Ohio History Journal

ME -SHE -KUN-NOGH -QUAH,

OR LITTLE TURTLE-1783-1812.

N. B. C. LOVE, D. D.

O River, weird historic water,

What tales of bloody human slaughter

What scenes of hate, and tragic acts,

What woeful pictures, solemn facts,

Thou couldst before the world portray!

What greed and hate and wrong betray!

No subject claimed the attention of President Washington

more after the close of the War of the Revolution 1784 up to

his death 1799, than the settlement

and occupancy of the territory ceded

to the United States by England.

With that part of this territory

known as the Northwest, we are es-

pecially interested in when writing of

the life of Little Turtle, the great

Miami Chief. The scenes of his life

are  located  here. The    territory

known as the Maumee Basin, includes

Northwestern Ohio, Southern Michi-

gan and Northwestern Indiana. At

the ending of the 18th Century and

the beginning of the 19th, it was a

region of vast natural resources. Its

fertile soil, and natural drainage by

creeks and rivers, into the lakes, made it productive of vast for-

ests, wide prairies covered with nutritious grass, and valleys pro-

ducing, with little cultivation, immense crops. The streams and

lakes abounded in choice fish, and the forests in wild animals in

great variety and numbers. Wild nuts and fruits were plentiful

and could be laid by in store for winter use.

115

116      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

The Indians raised large quantities of corn, pumpkins and

beans. General Wayne reports continuous fields of corn along

the Auglaize, Maumee and St. Joseph rivers.

Huts of bark and poles were easily made, the bark of the

elm being a substitute for shingles and boards.

The skins of animals furnished clothing and bedding. Large

trees were shaped into canoes and pirogues.

After the French Traders penetrated these wilds the In-

dians sold them choice furs, taking in return trinkets, vessels

for cooking, axes, tomahawks, knives, guns and ammunition.

Also cotton and woolen goods for clothing.

The French and other trading posts were mostly on navi-

gable streams, that is to the canoe and larger craft.

Unfortunately, rum was a standard article of trade. The

Spanish, French, Dutch, English and American traders were

alike guilty, and then as now was a

prime cause of blood shedding and

savagery.

At the close of the War of the

Revolution the English continued to

encourage the Indians in their hostili-

ties against the American settlers.

Gen. W. H. Harrison, who was a

member of Gen. Wayne's Staff, and

Commander of the American Army

in 1812-1814, witnesses to this effect,

but indeed we know of no historian

who denies it. And up to 1795 the

English urged the Indians to claim

the Ohio River as the boundary line

between them and the United States, which they perseveringly

did up to 1795.

During the seven years' war with England the Indians gen-

erally sided with that government. Of course, the borders of

the United States suffered greatly from the savage attacks. The

backwoodsmen were not slow at retaliation, and engaged some-

times in the promiscuous killing of Indians, men, women and

children, and how dreadful for men calling themselves Chris-

118      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

ary the Mississippi River, but notwithstanding, the British did

not surrender the fortified posts along the chain of the lakes

from Niagara to Mackinac. The British were strong, and we

were weak, and had to, for the time, consent tacitly. For 15

years this violation of the treaty existed, and all this time the

unsurrendered posts were the rallying points of the Indian

Tribes; receiving their furs and other articles of trade, giving in

return clothes, utensils, guns, knives, tomahawks and ammuni-

tion. The emissaries of England had helped to formulate the

thoughts in  the   Eastern

States of opposition to the

expansion of the government

throughout the West.  They

said the West and Northwest

were not worth what it would

cost to make them inhabit-

able.

When in 1790 Washing-

ton issued a call for volun-

teers but few responded, and

men were drafted in New

York and Pennsylvania for

St. Clair's army.

England set up the ex-

cuse for continued violation

of the treaty that the Ameri-

cans had not kept good the

treaty of 1784 by making good certain losses claimed by English-

men. This territory was organized as the "Northwest Terri-

tory" in 1787 with Gen. Arthur St. Clair as Governor.

Emigration set in from the east. Settlements sprung into

existence. Marietta and Cincinnati were founded. Lands were

surveyed, granted to companies and purchased. The Indians

became enraged; their hunting grounds were invaded. Some-

thing had to be done. The Indians could count on compara-

tively a large army of brave trained marksmen as soldiers, with

the source of supplies in the English Forts. Savages foraged

the borders of civilization to kill, plunder and burn. St. Clair

120      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

adopted Indian life readily, yet his blood told, for he was un-

like the Girtys, and Magee and other renegade white men, who,

no doubt, had inherited vile traits from their low down and

ignorant parents. As Wells grew up to manhood he won the

esteem and affection of Little Turtle and wife. In time he won

and married his adopted sister, Little Turtle's beautiful daugh-

ter, and thus Wells became in fact the son-in-law of Little Tur-

tle. He and his foster father became life-long friends.

Wells took a prominent part in the campaign against Har-

mar and St. Clair, and rendered valuable services. Also in the

Chief's associations with the English he was principal inter-

preter.

On the eve of the Battle of the Rapids, or "Fallen Tim-

bers," Captain Wells was satisfied from what he had learned of

the feeling of the American Government, the ability of Gen.

Wayne as a Commander, and the large and well organized army

122      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

that would, he thought, end in victory: it was with a part of

the Indian army to hold Wayne in check, but fall back. Let a

large part of the army that night quietly ford the river and

make forced marches for the rear and deposit of supplies.

Then join the army on the north side again. To all Little Turtle

proposed Blue Jacket vehemently objected, even calling Little

Turtle a coward. Little Turtle in his reserved but concise way

only replied: "Follow me!"

Of the battle the next day we shall speak later. The plan

of the fight for the next day was all arranged that night. Little

Turtle was in command. One authority that we know of,

among the older historians, says that Blue Jacket was in com-

mand. Another says Brant was, but all others say Little Turtle

was the Commander-in-Chief.

Little Turtle accepted Wayne's offer of peace after the bat-

tle, and the Indians' defeat. He was among the first. Wells'

knowledge of him, and confidence in him, and Wayne's knowl-

edge of Wells and his bravery and loyalty, were in Little Tur-

tle's favor, and his brave effort in the Battle of the Rapids, gave

him credit with the Indians. In the part he took at the Treaty

of Greenville, he was second to none. While he hesitatingly

124      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and adventures, and would laugh heartily with us at the recital

of them."

He said a Kentuckian, a prisoner of the Miamis for some

years, had sought permission to accompany a raiding war party

but was refused, but' at last he gained the opportunity, and went

in a company commanded by Little Turtle. Reaching the bor-

der of a settlement in Kentucky, in the early hours of the morn-

ing they stealthily approached a large hewed log house occupied

by a number of Americans.  A11 was quiet and the Indians were

crawling on their hands and knees, and the Kentuckian, ahead

of the rest, when he suddenly arose and shouting, "Indians! In-

dians!" ran into the house, while the Indians retreated. From

that day on Little Turtle never trusted a white man in conflict

with his own people.

He was a generous and humane chief. Schoolcraft, the

historian, says: "He was alike courageous and humane, pos-

sessing great wisdom. There have been few individuals among

the aborigines that have done so much to abolish the rites of

human sacrifice. The grave of this noted warrior is shown to

visitors near Ft. Wayne. It is frequently visited by Indians in

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.      127

successful. He had hardly returned from his trip when word

came that an American captive had been roasted and eaten by

the Indians at the headwaters of the Maumee. Also that all the

Indian Tribes had sent war parties to massacre the invaders of

Indian territories, and even to attack settlements south and east

of the Ohio.

This threw a damper upon peace efforts, and the border

whites under Generals Scott and Wilkinson, and others, paid the

Indians back in their own coin.

During this period Little Turtle was a recognized leader

and adviser in war movements among the aborigines. After the

Treaty of Greenville, border wars

ceased until Tecumseh and his

brother undertook the formation of

an Indian confederacy to drive the

white men back. His plans em-

braced a battle line of a thousand

miles, extending from the Lakes of

the North to the Gulf. It was

largely a failure. The distance was

too great and communication too

slow. His brother, The Prophet,

precipitated the war in 1811. Har-

rison defeated him at Tippecanoe,

Indiana. The influence of Little

Turtle and other prominent chief-

tains were against this war. They had not forgotten Wayne's

victory.

We must not forget the fact that the Indian Tribes as such,

were divided in their adherence to the whites. The largest num-

ber were for peace, and were true to the American Government.

These "friendly Indians" Harrison trusted and controlled dur-

ing peace, before the war of 1812, and during the war, and after-

wards. The others, who had been inspired by Brant and Blue

Jacket to hate the Americans, had a fitting successor in the brave

ardent Tecumseh, who was idolized by his braves, petted and

liberally paid by the English. Of him we need not write. His

complete life has been written at different times and authors,

128      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and fully portrayed by the historians of the last century and the

present. In each battle in which he fought he holds in the his-

torical records a more prominent place than any other Indian

chieftain. The same is true as to the treaty councils in which he

figured. He was an orator, and dressed up to the highest con-

ception of the Indian thought of great magnificence; at times

wearing the costume of an English Brigadier General. Nor did

any white general of His Majesty's army look more imposing.

He was spectacular and yet great, a natural leader of men.

Little Turtle, we think, was a greater chieftain than Te-

cumseh. The latter was more imposing in appearance. Little

Turtle was six feet high, but slender and muscular and not

fleshy.

Tecumseh evinced upon his countenance his emotions. Not

so Little Turtle. He could smile and yet feel angry. He was

said to be cunning, but was simply a diplomat. He had com-

plete control of himself at all times. He was able, fluent, earn-

est, logical and consecutive in his speeches.

180      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

established a home, a permanent home, on the Maumee near Ft.

Wayne, and there attempted a civilized life, planting a field and

rearing domestic animals, but his wild Indian neighbors killed

his animals and tried to make life unpleasant, yet in his retire-

ment he was respected by Indians and white men, the English

and French being among the number.

Tecumseh delighted in war, and brave chieftain as he was,

died in the front of the battle.

It is said by only one writer we have consulted that Little

Turtle had at the same time two wives, one about 50 and the

other 18. This was about 1807. Let this be as it may, he was

a heathen, and had not been the subject of missionary instruc-

tion. The writer thinks the historian that made this statement

was misinformed. Mr. Wolcott had

never heard of it. Little Turtle's

grand-daughter, now 98, says noth-

ing about it.

The money given him for ser-

vices, and the large quantity of land,

by Congress, made him comfortable.

He had a good plain building fur-

nished up to pioneer style, and a

farm cultivated so that he had bread

and meat.

Mr. J. M. Wolcott is the last de-

scendant of the great chieftain in

the lower Maumee. It is claimed by

one history of the Maumee Valley

that there are several people descend-

ants of his about Ft. Wayne, other

than the old lady, Kill-so-quah.

Mr. Wolcott is married but has no children. He has been

recently Mayor of Maumee City, and for several years Trustee

of the Maumee Memorial Association, through which the grand

granite monument now stands on old Fort Meigs, at an expense

of $25,000, besides what was paid for thirty-five acres including

the Fort. The monument and all the land was paid for by the

State, excepting eight acres paid for by the Association.

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.    131

Mr. Wolcott is satisfied that he, as a direct and legal heir,

is entitled to a large tract of land near Ft. Wayne. Mr. Wol-

cott has a Government Patent that was issued for the land, and

upon record at Washington, discovered by his attorney, Hon.

Gen. I. R. Sherwood, member of Congress from the Ninth Ohio

District. The suit is pending and will no doubt, to a great ex-

tent, be in favor of Mr. Wolcott. Gen. Sherwood also found

an old affidavit given by Gen. John E. Hunt, who located in

Maumee in 1815. He was a Major General and Commander at

the time of his death, of the 18th Division of the Ohio militia.

The writer knew Gen. Hunt, and he was an honest reliable

man. The historical

account he gives of

Little Turtle and

family he swore to

before Mr. D. R.

Austin, notary public,

in and for the County

of Lucas, the 29th

day of October, 1870.

It was witnessed by

Victor Keen, clerk of

the Court of Com-

mon Pleas. Gen.

Hunt was only about

nine or ten years of

age when he had

knowledge of the things he swore to in 1870. We knew him in

1870 and he was in his right mind then.

In 1807 General Hunt resided in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and

during his residence became well acquainted with the celebrated

Indian Chief, Little Turtle, of the Miami Tribe of Indians,

whose name was Me-she-kun-nogh-quah. General Hunt, up to

his death knew the living members of Little Turtle's family.

Little Turtle had an adopted son, William Wells, who was after-

wards killed at the Indian massacre at Chicago in 1812. Wells

married the daughter of Little Turtle, whose name was Wan-

mau-ga-pith, or Sweet Breeze.

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.     133

daughter of Col. Samuel Wells, brother of Captain William

Wells.

Col. Wells was in the American Army under Wayne. Cap-

tain Held was in charge of Ft. Dearborn, where Chicago now

stands. He was advised by a friendly chief, Win-ni-mac, to

evacuate and go to Ft. Wayne. William Wells, with twelve

men, had been sent to assist in the retreat. The head chief of

the Pottawatomies, the tribe in that locality, was a bitter enemy

of Captain Wells. His name was Black Bird. His coming ex-

asperated him. Col. John Johnson says, that he had often

spoken of Wells to him in the most bitter terms. Johnson had

been agent there. On the 14th of August a council was held

between the officers and chiefs, and agreed that the whole gar-

rison with their arms and ammunition sufficient for the journey,

and clothing, retire unmolested to Ft. Wayne, and the garrison

and all it contained should be delivered up to the Indians. The

night preceding the evacuation all the powder and whiskey were

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.   135

Her mother was one of the best Miami maidens. The land

she lived on was given her by her mother, who received it from

her father, a chief, Wak-shin-gah, who gave land in Ohio for it.

In 1830 Kilsoquah became the bride of a Miami, John Owl,

but he soon died, and a few years later the grand-daughter of

the great chief married Anthony Revarre, a half-blood Indian

who was known as Shoop-in-au-wah, or Thunder Storm. Re-

varre died in 1849, and his remains are buried on the Reserva-

tion. Here was an Indian burying ground, but all has been

plowed over and the location of the graves lost. Her son, An-

thony Revarre, is now fifty-nine years old, and has charge of the

little farm, and provides well for his

royal  mother,  Kill-so-quah.  He

speaks English well and has a com-

mon English education.

Her husband and she lived in a

log house, but long ago it burned and

was replaced by the little frame

building now standing.

Kill-so-quah a few years ago,

after much entreaty, attended a pio-

neer meeting at Ft. Wayne, and en-

joyed it. Still later, going in an au-

tomobile, she attended one at Co-

lumbia City. She was carried to and

fro in charge of a committee, her son

enjoying her honors. It was a great treat on both occasions to

the almost centenarian, the last full-blooded Indian of the North-

west Territory living in the Wabash and Maumee Valleys; and

no less a pleasure to the thousands who gazed upon her.

She is a large fleshy woman and walks with difficulty. Ex-

cepting the infirmities of age she has never been sick. She, like

most Indians of the Valley, has been an immune to malaria. She

lived close to Nature, and Nature has been a kind mother to her.

Her knowledge of Christianity is limited, but she trusts in the

Great Spirit. Living up to the best light received, she is look-

ing for the "Happy Hunting Grounds" of her forefathers.

136      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

LE BALM'S ADVENTURE AND LITTLE TURTLE'S FIRST BATTLE.

In 1760 the English captured from the French Ft. Miami

at the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's rivers. The

French had held it for fifty years. Three years afterwards

Pontiac took it from the English and the Indians held the posi-

tion for thirty years. During this period it was the scene of

savage and barbarous government. The glory and power of

the Miamis was unchecked until the advent of Wayne.

In 1780 a Frenchman living at Vincennes, conceived the

idea of the surprise and capture of Detroit, which was held by

the English. Vincennes was then

under American rule. Three years

before the intrepid George Rogers

Clark had captured this place from

the British without firing a gun or

shedding blood. No doubt this gave

the thought to Le Balm, a wealthy

Frenchman, of undertaking the sur-

prise and capture of Detroit. His

motive was plunder, but his pretext

was to aid the Americans in their

struggle for liberty. Le Balm quiet-

ly enlisted a hundred men, mostly

Frenchmen. Two French traders

took stock in the enterprise furnish-

ing the sinews of war, money, arms and ammunition.

It was a freebooting expedition without the knowledge or

sanction of the governor of Vincennes. Starting on their jour-

ney these men planned for the capture, first of Ft. Miami. This

they did. No resistance was made by the Indians and French

and English traders, as all were taken by surprise. The victors

tarried but for a day, and went away only a few miles distant.

The French traders were not in favor of pursuing, but a few

young Miamis with Little Turtle, not yet a chief, by the unani-

mous voice of the young braves, was put in command. In turn,

after few nights, Le Balm and his party were taken by sur-

prise by the Miamis, who killed the majority, the others taking

138      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and Ottawa Nations, but the council of sixteen tribes, 1793, of

the Northwestern Indians objected to this treaty, and that of

Fort Stanwix in 1784 as having been brought about by intimi-

dation. This was the last general Indian council before 1795.

The Miamis, Chippewas, Ottawas, Kickapoos, Weas, Pinke-

shaws, Pottawatomies, Kaskaskias, and Eel River Indians,

claimed they had not been through their head chiefs bound by

treaties and councils. The Miamis, with their leaders, Little

Turtle and Le Gris, were at the head of this sentiment.

Washington in 1790 hesitated about offensive war on these

tribes until all peaceful means were exhausted. After this re-

peated efforts were made for peace with these tribes, but with-

out avail. There were those who thought it unwise not to make

a persevering effort with the Indians and secure a final adjust-

ment.

The government decided upon immediate aggressive move-

ments. To delay was only to encourage the Indians in their

obstinancy, and the British in their unscrupulous work of feed-

ing, clothing, and equipping the Indians for the depredatory in-

cursions against Americans.

The first army in this Indian war, organized by the general

140      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

good position, and after a brief fight the Militia fled. The

enemy pursued. One sergeant and twenty-one regulars were

killed. There were in a brief time one hundred Americans killed

and many wounded.

Harmar's other forces had commenced a retreat, but hear-

ing of a body of Indians at one of the burned towns, Harmar

sent Col. Hardin with a strong force to meet them. An en-

gagement ensued. The Indians fought with desperation, rush-

ing on the whites in a hand to hand encounter. During this

time, Indian sharpshooters were picking off the officers. Ma-

jors Fountain and Wyily fell, the former with eighteen bullets.

Fifty-one of the regulars shared the same fate. There was a

total of one hundred and eighty killed and wounded that day.

The officers and troops were brave, but they lacked generalship.

The army should have kept together. There was abundant evi-

142      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

not soon forget. St. Clair's army built Fort Washington at

Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 6th, 1791, advanced twenty miles and

built Fort Hamilton on the east bank of the Great Miami. This

fort was to be headquarters for supplies.

All the spring and summer he had been drilling and equip-

ping his army. While what were offered as reasons for his de-

feat, such as raw soldiers poorly equipped, poor ammunition and

poor arms, when we remember how much time and money was

used to prepare for the battle, lose much of their weight. St.

Clair was out-generaled. He had two thousand four hundred

men, and had this army been kept together, duly picketed by

experienced scouts; had he not di-

vided his army on the eve of battle;

had he thrown up breastworks bullet

proof; had Gen. Butler reported the

vicinity of the Indians the night be-

fore, the defeat might have been

averted.

Little Turtle, as the details of

the battle show, had the plan of at-

tack well arranged, and carried it out

to perfection. St. Clair's army was

panic stricken. At dawn the Indians

began the attack with deadly volleys

and frightful yells, which, by their

nearness and numbers were terrific.

St. Clair, though sick, rallied his forces and again and again

drove the enemy back, but the Indians returned as fierce as ever.

In the meantime, sheltered behind and in trees, the sharpshooters

picked off the officers and artillerymen. St. Clair was brave;

four horses were shot under him. For three hours the battle

raged, when a retreat was ordered. An opening was made in

the Indian lines by Col. Drake and a company of the best men.

Through this the army retreated, St. Clair on a pack-horse. The

Indians only followed a short distance and returned to the bat-

tlefield to secure part of the booty.

The rout continued until the army reached Fort Jefferson,

forty miles distant. Nearly seven hundred were dead, thirty of

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.   143

these were women, and three hundred wounded lay on the field.

Among the prominent officers killed were General Richard But-

ler, Major Ferguson, Colonel Oldham, Major Clark and Major

Hart. Among the wounded were Colonel Sargeant and Lieut.

Col. Gibson, Major Thomas Butler and Viscount Malartie, aide-

de-camp of St. Clair.

The Indian loss is reported one hundred and fifty killed and

a few wounded. The probability is the Indians had two thou-

sand or more engaged, while the Americans had not more than

fifteen hundred. A thousand troops had been sent back. This,

no doubt, Little Turtle knew, and improved his opportunity to

overcome the invading army.

The whole land mourned. It was an awful defeat! The

exposed backwoods-

men along the border

had  greater  dread

than ever. Emigra-

tion by land and wa-

ter ceased. Many peo-

ple  fled  eastward,

leaving their homes.

Washington at first

news was in a rage.

"Why didn't St. Clair

take my advice and

avoid a surprise," he

said. After a while he said, "I will wait and hear it all."

St. Clair was tried, and exonerated from all blame.

The Indians were arrogant, and the British of Canada were

happy. The Indians increased their depredations in 1792 and

1793. They knew the war was not ended, for they would not

submit to the terms of the Americans.

Had it been known to Congress and the people what St.

Clair had to meet in the Wilderness far away from supplies; and

the opposition of Gen. Butler next in command; the inferiority

in numbers and arms of his army; the insubordination of drafted

men, and especially that he had to meet the greatest army of In-

dians ever assembled, under the command of the great Little

144       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Turtle, and his staff-an army fully equipped with English

arms, there would have been more sympathy for St. Clair. The

government let this hero of liberty, who gave his time, talent

and fortune to the Republic, live in a log cabin in Alleghany

mountains on the summit of Chestnut Ridge, live forsaken until

a short time before he died in 1818, when Congress gave him a

pension of $60 per month and $2,000 for back pay.

GENERAL WAYNE'S CAMPAIGN.

O deep and wide and rapid river,

O rough and dark and icy stream,

Who filled with death the red man's quiver?

Who bade his deadly arrow gleam?

Thy face has known a crimson blush,

Thy spray a bloody rain,

Thy waves have heaved with death's mad rush,

Thy depths been gorged with slain.

November, 1793, the Indians made a raid south of Fort

Jefferson, and meeting a company of Kentuckians, killed six and

wounded more. This occurred near

Fort St. Clair in the vicinity of the

town of Eaton. Little Turtle was in

command. This was a convincing

object lesson to Wayne, and he in-

creased his efforts for a decisive con-

flict.

The autumn of this year Wayne

brought his army to Fort Greenville,

where it was drilled and fully pre-

pared for the campaign of 1794.

The 28th of July of this year the

army commenced its march for the

Maumee River. The Indian spies

were on the alert, and called Wayne

when reporting to Little Turtle, the "Black Snake," and "Wild

Wind," suggestive of his impetuosity and tact.

August ist the army crossed the level of Ohio and was mov-

ng as rapidly as possible toward the Indian villages. It made a

146      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

two hundred Americans were in the battle, while there were two

thousand Indians.

The Delawares had 500 warriors in the battle; 200 Miamis;

300 Shawnees; 250 Tewas; 300 Wyandots; 200 militia from

Fort Miami, and other Indians of weaker tribes. Fort Miami

after the defeat kept its gates closed against the Indians. This

fact led the Indians to see they had nothing to hope for from

the English and led to the treaty of Greenville.

The Indian loss was heavy. There were twelve leading

Wyandot chiefs in the battle, and eleven of them were killed.

Many leading war chiefs would not retire or surrender, and

hence died in the fight. Turkey Foot, a brave chief, fell

wounded, near a great bowlder at the northeast end of the bat-

tlefield. On this bowlder are engraved turket feet, and it is

said before the warrior died he engraved the first one. "Tur-

key Foot Rock," as it is called, remains in place to this day.

This battle was an object lesson to the Indians of the im-

possibility of coping with the American Government and stop-

ping the incoming of the white people. They realized that their

only hope was in submission.

Me-she-kun-nogh-quah, or Little Turtle.     147

General Wayne and most of his army remained on the bat-

tlefield several days. At the close of the engagement he recon-

noitered Fort Miami. He had it in mind to attack the fort, but

prudence prevailed. A brisk correspondence occurred between

the commander, Capt. Campbell, of the British Army and Gen-

eral Wayne. Wayne suggested the propriety of his getting on

British territory to the nearest British post. Campbell replied

he would await the orders of his superiors. Wayne sent out

his cavalry and burned the Indian villages, and then repaired to

Fort Defiance, which he strengthened.

Wonderful results followed the defeat of the Indians by

Wayne's army. These we may not more fully describe as all

are well known. The principal one was the abiding friendship

of the majority of the Indians of the Northwest Territory. Also

the adjustment of territorial lines and the opening of the west

and northwest to civilization.

Monuments should be erected to commemorate the battle-

fields in Ohio of Gen. Anthony Wayne and his brave officers and

men, and second Little Turtle and brave Blue Jacket and their

associated chiefs. We are as a nation under obligation to these

noble Generals Washington, Harmar, St. Clair and Wayne, and

their coadjutors for their great patriotic efforts, even after they

had passed the meridian of human life, - for the extended es-

tablishment of a free government, giving security to homes, and

happiness to all the people. May the time soon come when

rising in marble above each battlefield of Ohio these monuments

shall arise to remind the generations yet to come of the heroism