Excerpts from Richard Rozevink, rozevink@adelphia.net
The Tale of Ensign Liggett
Ensign Liggett was leading an advance party of spies for General Winchester along the north side of the Maumee River, on about September 25, 1812. They were on the lookout for the Indians and the British as they approached the site of the old Fort Defiance, built by General Anthony Wayne in 1794. The Indians killed all six of the party. They were buried in a common grave. We believe it is located within Delaware Twp. along the banks of the Maumee River. In the near future, we hope to place a marker to honor their sacrifice and service to their country
We will tell their story through the use of period diaries and journals of both American and British soldiers that were at or near by the event on that faithful day back in 1812. We will start with a period newspaper account of the event.
Oct. 27, 1812 The National Intelligencer
FROM THE NORTH-WESTERN ARMY, Fort Defiance, Oct 3, 1812
The North_Western Army under the command of General Winchester marched from Fort Wayne on the 22nd September. And pursued Wayne’s route down the Miami, towards the old Fort Defiance, where it arrived on the 30th. During the latter part of the march the enemy frequently annoyed us. Our advanced party of spies fell in with a body of Indians and a smart skirmish ensued, in which one of our spies was slightly wounded, and several of the enemy – the exact number could not be ascertained only from appearances, as the Indians, when ever it is practicable, carry off their dead. The day before, Ensign Liggett of the regulars, with 4 men, were unfortunately surprised by this party of Indians, and scalped. The loss of Ensign Liggett is much to be lamented, as he was a promising young officer, remarkable for his bravery and intrepidity. He had left the company of spies with his four companies, with a view to examine the country around Fort Defiance, and had advanced several miles ahead of the party, when they were killed. This annoyance from the enemy greatly retarded our movements, as it was impossible to ascertain to any degree their situation or force. In crossing the river, however, their whole movements were discovered. The British with their artillery from Detroit, and a large party of Indians, were progressing toward Fort Wayne. After engaging our spies, and annoying our advance guard, they faced to the right – about and retreated precipitately. Owing to the peculiar situation of the army, {being short of provisions} it was impossible by forced marches to intercept the – supplies have since reached the army.
Gov. Harrison returned to the army on the 2nd October, and will again act as commander in chief, having received that appointment from the President of the U.S. Gen. Winchester will act as second in command. We are now flattered more than ever with a prospect of success – the Campaign, I entertain not the least doubt, will produce incalculable benefit to the country, and terminate to the honor and glory of the Kentuckians. The enemy has in every direction retreated before us, leaving an extensive territory to be occupied by our army – where a chain of fortified posts will be established, in order to facilitate the supplies necessary for the speedy conquest of Upper Canada. Very extensive arrangements have been made and are now making to accomplish that object.
Headquarters will continue at this place for several days, until suitable fortifications, storehouses, &c. are erected. In the mean time the army will be augmented – and at the Rapids {56 miles blow this place} the Virginia and Pennsylvania troops will join.
Names of persons killed. – Ensign Liggett, of the 17th Regt. Regulars. Alexander M’Coy, of Georgetown, Scott’s Regiment. Wyatt Step, Guy Hinton, Wm. Bevis, Wm. Mitchell, all of Woodford – Volunteers in Capt. Virgil M’Cracken’s Company.
WILLIAM BROOKS NORTHCUTT,
USA, Lt. Dragoon, Capt Wm. Garrads Troop of Horse.
Winchester was ordered from Fort Wayne to Fort Defiance, an old vacated fort then occupied by the British. We left Fort Wayne about the 20th of Sept. 1812 with three Regiments of Kentucky Volunteers.
Capt. Wm. Garrads Troop of Horse and some regulars under Col. Wells crossed the river below the forks at the fort and took the North side of the River Miami of the Lake; we were then put on half rations of beef and no flour all the way down to Defiance which took us ten days to get there; at that point we expected to meet provisions but when arrived there they had not arrived as yet. Col. Jennings who was escorting the provisions became alarmed at the news of the British being at Defiance and built a block house on the Auglaize River and stored it up. We had a tedious march from Fort Wayne to Defiance, the Indians dogged us all the way – we had to form the line of battle frequently to fight them but they always backed out – when we got about half way down to Defiance, a young officer in the regular service by the name of Liggett, from Woodford Co; Ky., asked the General for the privilege of choosing four of his neighbor boys and to let them go on ahead of the main army to Defiance to make discover1es, and to see if the British were there. The Gen. Granted him this request and he chose his four men, neighbor boys and accordingly they started to go to Defiance but they had not gotten five miles from where they started until the whole of them was shot, tomahawked, scalped and most inhumanly and barbarously treated by the Indians. We supposed from appearances that they had been decoyed to the spot where they were killed by the Indians by scattering plums along a deer path that led down to the river, for there was plums lying around where they were killed and not a plum tree in sight. They left camp early in the morning and were not found until evening of the same day.
A young man by the name Hannon, one of my old Harrison County playmates, found them, he belonged to Blair Ballard’s Spies Company – he came in and reported; the worst scared fellow that I had ever seen but it was too late to go and bury them that evening so early the next morning our Troop of Horse and Ballard’s Company of Spies was ordered to bury them. A party of the Indians lay in wait, watching them, Ballard’s Company were a little distance ahead of our troop and got there first when the Indians fired on them – when our troop heard the firing they made a charge and raised the Yell, scared the Indians into a swamp. We buried the poor fellows all in one grave and returned back to the army and took our position there, which was advance guard and scouts.
THE MUIR EXPEDITION TO FORT WAYNE SEPTEMBER 1812
SHADRACH BYFIELD, British Soldier, 41st Regt. Of Foot, Capt. Muir’s Command
After this. News was received that the Indians had surrounded an American fort. About 200 of us, under the command of Capt. Muir, were ordered to march toward the Mawme Rapids. We encamped for several days; we then received orders to march to Fort Defiance. Part of us marched through the woods, the others, with ammunition and provisions went up the Mawme River in boats. We halted one night, the next morning crossed the river; and marched on through the woods until we came to a large open space where we encamped. In the evening, Lieutenant Barnett came to us, and asked us for some provisions, as he had tasted none all the day. We being scared, my comrade asked me what he was to do. I told him to give him some, as he was a gentleman and a soldier.
In the night we were alarmed by an Indian whoop; every man was instantly ordered to stand to his arms. In short time, six Indians and an interpreter entered the camp, who informed the Captain that they had been out as spies, and in the evening, whilst passing through the woods, they saw a light and made toward it. On arriving near, they discovered five Americans surrounding a fire; they drew near, and when the Americans saw them, they ran to their arms. They {the Indians} ordered them to give up immediately. One of the Americans, who were an officer, asked them if they had any British soldiers in camp. They replied, "No." He than said, "We will not go with you, but you shall came with us." The Indians immediately surrounded them and took them prisoners. While marching them, the officer was heard by the interpreter to say the men, "Kill four of the Indians, and make your escape," upon which the interpreter ordered the Indians to kill four of the American, which they did; the officer endeavoring to escape, the interpreter shot him whilst running. To convince our Captain that what they related was true, they pulled from girdle the five scalps, the officer’s ears, and a silver-mounted dagger. We were then ordered to lie upon our arms. And in, the morning we returned to Fort Defiance. Crossing the river, and encamped. The next morning we heard an Indian whoop. Soon after, the Indians brought in an American prisoner; The Captain asked the prisoner who he was and how he was taken. He said he was a quartermaster-sergeant of an American Regiment, and was out hunting for honey. The Captain then asked him how many men they had in camp and how far they were off. He replied, about 9,000, and that they intended to encamp there tonight, but that it was doubtful, as they had to cut the road through the woods for the cannon. Captain Muir then asked Captain Elliott: {commanding the Indians} we had better retreat as quickly as possible. Captain Elliott replied, he would rather an attempt might be made to cut off their advance. Our Captain answered, "If we are exposed to one volley, I shall lose all of my men, therefore, I think is advisable to retreat," to which Captain Elliott agreed. We then lightened the boats by throwing the shot overboard, and retreated to Maldon.
__________________
Fort Winchester, Defiance, Ohio
War of 1812
As we prepare for the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the building of Defiance’s second historical fort. We are posting the following brief description of construction and life at Fort Winchester in 1812. The fort served as a supply base and outpost among the Indian lands of the State of Ohio through sometime in 1815, when it was abandoned by the military. Short time later early pioneer families moved into the area and used it for shelter until they were able to built homes of their own. Currently there is only a marker showing the fort’s location. It is located about one block from the Auglaize River along Second Street.
The description of the fort that we have chosen is one that was written by Doctor Charles E. Slocum, a 19th Century Historian, who lived in Defiance. The portion dealing with the soldier’s life at fort is taken from the Journal of Ellis Darnell a soldier who stationed here in 1812.
FORT WINCHESTER
Charles E. Slocum, M.D., Ph.D., Defiance, O.
Major Hardin and Colonel Allen addressed the army "in very affecting terms," and General Harrison " spoke to them as a father would his children," The arrivals and addresses renewed the spirits of the soldiers, and the imparting of the fact that General Harrison had been appointed chief in command went still further to change thee resolves of the disaffected ones and bring about a settled state of feeling among all the men to endure all hardships.
New plans were entered upon. They found General Wayne’s Fort Defiance in ruins; and had it remained in good condition its small size would have been inadequate for the demands at this time. Fort Defiance included within its stockades scarcely 10,000 square feet, or less than one-quarter acre of ground. General Harrison selected a site for a new fort to embrace over twelve times this area. A fatigue force of two hundred and fifty men were detailed under Major Joseph Robb with axes to cut timber for the buildings and stockades, and the work went forwards as fast as the weakened condition of the men and weather admitted. The camp was removed from the Maumee River one mile southeast to the high bank of the Auglaize about one and a half miles above its mouth. A line of trees were felled across this neck of land between the new camp and the former one, to serve as breastworks for the army’s outpost guarding the entire peninsula between the rivers. General Harrison accompanied by Colonel Richard M. Johnson and his original battalion returned to St. Marys where these troops were honorably discharged October 7th. The feelings of General Winchester upon being succeeded in command have not been fully recorded. General Harrison treated him with great consideration, assigning him to the command of the left wing of the army, to include the U.S. regular soldiers and some six regiments of Ohio and Kentucky Militia. As further evidence of respect and honor, the fort was duly christened Fort Winchester. This Fort was completed by the soldiers working with short rations, thinly cad, and with much suffering from inclement weather; but it was favorably started on its mission as an important stronghold for the defense of the territory of the upper rivers, as a rendezvous for troops and, later for the storing of supplies to be boated down the Maumee river as wanted by the advancing troops. For some length of time it was the only obstruction to the British and the Indians against their incursions into Northwestern Ohio. From the time of its establishment the Indians made wide detours from the guns of its garrison, thus being forced to a disadvantage on their way to Maiden, Detroit, and the siege of Fort Meigs the following year.
Fort Winchester was styled a "beautiful fort" by William Atherton who was present during its construction. It was built along the higher and precipitous west bank of the Auglaize River, a line of apple trees, planted by the early French settlers, alone intervening. Beginning about eighty rods south of the ruins of Fort Defiance, near the present First Street of the city of Defiance, Ohio, the fort extended southward to, or south of, Third Street, a distance of something over six hundred feet, and including the highest ground. Its east line was about Washington Street. It was in the form of a parallelogram, and extended in width to about Jefferson Street. Its walls included three acres or more of land. There was a strong two story blockhouse at each of its four corners, a large gate midway of each side and end with a sentinel house above each one, and all were connected by a strong stockade of timbers set on end deep into the ground snug together, and extending twelve to fifteen feet above ground, all pointed at the upper ends. A cellar was excavated under the blockhouse at the Northeast corner, and from it a passageway under ground was made to the rock-bed of the river and was there protected by timbers so that abundance of water could be obtained from the river under cover. The only ditching done was for drainage
ELLIS DARNELL, Kentucky Volunteer Militia
Stationed at Fort Winchester, The Fall of 1812
Oct. 9th. The spies reported they an Indian, but could not get his scalp on account of other Indians; they stated there must be a large body of Indians near, by their trails.
Oct. 10th. In consequence of the above report of the spies, Colonel Wells started with five hundred men in pursuit of the Indians; he pursued their trails twelve or thirteen miles, but could not see an Indian.
Oct. 11th. The General ordered we should move and encamp near where the fort was building; this was, however, prevented by the inclemency of the weather; it rained and the wind blew all day, which made our situation very unpleasant. A man died in camp last night; he was buried with the honors of war; he was escorted to the graven solemn order, and, after a short discourse by Rev. Mr. Mitchell, six men fired three rounds over the grave; this was the first scene of the kind witnessed in our camp.
Oct. 14th. We moved to the fort, and received a supply of provisions {salt, flour, and whiskey}; we had been without salt over since the 7th, and without flour two days.
Oct. 16th. A detachment of one hundred men was sent this morning six miles below the fort, to a suitable place of timber to build pirogues.
Oct. 18th. {Sunday.} The troops marched to the center, agreeably to a general order, to hear the Rev. Mr. Shannon preach a sermon suited to the times. While he was zealously engaged there were six or seven guns fired down river in quick succession; this alarmed the whole congregation – every one flew to his arms and left the speaker alone. The alarm originated from a pirogue party, who had just arrived with a pirogue for a supply of provisions.
Oct. 19th. The fort was finished and christened "Fort Winchester." It is composed of four blockhouses, a hospital and a storehouse, and picked between each blockhouse, containing about a quarter of an acre.
Oct. 20th. The General issued an order for the troops to be assembled every morning at 9 o’clock, practice the manual exercise, and maneuver according to Smith’s instructions for infantry.
__________________
__________________________________________
Winchester’s Camp #3 / Fort Starvation
Camp #3 was located about six miles below Fort Winchester on the North bank of the Maumee River. The timeline being from November 2nd, 1812 through January 1st, 1813 three Kentucky Militia Regiments: Col. Allen’s !st Rifle Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Militia; Col. Scott’s 1st Kentucky Volunteer Militia, Col. Lewis’s 5th Kentucky Volunteer Militia and one regiment of US Regulars, "17th, Regt.", under the command of Col. Wells were stationed there. They were mustered in the service of their country, August of 1812, in order to reinforce General Hull at Detroit. When Hull surrendered to the British, their mission changed. They were ordered to help lift the siege of Fort Wayne by the Indians. They marched off in their summer uniforms of linen, only to end up in the heart of the Great Black Swamp in the middle of winter. The suffering incurred at Camp #3 ranks second only to the suffering of Washington’s troops stationed at Valley Forge PA during the Revolutionary War. It is our mission to honor the service and sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the line of duty while stationed at Camp #3 during the winter of 1812-1813.
We will tell their story using period journals, eye witness accounts of the first owner of the property shortly after it was abandon by the military and a W.P.A. report of the site’s history during the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal and their ideas of honoring those soldiers that lie within the "Kentucky Burial Grounds."
ELLIS DARNELL, Kentucky Volunteer Militia
Nov. 2nd. We moved across the River Maumee, opposite the point; it is a high piece of ground and very level, but in some degree wet and marshy; this movement was in order to get convenient to firewood.
Nov.3rd. This late place of encampment is found not to answer a good purpose; therefore the General though it expedient to move from this to a piece of ground one-half mile lower down the river. As there were only a few wagons, one regiment moved at a time --- from 12 o’clock till after sunset before the last arrived at the place of destination. This last place appears to be very marshy, but not so much so as the former. It is very difficult to get a good place for an encampment at this time, as we have had several rainy days.
Nov. 4th. Troops have been engaged in fortifying this late place of encampment with breastworks, so that we may be prepared for our enemies, should they think proper to pay us a visit; the weather is very rainy which makes our situation extremely unpleasant, though not more so than we could expect from the climate and season. Four of this army have gone to the silent tomb today never more to visit their friends in Kentucky; the fever is very prevalent in camp; nearly every day there is one or more buried.
Nov.10th. The army moved six miles down the river, in order to be better accommodated with suitable ground for camping, and to build more pirogues. This encampment is the driest we have been at for some time; the land and timber are not inferior to any. I trust this country was designed for more noble purpose than to be a harbor for those rapacious savages, whose manners and deportment are not more elevated than the ravenous beasts of the forest. I view that not far distant, when this country will be interspersed with elegant farms and flourishing towns, and be inhabited by a free and independent people, under an auspicious republic.
Dec. 1st. The troops were engaged in building huts, which are far preferable to tents.
Dec. 2nd. The General has issued an order for the camp to be picketed, which is three-quarters of a mile around. It is on the North side of the river, and is composed of three lines. Col. Well’s regiment on the right, Col. Scott’s, Lewis’s and part of Allen’s in front the remaining part of Allen’s on the left, the river in the rear. The pickets were nearly completed in one day, two feet in the ground and eight feet above
Dec. 10th. The General has given orders to the commanding officers of regiments to cause each of their companies to be proved with a good pirogue sufficient to carry its own luggage, and cause all those who are without shoes to make themselves moccasins out of green hides.
There are many who have not shoes and clothes sufficient to keep them from freezing, should we move from here while they are in this condition; the clothes that General flattered us with the expectation, and the clothes subscribed by the Kentuckians being not yet received, except a small part of the latter.
Dec.14th. An express arrived in camp, certifying that the boats, which started, from St. Mary’s on the 4th, laden with flour and clothing were frozen up in the St Mary’s River, and the escort was building a house to store the loading in.
Dec. 17th. Three hundred head of hogs arrived to our relief.
Dec. 20th. The weather is excessively cold; the ice has stopped the navigation of the river, so that the plan of going to the Rapids by water is entirely frustrated; we had prepared about sixty pirogues for the voyage, which will be left here for our successors.
Dec. 21st. The General has ordered the commandants of regiments to cause each company to be provided with sufficient number of sleds to convey their baggage to the Rapids. It is said these sleds are to be pulled by men, as we have not a horse in camp able to pull an empty sled.
Dec, 27th. Part of the clothing arrived from Kentucky.
Dec, 29th. The Americans now about communing one of the most serious marches ever perform us. Destitute in a measurer. Have cloth, shoes, and provisions, the most essential articles necessary for the existence and preservation pf the human species in this world, and more particularly in this cold climate. Three sleds are prepared for each company, each to be pulled by a packhorse, which has been without food for two weeks, except brush, and will not be better fed while in our service; probably the most of these horses never had harness on, but presumption is they will be too tame; we have prepared harness out of green hides; the sick were left at Camp #3, with a company from each regiment as a guard.
The weather took a change the Second of January. It commenced snowing, and continued two days and nights; after it ceased, it was twenty to twenty-four inches deep. On the Third, the army resumed its march, wading through a deep snow. We stopped early in the afternoon to prepare our encampment; to rake the snow away, make fires, and pitch our tents, was no trifling task; and after this we had to get bark or bushes to lie on. On the next day the snow melted and the ground thawed, which operated much against. We marched two miles, which tried the strength and activity of our noble steeds. The General had remained behind at Camp #3, more styled "Fort Starvation."
SAMUEL ROHN, Early Pioneer whose family settled on Camp #3
1883 History of Defiance County.
Samuel Rohn was born May 18, 1812, in Northampton County, Penn. And came with his parents, William and Elizabeth {Landis} Rohn to Ohio in 1821, and located in Miami County, in the town of Pique, where he remained until 1822; when they removed to Camp No. 3 of General Winchester in Richland Twp., Defiance County, where he found the pickets of Winchester’s army still standing, covering about forty acres. Mr. Rohn found a good many Indian brooches, tomahawks and arrowhead along the old Indian trace that ran through his farm. He had also found blacksmith tools, formerly used by the soldiers of General Winchester along with wagon tires an the relics of wagons used by his army in 1812. Richland Twp. was organized in 1824, many early meetings to organize the twp. were held at Camp No. 3. His father William was one of the first Trustees of the Twp. Camp No. 3 is located on Section 23 of the twp. Many members of the Rohn Family are buried in a cemetery on the Rohn farm. The Rohn house still stands today {2007}, though no longer owned by the Rohn family.
1936 W.P.A. REPORT, Topic #624, Defiance Co., District #13, Cemeteries.
The Old Kentuckian Burial Ground at Winchester’s Camp Number Three
Located in the Independence Dam State Park.
This historic burial ground is situated four miles east of the City of Defiance on US Rt 24 {424} on the bank of the Maumee River in Independence Dam State Park. In fact it now comprises a part of the park. It is directly across the road from the old Rohn House, mentioned under Architecture, The Miami and Erie Canal takes up a part of this old burial ground.
When the canal was built in 1837-1848, thousands of bones were found, as the canal was dug directly through the burial ground, these bones were all reburied and this place is now called the Old Kentuckian Burial Ground. {The Park Board under the supervision of Mr. Abram Smith and Edward Bronson of Defiance has been trying for some time to raise money enough to erect a memorial to these Kentucky dead, who gave their lives that winter} circa "1936". The plot is about 75 yards wide, the length is not known. The winter of 1812-1813 was the hardest winter ever suffered by white men in this part of the world. About ninety percent of the soldiers buried here were from Kentucky.
It was here that that Captain Johnny Logan, the Indian Warrior and Army Scout, who joined the American forces and left his own people, died. Having been wounded several miles farther down river at the mouth of Turkey Foot Creek. Later his body was moved to Fort Winchester and was there buried with full military honors. As many as 300 Kentuckian soldiers of General Winchester’s Army may be buried here.
List of Known Soldiers that died at Fort Winchester
Capt. William Ellis
Pvt. William Woodriff
Pvt. Andrew Robb
Pvt. James Kenney Jr.
Pvt. Taber Leavell
Pvt. James Hill
Lt. John M. Robinson
List of Known Soldiers that died at Camp #3
Pvt, Christian Shyrock
Pvt. Jonathan Clinkebeard
Pvt. Samual Henderson
Capt. Johnny Logan "Indian Scout"
Excerpts from Richard Rozevink, rozevink@adelphia.net