sally Logan.³ In 1808, he made the

race for governor against General Charles Scott, and

in spite of his youth, being about thirty-six, and his

lack of military fame, he made a creditable showing.4

 

1 Biographical Encyclopaedia of Kentucky, 411; Charles K. Gardner,

Dictionary of the Army of the United States, 37.

2 William B. Allen, History of Kentucky, 340-341. The author was a

nephew of Colonel John Allen, but he pays surprisingly little attention to

his uncle.

3 "Marriage Bonds of Shelby County," in Ky. State Hist. Soc.

Register, XXIII, 74. The records show that the girl's name was Jean.

Benjamin Logan was one of the most famous of Kentucky pioneers. He

was in Lord Dunmore's War, in 1774, visited Kentucky in 1775, and

moved in the following year and founded Logan's Station, one mile west

of Stanford, Lincoln County. He took part in many Indian expeditions,

was a member of the conventions of 1792 and 1799, and served repeatedly

in the Legislature. He moved to Shelby County, Kentucky, about 1785.

4 Allen, op. cit., 77.

(332)

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A Letter from Colonel John Allen      333

The opening of the War of 1812 found Allen ready

and eager to offer his services. The regiments under

the command of Colonels Allen, John M. Scott and

William Lewis rendezvoused at Georgetown on August

15. On the next day they were reviewed by Governor

Scott, and Generals James Winchester and John Payne,

and then treated to one of Henry Clay's stirring ora-

tions.⁵ The army then started northward toward Cin-

cinnati.6

Allen's letter gives a fairly connected account of

events up to October 3. Just after that date a threat-

ened revolt in his regiment was prevented by the tactful

and patriotic appeal of the popular Harrison.⁷ The part

of the army under Winchester advanced to the lower

Maumee and built blockhouses for their winter quarters,

and Harrison enlarged his scheme of attacks. Early in

January, 1813, the inhabitants of Frenchtown appealed

for protection, and Lewis and Allen responded to the

call with several hundred men, and on the eighteenth

won the notable Battle of Frenchtown. On the twenty-

second, when the British army attacked the unsuspecting

and unprepared Winchester, Allen was within the stock-

ade, but he sallied out to rally a retreating group. In

the fighting he was separated from his companions and

was wounded. He ran for some two miles and sat down

upon a log to rest. An Indian demanded that he sur-

render, and a second approached with threatening ges-

 

5  Robert B. McAfee, A History of the Late War in the Western

Country, 103-105.

6  For a parallel account of this journey from Georgetown to Defiance

see Milo M. Quaife, ed., "A Diary of the War of 1812," in Miss. Val. Hist.

Rev., I, 272-278. This diary assists greatly in assigning definite dates to

events.

7  Mann Butler, History of Kentucky, 356-358; McAfee, op. cit., 146.

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334         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

tures. Allen instantly killed the second but was imme-

diately shot dead by a third.8

Allen wrote frequent letters to his wife during the

campaign, the last of which was written on the twenty-

first of January, evidently on the evening before the

fatal battle. In it he said: "We meet the enemy to-

morrow. I trust that we will render a good account of

ourselves, or that I will never live to tell the tale of our

disgrace." There was no disgrace, but his life was one

of the many whose loss has made the "Raisin" one of the

most tragic words in American history. His body was

probably among those buried by the troops on October

15, 1813, upon their return from the Battle of the

Thames. If so, his remains rest at Frankfort.⁹ His

name is honored in a unique manner, for three counties

are named after him, one each, in Ohio, Indiana, and

Kentucky;10 so in a large sense he belongs to all three

states.

LETTERS FROM COLONEL ALLEN

Camp at Defiance11

Dr. Sir12

2nd Octr. 1812.

After leaving Geo Town in Kentucky we had had incessantly

8 There are numerous accounts of the closing scene of Allen's life,

but all are tantalizingly brief and uncertain. Caleb Atwater, A History of

Ohio, 206-208, is as satisfactory as any single one.

9 A. C. Quisenberry, "A Hundred Years Ago, the River Raisin," in

Ky. State Hist. Soc., Register, XI, 26-27.

10 Henry Howe, Historical Collections of Ohio, I, 241; Quisenberry, op.

cit., 25; Wallace A. Brice, History of Fort Wayne, 212; H. S. Knapp,

History of the Maumee Valley, 378.

11 Fort Defiance was built by Wayne in 1794, but was little used after

his campaign. Winchester's army tried two or three locations and finally

settled a few miles below the site of Wayne's fort. A. A. Graham, "Mili-

tary Posts in Ohio," in Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publica-

tions, III, 307.

12 This letter was addressed to Judge William Logan, Allen's brother-

in-law. It passed into the possession of Thomas T. Crittenden, Allen's

grandson, who presented it to the Missouri Historical Society in 1877.

Acknowledgments are due the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, for

its generous permission to use the letter.

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A Letter from Colonel John Allen             335

 

wet weather until the day we arrived at Newport,13  The arms

then became a subject of notice -- This with the quartermasters

department and who should command14 &c took up a few days

the two latter of which difficulties grew out of the information that

Detroit was taken -- Before the adjustment thereof Genl. Har-

rison Came up & took the command -- directed the army to

march to Dayton & delayed himself to arrange with the qr

Master as to provisions & -- Near Dayton we were Joined by

Genl. Harrison & directed to March to Picqua15 -- to which the

army were progressing when information arrived that Ft. Wayne

was beseiged by the indians -- & was in great Danger of being

taken I was then ordered with my regt. to leave our heavy Bag-

gage -- draw amunition & proceed to Ft. Wayne under which

order I Left the army and marched with my regt. to Picqua where'

I recd a second order to stop until I recd. three companies de-

tached from Scotts & Lewis's regmts to be joined with mine with

whom I was again proceeding haste when I recd. a further order

from Genl. Harrison that in consequence of information of a

force sent from Malden16 to take Ft. Wayne The enemy would

in all probability be too strong for the numbers I had with me

and therefore to proceed to St. Marys17 & wait for the whole

army which he was bringing up, which was done-- from St.

Marys the army proceeded to Ft. Wayne -- The Indians had got

possession of the town only & from the houses were pressing the

Ft. closely -- The Captain18 of the garrison found means by an

Indian boy to Burn some of the houses & the Indians burned the

residue and fled -- we came up while the ruins were smoking --

Thus the Fort was once saved by us

Genl. Harrison then detached Colo. Wells19 with the regulars

& Colo. Scotts regt. to Destroy the Pottowattomy Town on the

13 The main army left Georgetown August 19 and arrived at Newport

on August 23. All writers note the rainy weather.

14 The issue was between Harrison and Winchester. Technicalities

favored Winchester temporarily, but Harrison soon won out because of his

popularity on account of Tippecanoe.

15 Piqua was located a few miles above the present city. Allen reached

there on September 3.

16 Fort Malden, or Amherstburg, was on the east side of the Detroit

River near its mouth, and some fifteen miles south of Detroit.

17 Allen's regiment reached the St. Mary's River at Girtystown on

September 8. The army marched down the St. Mary's to Fort Wayne which

they reached and relieved on September 12.

18 James Rhea.

19 Samuel Wells with about one thousand men was sent out on Sep-

tember 14. Further particulars may be found in McAfee, op. cit., 129-130;

Quaife, op. cit., 276-277.

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336       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

Elkhart river waters of lake Michigan about 60 miles From Ft.

Wayne & the Turtles Town about 15 miles from Ft. Wayne also

detached Genl. Payne with Colo. Lewis's & my Regts to destroy

the Towns about the Forks of the Wabash -- We did our work

and returned a good deal fatigued the thickets thro which we had

to force our way nearly wore out our cloaths and the swamps &

thickets very much jaded our horses -- for besides the minor

swampings they were occasionally so deep that we had to throw

ourselves off and let them scuffle out^{20 --} on our arrival at Ft.

Wayne on our return we found Colo. Simrall21 with his regmt of

horse -- afterward Colo Wells returned having destroyed the

Town on Elkhart but for the want of provisions had not delayed

to destroy the Turtles town -- Colo. Simrall & his horse were

then sent off who destroyed that town & returned^{22 --} Genl. Har-

rison then gave up to Genl. Winchester the troops then at Ft.

Wayne (except Simralls horse) This had nearly produced a

revolt but by the exertion of the officers all was got smoothe

again²³

during all this we had heard nothing further from the British

detachment from Malden -- which we had heard was Mjr. Cham-

bers²⁴ with 200 to 300 British & some pieces of Artillary &

Tecomsah (who they had made a Brigadier Genl.) with from

600 to 900 Indians -- Genl. Harrison set out to return to St.

Marys to forward on Colo. Jennyngs25 with provisions for us to

the mouth of The Auglase where Fort Defiance had stood -- (say

60 miles from St. Marys) -- Genl. Winchester with Colo. Well's

Colo Scotts's -- Colo. Lewis's & The rifle regt. under my com-

mand & Capt. Garrards26 troop of horses set out for Defiance

say 47 or 50 miles from Ft. Wayne -- Capt. B. W. Ballard^{27 --}

Leut. Harrison Monday of Capt. Kerleys Company of my regt.

Ensign James Liggett of Colo Wells²⁸ regt. & 60 men chiefly from

my regt. were organized into a Spy Company & detached on that

 

20 Payne's division left on the fourteenth and returned on the eighteenth

just ahead of Wells's expedition.

21 James Simrall with 320 men arrived at Fort Wayne on September

17. Butler, op. cit., 350.

22 Simrall's expedition left on the eighteenth and returned on the next

day.

23 For a fuller account see McAfee, op. cit., 131-135.

24 Chambers was captured in the Battle of the Thames and imprisoned

in the penitentiary at Frankfort in spite of British protests.

25 William Jennings.

26 William Garrard.

27 Bland W. Ballard.

28 Harrison Munday of Capt. Jeremiah Kertley's Company from Madi-

son County, Kentucky.

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A Letter from Colonel John Allen          337

 

service -- We proceeded slowly having the road to cut -- On the

Evening of the 2₅th. Ulto Capt. Ballard came to camp to draw

provisions to report & to receive orders if any further were to be

given -- also informed me that Ensign Liggett with four others

had left them to proceed to Defiance which gave us both unasiness

-- on the next day several alarms had delayed us much -- Capt.

Ballard returned with the spies with him & informed that Ligget

& the four men with him had been killed & scalped29 that the

Indians were about them so strong that he was unwilling to give

them battle and therefore had returned & was closely pursued --

From what afterwards appeared he made a very masterly retread

or he would have been cut of for they were not only beyond him

in numbers but Many of them mounted he also reported that

many of them were dressed in blue The same Evening Liuten-

ant Monday with part of the Spies with him had fallen in with

another party of indians apparently too strong for him but being

evidently near a larger party & he in a situation not likely to es-

cape if then seen -- Made a bold and desperate charge which

made the indians run which gave him an opportunity to gain ad-

vantageous ground & run & so he & his party escaped with a very

hard race30

Next morning Capt. Ballard with 45 Men & Capt. Garrards

horse were sent out to Bury the dead to spy & report & c -- The

horse were directed to Keep behind the foot Spies about 200

yards so as to be in supporting distance & at the same time not

be so near as by their noise to interrupt his hearing & c They

had a deep difficult creek to pass -- which retarded the horse so

as to throw them nearly a quarter of a Mile behind--at this

difficult place the Indians attempted an attack on Ballard but

he having crossed at a place not exactly suiting their ambuscade

they were obliged to show themselves in part -- both parties Run

to gain the highest ground -- The Indians gained it & the Battle

Began one of our men of Capt. Edmonstons³1 Company of my

regmt was wounded in the ancle which was all the injury we then

sustained the fire of our men were so well directed that I believe

nearly Every Shot hit two or three were seen to fall--The

Charge made by Ballard & his Company & the noise of the horse

coming to his support made the indians give way -- They were per-

sued and driven across the Miami River32 -- From the best account

29 Liggett and his four companions were killed on September 25.

30 This convincing account of Munday proves that Brice (History of

Fort Wayne, 222), was mistaken in saying that he was courtmartialed, and

left for Kentucky after resigning. Brice continues his account of Munday's

activities as though nothing had happened to him.

31 John Edmonson.

32 Maumee, of course; formerly called the Miami of the Lakes.

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338       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

I can get of those in different places in & near the action there

were about 100 Indians -- The dead who had been previously

killed were buried -- The next morning a firing by the Spies in

front of the March This with the large trales & indian signs

induced a suspicion that they intended to fight us -- none of our

spies were hurt but they found Indian blood -- we were then in

an old trace & had the Miami to Cross & from appearances &

concil held it was suposed they were ready for us at the fording

& would attack us in the river which was deep -- This caused us

to wheel off & cross the river at a different place higher up --

Immediately on gaining the Bank we discovered a large trale &

marks of waggon wheels which at first was supposed to be Colo.

Jennyngs Regt with our provisions which had gone down altho

a little out of its way -- But the Mistake was soon discovered

They turned out to be a large party of British & Indians going

with artillary towards Ft. Wayne But about opposite the place

where Ballard had departed the party they had turned round &

gone Back had escaped in an advantageous place below the fording

& waited for us but on being defeated in their intention at the river

they had decamped put their artillary in some kind of craft &

had hurried off33 -- At that time we were out of flour & nearly

out of beef so that we could not pursue I have not tasted bread

since our last Beef has been killed & we are on the Brink of

being out of provisions. Something had delayed Colo. Jennyngs

& in addition to this his spies having discovered so much appear-

ance of Indians where we now are that he had stopped to build

a Blockhouse we sent an Escort & this Evening (a few minutes

ago) some flour arrived -- Thus we a second time have saved

Ft. Wayne for there is now no doubt with us it was the party

of British & indians we had heard of with Chambers & Tecomsah

who were thus on their way to take Ft. Wayne It so turned

round by us Their spies had killed our friend Liggitt & the four

others with him who were fine young men of Capt McCrackins³⁴

Company of my regt. (My feelings are much hurt & roused by

the incident.)

3rd. Octr 1812

Same Camp

Last night Genl. Harrison arrived in Camp having left near

1000 horsemen encamped within a very few miles of us--He

had an Express from Ft. Erie Apprizing him that about 150

33 For further facts about the repulse of the hostile party on September

27, see McAfee, op. cit., 136.

34 Virgil McCracken, who was killed at the Raisin.

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A Letter from Colonel John Allen         339 British from 2 to 300 Canadians & 2000 Indians with Artillary35 &c having set out from Maiden to take Ft. Wayne and feared for our situation Besides this he had been informed about the same time that they had fronted us that we were nearly out of provisions & fortified but not in a situation to fight them and were thus in imminent danger of being cut off -- This latter part of the tale is incorrect -- It is true we were nearly out of provisions and our men hungry -- that we had evaded an ambuscade which was laid for us that we had as usual every evening fortified our camp -- But it is also true that we were willing to fight and anxious to come up with the enemy -- all regretted that we had not provisions to justify a pursuit & indeed many were anxious to give chase even without provisions But observe at this time we had not heard from Jennyngs we were not certain that he had set out or if set out we did not know but that he was cut off and the provisions taken -- we were then sixty miles from St. Marys where the provisions were deposited without plans and with only about 3 days beef In pursuing the enemy we should have been going farther from the provisions and so endangering the men My time fails I must stop for the present -- My love to my Jenny & our children also respects to my friends JOHN ALLEN. [Address on outside] Judge William Logan Shelby County Ky 35 McAfee (op. cit., 136), gives the numbers as 200 regulars, 1000 Indians and four pieces of artillery.

Vol. XXXVI--22.

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