Ohio History Journal




ROBERT YOST HIS BOOK

ROBERT YOST HIS BOOK.

 

Rob't Yost his Book made for the purpose of noting down our

Marching and what we seen and expericet while in the

united States service beginning at St Clearsville Ohio Sept.

the third Eighteen hundred and thirteen and continued to

note down as we march.

 

AN ORIGINAL JOURNAL, REPRODUCED AS WRITTEN.

[The original of this Journal is now in the possession of J. W.

Yost, a direct descendant of Robert, the author. Mr. J. W.

Yost had the Journal reproduced in exact expression, spell-

ing and punctuation for the QUARTERLY.- Editor.]

Deem the 3 1813 By the authourity of his excelency G. Meggs

[Meigs] we were Called upon to Repair to the frontiers as a de-

fence for them and on the third day of Sept. in the yeat of our

Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen we Rendevoused

in St. Clearsvill where we remaind until Sunday the 5 and then

we formd the line of march in much confution and under the

vew of many of our beloved friends and fellow Citizens who

escorted us for some distance our Companys under the Command

of Stephenson and Howel on that days march was from St

Clearsville to Morristown which was ten miles and there en-

camped and there was joined by the Riphel Company under the

command of D. Conner and the morning of the sixth we formed

the line of march in morristown streets where the Rev Mr Clark

gave us a very solem adress on the words Righteousness exalteth

a nation and after solem prayer we were dismissed and then

marched for Barnesville and encamped there that night and

was joined by another Company under the Command of T Shan-

non the next morning the 7 we took up the line of march for

head quarters and come to bemerstown that day and encamped

there til next morning the 8 we took up the line of march About

one o'clock we came to Cambridg and encamped until thursday

morning which day it rained on us which made it disagreeable

150



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Robert Yost His Book.              151

 

marching and this days march was 12 miles and we encamped at

Sault Creek where we lost our beef forwarded Care of the Com-

missary which caused much confution amongst the men but they

the men generally had some money they suplied themselves and

on Friday morning we proceeded on our march to Zanesvill

where we arrived that evening in great spirrits where we re-

maind until sunday evening at this place we were much dissatis-

fied with the gentry of Zanesvill as they apeard disoblidging to

our troops and and we being illy provided for with Camp

aquipage was much depending on the goodness of our fellow

Citizens for Cooking utensals. at this place Capt. Stephenson

drew many things for his men such as blankets shoes flanel and

broad cloath for Coats Sunday the 12 in the afternoon we

formed the line of march being joined by Capts Wiliams Thorn-

ley & Richeson and then pasd the muskingdom river into spring-

field where we drew six bake ovens and then Continued our

march for two miles and then for the first time encamped in the

woods without tents which Caused much Confution amongst the

men and dissattisfaction for we Had nothing betr then brush to

shelter us from the rain and storm and then proceeded on our

march 14 miles and then encampd for the night which was mon-

day this days march was through a good settlement the water

was good and plenty of fruit which Causd much Disorder

amongst the troops as they seemd like men who had forgot there

was Boundary lines which all men ought to observe and all men

ought to enjoy the fruits of his honest labours undisturbed with-

out his Consent tuesday the 14 we marcht 20 miles and encampd

within two miles and a half of lancaster that night on the morn-

ing of the 15 we arived in new LanCaster and within one half

mile on the norwest side we encampt where we remained until

the 18 new lancaster is a beautiful situation generally inhabeted

by the dutch this town is built on on the waters hocking a flor-

ishing place on the morning of the 18 we again formed the line

of march and Came 14 miles and encampt on walnut Creek this

days march was through a beautiful track of land but thinly in-

habited 19 from thence we took up the line of march and that

evening we Came to frankelton and pased through the town in

good order under the vew of many of the Citizens and encampt



152 Ohio Arch

152      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

about one half mile on the west side of the town franklinton is a

very beautiful situation lies in the forks of the Sioto it is a very

florishing place at present at this place we was met by Governor

Meigs Here we drew our arms at this place we saw 21 of the

british prisoners that was taken by Major Croughen [Croghan] at

lower sandusky here we Remained until sunday the 20 in the

afternoon when we took up the line of march and Proceeded

four miles up the whetstone and then encampt for that night

tuesday the 22 early on this morning we took up the line of

march and about 11 oClock we arrived at Delliware and passed

through said place and encampt within a half mile on the nor

west side of said town which is built on the waters of whetstone

the land which--at this place I wrote a letter to Zane-we

marchd over up whetstone is most beautiful and the water is

good with but few inhabitents at this place we Remaind until

the afternoon of the 24 when we took up the line of march for

six miles and then encampt for that night the 25 on this morn-

ing we took up the line of march pased by norton and encampt

near the old boundry line on the 26 this days we marcht 20

miles and encampt on the east fork of Sandusky on the 27 this

day we marched 20 miles and encampt that night these two days

march was over a very level track of land with considerable

planes with here and there groves of timber standing on the 28

we took up the line of march and come to uper Sandusky which

was 7 miles and Capt Thornley took command at this place and

on this day we met about three hundred British prisoners taken by

Commedore Perry on Lake Eary uper sandusky is a most beauti-

ful place with few inhabitance but near this place there many in-

dians who prfes to be friends to the States we lay at this place un-

til the 30 without tents exposed to the Rain and storm with noth-

ing but bushes and brush to cover us from the storm on the morn-

ing of the 30 we again took up the line of march and Came 15

miles and encampt on the waters of the tiamothti [Temochtee] on

the morning of the first of oCt we again took up the line of march

and Came past fort Ball and then to senneca [Fort Seneca] and

there encampt until the 7 where we saw many of our fellow citi-

zens a languishing in distress for the want of Care and a number

died of the regulars and some of the Caintucky militia while we



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Robert Yost His Book.               153

 

lay at this place we had an alarm that the indians was doing mis-

chief on the roade to uper Sandusky and there was two Companys

turned out in persuit of them but the alarm was falce while we

lay at this place General Geno came with the second ridgment

from the second brigade of ohio militia Senica is a handsome

place lying on the bank of the sandusky River and has formerly

been selected by the indians. While we lay at this place there was

another Company detached from our Ridgment and two more

from the Second Ridgment and Major Wm Henderson and sent as

as escort for a Drove of Cattle which was ordered on to Detroit

for the use of the army of the United States which is now in pos-

session of the sons of Liberty and general Harrison is now in pos-

session of maldon [Malden] and sandwitch and has taken about

four hundred of the British soldiers up the river Detrench and Te-

cumsey is slain and gone to the world of spirrits and is here no

more but on oct the 7 we left Senica and marcht for Lower San-

dusky and got there that day which is nine miles and lower San-

dusky is a very handsome situation it lays on high ground the

place that Mager Craughen [Croghan] so nobly defended with a

handful of men there is but few men in the fort at this time

but Capt Thornley is to take Command of the fort who is a very

worthy man while we lay at this place Capt Howel and his

Company vollenteerd for the purpose of boating from Sandusky

to portage such as provisions and Clothing while we lay at this

place Major lewis Came up with us he took the greatest paines

to instruct the troops and it is a pleasing thing to see such a

good officer as Major Lewis at the head of so many fine troops

on the 22 the British prisoners that was taken up the river trench

pased this place under the care of the Cantucky milicia about

four hundred in number two companys was ordered out of our

Brigade Commanded by Richeson and Smith to gard the British

prisoners to Chilecothe at this place I wrote to Samuel Zane

But on the morning of the 26 we again took up the line of march

and then we was inspected by Major Lewis and then marcht

for fort Megs with two days provisions in our nabsacks our

rout was down the Sandusky River about four miles and one

half and then Crost a large Creek and then took the old indian

trale Which was through a low marchy ground but had it not a



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Rained so on us the Roads would have been good we marcht

fourteen and then encampt for that night early next morning

we gain took up the line of march and Crost Carren River it

was not more then 20 inches deep we then proceeded on our

march this day it rained on us extremely hard and out noble

Commander hurried us on in a vey extravigant maner and many

of the men Became very sick and unable to march and our en-

campment on that nights was somewhat Curious as it was about

six miles Long it would have been some What dificult for us to

have placd out our gards therefore our Commander was oblidg

to Dispence with this part of his Duty this Days march was

about 25 miles through the black swamp on the morning of the

28 we formed the line of march for fort megs and Came there

early in the morning and about 12 oClock we drew out pro-

visions three days rations and Cooking utetials and six tents for

the use of our Company it still Continued to rain on us exceed-

ing hard and expected to stay there that night but about three

oClock was ordered to Cross the maume river when we had our

bread a baking and our meet a cooking and ablidged to put it in

our nabsacks as it was and formd the line of march in order to

Cros the river At which time I was taken the day before with

the ague and was unable march I went on board of a boat that

was going to Detroit we set of about Dark down the river about

fourteen miles and then landed and I was sick and unable to

get out of the boat and no one with me to help me out of the

boat and it Raind and snowd on us severely next morning the

29 we pusht of our boat and about ten oclock they histed sail for

detroit the boat was ladend with Dride beef and about thirty

soldiers belonging to the twenty forth Ridgment we saild that

day about forty miles and then put to shore at a place caled stoney

point and encampt there til next morning the 30 it snoed and

the wind blew hard so that we was oblidged to lay by til the

morning of the 31 when we again started for Detroit but the

wind was against us the was oblidged to roe we got to browns-

town and encampt there that night that day we came 20 miles

Early next morning it being the first of November we again pusht

of and histed sail with a fair wind up the River and came to De-

troit about two oClock in the afternoon I stil continued to have



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Robert Yost His Book.               155

 

the Ague I enquired for James Nixon and found him in the eve-

ning and Lodged with him that night and was very sick next

morning our troops marcht into Detroit I now shall undertake to

give some account oft he marching of our troops from fort Megs

to this place we was ordered on the evening of the 28 to Cros the

maume [Maumee] river but the Conveyance was so bad that

only part of our troops got over that night the rest of our troops

was oblidged to seek lodging where they Could find it and it

was here that many of the men Complained much of the good

policy of our Commander they exClaimed hard things against

him  on the morning of the 29 all crosst the maume river and

then set forwards for Detroit and marcht about five miles down

the river which was very Pleasent to the eye about five miles

from fort Megs we pasd the old British garrison which was de-

molisht away only the Ruins was to be seen there our march

this day was over level land some wet places which made it

very Disagreeable for often they had to wad in the water ancle

deep about one oclock they Came to a Large Creek where they

had to wade to their hips which was the cause of many being

sick and out done and they had no way to help themselves but

to assist the sick soldier By carriing their nabsacks and muskets

and was ordered to march on and leave the sick behind they

would not do it that night they encampt that night on the

morning of the 30 we again set forwards on our march and this

morning we experiened serious hardships of wet and Cold and

we had many small streams of water to wade some to the knees

and some Deeper some men were sick which the rest had to carry

over on their backs this day was very cold about one oClock

they came to the River reason [Raisin] the men suffered very

much that stood on the bank while the rest went over for they

had all to Cros over in one small Boat when they got over they

got into Comfortable houses but they was much Dissatisfied for

the boat was to meet them at the River Reason with provisions

to last them to Detroit but by the misConduct of of our noble

Commander there was nothing but whisky and drid beef and it

spoilt so that a number of the men could not make any use of it

here they saw the place where General Winchester was defeeted

and likewise their bones that lay on the ground at this place



156 Ohio Arch

156      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

the a few Canadaan french who is almost on the point of starva-

tion

Where they left three men out of our Company and a num-

ber of the men out of other Companys and provisitions immedi-

ately sent to them where they stayd about ten days and then fol-

lowed us on the morning of the 31 they again set forward this

morning was very cold for it snowd and blowd very severe that

night this Days march was about 18 miles, and encampt at the

river huren [Huron] two companys got over that night and the

rest got over in the morning the 1 of Nov and set forwards on their

march in about three miles they came to brownstown which is a

desalate looking place not inhabited by french nor indians some

part of it was burnt here they had a large Creek to Cros at this

place and marcht on and encampt that night at the river Rush

this days march was about 14 miles at this place there is a few

familys of the french lives in poverty and distress for the in-

dians had plundered all they had the next morning they set

forward on their march and Came about four miles and Came

to Detroit and encampt on the east side of the fort the men

being fateaught and hungry on the account of their being three

Days and nights almost without any provisions her e they soon

drew two days Rashions and had nothing to Cook our met in

was forst broil it on the Coals our bread being very bad the men

being very hungry and eat very hearty which supposd to be the

Cause of a great deal of sickness in our troops here we stayd

until the evening of the third and found an emty house about

one mile and half up the river and marcht up to it and our Com-

pany staid that night next Day we found annother emty house

within a few rods of the other and a part of us moved into it

and Continued there til the twenty third of Decem and then

moved in our huts which we bilt on the East side of the fort

Detroit is a large but unregular bilt town is bilt on the bank of

the Detroit and the streets when we Came here was very dis-

agreeable on the account of the mud Detroit at this time is a

very unhealthy place and many of the soldiers have Died since

We Came to this place likewise many of the french inhabittance

of Detroit is daily laid in the ground the greatest part of the

inhabitance of the Michegan territory are either french Can-



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Robert Yost His Book.               157

adians and indians and their Profess the Roman Catholic Re-

ligion and many of their sinegogs is to be seen in almost every

Part of this town with the signature of the Cross on the Roofs

of their houses and many of them have the image of our savour

hung up over their bed heads which they adore with great

solemnity they attend on Mass every sunday morning and the

after part of the day they spend in Drinking shooting playing the

fiddle Danceing Cuting and hailing wood and hay and all such

like practises and it would be impossible for any person for to

kow when the Lords day Comes by the inhabeance for you may

here them at almost all kinds of employment on this Day as well

as on any other day!! the Canadeans and indians and negroes

are Completely mixt in Blood akin and alike in their ways

actions Conduct and principles Shortly after we Came to this

place two of our men Died by the names of Mpherson and Irwin

who livd near Morristown Shortly after we came here I got

well and was immediate Detaild for to take Care of the sick

and Continued to wait on them about twenty Days in which time

they got able to Cook for them selves on the-of Novm Maring

and Parks hired Substitutes and they got passage in a boat by

the wey of Cleaveland and by them I sent two letters to my

father and another to my Wife on the 24 our Lieutennant on

furlow and another man with him at this time I wrote to Zane

I was then Detaild to boat wood from hog island which is about

three miles up the river before this time a number of our men

had been boating ever since we Came here a boating Logs for

our huts and firewood for the use of the Ridgment The troops

at this place still Continues to be very much sick and many have

Died since we Came to this place about the fifth of Decm I

wrote another letter home, about the tenth I vollenteerd to go

down to grozeal island which lies oposit maldon to fetch up a

boat load of bark to Cover our huts I saw the ruins of maldon a

desolate looking place for the British had burnt the fort and all

the publick store houses at that place and some of our troops

are stationed at that place and likewise some at sandwitch about

this time I Rd a letter from Samuel Zane which gave me great

satisfaction to hear from my family and the neibors that they

were all well I immediately wrote him an answer that I was



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158      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

well and in great spirrits and hopd to return home to my family

and in a short time I wrote another to my family to inform them

that I was well and to let them know that I had no forgot them

About this time there was about forty went up the river De-

trench and there was taken by a scouting of the British there

was about eight or ten of them made their and brought in

the news that the rest were taken there was three hundred

ordered out immediately in order to Resscue them but when they

got there they followed on but they had got so far that it was

impossible to overtake them and they returned back to this place

some of those were milicia an some were Regulars on the twenty

third we moved to our huts on Chrismas Day I went up the river

about seven or eight miles at which time I saw lake Cin Clere [St.

Clair]which is the head of Detroit River there I gave one dol-

lar for one hundred apples and returned to my quarters that day

at this place all nessasory norishments Came very high such as

milk 25c per quart butter 75c per pound Cheese 371/2 c flower

$10 per hundred pork eight dollars per hundred and other things

in perporion January 1814 The men are generally geting

well and our provition that we get now is much beter then that

we got when we first Came to this place We have Servd unkel

Sam four moats and have Receivd no pay as yet the fall and

winter has been very favourable so far on us for we hant had

any snow to speak of this winter none more then two inches

Deep on the forth there about two hundred to go up the river

Detrench there went out of our Company one Ensign one ser-

jent seven privates on the seventh I Receivd a letter from my

family bearing Date of the 14 of Deem which gave me great

pleasure and satisfaction to hear from them and their welfare

for my anxiety is to be with them though well Contented with

my lot and station on the tenth I Receivd a letter from my

Brother Peter Yost which stated they were all well and the

neibors likewise on sixteenth those men returnd that went up

the river Detrench and they had prest one thousand Bushels of

wheet and two hundred stand of arms and they prest teams and

fecht the wheet and the armes to this place and they all Returnd

safe to this place on the seventeenth I sent two letters one to

my brother and the other to my family on the thirty first of



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Deem our Ridgment was inspected by Major Butler on the

twenty first of January our pay Master Came on and immedi-

ately went to making out pay Roles and Receit Roles on the

twenty seventh orders was ishued Copied and Read that all

soldiers should keep Cloce to their quarters and if they were

found treating or drinking with the indians they would be se-

verely punisht for the same and likewise if the tavern keepers

was ordered not to let them have any spirituous liquors for if

they Did they would be severily punisht for the same on the

second of february we Drew our mony our pay up to the thirty

first of Deem January the twenty fifth there was about thirty

light horsmen started up the river Detrench as a scouting party

where they took eight prisoners one of which was a british spy

these prisoners was immediately sent on to Sandusky on the

ninth of february Colonel Croughen [Croghan] Came to this place

in five days from Cincinatty the word there that we had an en-

gagement with the British and indians and and only held our

ground and was heavily besieged and General Harrison sent on

Craughen to take Command at this place because he was a fight-

ing Carracter General Harrison Heard that Colonel Butler was

sick was the Cause of Colonel Croughen Coming on to take Com-

mand at this place he brought on word that there was a number

of troops Coming on to this place on the fourteenth there Came

one hundred mounted Rangers for twelve monts that was Raised

at Daten [Dayton] on the fifteenth there was a Ridgmentel Cort

marshel for the purpose of trying a man in Capt Rosses Com-

pany who had stolen money from one of his mes mates on the

evening of the sixteenth at Retreat Beating he was fecht from the

guard house and his sentence was Read he was to be padelel which

was immedeatily done five strokes and then put in the guard

house til next morning til troop beating to reciev the balance

of his punishment which was to Ride the wooden horse for fif-

teen minuets and to have a peace pasted on the front of his hat

with the letters thief on it and then be Drumbd up and dow the

lines in front of the Ridgment the Roges march beat after him

and one months pay to go to the man whom he stole the mony

from and then guarded to his quarters he was by the name of

Phelps and likewise an alarm that the Enemy was Cloce at hand



160 Ohio Arch

160      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

A number of the oficers and and men was much alarmd and

believd the Report was true and A General feteague was ordered

out for the purpose of making breast works Round the fort wall

by diging a trench all Round the Fort Just outside of the Dich

and those trenches were filled with white thorn Brush with all

the tops and small brush trimd of the limbs slopt and set in the

ground about tw feet and well fild in about the buts and Round

the tops about five feet above the ground slopeing out sprangel-

ing Every Corce Setting Cloce together so that it is impossible

for a man to get throug or over in any short time two rows Rows

of pickets Round the wall the outside row of them is about

nine feet high standing upright in the Dich the other is planted

about half way up the outside of the fort wall they are slanting

out they are about six feet in lenth the fort wall is about

twelve feet high and about the same acros the top of the wall

and a handsome Sord of blue gras all over the walls and a large

Comons Round the fort well set with same on the Evening

of the seventeenth the Milicia was ordered to march into the

fort that they mite be acquainted with the west side of the fort

witch we was to Defend if we were atacted and likewise March

in at four oClock in the morning and Stand under arms til Role

Call on the Eighteenth the Cannon Eighty od times the nine-

teenth Do on this day Col Croughen ishued orders that every

man should lay with his close on and his Cateridge box on and

his gun in his arms and if two guns was fired in succession it

was an alarm and every man was to be on perrade and form in

the mane street Right against the public store house and how to

form in different ways and on Different ground in Case of an

attact at fore oClock in the morning the alarm guns was fird

and we perraded acording to orders and Stood there under arms

for some time Col Croughen Riding in front of the line the

Colonel ordered the officers to march their men of the ground

and dismiss the men and let them go to their quarters but not to

lay Down and be in Readiness in Case of an atact after twelve

oClock they Continued firing the Cannon fifty od times Colonel

Croughens orders are still in force on the twenty first they still

Continued firing the Cannon for six days principly with Blank

Caterages Some with Balls to shoot at the mark on the twenty



Robert Yost His Book

Robert Yost His Book.              161

 

second they put up two Barrels one on the top of the other with

a white shirt on the top one the second shoot the ball went

throug the barrel they fird the Cannon four times the other

three nearly totching the barrel the Distance is one mild and

one half

 

NOTE-Here a piece is torn off, probably containing about

sixty-five words.

 

one of his arms they still Continue to fortify fort Shelby on

the first of March there was a General Revew of all troops that

was stationed at Detroit on the second we was Mustered and

inspected on the morning of the third there their was great

preparation made for Marching we gave up our guns

 

 

NOTE-Here the final words and signature (probably) are

torn off. The missing piece might, if filled, have contained about

sixty-five words.

NOTE-After one blank page-upon which is an affidavit

by Joel Yost, made on Apr. 21st, 1855, that the foregoing is in

the handwriting of his father, Robert Yost-there occurs a map

of Fort Shelvy-with title thereon in the same handwriting afore-

said-of which there is tracing attached hereto.

 

 

On the back of the document there are the remains of the

words, "Robert Yost his book". Also on the back and also on

the map page occur the figures, 107,271, in an ink apparently

different and a different handwriting from the document.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vol. XXIII-11