Friends, during my years of research,reading history, battles, I have read of men and
women's lives ending in tragedy ; And there wished I could tell their story to their
family.
For every mysterious death, is a researcher wondering "what happened to ?"
"They just dropped off the map!
"St. Clairs Defeat"
In 1790 President Washington had to create a American Army. The British were defeated
in 1883, and States had their own militias. The President required 400 men from each
militia to be required for 6months of duty on the frontier protecting the westward bound
settlers.
(from 1790-1796 our colonist family were plucked from home and sent out to service)
The 5Great Lakes Indian Tribes controled North,South and west of the Wabash River. The
first partrolling military lead by Gen. Harmar and his troops were wiped out in 1790 .
Rev. War General Gen. A. St. Clair lead 2400 men into the "Wilderness Front "
of Ohio/Indiana valley. 500 deserted mostly volunteer Kentuckians.Of the 1700 remaining ,
only officers were trained soldiers and the rest were unemployed, untrained, undisciplined
rift-raft for the most part. They came for the pay, and pay was rations of Whiskey,
uniforms and food.
Brig. Gen. James Wilkinson ordered scouts as follows;
"The cattle must be penned inside of the walls of the garrison every night. Should
any man desert you, the scouts are to take track, pursue, overtake, and make prisoners of
them.and for every one so apprehended and grought back you may engage twenty dollars. If
the deserter is discovered making for the enemy it will be well for the scout to shoot him
and bring his hed to you, for which allow forty dollars. One head lopped off in this way
and set upon a pole on parade might do lasting good in the way of detering others.
J. Wilkinson
Capt. John Armstrong
A actual paystub i have lists desserters John Davis and Wm. Frought.
scouts;
Dudley C. Piper $20.
Thomas Thumsby $40.
James Brooks $40.
Thomas Jones $40.
David Lampier $35.
Micheal Ely $35.
Lexington, Kentucky Gazette November 12, 1791
" We now rec'd certain intelligence, that the army have been defeated.
The loss is very great. The garrison at fort Jefferson is intercepted, and many brave,
gallant wounded men are now left on the road,unable to travel, and without any provisions
but the flesh of the pack horses.
The following is a list of the Officers said to be killed and wounded;
Gen. Butler, Col. Oldham, Maj. Brown, Hart, Clark, Ferguson, Capts. Bradford, Tipton,
Smith, Purdie,Newman,Philon,Kirkwood,Peatt,Price,Swearingen, Criols,Gutherie
Lts. Warren, Speer, Lukins,McNickle,McMath,Hopper,Reed,Kelso,Boyd
Ensigns; Beatty, Balsh,Cobb,Chase,Purdie,Turner,and 2 others
Quartermasters; Ward, Reynolds, and Sample
Adj; Anderson,Burgess
Wponded;
Cols; Gibson,Dark
Maj. Butler
Capts; Ford,Doyle,Dark,Buchanam, Madison,Trueman,Stough,
Lts; Duberts, Price, Greathouse,Crawford,McCrea
Ensigns' Morgan,Bines
Doctor Gano
Officers 44 killed, 26 wounded \
Privates 600 kiilled several unnamed women and children mutilated and and held for trade
to british in Detroit bay.
There are reference materials for more details, but it was considered the bloodiest
Indiana Battle in American History.
Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne was ordered into service by the President in 1792. With
his leadership and training of troops, he lead the Army to conquest in 1796 in the Battle
of Fallen Timbers.
Look at the names!
Steven