LETTERS FROM DR. JOSEPH STRONG TO
CAPTAIN
JOHN PRATT
Edited by LOCKWOOD BARR*
The Yale Journal of Biology and
Medicine (Vol. XIII, No.
4, March, 1941), published extracts from
the biography of Doctor
Joseph Strong (Yale, 1788), written by
one of his descendants,
Lockwood Barr (Yale, 1905). Since that
publication there have
been found in the Connecticut State
Library fourteen heretofore
unknown letters written by Dr. Strong
during 1793-1795 while
serving in the Legion of General Anthony
Wayne in his Ohio
campaign against the Indians. These
letters were addressed by
Strong to his close friend Captain John
Pratt, at Middletown,
Connecticut, where the latter was then
residing, having retired
from active service as Quartermaster in
the Legion because of
ill health.
Dr. Strong and Captain Pratt had been
associated in some
manner while they had both resided in
Middletown, 1791-1792,
before joining the Legion. Captain Pratt
had been commissioned
as a recruiting officer with
headquarters in Middletown. Dr.
Strong in one of his letters to Dr.
Cogswell wrote that he had been
called suddenly and unexpectedly to
leave "my Post in Middle-
town" and join the Legion in
Philadelphia. Perhaps Dr. Strong
was serving
in Middletown under Captain Pratt as a medical
examiner for recruits. Whatever their
relation, the two evidently
had the same circle of personal
acquaintances, although Captain
Pratt was some 17 years older than Dr.
Strong. When they went
into the Legion, Captain Pratt as
Quartermaster and Dr. Strong
as surgeon's mate, they evidently were
in the same group, since
in Captain Pratt's certificate of
disability, dated November, 1793,
Dr. Strong states that Pratt "has
been a patient of mine since
the movement of the Army."
* Lockwood Barr is an amateur
genealogist, living in New York City.
(236)
DR. JOSEPH STRONG LETTERS 237
The book entitled The Ancestry and
Descendants of John
Pratt of Hartford, by Charles B. Whittelsey (Hartford, 1900, pp.
46-47), gives the following resume of
Captain John Pratt, patriot
of the Revolution:
Capt. Pratt was the son of Zachariah,
son of William, son of John,
son of John, son of John. Capt. Pratt
was born October 12, 1753, in
Hartford. He died December 27,
1824. On February 28, 1795, he mar
ried Elizabeth Cooper (1761-1862),
daughter of Lamberton and Eliza-
beth Cooper of Middletown.
Pratt served in the American Revolution
as a lieutenant in the 3rd
and 4th Pennsylvania Regiments. In 1779
he was made Assistant Com-
missary General, under General James
Clinton, with headquarters at
Albany, N. Y. In 1791 George Washington
appointed him a Captain
in the first regiment in the service of
the United States, and a few
weeks later Secretary of War, General
Knox, ordered Capt. Pratt to
immediately commence recruiting in
Connecticut with headquarters at
Middletown for service in the Legion of
Gen. Anthony Wayne for his
campaign in Ohio against the Indians.
After 17 years of service he retired
from the army, and in 1793
purchased a farm not far from
Middletown. He served in the Connecti-
cut State Legislature during 1799,
1806-7-8 and 1809. During the
visit of Lafayette to America in 1824,
Capt. Pratt officially welcomed
him to Middletown and presided at the
reception given in that city.
Pratt was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
* * * *
Extracts from the letters from Dr.
Strong to Captain Pratt,
in the Connecticut State Library,
Hartford, Connecticut, follow:
From Philadelphia, Dr. Strong on
December 22, 1792, wrote
Captain Pratt, 1st U. S. Regt., New
Brunswick (N. J.), in part:
.
. . I had a lengthy passage from Brunswick to Philadelphia, I
arrived in this City 12 o'clock at night
the day I left you. I am at the
Conastoga Waggon in good quarters. . . .
I visited the War office this
morning & delivered your letter to
Major Stagg. The God of War
[Gen. Wayne?] was present & he shook
my hand with a good smile.
He told me to go on to Pittsburgh with
the Detachment. I have been
introduced to Gen. Harmon. Spent two
hours with him today; he
says you are the best man for Quarter
Master General he knows. I am
very happy you have received your orders
to come here. I wish you
to oversee the transportation of my
things here, as I shall not return.
There can be no necessity for my return
since the Troops are all to
march from this port & you are to
come here . . .
238
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
In a letter dated February 4, 1793, he wrote
Captain Pratt
who was then in Middletown, Conn.:
. . . I arrived at Pittsburgh in 9 days after I
left Philadelphia &
finished my business to the full
satisfaction of Major Swan. I have
written to Gen. Wayne & await his
orders . . . I think it likely I shall
go to Ft. Washington [Cincinnati] as
Doctor Allison has written very
strongly to Genl. Wayne for an Adjutant
in the medical line. There is
no one who can be sent from Legion Ville
until Dr. Andrews &
myself arrive. I shall not urge the
matter, but hope to go & deliver
all your letters down the Ohio . . . I
am at Ft. Fayette with officers.
Yesterday I was invited to go on a visit
to Doctor McDowells. I
delivered your good letter and he was
pleased to hear from a friend
whom he highly valued . . . Doctor
McDowell wishes very much for
a quart of blue grass seed. If you will
send a part or all at any op-
portunity, he would acknowledge it very
much. He wants it for his
farm . . .
* * * *
From
Headquarters at Legion Ville, March 4, 1793, Dr.
Strong wrote Captain Pratt in
Middletown:
. . . I wish I knew whether you would
continue in the Army or
resign. Capt. Mills has reported in a
letter to Lt. Turner that Capt.
Pratt, Capt. Buell & Hunt were
ordered to Head Quarters. It is be-
lieved here & your friends wish you
to come on very much indeed.
The 1st Regiment comes under your
command. Capt. Jeffer now com-
mands it. He told me that you had been
his benefactor, but if you
arrived he must give up his present
command . . . There is in general
a friendship subsisting between the
officers; but some bitter enmities.
The Cavalry
& Artillery agree much better than Infantry & Artillery.
One officer has sent another a Challenge
to a duel today--Janifer &
Devins are the names. Whether they will
fight will be know tomorrow.
Duelling is in my opinion a wretched
resort for the protection of mili-
tary honor, yet many consider it the
only paladium for a broken
character . . . Capt. Collins has just
arrived in this place from a journey
of 2200 miles in the Indian Country. He
was employed by Gen. Wil-
kinson as a spy in disguises to find out
the disposition of the savages.
He says the Indians are extremely
hostile & have all declared in the
most pointed terms that the only ground
of a lasting treaty must be
founded in giving up all lands on the
western & northwestern side of
the Ohio river . . .
* * * *
From Ft. Washington (Cincinnati) on May
14, 1793, Dr.
Strong wrote Capt. Pratt:
. . . Major Doyle, Capt. Guion & his
company will descend the Ohio
river in a few days to build a garrison
near the mouth of the Tennessee.
DR. JOSEPH STRONG LETTERS 239
It will be called Ft. Massack. It is
considered by some as a dangerous
enterprise. The object of this business
is to protect the Spanish settle-
ments from Kentucky . . . Hamilton
Armstrong lately fought a Duel
with Devin, in which he received a wound
through the left side of his
head. The ball entered the cheek near
the nose, passed out behind the
car. The wound is not mortal. He is now under my care &
is recover-
ing. Duelling is but a miserable
resource for the security of wounded
honor. It makes wounds but does not heal
them . . . Ft. Jefferson is
soon to be evacuated and the route to
Green Ville is to be on the
Miami. I know nothing of the designs of
the Commander-in-Chief--
it is expected he will move on to the
Miami & Anglaire waters this
summer if possible . . .
In Nov., 1793, Dr. Strong wrote for Capt.
Pratt the following
certificate of disability, which is now
in the Wayne Documents in
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:
I certify that Capt. John Pratt of the
United States Legion has
been a patient of mine since the
movement of the Army: that his dis-
order at first was a remitting fever
which passed through a course of
the most severe symptoms and terminated
in an obstinate and very
debilitating intermittent and left him
in a state which from present
appearances will not admit his doing his
duties required of an officer
during the ensuing winter.
Given under my hand at Ft. Washington
[Cincinnati] this 23rd
day of November 1793.
(signed) Joseph Strong
Surgeon's Mate
2nd S. Legion
To his Excellency
Major Genl. Wayne
Comd. in Chief U. S. Legion
Dr. Strong on August 9, 1794, at Ft.
Washington, wrote to
"John Pratt, Esquire" at
Middletown expressing the wish that
he might visit him:
. . . but my friend, I cannot forsake my
charge at this trying hour.
Our friends are now on the lake waters
pursuing the savages & I am
here alone preparing to receive the
wounded & distressed. Major Cass is
in this Garrison with a fractured leg.
He has required my constant
240 OHIO
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
attention for three
months in order to prevent mortification. He is now
beyond the power of
it, unless a new cause arises. It has been the
most troublesome case
I ever took unto my care . . .
* * * *
From Ft. Washington,
September 6, 1794, Dr. Strong wrote:
. . . the express
leaves this place for Philadelphia in a few mo-
ments to carry the
welcome tidings of Victory over the savages. The
enemy attacked Gen.
Wayne's army on the Maumee of the Lakes a few
miles above Ronche de
Bout on the 20th of August about 10 o'clock
a. m. They kept up a
scattering & retiring & feeble fire for about an
hour & retreated
about a mile during that session. They then fled
before the surge made
by our troops & the field was truly ours. They
left about 30 dead on
the ground of battle. On our side
were
killed of regulars.................. 24
wounded ......................... 89
113 killed &
wounded
Killed of Militia Volunteers.......
7
wounded ......................... 13
20 killed &
wounded
Capt. Robt. M.
Cambell, a worthy & respectable officer, with Lt.
Henry B. Towels sleep
on the bed of honor in pleasant repose. Capt.
Slough, Prior,
Vanranselear, Lt. Cambell & Smith are wounded. The
army are now at Ft.
Defiance at the junction of the Maumee River &
the Anglaire with the
wounded . . .
* *
* *
On September 28, 1794,
from Ft. Washington, Strong wrote:
. . . Genl. Wilkinson
has pressed me with the urgency to go up the
river with him &
his lady & thence to Philadelphia. It is suggested that
I may go on to Phil.
to purchase Medicines & Stores for the Army for
the year 1795 . . .
The Army, I believe, are now at the old Miami
Village, though no
express has arrived lately. They left Ft. Defiance
at the junction of the
Anglaire river & the Maumee on the 13th inst.
for the Maumee towns
& it is but 5 days march . . .
* * * *
On January 15, 1795,
Dr. Strong wrote:
. . . Ft. Washington
is at present a lively place. There are 300
men in Garrison with
Capt. Lyman, Bissell, Grayson, Lighterer, Rich-
mond & Ferro.
Genl. Wilkinson, Col. Strong, Major Cass, Thaumburg,
Capt. Guion . . . Dr.
Allison is here. A daughter was born to Mrs.
DR. JOSEPH STRONG LETTERS 241
Allison of late but alas it died 3 days
after birth. Mrs. Ford has a
fine daughter living . . . There is at
this time every appearance of a
lasting pacification with the Indians in
the spring. Four tribes have
come to the cantonment at Green Ville
signifying a desire for peace
with the U. S. & declare that all
hostile tribes will join them in a short
season . . . Lord Dorchester has sent a
letter of friendship to Genl.
Wayne by the Indians who have arrived.
We have two French traders
at Ft. Wayne from Detroit . . .
* * * *
On February 18, 1795, from Ft.
Washington Dr. Strong re-
ported to Captain Pratt:
. . . The treaty [with the Indians] is
to be held at Greenville on
the 15th of June. I expect to be present
& think it will be interesting.
The moment it is finished I shall make
an attempt to return to visit
you. Col. Strong will accompany me. Your
friends here are well.
Guion & myself are mess mates. Gen.
Wilkinson & Lady are here.
Doctor Allison is here. Mrs. Allison has
been very ill. Mr. Hunt
is the bearer of this letter enclosed to
Dr. Smith, N. Y. This day I
received orders from Gen. Wayne to repair to Head Quarters. I
shall go on the 25th inst. there to
remain until a treaty is concluded . . .
* * * *
From Headquarters, April 22, 1795, Dr.
Strong wrote:
. . . I cannot leave this place until
the issue of the approaching
Treaty is known. It promises to be
effective & most interesting to the
public than any one of former date. It
will commence 15th June &
probably be ratified by 4th July. There
are great preparations making
to celebrate the day as a festival &
to illuminate the night with all kinds
of fireworks . . . The Indians are
constantly visiting us with small
parties, bringing skins of furs to
traffic with our merchants . . . Doctor
Carmichael, Brown, Seleman & myself
are all the faculty on the ground.
There is a Sub Legion for each of us.
Elliott is at Ft. Wayne with
Col. H. Scott is on a tour of pleasure
in Kentucky. Col. Strong is
here & we shall start on our eastern
tour together soon after the
Treaty is executed. General Wilkinson, Doctor Allison, Guion
still
in arrest, are all at Ft. Washington.
Capt. Ford at Columbus. Cass
and Hunt like two twin majors are kept
at Ft. Defiance . . .
* * * *
From Green Ville, July 10, 1795,
while the negotiations for
the Treaty of Peace were being arranged,
Dr. Strong wrote:
. . . The Treaty is in hand & the
good work of peace will be
finished I believe in the month of
August. Dr. Rhees, the bearer of
242 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL
AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
this letter, has promised to visit you.
He has lived with me for 3
weeks & has attended the Council
House where Indian eloquence
comes forth rapidly like a torrent. He
will give you an intelligent
account of this affair. He is an
immigrant from Wales, of the Clerical
order, an enemy to tyrants, a true
philanthropist, a generous republican.
He exercrates the overgrown oppression
of the English government &
weeps for millions who have so long
groaned in their inhuman vassalage
to despots. You will discover in him the
traits of the scholar &
Christian. I wish you to make him happy
while he is in Middletown.
He is travelling the northern states to
see the country & collect in-
formation. He came from Georgia through
the wilderness . . .
* * * *
The last letter in the collection is
dated Head Quarters,
Green Ville, August 25, 1795:
. . . Col. Strong is setting forth for
Ft. Washington. He is de-
termined not to visit N. E. this fall.
He cannot without resigning his
army appointment. The great Mogul is
against it. Though he says I
may go in a few weeks, when the sickly
season is over. I have the
care of the 1st & 2nd Legions.
Business is abundant for one man, to
prescribe for & visit 80 patients in
a day . . .
* * * *
General Anthony Wayne concluded his
Treaty with the
Indians in August, 1795. On May 1,
1796, Dr. Strong resigned
his commission and, instead of settling
in New England as he had
anticipated in his letters to Captain
Pratt, he began the practice
of medicine in Philadelphia where he
married and remained until
his death in 1812.