growth. Expedition after expedition, fitted out to oppose them, had met with the most disheartening losses; and finally, a gallant army, under Brigadier-General Harmer, which had been sent expressly to chastise these savages, after destroying some of their towns, had been signally defeated by them, and almost annihilated. Of the few experienced officers who escaped from Harmer's defeat, nearly all, worn out with the fatigues of a service so harassing, and shrinking from a warfare of so dangerous and barbarous a nature, had resigned their commissions; and a general feeling of dismay began to pervade the whole of our exposed frontier.

After the defeat of Harmer, a new army was raised, and placed under the command of the veteran General St. Clair. This brave but unfortunate commander moved his army slowly and cautiously to the head waters of the Wabash, opening a road, and establishing forts at suitable distances. By the 1st of November, 1791, he was in the midst of the Indian country, and within fifteen miles of the Miami villages. On the 4th, his camp was suddenly attacked about daylight, by an immense body of savages, aided by white auxiliaries from Canada. The assailants being well protected by the shelter of the trees and mounds of earth, fired from the ground, and were scarcely to be seen, except when they rose to spring from one shelter to another. They advanced rapidly in front, and upon either flank, up to the very mouths of the American field-pieces.

The militia occupying the front were dismayed by the impetuosity and violence of this unexpected attack, and falling back upon the regulars, threw them into confusion. In vain the officers endeavored to rally and re-form their men; their success was only partial. Twice were the Indians driven back by desperate charges; but while they gave way at one point to the bayonets of our soldiers, from every other quarter they poured in a heavy and destructive fire upon the lines, until the whole army was thrown into the greatest confusion, and a most disorderly retreat ensued. The savages pursued their conquered foe for miles, and the woods were strewn with the bodies of the dead and dying. Of fourteen hundred men, five hundred and thirty were killed, and three hundred and sixty wounded. These sad reverses created an intense excitement throughout the country, and rendered it imperative upon the government to place the army under the command of a military chief of well-earned reputation; a cautious, discreet, brave, and energetic soldier. The two most prominent at that period, were George Rogers Clark and Anthony Wayne. They had both fought in the revolution, held separate commands, and had planned and executed the most daring and successful enterprises. The latter was known through the whole army, and in every quarter of the Union, as Mad Anthony, from his eventful fortunes and daring adventures. The calculating mind of the discriminating Washington singled out Mad Anthony to command the western army, and he at once received orders to that effect. The United States Legion, as Wayne's army was called under the new organization, rendezvoused at Pittsburgh, in the summer of 1792. In November following, they went into winter quarters at an eligible position on the Ohio, 22 miles below, which they called Legionville. On the 30th April, 1793, General Wayne broke up his winter encampment at this place, and conveyed his army in boats down the Ohio to Fort Washington."

Such was the situation of the western country, when young HARRISON, then nineteen years of age, having received from the hands of Washington the commission of an ensign in the first regiment of artillery, joined his corps at Fort Washington, which stood upon the site now occupied by the Queen city of the West.

Soon after his arrival at Fort Washington, it became necessary to despatch a train of pack horses to Fort Hamilton, about thirty miles distant, upon the great Miami. This train was under the charge of a body of soldiers from the fort, and the whole was placed under the command of young Harrison. This was the first charge confided to his care. Though the distance was short, the state of the country, and the thousands of savages peopling the whole forest, rendered the enterprise extremely perilous; and constant exposure required uninterrupted watchfulness, and much more thought, attention, and wisdom than can often be found in a lad not yet out of his teens. This service was performed with great credit to himself, and Gen eral St. Clair openly acknowledged his pleasure at the success of his young officer, bestowing upon him the warmest praise and commendation. He rapidly gained the entire confidence of his officers, and in 1792 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

During the summer of 1793, the Indians having signified a desire for peace, commissioners were appointed to treat with them, but without suecess. General Wayne, during this time, was busily employed in disciplining and reinforcing his troops; and having at length received instructions from the Secretary of War to commence active operations, he left Fort Washington in October, and advanced with his army about eighty miles along the south-western branch of the Miami, where he took up his position, and erected fortifications. To this post he gave the name of Greenville, and here the army went into winter quarters. The winter, however, was not spent in idleness. On the 23d December, General Wayne sent a detachment of eight companies of infantry, and a battalion of artillery, to take possession of the ground upon which St. Clair and his gallant army had been so terribly defeated on the 4th of November, two years before. Lieutenant Harrison was not drafted for this expedition; but, longing for more active employment, he volunteered for the service, and his assistance was accepted by the commander.

The battle-field was soon in the hands of the soldiers, notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, and a fortification was immediately erected, to which the name of Fort Recovery was given. The bones of the murdered soldiers were carefully collected, and interred with military honors. The same pieces of artillery lost on the fatal 4th of November, 1791, were recovered; and, from their thunder-belching mouths, three times three disres were fired over the remains of the western heroes.

the return of the expedition, General Wayne issued a general order s to the officers and men for their gallant conduct on the occasion, Lieutenant Harrison was particularly mentioned among other

ne 30th of June, 1794, Fort Recovery was fiercely assailed by a ody of Indians, aided by British and Canadian auxiliaries. But h their assaults were unusually bold and daring, and repeatedly

renewed, they were each time bravely repulsed, and were finally compelled to retreat with great loss. About two weeks subsequent to this attack on Fort Recovery, General Wayne was reinforced by a body of mounted volunteers from Kentucky, under the command of General Scott. On the 8th of the following August, having, by a rapid movement, advanced seventy miles beyond Greenville, he encamped at Grand Glaise, in the very heart of the Indian country. In his despatch to the War Department on this occasion, the commander-in-chief says-" We have thus gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians in the West, without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly-cultivated fields and gardens show the work of many hands. The margins of those beautiful rivers, the Miami of the Lake and Au Glaise, appear like one continued village for a number of miles above and below the place; nor have I ever before beheld such immense fields of corn in any part of America, from Canada to Florida."

A strong work, called Fort Defiance, was immediately erected by our troops at the confluence of the rivers mentioned in the above despatch. General Wayne now felt himself fully prepared for decisive operations; but before striking the final blow, he, in compliance with his instructions, renewed his endeavors to conciliate and effect some amicable negotiation with the Indians. "I have thought proper," he said, "to offer the enemy a last overture of peace; and as they have every thing that is dear and interesting at stake, I have reason to expect they will listen to the proposition mentioned in the enclosed copy of an address despatched yesterday by a special flag, under circumstances that will insure his safe return, and may eventually spare the effusion of much human blood. But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. America shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all-powerful and just God, I therefore commit myself and gallant army."

These proposals were rejected by the enemy, although the great chief Little Turtle, who had planned and led the attack in the defeat of St. Clair, urged them to embrace the terms offered. "We have beaten the white men twice," said he, "under separate commanders. We cannot expect the same good fortune to attend us always. The Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps-the night and the day are alike to him; and during all the time he has been marching upon our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. Think well of it. There is something whispers me it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace.'

The day after this speech was delivered, was fought the memorable battle of the 20th August, 1794, which cannot be better described than by quoting a portion of the graphic account of General Wayne, in his official despatch to the Secretary of War:

"At 8 o'clock on the 20th," said General Wayne, "the army advanced in columns, agreeably to the standing order of march; the legion on the right flank, covered by the Miami-one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brigadier-General Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brigadier-General Barbee :-a select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to

keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form, in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war. After advancing about five miles, Major Price's corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat.

"The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood, which extended for miles on our left; and for a very considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for cav. alry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their savage mode of warfare, they were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending nearly two miles, at right angles with the river.

"I soon discovered, from the weight of the fire, and the extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance, to support the first, and directed Major-General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, by a circuitous route-at the same time I ordered the front line to advance with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet; and when up, to deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again. I also ordered Captain Miss. Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; but such was the impetuosity of the charge of the first line of infantry, that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts in so short a time, that although every exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Generals Scott, Todd, and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, yet but a part of each could get up in season to participate in the action; the enemy being driven, in the course of one hour, more than two miles, through the thick woods already mentioned, by less than one-half their numbers.

"From every account, the enemy amounted to two thousand combatants; the troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns of the British garrison.

"Enclosed is a particular return of the killed and wounded-the loss of the enemy was more than double that of the federal army. The woods were strewed for a considerable distance with the dead bodies of the Indians and their white auxiliaries; the latter armed with British muskets and bayonets.

"We remained three days and nights on the banks of the Miami, in front of the field of battle, during which all the houses and corn-fields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable distance, both above and below Fort Miami, as well as within pistol-shot of that garrison, who were com

pelled to remain tacit spectators of this general devastation and conflagration-among which were the houses, stores, and property of Colonel M'Kee, the British Indian agent, and principal stimulator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages."

The success of this brilliant action was owing not only to the admirable discipline which General Wayne had introduced, but to his method of extending his line, and forming his troops in open order, and charging rapidly upon the Indians, rousing them from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and pouring in upon them a deadly fire before they could again find shelter. This system has been more or less practised upon in all our subsequent Indian wars.

The gallant bearing of Lieutenant Harrison in this action, was thus noticed by General Wayne, in his despatch to the Secretary of War: "My faithful and gallant aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Harrison, rendered the most essential service by communicating my orders in every direction, and by his conduct and bravery exciting the troops to press for victory."

The result of the battle of the Maumee Rapids greatly disheartened the Indians; and their discontent became very soon apparent at the vacillating conduct of the commander of the British fort, who, after their disastrous defeat, refused to take part in their behalf. Two of the most powerful chiefs, Little Turtle and Buckongelas, beginning to doubt the power of the English to protect them, and learning to respect our strength, openly declared in favor of the United States; and, through their influence, negotiations for peace were opened on the first of January, 1795. This led to the treaty of Greenville, by which the Indians relinquished an immense territory to the United States. The news of Wayne's victory had a favorable effect upon our pending negotiations in London, and is supposed to have enabled our minister, Mr. Jay, to secure the assent of Lord Grenville to the surrender to the United States of all the forts held and occupied by the British in the north-west, within the jurisdiction of our government. The settlers had now uninterrupted possession of the disputed territory, and emigration rapidly progressed.

Soon after the close of this campaign, Lieutenant Harrison received the commission of a captain, and was placed in command of Fort Washington, under circumstances which evinced the high estimation in which his talents and discretion were held by General Wayne. At this period France was at war with Spain; and certain agents of the French government had been sent to Kentucky by Genet, the French minister, and were then diligently employed in exciting the gallant people of that state to an invasion of Louisiana, by which means they hoped to embroil our country in a war with Spain. General Wayne received instructions to adopt every precaution to prevent the occurrence of such a result; and in giving the command of Fort Washington to Captain Harrison, he left with him extensive discretionary powers in relation to the management of this delicate responsibility. About this time, too, in compliance with the terms of Jay's treaty, the military posts, which, in defiance of good faith, had been established by the British on our north-western frontier, were given up to the United States; and Captain Harrison was charged with the important duty of despatching from Fort Washington the troops destined to take possession of the surren