\

 
 MILITARY JOURNAL 
 
 or 
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY, 
 
 fficer in % ^efralutionarg anb |nbian 
 
 WITH AS 
 
 INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR. 
 
 Jfiirror of ancient faith ! 
 Undaunted \uorih ! inviolable truth ! 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
 1859.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by 
 THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District 
 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY W. S. I1AVEX. PITTSBURGH, PA.
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of 
 
 SANTA BARBARA 
 
 MEMOIR. 
 
 EBENEZER DENNY was born in Carlisle, Cumberland 
 County, Pennsylvania, on the llth of March, 1761. He 
 was the eldest child of William Denny and Agnes Parker. 
 William, and his brother Walter, came to Cumberland 
 from Chester County, in 1745. Walter Denny settled 
 two or three miles south of Carlisle, where he owned a 
 large tract, of land, now divided into five farms. He 
 raised a company for the Revolutionary struggle, was 
 killed at the battle of the Crooked Billet ; and his son 
 taken, and kept three months on board a Jersey prison- 
 ship. David Denny, for many years pastor of the Pres- 
 byterian church at Chambersburg, was a son of Walter. 
 William lived in Carlisle. He was the first Coroner 
 west of the Susquehanna, and a Commissary in the war. 
 
 The mother of Ebenezer Denny, Agnes, was the 
 daughter of John Parker, and grand-daughter of Richard 
 Parker. Richard, as early as 1730, acquired lands on 
 the Cannadaguinnet, three miles west of Carlisle. These 
 lands continued for two or three generations afterward 
 in possession of his descendants. It was there that his 
 
 (3)
 
 4 MEMOIR. 
 
 grandsons, in the intervals of their military service, 
 turned their swords into plowshares. All three Alex- 
 ander, Richard and Andrew were actively engaged in 
 the war. Alexander furnished two teams, at his own 
 expense, when the army was at the White Plains. He 
 was commissioned in Colonel Irvine's regiment, Second 
 Lieutenant in Company "No. 1, Captain Hay, January 
 9th, 1776. Marched in April following, from Carlisle 
 to New York and Canada promoted a First Lieutenant 
 in Company Xo. 4, Captain Rippey, June 9th, 1776, 
 and Captain, 31st July, 1777, in Colonel Irvine's regi- 
 ment. In the first campaign against Quebec, he and his 
 cousin, John Parker, who was one of his sergeants, suf- 
 fered great hardships, and narrowly escaped being taken 
 prisoners. At the close of the Revolutionary War, 
 whilst Richard and Andrew emigrated to Kentucky, 
 Alexander Parker settled in Western Virginia, on lands 
 which he acquired by settlement and purchase, at the 
 mouth of the Little Kanahwa, on which is now the town 
 of Parkersburg. His only surviving child, Mary, whilst 
 on a visit to her relative in Pittsburgh, was married to 
 William Robinson, Jr., of Allegheny. On that occasion 
 her cousin from Kentucky, a grandchild of Richard 
 Parker, afterward Mrs. T. Crittcnden, was her brides- 
 maid. 
 
 Agnes, the mother of Ebenezer Denny, was an uncom- 
 mon woman, of great energy and intelligence. She was 
 of middle height, fair complexion, blue eyes, bright 
 sandy hair; beautiful in her younger days, attractive at 
 all times, and prepossessing in her old age. Her nume- 
 rous friends and relatives approached her always with
 
 MEMOIR. 5 
 
 confidence in her affection, her sympathy, her good tem- 
 per and sound judgment. A devout Christian with 
 her Bible, in every sense, by heart. She never failed to 
 ascribe the many deliverances of her son Ebenezer, to a 
 particular providence as other pious persons did to the 
 prayers of herself, his good mother. 
 
 Her father left his large estate to his sons ; as was the 
 custom in those days. Agnes inherited nothing. Her 
 husband, a highminded and gentlemanly man, fell away 
 in his habits and circumstances. Ebenezer, therefore, 
 felt that he ought to endeavor to assist them, as well as 
 to support himself. At the age of thirteen, he obtained 
 employment as a bearer of dispatches to the com- 
 mandant at Fort Pitt. He crossed the Allegheny moun- 
 tains alone, lying out in the woods with any party of 
 pack-horsemen whom he overtook at nightfall. His 
 friend in after years, Samuel Murphy, of "Murphy's 
 Bend," on his first visit from Bullskins to Fort Pitt in 
 1774, met him at Turtle Creek, on his return from the 
 fort: "a slender, fair, blue-eyed, red-haired boy, two or 
 three years younger than himself, between eleven and 
 thirteen years old." Murphy expressed, at the time, his 
 surprise that the public authorities would intrust a mere 
 lad to carry important dispatches through a wilderness 
 infested with savage enemies. Twenty years afterward, 
 Murphy was a lieutenant in a military expedition to 
 Presqu' Isle, commanded by the person who was that 
 night at Turtle Creek his camp-mate and bed-fellow. 
 Once during that expedition, whilst suppressing a mutiny, 
 and again, when returning, he fell out of his perogue, the
 
 (5 M E M O I R . 
 
 life of the commander was saved by that brave and ath- 
 letic soldier. "When I met him at Turtle Creek," said 
 Murphy, "he must have been on his return from the 
 fort. I know him too well to suppose that he would have 
 disclosed to me the nature of his business, until after it 
 was executed." On two of these missions to Fort Pitt, 
 at the Loyalhanna and at Turkey-foot, he was chased 
 into Fort Loudon by the Indians. 
 
 He was afterward employed in his father's store in 
 Carlisle. Fresh from his bridle path on Chestnut Ridge 
 and Laurel Hill, and familiar with its danger, it Avas 
 hardly to be expected that he would be content at home 
 behind a counter, whilst his uncles, of whom he was 
 justly proud, risked everything in the war. 
 
 A letter of marque and reprisal was about to sail to the 
 West Indies. He repaired to Philadelphia and shipped 
 as a volunteer. The captain intended to intercept a 
 British merchantman, with a valuable cargo, bound from 
 the Bahamas to Halifax. But entertaining a party of 
 friends who accompanied him down the Delaware, was 
 unable to command his ship when, outside the capes, 
 the expected prize came in sight. He made amends for 
 this disappointment afterward by a vigilant, daring and 
 successful cruise. His ship became noted in the Gulf. 
 On one occasion, off Martinique, he had a running fight 
 with three armed British cruisers. In that chase and ac- 
 tion, Ebenezer attracted the notice of the captain by his 
 alacrity and intrepidity, as he had throughout the voy- 
 age by his modesty and fidelity. Observing that in 
 every emergency he was not less brave than any of the
 
 * 
 
 MEMOIR. 
 
 crew, whilst he was always reliable and trustworthy, the 
 captain, on the voyage home, promoted him to the com- 
 mand of the quarter deck. 
 
 To overcome his scruples and aversion to what seemed 
 so much like highway robbery, that even the love of ad- 
 venture could not gloss it over, he was offered the privi- 
 lege of supercargo, to induce him to embark again in 
 another cruise. This tempting offer reached him in the 
 family cabin at Carlisle, surrounded by his mother and 
 sisters, whose affectionate endeavors to dissuade him 
 from its acceptance only increased his desire to earn 
 something for himself and them. He decided to go back 
 to sea. He invested his share of the prize money in 
 whiskey and flour, and had crossed the Susquehanna with 
 his wagon on his way to Philadelphia, when he received a 
 commission of Ensign in the First Pennsylvania regi- 
 ment. He gladly disposed of his produce at Harrisburg, 
 and joined the army at Little York. This was shortly 
 after the mutiny in the Pennsylvania line. In his mili- 
 tary journal, which then commences, he describes the 
 pain he felt at being obliged to witness the execution. 
 
 Then followed Wayne's forced marches into Virginia, 
 and the first action of the Pennsylvania troops, under 
 Lieutenant- Colonel Richard Butler, near Williamsburg, 
 where they had a desperate encounter with Simcoe; 
 the British partisan and his rangers being very much 
 emboldened by their recent success at the junction of the 
 Eivanna and Fluvanna rivers, at which point, with a de- 
 tachment of yagers, infantry and hussars, they fright- 
 ened the Baron Steuben into a night retreat of thirty
 
 8 MEMOIR. 
 
 miles, and destroyed the greater part of his stores scat- 
 tered along the river bank ; although .he was at the head 
 of five hundred Virginia regulars, with some militia, sep- 
 arated from the enemy by deep water, and the boats all 
 on his own side. This was Steuben's first and only sep- 
 arate command. 
 
 Soon after, Wayne, who also was credulous, but in the 
 opposite way, attempted to surprise Cornwallis. He ex- 
 pected to find his army partly crossed over and divided 
 by the James river. Our young ensign, the extent of 
 whose marching of late had been the length of his quar- 
 ter deck, frankly confesses that he could not keep up 
 with his company. As they were coming into action, his 
 captain and fellow townsman, falling behind and walk- 
 ing by his side, quietly said to him, "Now, Eb., for the 
 honor of old Carlisle, do not disgrace yourself." Mont- 
 gomery made this rallying appeal to the memory of their 
 native place, supposing that his young townsman was 
 going into his first action ; probably not knowing that the 
 youngster was fresh from the perils of the sea, and famil- 
 iar with the smoke of gunpowder on the deck of a pri- 
 vateer. The boldness of their commander advanced 
 them into a position of great danger, from which they 
 were extricated only by still greater daring. Cornwallis, 
 astonished at the hardihood of the attack, sent a red- 
 
 ' O 
 
 ment of infantry to meet him, and cautiously deploy- 
 ed his whole army to the right and left. The regi- 
 ment of British infantry, in front of the American line, 
 marched up in open order, with perfect regularity; 
 Wayne reserving his fire until they were within a dis-
 
 MEMOIR. 9 
 
 tance of seventy paces, when both lines enchanged shots 
 for a few minutes. . The hero of Stony Point was in full 
 uniform his horse prancing in front of the Pennsylva- 
 nia infantry, his face glowing with pleasure. He seemed 
 to Ensign Denny, who stood near him, to be amused with 
 the loss of his plume, which was cut off by a ball on the 
 first fire. Nearly all the field officers were dismounted. 
 
 A young officer, acting in the staff, whose pantaloons 
 were rubbed by some bleeding horse, imagining himself 
 wounded, fainted, and was carried off the field. Being 
 very handsome, one of the few young men of fortune in 
 the army who could afford to dress well, he was envied 
 by his brother officers, who made the most of the acci- 
 dent to laugh him out of the service. Ensign Denny 
 was the only officer in the company who was not wounded. 
 The captain and lieutenant were disabled at the first 
 fire. The troops retreated by companies. Montgomery's 
 fell to the command of the ensign. They recrossed the 
 swamp by the narrow causeway, in good order, but with 
 such expedition, that he could again hardly keep up with 
 the men. But " thanks to the veteran first sergeant, 
 the most important officer," he remarked, "in a company, 
 they were kept together." 
 
 The unexampled hardihood of Wayne, persisting to 
 advance, and actually fighting after he must have 
 been aware that the whole British army were at 
 hand, perplexed Cornwallis, made him apprehend an 
 ambuscade, and hesitate in his pursuit. Otherwise, 
 Wayne and all his force would have been taken. The 
 loss of the Americans in this battle, according to Mr.
 
 10 M E M I E . 
 
 Denny's account, was one hundred and eighteen killed 
 wounded and prisoners, including ten officers. 
 
 Subsequently, at the siege of York, on the night of 
 the 14th October, Ensign Denny was in the advance at- 
 tack on the redoubts, in which the Pennsylvania troops 
 distinguished themselves under the lead of Hamilton. 
 In the ceremony of the surrender, Lieutenant- Colonel 
 Richard Butler, (afterward General Butler, killed at 
 St. Glair's defeat,) in honor of his recent services and the 
 signal part his regiment had taken in the capture of the 
 redoubt, was appointed to plant the first American flag 
 upon the British parapet. 
 
 Colonel Butler, who was a short heavy person, detailed 
 for this service his youngest ensign, in his figure and 
 stature a contrast to himself; probably partial to him, 
 as coming from his own town, Carlisle. The young 
 officer mounted the parapet, in the presence of the 
 three armies, and was in the act of planting the 
 flag-staff, when the Baron Steuben rode out of the lines, 
 dismounted, took the flag, and planted it himself. The 
 disappointed and mortified subaltern had nothing to do 
 but submit. But not so his colonel, the hero who had 
 avenged the Baron's flight from Simcoe. He, that night, 
 sent the arrogant foreigner a message, as every one ex- 
 pected, and it took all the influence of Rochambeau and 
 Washington to prevent a hostile meeting. 
 
 Perhaps there was some excuse for the Prussian mar- 
 tinet, in the fact, that a dispute on a point of military 
 etiquette had arisen among the general staff at head- 
 quarters, in which Lafayette and Rochambeau took op-
 
 .* 
 
 MEMOIE. 11 
 
 posite sides ; the Marquis contending that he should 
 "take the flag," and the Count claiming the right for 
 the Baron Steuben. 
 
 In no part of his diary or correspondence does he allude 
 to the subject of two duels, in which he was concerned as 
 second. One of these affairs grew out of some offense given 
 to the surgeon of the regiment, by a brother officer. The 
 aggressor, as was his custom, when he thought he had 
 offended an officer of lower grade, was seen in camp 
 next day without his epaulets, to show that he waived 
 his rank, and was ready to give satisfaction. The sur- 
 geon, like many other surgeons in the Revolutionary 
 army, was a brave man, and expert with the pistol ; nev- 
 ertheless, at the hostile meeting which followed, they 
 exchanged shots without effect, very much to the sur- 
 prise of the challenged party, who at first accused his 
 friend of having loaded the pistols only with powder ; 
 but on being shown the trees directly behind them, 
 freshly barked by the balls, recovered his good humor, 
 and requested him to " prime and load." Lieutenant 
 Denny, instead of doing so, assured his friend that he 
 was in the wrong, and succeeded in reconciling the com- 
 batants before they left the field. They walked back to 
 the camp, arm in arm, the officer congratulating himself 
 that he had not killed his doctor. 
 
 It will be recollected that they were officers of the 
 army at a time when dueling was more than now the 
 fashion were on the soil of Virginia, where the custom 
 was indigenous and in the presence of our allies, the 
 French chivalry.
 
 12 MEMOIK. 
 
 Ensign Denny, as appears from his journal, was after- 
 ward with Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Harmar, and the 
 First Pennsylvania regiment, in the Carolinas under 
 the command of General St. Glair, and at Charleston, 
 during its investment, and after its evacuation. 
 
 In the order book of Lieutenant-Colonel Harmar, 
 dated Philadelphia, August 27th, 1784, we find him ar- 
 ranged as ensign in Captain M'Curdy's company of 
 infantry. From that time, throughout the campaigns of 
 Harmar and St. Glair, and his own expedition to Presqu' 
 Isle, his diary is a sufficient sketch of his life for that 
 period. The Adjutant of Harmar and the Aid-de-camp 
 of St. Clair, no one had better opportunities of obtaining 
 authentic information. 
 
 When the United States Commissioners were at Fort 
 Finney, waiting for the Shawanees to come in to the treaty, 
 General Clark kept aloof from his colleagues. There 
 appeared to be some jealousy and coolness between them. 
 But to the young commandant, Lieutenant Denny, he 
 was like a father. He invited him to pass his evenings 
 at his tent ; threw off his reserve, and talked about his 
 own adventures. He told him that frequently, at night, 
 when his soldiers lay upon their arms, he has crept, on 
 all fours, to the neighboring lick, with only his tomahawk, 
 for fear of alarming the Indians, watched for the deer to 
 pass, and selecting a young one, killed it, and carried it 
 back to the bivouac for the supper of his men. He was 
 a stout, rather short, square man, with a high, broad fore- 
 head, sandy hair, blue eyes, and heavy, shaggy eye-brows. 
 With his personal prowess, hardihood and capacity for
 
 M E M O I K . 13 
 
 detail, there was always comprehensive wisdom in his 
 plan and purpose. He raised his force and supplies 
 promptly. He knew exactly, and therefore never over- 
 rated the dangers in the way. He marched quietly to his 
 distant object and took it by surprise. There was no 
 martial pageant, no ostentatious alid pompous parade. 
 He threaded the forest silently or on his Chickasaw 
 ponies galloped across the prairies, and gave the first 
 notice of his presence to the savages by his flag sup- 
 planting that of their great allies. Hence that prestige, 
 that renown amongst them which was of such value to 
 carry on hostilities or dictate a peace. When he was 
 present, the great warriors never noticed any other 
 General. 
 
 The night on which his little party from Kentucky 
 reached the Kaskaskia river at Menard's Grap, they saw 
 on the opposite bank the Jesuits' seminary lighted up, 
 and heard issuing from it the sounds of the violin. 
 Clark, leaving his horses and most of his men on the 
 eastern side, waded across at the warm ford. It was 
 a ball given by the British officers to the French inhab- 
 itants. He placed one of his men quietly at each. door, 
 outside, with orders to let none pass. He himself, wrap- 
 ped in his blanket capot, his arms folded, leaning against 
 the door-cheek, looked in upon the dance. An Indian 
 who lay on the floor of the entry, intently gazing at his 
 features in the light reflected from the room, suddenly 
 sprang to his feet and gave the war-whoop. The dancing 
 ceased, the ladies screamed, and the Frenchmen rushed 
 to the door. Clark, without moving from his position,
 
 14 MEMOIR. 
 
 or changing his grave expression, desired them to go on 
 with the dance. "The only difference is," said he, "you 
 now dance tinder Virginia, instead of Great Britain." At 
 day-light he and his mounted men were opposite to Fort 
 Chartiers, on the crest of the bluff, and by inarching along 
 its profile so as to be seen from the fort, countermarch- 
 ing out of sight and again showing themselves in a con- 
 tinuous file, his force appeared so large that the much 
 more numerous enemy capitulated without a shot. 
 
 The massacre of the Blue Licks recalled him to Ken- 
 tucky. He described to Lieutenant Denny the panic in 
 the settlements, in the face of which he beat up for vol- 
 unteers; and what no other man could have done, he 
 promptly raised a party and hung on the bloody flanks 
 of the enemy. His masterly march on the Wabash and 
 capture of Post St. Vincent, he related somewhat dif- 
 ferent from, and without the flourish of history. 
 
 After his conquest of Illinois, he was voted a sword 
 by the State of Virginia. The bearer of it met the grave 
 and discontented hero on the bank of the Wabash. He 
 was anxiously waiting for news that the House of Dele- 
 gates had passed his accounts, and had voted money to pay 
 them, to enable him to make good his engagements, on 
 sudden emergencies, for supplies to his men. He was 
 disappointed. He took the sword drew it from its scab- 
 bard, and placing the point to the ground, thrust it deep 
 in the soil he had conquered, and broke it off by the hilt. 
 Throwing away the glittering handle, he said, " I asked 
 Virginia for bread, and she sent me a sword! " 
 
 During the campaign of 1790, and at the battle of the
 
 MEMOIR. 15 
 
 Maumee towns, the Journal and letters of Major Denny, 
 who was in fact the acting Adjutant- General of the army, 
 state so fully every military occurrence, and his deposi- 
 tion before the court of inquiry, on the conduct of the 
 commander, is so clear a summary, that it is only neces- 
 sary to refer to them. 
 
 The reader will see that there runs through the whole 
 a vein of loyal attachment to the gallant and accom- 
 plished Harmar, which has the ring and lustre of the 
 pure metal, and does honor to them both. 
 
 On the 14th December, 1790, President Washington 
 communicated to Congress a military dispatch from the 
 Governor of the ]STorth-Western Territory, dated Novem- 
 ber 6th, in which General St. Clair says: "Mr. Denny, 
 the gentleman who takes General Harmar's dispatches, 
 I beg leave to mention to you in a particular manner; 
 and if you will be pleased to do so to the President in 
 his favor, you may be assured he will not disappoint any 
 expectations that may be formed. He has every quality 
 that I could wish a young man to possess, who meant to 
 make the army his profession. There are, however, 
 some other traits in his character as a man, that are not 
 generally known, that would endear him. Out of the 
 little pittance he receives, he has maintained two aged 
 parents for a long time." 1 
 
 In Brigadier- General Harmar's dispatch to the Secre- 
 tary of War, dated November 4, 1790, after giving an 
 account of the battle, he says: "The bearer, Lieutenant 
 Denny, is my Adjutant. It will afford me great satisfac- 
 
 1 American State Papers, vol. iv. on Indian Affairs, page 104.
 
 16 MEMO IE. 
 
 tion to know that some mark of honor will be shown 
 him. His long and faithful services merit it. There is 
 a vast deal of business in this western country. If there 
 is no impropriety in giving me an aid-de-camp, I wish 
 him to be the person." At the foot of the General's letter 
 lie says: "K B. My Adjutant is really and truly an 
 officer." 1 
 
 Major Denny's habitual reserve on the events of his 
 military life, was by no means lessened on the subject of 
 the melancholy scenes of the 4th of November, 1791. 
 As he says in his Journal, he recurred to them with pain 
 and reluctance. 
 
 The unfortunate commander himself, modest and dig- 
 nified as he was, more frequently conversed on the sub- 
 ject, in his retirement at Chestnut Ridge. To his neigh- 
 bor, still living, the venerable Alexander Johnston, he 
 said that nothing had ever given him more concern than 
 his having dispatched his aid-de-camp, Major Denny, 
 whose worth, and the value of whose life, no one more 
 appreciated, upon a most desperate mission, from which, 
 on reflection, he had no hope of ever seeing him return 
 alive. This was probably at the commencement of the 
 attack on the 4th of November, when with Colonel Old- 
 ham he rode forward to the creek, where the Indians had 
 driven in the militia, and vainly endeavoring to arrest 
 their flight, that brave Kentuckian was shot by his side 
 and fell from his horse, execrating the cowardice of his 
 men. 
 
 1 Documents, Legislative and Executive, Congress United States, 1st to 
 3d Session of the 13th Congress.
 
 MEMO IE. 17 
 
 In the confusion of the battle, when the officers were 
 nearly all killed or wounded, John Morgan, the aid 
 of the disabled Butler, rode up to Major Denny and 
 asked for orders. His horse, covered with blood, rubbed 
 his wounded face on the Major's pantaloons. This was 
 not noticed at the time ; and afterward General St. Clair 
 observing the blood, said to his aid-de-camp, "Major, 
 you are wounded." The latter dismounted, drew off his 
 boot, but finding no wound, recollected Morgan's horse. 
 The General smiled and said, " Don't you remember the 
 Irish beauty?" alluding to the young officer at the bat- 
 tle of James River, who perceiving his pantaloon stained 
 in the same way, supposed himself wounded, and was 
 carried off the field. This was told to the writer by his 
 father, as an instance of General St. Glair's coolness and 
 self-possession in the midst of the panic. 
 
 After General Butler had received his first wound, he 
 continued to walk in front close along the line, with his 
 coat off and his arm in a sling, encouraging the men, and 
 retired only after receiving a second wound in the side. 
 The Commander-in-chief sent Major Denny, with his 
 compliments, to inquire how he was. He found him in 
 the middle of the camp, in a sitting posture, supported 
 by knapsacks the rifle balls of the Indians, who now 
 surrounded closely the whole camp, concentrated upon 
 that point. One of the wounded General's servants and 
 two of his horses were shot there. He seemed, however, 
 to have no anxiety, and to the inquiry of the aid- de- 
 camp, he answered that he felt well. Whilst making 
 this reply, a young cadet from Virginia, who stood at his 
 2
 
 18 MEM OIK. 
 
 side, was hit on the cap of the knee by a spent ball, and 
 cried so loudly with the pain and alarm, that General 
 Butler actually shook his wounded side with laughter. 
 This satisfied Major Denny that the second wound was 
 not mortal, that the General being very fleshy, the ball 
 might not have penetrated a vital part. He always be- 
 lieved that he might have been brought away and his 
 life saved. Probably his own aid-de-camp, Major John 
 Morgan, may have offered to bring him off, as was his 
 clutv, and the wounded General declined, conscious that 
 
 v ' 
 
 his weight and helplessness would only encumber his 
 brave young friend for no use, and hinder him from 
 saving himself. 
 
 It is among the traditions of the family at Carlisle, 
 that as their relative rode in the rear of the retreating 
 army, a woman caught his horse by its long tail, and 
 held on, although threatened with hoof and sword. She 
 was rewarded for her confidence in his generosity by 
 being taken up behind, and carried in safety to Fort 
 Jefferson. 
 
 The first intelligence of the disastrous termination of 
 St. Glair's campaign was brought to Philadelphia by his 
 aid- de-camp, who rode down Market street on the gal- 
 lant little horse which had borne his tired rider night 
 and day from Fort Pitt, and now reined up, bespat- 
 tered with mud, at the President's mansion. General 
 Washington had a party at dinner that evening. A 
 servant came up stairs, and said that a young officer 
 from the army had a letter fur the President. The private 
 secretary, Mr. Tobias Lear, was sent down to receive it.
 
 MEMOIR. 19 
 
 The officer said that his orders were to give the dispatch 
 to the President only, which being told to Washington, 
 he came down to the ante-room and i-eceived it. He had 
 not read more than a few lines, until he perceived its 
 import, and broke out in expressions, which the young 
 officer did not set down in his diary, but which Mr. 
 Tobias Lear, the private secretary, recorded in his private 
 journal, to be published at this late day, and cited in 
 confirmation of the probable truth of the allegation, that 
 Washington swore profanely at that traitor, Lee, in the 
 battle of Monmouth. 
 
 In a most violent passion, says the secretary, he ex- 
 claimed, " Did I not in the last words I said to him, warn 
 him against a surprise?" As if a surprise was the only 
 thing to be feared, the only advantage needed by an 
 enemy, brave by nature, and trained to war from child- 
 hood, to enable them to vanquish an equal number of 
 undisciplined troops, raw from the jails of the cities, 
 poorly equipped, hurried off, late in the season, to fight 
 them, united in their forest home and to be "sur- 
 prised " as indeed they were only because the second 
 in command, the officer of the day, would not permit the 
 information, regularly had, that the enemy were near the 
 camp in unusual numbers, "to go beyond his own tent." 
 His bravery, his exertions during the day to redeem it 
 from the consequences of his fault, and his fate, made 
 some atonement. 
 
 But there was no excuse for the President attaching to 
 the expedition an officer of his high rank and preten- 
 sions, without giving him the command-in-chief. There
 
 20 MEMOIR. 
 
 was no excuse for his sending against the Indians, all 
 united under Brant, a force not more numerous than 
 them, and so irregular and mutinous that it took the best 
 regiment to protect the convoys of provisions from the 
 
 deserters. 
 
 After Major Denny's resignation and retirement to 
 civil life, he married, on the first of July, 1793, Nancy 
 Wilkins, also a native of Carlisle ; the youngest daugh- 
 ter, by the first wife, of John Wilkins, Sr., formerly 
 of that place, who was a captain of a volunteer company 
 in the Revolution and at the battle of Brandywine. Be- 
 fore removing to Pittsburgh, Captain Wilkins resided 
 for some time at Bedford, and represented Bedford 
 county in the Convention of 1777, which formed the first 
 Constitution of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Denny was the sis- 
 ter, by the same mother, of John Wilkins, Jr., a sur- 
 geon's mate in the Revolutionary army, afterward 
 Quarter-master General ; of Charles Wilkins, of Lexing- 
 ton, Kentucky ; and of the Hon. William Wilkins, of 
 Homewood. 
 
 In 1794, Ebenezer Denny was again commissioned a 
 captain, and commanded the expedition to Le Boeuf, the 
 ostensible object of which was to protect the commission- 
 ers in laying out a town at Presqu' Isle but the real 
 and important purpose, to prevent the Six Nations uniting 
 with the Miami Indians against Wayne. 
 
 Major Denny, as instructed by Governor Mifflin, kept 
 a journal, in which he entered minutely every occurrence 
 on the expedition. In transcribing his original diary, he 
 thought many of the details not worth preserving. But
 
 MEMOIR. 21 
 
 it is believed that even the daily entries of the weather 
 on French Creek, sixty years ago, are not without inter- 
 est at present. 
 
 In the years 1795 and 1796, Major Denny resided with 
 his young family at his farm and mill, about six miles 
 from Pittsburgh, near the Monongahela, about half a 
 mile from the river, where the road to M'Keesport 
 crosses Street's Run. Whilst residing there he was ta- 
 ken up as a candidate for the State Legislature. His 
 opponent was John B. C. Lucas, a native of France, only 
 recently an emigrant from that country. The result 
 shows the force at that time of party spirit. On one side 
 was a native of the State, a Revolutionary officer, who 
 but lately served with credit in three expeditions against 
 the Indians ; the last one of which he himself command- 
 ed. Many of the early settlers in the election district, 
 and most of the influential men amongst them, had 
 served under him. On the other hand, a foreigner, 
 speaking the English language with difficulty but a 
 short time from Europe his family not attempting to 
 conciliate the prejudices of their puritanical neighbors 
 having himself the reputation of being an "avowed 
 Atheist" his wife "plowing on Sunday." 
 
 Lucas' farm was about half a mile lower down the 
 Monongahela, on the brow of Coal Hill, the high bluff 
 which flanks that river on the south side. They were 
 near neighbors. On the morning of the election, Lucas, 
 on his way to the polls, passing the mill, exchanged 
 friendly salutations with his rival. "Your father," (I 
 shall give Judge Lucas' own words,) "your father asked
 
 22 M E M O I E . 
 
 me to wait until he got his horse; he supposed I was 
 going to the election, and said he would go along. We 
 rode together to the place in Mifflin township where the 
 election was held. Arriving on the ground, the country 
 people shook hands with him, inquired about his health 
 and his family, but spoke not a word to me no man 
 spoke to Lucas not one. Your father, being a modest 
 man, said to me, 'Lucas, we have no business here; let 
 us vote and go home.' We did so. On my return, Mrs. 
 Lucas said, 'Well, Lucas, how goes on the election?' I re- 
 plied, ' Oh! they are all for Major Denny. They greeted 
 him in the kindest manner no one spoke to Lucas.' 
 She agreed with me that my chance was bad. However, 
 next morning the return judges calling with us on their 
 way to town, stated that I had a majority in the town- 
 ship in fact I was elected. Next year, or year after, 
 your father was a candidate for Commissioner of the 
 county, and received nearly every vote that not being 
 then considered a party question." This was about three 
 or four years after the meeting of the insurgents at 
 Braddock's Field, to which convention no small delega- 
 tion went from Mifflin township. The greater part of 
 the voters had indeed been "Whiskey Boys." "Your 
 father," said Lucas, "was the 'family candidate' the 
 brother-in-law of General John Wilkins, the obnoxious 
 Quarter-master who would not buy the illicit whiskey." 
 Calumnies circulated on the ground to the prejudice of 
 Lucas were promptly and warmly contradicted by Major 
 Denny, to whom a few confidently referred those who be- 
 lieved that he killed his son in a fit of passion, and that
 
 MEMOIR. 23 
 
 his wife, during his absence in France, had "plowed on 
 Sunday." 
 
 It was well known that Lucas, as well as Gallatin, was 
 identified with the popular cause. No one knew better 
 how to avail himself of rural political prejudices. At 
 the same time neither he nor Gallatin were in favor of 
 extreme measures. Mr. Gallatin, on his way to and from 
 Pittsburghf-son the road home to New Geneva, was ac- 
 customed to stop and spend the night with Lucas. After 
 the convention at Pittsburgh, he called as usual and re- 
 mained all night. He had with him a fresh proof of the 
 resolutions adopted by the meeting. He showed them 
 to Lucas, and asked what he thought of them. "In my 
 opinion," he replied, "they are too strong." "I think so 
 too," said Gallatin; "it was not my fault that they are 
 so." 
 
 The next year Major Denny being elected Commission- 
 er of the county, returned to his residence in town. Lu- 
 cas and he sold their farms Lucas to go to the newly 
 acquired territory of Louisiana as a Territorial Judge. 
 The five thousand dollars which he got for his Mononga- 
 hela farm, he laid out in a Spanish grant, then adjacent 
 to St. Louis now the finest part of that city and worth 
 nearly as many millions of dollars. Whilst sitting as a 
 judge in the territorial court, there came on for trial a 
 case in which his old neighbor, Ebenezer Denny, was 
 plaintiff, and Alexander M'Nair defendant. M'Nair was 
 one of the first settlers, was married to a lady who be- 
 longed to one of the most influential French families. 
 He was well known, very popular, and was elected the
 
 24 MEMOIK. 
 
 first Governor of the State of Missouri, beating Gen- 
 eral William Clark. On the other hand, Ebenezer Den- 
 ny was a non-resident, not present at the trial, and per- 
 sonally unknown to the jurors. Seeing, therefore, such 
 odds against him, Judge Lucas undertook to charge the 
 jury, which he did in French and English: "When I 
 lived," said he, "in Pennsylvania, I was the next neigh- 
 bor to the plaintiff; we differed in politics we were 
 opposing candidates for office, but there never was a more 
 honest man. It is impossible that he could set up any 
 claim that was not just and true." The jury, without 
 leaving the box, found a verdict for the plaintiff for the 
 amount he claimed. 
 
 Although it appears from his correspondence, that he 
 was an applicant for office at the organization of the new 
 counties in Western Pennsylvania, it is very certain that 
 he never received any civil appointment whatever from 
 the government, State or Federal. This may have been 
 owing to a diffidence which kept him in the background, 
 or a soldierly stiffness which made him a bad courtier. 
 In his letter of the 14th December, 1796, to General 
 Harmar, the intimate personal friend of Governor Mif- 
 flin, he says quite as much for his competitor, George 
 Thompson, as he does for himself. 
 
 About the beginning of the present century, he entered 
 into partnership in business, with Anthony Beelen, a 
 Belgian, introduced to him by his father, the Austrian 
 Minister, Francis, Baron de Belen Bartholf. Denny and 
 Beelen were concerned with Lafleur, or "Falure," a 
 Frenchman, in a glass works, probably the second or
 
 MEMOIR. 25 
 
 third factory of the kind established at Pittsburgh. It 
 was on the north bank of the Ohio, opposite the ripple at 
 the head of Brunot's, the first island ; hence the name 
 " Grlass-liouse Riffle" 
 
 In 1803, he was Treasurer of Allegheny county. He 
 appears first on the list of the County Treasurers and 
 was again Treasurer in 1808. 
 
 In 1804, Ebenezer Denny was appointed a Director of 
 the Branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania, established 
 that year at Pittsburgh. This was the first bank west 
 of the mountains. " The Miami Exporting Company " 
 was not then a bank, and did not become so until after- 
 ward. Three years subsequently a bank was started in 
 Kentucky, under the name of "The Kentucky Insurance 
 Company." It was, in reality, an institution for banking 
 purposes. Like the bank established the same year in 
 Nashville, it failed, as did the Bank of Kentucky and its 
 branches, some years after. 
 
 The Branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania at Pitts- 
 burgh was subsequently transferred to and merged in 
 the office of the Bank of the United States. Thomas 
 "Wilson, who had been a Teller in the Bank of Pennsyl- 
 vania, subsequently, through the influence of Langdon 
 Cheves, was made principal Cashier of the Bank of the 
 United States in Philadelphia. In this capacity Wilson 
 again visited Pittsburgh during the great money pres- 
 sure and general insolvency of 1819. He came out with 
 full powers to settle with the debtors of the western 
 oifices. Major Denny, then a Director of the Branch of 
 the Bank of the United States, was engaged by several
 
 26 MEMOIR. 
 
 of the principal debtors of the Branch, to endeavor to 
 induce Wilson to accept of property in settlement. He 
 was selected for this purpose, from his own perfect 
 solvency and freedom from debt to the bank, and from 
 the confidence which Mr. Wilson had, when in the office 
 here, reposed in his judgment and integrity. Notwith- 
 standing that the property of the Pittsburgh debtors 
 was offered at a low valuation, it was refused. Similar 
 offers in Cincinnati were, fortunately for the bank, ac- 
 cepted. 
 
 In the first Board of Directors of the Branch of the 
 Bank of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, five of Major 
 Denny's associates had been officers in the army of the 
 Revolution : Presley Neville, Abraham Kirkpatrick. 
 Adamson Tannehill, George Stevenson and John Wil- 
 kins. Jr. James O'Hara, who succeeded John Wilkins, 
 the first President, was the President when the Branch 
 Bank of Pennsylvania was transferred to, and merged 
 in the office of the Bank of the United States. Al- 
 though not an officer in the Revolutionary war, he was 
 a Commissary and Quarter-master General during the 
 subsequent Indian hostilities, and at least a coadjutor 
 with the army in the Indian prolongation of the War 
 of Independence. James O'Hara was a man of fore- 
 sight and enterprise. In partnership with Major Isaac 
 Craig, he established the first glass works, and was the 
 pioneer in that branch of Pittsburgh manufactures; 
 which next to, if not more than even iron, is the staple 1 
 of the place. 
 
 A large proportion of the prominent citizens of Pitts-
 
 9 
 * 
 
 M E M O I E . 27 
 
 burgh, at this early period, being, as it thus appears, re- 
 tired officers of the army, they necessarily constituted a 
 majority in the boards of trustees of the Church, of the 
 Academy and the Bank. Nor does it appear that the 
 Bank of Pennsylvania, or its successor, the Bank of 
 the United States, had any reason to regret their confi- 
 dence in these gentlemen. Only one other branch of the 
 United States, the office at Mobile, lost less money, or was 
 more successfully managed. If in one or two instances 
 directors were indebted to the institution, their liabilities 
 were fully liquidated by their estates. To these brave 
 men the country was a debtor when they died, and 
 continues so to the descendants of most of them. But 
 no one lost by them. 
 
 It is remarkable how many of the original settlers at 
 Pittsburgh had been officers in the Revolutionary army : 
 Colonels John and Presley Neville, William Butler; 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Bayard; Majors Isaac Craig, 
 Ebenezer Denny, Edward Butler, Alexander Fowler; 
 Captains Abraham Kirkpatrick, Adamson Tannehill, 
 Uriah Springer, George M' Cully, Nathaniel Irish, John 
 Irwin, Joseph Ashton, James Gordon Heron ; Lieu- 
 tenants Josiah Tannehill, William M'Millan, Gabriel 
 Peterson, Ward ; Surgeons' -mates John Wilkins, Jr., 
 George Stevenson, John M'Dowell. They made quite a 
 colony of retired officers at De-un-da-ga. 
 
 In 1805, Major Denny made preparations to move to 
 the Mississippi, in hopes that a southern and milder 
 climate would agree better with the failing health of 
 one dearer to him than life. His old military friends,
 
 gg M E M I K . 
 
 Colonel Sargent, Dr. Carmichael, and farther down the 
 hospitable coast, the Butlers, were ready to receive them 
 with open arms. He had a house engaged in Natchez, 
 and built a barge for the purpose of conveying his family 
 down the river, when the beloved person for whose 
 benefit the removal was intended, got worse, and died on 
 the first day of May, 1806, in her thirty-first year, 
 leaving three sons, Harmar, William and St. Clair; and 
 two daughters, the youngest an infant, and following its 
 mother in a few days. 
 
 There are some old inhabitants of Pittsburgh who re- 
 member that young mother and lamented wife her 
 graceful manners her delicate but elegant form ex- 
 pressive and beautiful features, and mind surpassing the 
 graces of her person ; who, if they have ever read the 
 inscription on her tomb in the old Presbyterian grave- 
 yard, written by Alexander Addison, must have felt that 
 it was no common -place exaggeration, but like every- 
 thing from his pen, worthy of his warm heart and sound 
 judgment, and a just tribute to loveliness and virtue 
 
 For several years after this period, Major Denny ob- 
 tained from the War Department the contracts for the 
 supply of rations to the troops at Fort Fayette and at 
 Presqu' Isle, still retaining, in connection with these en- 
 gagements, his mercantile and commission business, at 
 the north-west corner of Market and Third streets, in a 
 house which he built of the bricks of Fort Pitt. 
 
 On the declaration of war with England, his contract 
 obliged him to supply the rations at Erie on thirty days 
 notice. After the surrender of Hull, large quotas of
 
 MEMOIR. 29 
 
 militia were suddenly ordered to certain points on the 
 lake shore. The contractors in Ohio and Indiana claim- 
 ing the benefit of that clause in their contracts which en- 
 titled them to thirty days notice, did not attempt to meet 
 the requisition. Major Denny was the only contractor 
 who did not claim the benefit of that provision. In Ohio 
 and Indiana they all failed. He proceeded promptly 
 and at all sacrifices, to forward the supplies to the post at 
 Erie. This he did in spite of the enhanced price of pro- 
 visions and cost of transportation. Of course he lost a 
 great deal of money by his patriotic I may say, mili- 
 tary spirit on that emergency. However, Colonel Eustis, 
 the Secretary of War, seeing that he was the only west- 
 ern army contractor who did not take advantage of the 
 terms of his contract in that respect, directed him, in ad- 
 dition to his own proper posts in Pennsylvania, to fur- 
 nish, also, the supplies to the North-western army ; which 
 he did, and so much to the satisfaction of General Har- 
 rison, that at the close of the campaign and successful 
 termination of the war, he wrote a complimentary letter 
 to Major Denny, thanking him for having discharged his 
 commissariat duties with so much promptness, energy 
 and ability, and ascribing much of the success in the 
 prosecution of the war in the North-west to his assistance. 
 
 Major Denny managed this business through well 
 chosen agents, without leaving home, unless to go to 
 Washington for the settlement of his accounts. He paid 
 these agents liberally with the principal one in Ohio, 
 John Waddel, of Chillicothe, he divided his profits. 
 
 When Pittsburgh, by an act of the Legislature, on the
 
 30 M E M O I E . 
 
 18th March, 1816, was incorporated into a city, Ebenezer 
 Denny was elected the first Mayor. He declined a re- 
 election, and retired from all public employments, except 
 that of Director in the Branch of the Bank of the United 
 States, and afterward of the Bank of Pittsburgh, in 
 which he was a large stockholder ; and where, from his 
 great experience, perfect independence, judgment and in- 
 tegrity, he had some influence, which he used with dis- 
 crimination and liberal spirit. Latterly he spent, also, 
 a portion of his time in the discharge of some private 
 trusts which devolved on him by the death of personal 
 friends ; and in improving his estate at the mouth of 
 Deer Creek. In the summer of 1822, whilst on a visit 
 to the Falls of Niagara, in company with his only daugh- 
 ter, he was taken ill, and with difficulty reached home, 
 where he died, on the 21st of July, 1822, in the sixty-first 
 year of his age. 
 
 Last winter, his Diary, or "Military Journal," was 
 shown for the first time, to a few friends in Philadelphia, 
 at whose instance the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 
 resolved to publish it. For convenience in correcting 
 
 o 
 
 the proofs, it was agreed to stereotype it in Pittsburgh. 
 There would have been, however, nothing inappropriate 
 in its first seeing the light in the city of the Revolution, 
 where his services began, and where they ended.
 
 MEMOIR. 31 
 
 In prefacing the publication of the Journal with an 
 imperfect Memoir of his life, it may be said for apology, 
 in the words of Tully : 
 
 Haec scrips! non otii abundant! ft, sed amoris erga te. 
 
 Appended are several letters of General Harmar, now 
 for the first time published. Many of them illustrate 
 the Diary. The temptation could not be resisted of in- 
 cluding some for their own attraction and public interest. 
 They sustain, throughout, the General's high military 
 reputation and character for vigilance and discipline. 
 They show that, with similar views to those of General 
 Clark, he continually pressed upon the government the 
 policy and necessity of conquering the Indians by first 
 taking the "western posts." 
 
 General Harmar was tall and well built, with a manly 
 port, blue eyes, and keen martial glance. He was very 
 bald, wore a cocked hat, and his powdered hair in a cue. 
 Such was his appearance, as described to the writer by 
 the late Harmar Denny, on his return to college from his 
 first visit to "Harmar's Retreat," on the east bank of the 
 Schuylkill, near Gray's Ferry. As he approached the 
 house, before he was half way up the lawn, the General, 
 who was standing in the porch, knew him by the likeness 
 to his father, and hailed the young collegian, with the 
 grace, the dignity and scholarship of the old school thus 
 apostrophizing the virtues of his ancient friend: 
 
 Salve pietas ! Salve prisca fides !
 
 )
 
 MILITARY JOURNAL 
 
 OP 
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DEMY. 
 
 CARLISLE, May 1st, 1781. The Pennsylvania Line, 
 after the revolt and discharge of the men, last winter, 
 were reduced to six regiments; the officers ordered to 
 different towns within the State to recruit. An appoint- 
 ment of ensign in the 7th had been obtained for me in 
 August last; the 7th and 4th were incorporated, and 
 under command of Lt.-Col. Comt. William Butler, ren- 
 dezvoused at this place companies now about half full. 
 The effective men were formed into four companies, and 
 marched to Little York ; I was arranged to one of the 
 marching companies, Samuel Montgomery, captain, and 
 George Bluer, lieutenant. All the recruits fit for service, 
 from the different stations, were brought to York, formed 
 into two regiments of eight companies each, destined for 
 the State of Virginia. A few days spent in equipping, 
 &c., and for the trial of soldiers charged with mutiny, 
 General Anthony Wayne, the commanding officer, in- 
 fluenced, no doubt, by experience of the revolt last 
 3 (33)
 
 34 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 winter, expresses a determination to punish, with the 
 utmost rigor, every case of mutiny or disobedience. A 
 general court martial continued sitting several days; 
 twenty odd prisoners brought before them ; seven were 
 sentenced to die. The regiments paraded in the evening 
 earlier than usual ; orders passed to the officers along 
 the line to put to death instantly any man who stirred 
 from his rank. In front of the parade the ground rose 
 and descended again, and at the distance of about three 
 hundred yards over this rising ground, the prisoners 
 were escorted by a captain's guard ; heard the fire of one 
 platoon and immediately a smaller one, when the regi- 
 ments wheeled by companies and marched round by the 
 place of execution. This was an awful exhibition. The 
 seven objects were seen by the troops just as they had 
 sunk or fell under the fire. The sight must have made 
 an impression on the men ; it was designed with that 
 view. 
 
 YORK, May 15th. Provision for transporting bag- 
 gage, &c., and other* necessary preparation. Com- 
 menced our march for Virginia ; the weather pleasant 
 and roads tolerably good. Passed through Frederick 
 Town (Maryland), where were some British prisoners 
 quartered ; they turned out to see us. Next day reached 
 the Potomac ; here we were detained for want of craft 
 boats few and in bad condition. The artillery passed 
 over first (a battalion of artillery accompanied the 
 brigade). The second flat-boat had left the shore about 
 forty yards, when the whole sunk. Several women were 
 on board ; but as hundreds of men were on the bank,
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 35 
 
 relief soon reached them; none were lost got all over. 
 Proceeded a few miles and encamped. Struck our tents 
 every morning before day. About eight or nine o'clock, 
 as we found water, a short halt was made, the water-call 
 beat ; parties, six or eight from each company, conducted 
 by a non-commissioned officer, with canteens, fetched 
 water. Seldom allowed to eat until twelve o'clock, when 
 the arms were stacked, knapsacks taken off, and water 
 sent for by parties as before. Officers of a company gen- 
 erally messed together, sometimes more; one of their 
 servants carried cooked provisions for the day ; no cook- 
 ing until night. Not acquainted with the country on 
 our route, but understood that we were marching much 
 about very circuitous keeping off the Blue Ridge 
 close on our right. This to avoid the enemy and secure 
 
 , 
 
 our junction with the Marquis Lafayette. 
 
 June 18th. Joined the troops under command of 
 Lafayette. The Marquis had marched two or three 
 days to meet us. His men look as if they were fit for 
 business. They are chiefly all light infantry, dressed in 
 frocks and over-alls of linen. One day spent in washing 
 and refreshing in fixing arms, carriages, &c., and served 
 out ammunition. Move toward Richmond, where Lord 
 Cornwallis with the British army lay. Heard that his 
 lordship was employed burning and destroying ware- 
 houses of tobacco, all the public store-houses, &c. Passed 
 through Richmond toward Williamsburg after the ene- 
 my joined by Baron Steuben with some new levies. 
 Near Bacon's Bridge the British turned upon us ; our 
 advance pressed them too close. The army was formed
 
 36 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 for a fight they did not come on. General Wayne 
 very anxious to do something. Colonel Simcoe, who 
 commands the British legion (horse and mounted in- 
 fantry), is constantly committing some depredation 
 abroad, and foraging for their army. Wayne hears of 
 him our brigade leave their tents and baggage, march 
 at dark, with piece of white paper in each man's hat 
 flints taken out. At day-light reach place called the 
 Bowling Green, where Simcoe had been the evening be- 
 fore. This was a severe march for me found myself 
 asleep more than once on the route. Returned and met 
 the baggage. A detachment from the brigade put under 
 command of Colonel Richard Butler. After a variety 
 of marching and counter-marching, Butler at length in- 
 tercepts Simcoe ; a smart skirmish takes place ; Wayne 
 supports Butler, and Simcoe retreats. Here for the first 
 time saw wounded men ; feelings not very agreeable ; 
 endeavor to conquer this disposition or weakness ; the 
 sight sickened me. This little engagement within six 
 miles of Williamsburg, where the enemy were encamped. 
 Pennsylvania troops retreat advance again. See the 
 Marquis' light troops but seldom know they are not far 
 off. Kept constantly on the move. Hear that the enemy 
 have decamped and preparing to cross James river at 
 Jamestown. Our brigade move down ; lay on arms all 
 night about nine miles from the enemy. At day-light 
 move on ; middle of the afternoon of the 6th of July 
 firing ahead. Our advance drove in the enemy's pickets, 
 marching at this time by companies, in open order. My 
 captain (Montgomery) fell behind his company where
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 37 
 
 my place was, talked with me ; gives me a lesson useful 
 to me. When perhaps within one hundred and fifty 
 yards of the enemy, we closed column and displayed ; 
 advanced in battalion until the firing commenced, and 
 ran along the whole line. A regiment or more of the 
 light infantry and three pieces of artillery Were in the 
 line. Saw the British light infantry, distinctly, advancing 
 at arm's-length distance, and their second line in close 
 order, with shouldered musket, just in front of their 
 camp their infantry only engaged. The main body 
 were discovered filing off to the right and left, when or- 
 ders were given us to retreat. My captain, Montgomery, 
 received a shot in his foot and had hopped back in the 
 rear ; Lieutenant Bluer being absent, the charge of the 
 company devolved on me ; young and inexperienced, ex- 
 hausted with hunger and fatigue, had like to have dis- 
 graced myself had eat nothing all day but a few black- 
 berries was faint, and with difficulty kept my place ; 
 once or twice was about to throw away my arms (a very 
 heavy espontoon). The company were almost all old 
 soldiers. Kept compact and close to our leading com- 
 pany, and continued running until out of reach of the 
 fire. The enemy advanced no farther than to the ground 
 we left. We could not have been engaged longer than 
 about three or four minutes, but at the distance of sixty 
 yards only. Our loss is said to be upward of one hun- 
 dred killed and wounded ; among the latter twelve offi- 
 cers, one of whom, Lieutenant Herbert, taken prisoner; 
 a few of the wounded not able to get off, were also taken. 
 The artillery horses all killed; two pieces were lost.
 
 38 MILITAEY JOUKNAL OF 
 
 Retreated two miles to very commanding ground, where 
 we met the Marquis with our main body ; halted and 
 had some Indian meal served out, the wounded dressed, 
 &c., and before day changed our ground and encamped 
 about five miles from the field. 
 
 July 7th. An officer, surgeon, and a few men, sent 
 with flag to bury the dead, &c. This was done in com- 
 pany with an equal number of the enemy. Our wound- 
 ed who were prisoners, had been properly treated. The 
 British moved from Jamestown. About a fortnight after 
 the action, visited the field ; could trace plainly the ground 
 occupied by both, from the tops of the cartridges which 
 lay in a line; the distance between about sixty paces. 
 The army marched and crossed James river at West- 
 over, the seat of Colonel Bird, said to have been once 
 the most wealthy planter in the State ; the improvements 
 superb, saw nothing like them before. Kept at a respect- 
 ful distance from the enemy ; rather between them and 
 the route to North Carolina. Some idea of their design 
 to return to the southward. Report going of a French 
 fleet below. This news confirmed great joy army on 
 the alert. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Army encamped on the bank of James 
 river part of French fleet, with troops on board, in 
 view. Recrossed James river and encamped at Wil- 
 liamsburg. Army in high spirits reinforcements coin- 
 ing on. 
 
 Ifh. General Washington arrived ; our brigade was 
 paraded to receive him ; he rode along the line quar- 
 ters in Williamsburg.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 39 
 
 1.5th. Officers all pay their respects to the Command- 
 er-in-chief; go in a body ; those who are not personally 
 known, their names given by General Hand and General 
 Wayne. He stands in the door, takes every man by the 
 hand the officers all pass in, receiving his salute and 
 shake. This the first time I had seen the General. We 
 have an elegant encampment close to town, behind Wil- 
 liam and Mary College. This building occupied as an 
 hospital. Williamsburg a very handsome place, not so 
 populous as Richmond, but situate on evenly, pretty 
 ground ; streets and lots spacious does not appear to be 
 a place of much business, rather the residence of gentle- 
 men of fortune ; formerly it was the seat of government 
 and Dunmore's late residence. A neat public building, 
 called the capitol, fronts the principal street ; upon the 
 first floor is a handsome marble statue of William Pitt. 
 
 The presence of so many general officers, and the ar- 
 rival of new corps, seem to give additional life to every- 
 thing ; discipline the order of the day. In all directions 
 troops seen exercising and manoeuvring. Baron Steu- 
 ben, our great military oracle. The guards attend the 
 grand parade at an early hour, where the Baron is al- 
 ways found waiting with one or two aids on horseback. 
 These men are exercised and put through various evolu- 
 tions and military experiments for two hours many 
 officers and spectators present; excellent school, this. 
 At length the duty of the parade comes on. The guards 
 are told off; officers take their posts, wheel by platoons 
 to the right ; fine corps of music detailed for this duty, 
 which strikes up ; the whole march off, saluting the
 
 40 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Baron and field officer of the day, as they pass. Penn- 
 sylvania brigade almost all old soldiers, and well dis- 
 ciplined when compared with those of Maryland and 
 Virginia. But the troops from the eastward far superior 
 to either. 
 
 2oth. Joined by the last of the troops from the east- 
 ward. French encamped a few miles on the right ; busy 
 in getting cannon and military stores from on board the 
 vessels. 
 
 28th. The whole army moved in three divisions 
 toward the enemy, who were strongly posted at York, 
 about twelve miles distant. Their pickets and light 
 troops retire. We encamped about three miles off 
 change ground and take a position within one mile of 
 York ; rising ground (covered with tall handsome pines) 
 called Pigeon Hill, separates us from a view of the town. 
 Enemy keep possession of Pigeon Hill. York on a high, 
 sandy plain, on a deep navigable river of same name. 
 Americans on the right ; French on the left, extending 
 on both sides of the river; preparations for a siege. 
 One-third of the army on fatigue every day, engaged in 
 various duties, making gabions, fascines, saucissons, &c., 
 and great exertions and labor in getting on the heavy 
 artillery. Strong covering parties (whole regiments) 
 moved from camp as soon as dark, and lay all night 
 upon their arms between us and the enemy. Our regi- 
 ment, when on this duty, were under cover, and secured 
 from the shot by Pigeon Hill ; now and then a heavy 
 shot from the enemy's works reached our camp. Our 
 patrols, and those of the British, met occasionally in the
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEB DENXY. 41 
 
 dark, sometimes a few shot were exchanged would gen- 
 erally retire. Colonel Schamel, adjutant-general to the 
 army, with two or three attendants, on a party of obser- 
 vation, ventured rather close ; they were seen and inter- 
 cepted by a few smart horsemen from the British. Scha- 
 mel forced his way through, and got back to camp, but 
 received a wound, of which he died next day. His death 
 was lamented, and noticed by the Commander-in-chief 
 in his orders. Possession taken of Pigeon Hill, and 
 temporary work erected. Generals and engineers, in 
 viewing and surveying the ground, are always fired upon 
 and sometimes pursued. Escorts and covering parties 
 stationed at convenient distances under cover of wood, 
 rising ground, &c., afford support. This business re- 
 minds me of a play among the boys, called Prison-base. 
 At length, everything in readiness, a division of the 
 army broke ground on the night of the 6th of October, 
 and opened the first parallel about six hundred yards 
 from the works of the enemy. Every exertion to annoy 
 our men, who were necessarily obliged to be exposed 
 about the works ; however, the business went on, and on 
 the 9th our cannon and mortars began to play. The 
 scene viewed from the camp now was grand, particularly 
 after dark a number of shells from the works of both 
 parties passing high in the air, and descending in a curve, 
 each with a long train of fire, exhibited a brilliant spec- 
 tacle. Troops in three divisions manned the lines alter- 
 nately. We were two nights in camp and one in the 
 lines ; relieved about ten o'clock. Passed and repassed by 
 a covert way leading to the parallel.
 
 42 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Oct. llth. Second parallel thrown up within three 
 hundred yards of the main works of the enemy ; new 
 batteries erected, and additional number of cannon 
 brought forward some twenty-four pounders and heavy 
 mortars and howitzers. A tremendous fire now opened 
 from all the new works, French and American. The 
 heavy cannon directed against the embrasures and guns 
 of the enemy. Their pieces were soon silenced, broke 
 and dismantled. Shells from behind their works still 
 kept up. Two redoubts advanced of their lines, and 
 within rifle shot of our second parallel, much in the 
 way. These forts or redoubts were well secured by a 
 ditch and picket, sufficiently high parapet, and within 
 were divisions made by rows of casks ranged upon end 
 and filled with earth and sand. On tops of parapet were 
 ranged bags filled with sand a deep narrow ditch 
 communicating with their main lines. On the night of 
 the 14th, shortly after dark, these redoubts were taken 
 by storm ; the one on our right, by the Marquis, with 
 part of his light infantry the other, more to our left, 
 but partly opposite the centre of the British lines, by the 
 French. Our batteries had kept a constant fire upon the 
 redoubts through the day. Belonged this evening to a 
 command detailed for the purpose of supporting the 
 Marquis. The night was dark and favorable. Our bat- 
 teries had ceased there appeared to be a dead calm; 
 we followed the infantry and halted about half way 
 kept a few minutes in suspense, when we were ordered 
 to advance. The business was over, not a gun was fired 
 by the assailants; the bayonet only was used; ten or
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 43 
 
 twelve of the infantry were killed. French had to con- 
 tend with a post of more force their loss was consider- 
 able. Colonel Hamilton led the Marquis' advance ; the 
 British sentries hailed them no answer made. They 
 also hailed the French, "Who comes there?" were an- 
 swered, "French grenadiers." Colonel Walter Stewart 
 commanded the regiment of reserve which accompanied 
 the Marquis ; they were immediately employed in con- 
 necting, by a ditch and parapet, the two redoubts, and 
 completing and connecting the same with our second 
 parallel. The British were soon alarmed; some from 
 each of the redoubts made their escape. The whole ene- 
 my were under arms much firing round all their lines, 
 but particularly toward our regiment, where the men 
 were at work : the shot passed over. In about three 
 quarters of an hour we were under cover. Easy digging; 
 light sandy ground. 
 
 15th. Heavy fire from our batteries all day. A shell 
 from one of the French mortars set fire to a British 
 frigate ; she burnt to the water's edge, and blew up 
 made the earth shake. Shot and shell raked the town 
 in every direction. Bomb-proofs the only place of safety. 
 
 16th. Just before day the enemy made a sortie, spiked 
 the guns in two batteries and retired. Our troops in the 
 parallel scarcely knew of their approach until they were 
 off ; the thing was done silently and in an instant. The 
 batteries stood in advance of the lines, and none within 
 but artillery. This day, the 16th, our division manned 
 the lines firing continued without intermission. Pretty 
 strong detachments posted in each battery over night.
 
 44 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 . _ In the morning, before relief carne, had the 
 pleasure of seeing a drummer mount the enemy's para- 
 pet, and beat a parley, and immediately an officer, hold- 
 ing up a white handkerchief, made his appearance out- 
 side their works ; the drummer accompanied him, beating. 
 Our batteries ceased. An officer from our lines ran and 
 met the other, and tied the handkerchief over his eyes. 
 The drummer sent back, and the British officer conduct- 
 ed to a house in rear of our lines. Firing ceased totally. 
 
 IStk. Several flags pass and repass now even without 
 the drum. Had we not seen the drummer in his red 
 coat when he first mounted, he might have beat away 
 till doomsday. The constant firing was too much for the 
 sound of a single drum ; but when the firing ceased, I 
 thought I never heard a drum equal to it the most de- 
 lightful music to us all. 
 
 19^. Our division man the lines again. All is quiet. 
 Articles of capitulation signed ; detachments of French 
 and Americans take possession of British forts. Major 
 Hamilton commanded a battalion which took possession 
 of a fort immediately opposite our right and on the bank 
 of York river. I carried the standard of our regiment 
 on this occasion. On entering the fort, Baron Steuben, 
 who accompanied us, took the standard from me and 
 planted it himself. The British army parade and march 
 out with their colors furled ; drums beat as if they did 
 not care how. Grounded their arms and returned to 
 town. Much confusion and riot among the British 
 through the day; many of the soldiers were intoxicated; 
 several attempts in course of the night to break open
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 45 
 
 stores ; an American sentinel killed by a British soldier 
 with a bayonet ; our patrols kept busy. Glad to be re- 
 lieved from this disagreeable station. Negroes lie about, 
 sick and dying, in every stage of the small pox. Never 
 was in so filthy a place some handsome houses, but 
 prodigiously shattered. Vast heaps of shot and shells 
 lying about in every quarter, which came from our works. 
 The shells did not burst, as was expected. Returns of 
 British soldiers, prisoners six thousand, and seamen 
 about one thousand. Lord Cornwallis excused himself 
 from marching out with the troops ; they were conducted 
 by General O'Hara. Our loss said to be about three 
 hundred ; that of the enemy said not more than five 
 hundred and fifty. - Fine supply of stores and merchan- 
 dise had; articles suitable for clothing were taken for the 
 use of the army. A portion furnished each officer to the 
 amount of sixty dollars. 
 
 20th. Joined by a new raised regiment from Pennsyl- 
 vania. Officers hastened to partake of the siege, but 
 were too late. British troops march into the interior 
 to Winchester and other places. Visit Gloucester, small 
 village opposite York ; nothing seen there. Some of our 
 officers return to Pennsylvania, others take their place. 
 Visit Williamsburg in company with young gentlemen 
 of the country, on horseback ; spend a few days very 
 agreeably. Militia employed leveling the lines. Our 
 brigade prepare for a long march. 
 
 Nov. 1st. Three regiments of Pennsylvania, a detach- 
 ment of artillery, and Maryland troops, commence their 
 march for South Carolina General St. Clair, the com-
 
 46 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 manding officer. Easy, regular marching ; roads gene- 
 rally good, through sandy country. Pass through Rich- 
 mond and Guilford, in North Carolina, where General 
 Green and the British had a hard fight ; also Camden, 
 where Gates was defeated. Halted at least one day in 
 the week for purpose of washing and refreshing. 
 
 Jan. 4th, 1782. Joined the troops under General 
 Green at Round 0, in the State of South Carolina. 
 Moved to Pond-Pond; here we lay some time. Rice 
 farms around this neighborhood the fields almost 
 all under water ; immense quantities of ducks ; excel- 
 lent sport at times. Planters return to their homes 
 live in style. Army change their ground; march to 
 Ashley. Was on picket the night before we reached 
 Ashley; got exceedingly wet it rained all night. 
 Marched next morning in wet clothes twelve miles, to 
 Ashley, exposed to very hot sun ; laid up with fever 
 carried to hospital ; as soon as able, returned to camp. 
 Hospital very disagreeable place all sick, and some 
 continually dying. Attendance good ; surgeons very 
 kind ; furnished with some stores, sugar, tea and molas- 
 ses. Continued weak and unfit for duty for some w r eeks. 
 Ashley a very good position ground high and dry ; but 
 it is now midsummer and sickly season. Men die very 
 fast; lost several valuable officers. Ashley river low; 
 full of alligators. 
 
 August. Camp continued on bank of Ashley river, 
 eighteen or twenty miles above Charleston. Enemy 
 confine themselves to city. Their light troops and horse - 
 advanced five miles, at place called Quarter House.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEB. DENNY. 47 
 
 Armies both seem disposed to be quiet ; ours in no con- 
 dition for doing much. Some talk of peace, and of the 
 enemy evacuating Charleston. Detailed for command. 
 Joined a captain of the Maryland line ; marched with 
 two sergeants, two corporals, and thirty men, for George- 
 town, about sixty miles distant, coast-wise. Escorted a 
 brigade of wagons loaded with rum for the army. 
 Country appears deserted ; the few people we saw looked 
 bad enough, poor and dejected ; they fled from us, and 
 in some instances hid themselves. Farms on this route 
 have been neglected; exposed to the incursions of the 
 British. Negroes and stock either removed or taken. 
 Fell in with an alligator, twelve .feet in length, in the 
 middle of the road ; supposed that his pond had dried 
 up, and that he was in search of another ; soldier shot 
 him. 
 
 September. Our camp very thin ; not more than three 
 relieves of officers and men for the ordinary duties. 
 Hospitals crowded, and great many sick in camp ; deaths 
 so frequent, the funeral ceremony dispensed with. Pro- 
 visions scarce and very indifferent; the beef brought 
 from the back counties of North Carolina, by the time 
 they reach the camp, poor indeed, and must be unwhole- 
 some. Commissary's yard and slaughter place common- 
 ly short distance from camp. Soldier going there in 
 morning about killing time, met his comrade returning 
 in ; asked how was the beef this morning ? other replied, 
 that it took two men to hold up the creature until the 
 butcher knocked it down. Says the other, And why
 
 48 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 didn't he knock it down as it lay ? Flour a rare article. 
 Troops have lived chiefly upon rice, now and then a 
 small allowance of Indian meal served out rice very 
 good for the sick, but rather washy for duty men. Gov- 
 ernor Hamilton, of this State, himself and family, 
 quarter at a pleasant seat, two miles in rear of camp 
 General Green not quite so far ; each has a subaltern's 
 guard. Very fond of getting one or other of these 
 guards better fare than we have in camp. Officer con- 
 sidered and treated as one of the family. 
 
 October. Camp at Ashley Hill. Ranks thinned very 
 much ; deaths not so frequent. Our situation as to 
 ground, a handsome one, and, as far as I can judge, eli- 
 gible, but assuredly the climate is severe upon northern 
 constitutions. Gentlemen who can afford it, reside dur- 
 ing summer in the city and spend the winter in the 
 country. An unpleasant week's command. At a bridge 
 over Ashley, six or seven miles from camp, where the 
 great road from Charleston to the upper country crosses, 
 a subaltern and thirty men have been stationed. It be- 
 came my turn. Orders were to suffer no people to pass 
 or repass without proper permit. It was now pretty 
 well known that the enemy would soon evacuate the city. 
 Many poor devils had taken protection and followed the 
 British in ; provisions scarce in town, and those people 
 sick of their situation they were anxious to get back to 
 their old places of abode in the country. Some very 
 miserable objects came out whole families, battered and 
 starving. Was sure, upon my representation, leave
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 49 
 
 would be given to let them pass. Stated the business 
 in writing, and dispatched a sergeant. No ordered not 
 to let them pass ; thought this an unnecessary cruelty. 
 
 Dec. ~L3th. Had been expecting, every day for a 
 month past, to hear of the intended evacuation of 
 Charleston. The Governor's guard was an object at this 
 time, as the officer commanding would, of course, accom- 
 pany or escort him into the city. I was so fortunate as 
 to have the guard this day, when advice was received 
 that the British would embark next morning. A few 
 hours for the Governor to get ready, we set out in the 
 evening with one tumbrel, containing books, papers, &c., 
 and reached the city early next day. Saw the last of the 
 enemy embark in their boats and put oif to the shipping. 
 An immense fleet lay in sight all day ; found the city 
 very quiet houses all shut up. A detachment from the 
 army had marched the day before to take possession as 
 soon as the English would be oif. Guards stationed at 
 proper places, and small parties, conducted by an officer, 
 patrolled the streets. Charleston a handsome town, sit- 
 uate on neck of land between the confluence of Ashley 
 and Cooper rivers ; Cooper river, however, appears to be 
 the only harbor. Town here fronts the east ; business 
 all done on this side. Second and third day people be- 
 gan to open their houses and show themselves, and some 
 shops opened. Stayed a week, and returned to our old 
 encampment. 
 
 30th. Broke up our camp. Pennsylvanians have 
 been reduced, by deaths, desertions, &c., and were now 
 incorporated into one regiment of six hundred men. 
 4
 
 50 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Supernumerary officers went home to their own State. 
 Lieut.-Col. Commt. Josiah Harmar, who had acted as 
 Adjutant-general since our junction with General Green, 
 took command of this regiment. 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1783. Arrived on James Island, and en- 
 camped contiguous to a very beautiful forest of pine. 
 Had with us one complete regiment of the Maryland 
 line, a battalion belonging to South Carolina, (which was 
 all the troops that State had), and six companies of ar- 
 tillery, two of whom were from Pennsylvania, the rest 
 from Virginia. Colonel Hamilton commandant of artil- 
 lery. The woodland an elegant situation for hunting. 
 Each company had its ground marked out, when the 
 whole went to work, and in course of a week were com- 
 pletely housed. Some of the companies had more timber 
 upon the ground they occupied than was necessary for 
 their huts. The infantry were in a line ; artillery in rear 
 of right wing formed a park. The order and formation 
 such as our encampment. 
 
 January. Cantonment on James Island. Weather 
 moderate. Troops employed finishing huts and opening 
 the streets ; not a stump left. Top of timber and brush 
 carried to certain distance, and built up in a circular line 
 round the cantonment. This brush barrier, or fence, 
 could not be passed without much trouble ; it served in- 
 stead of sentinels round the camp. Openings left at 
 particular places, where the guards or sentinels were sta- 
 tioned. Still kept a front and rear camp guard, but the 
 usual number lessened. 
 
 February. Very pleasant weather for working parties;
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 51 
 
 some appearance of spring. Officers and men all in 
 comfortable quarters. Provisions good ; very little occa- 
 sion for fire through the winter. 
 
 March and April. Delightful season. James Island 
 a little paradise the country flat, but sandy and dry. 
 Troops healthy. Our regiment receive new clothing; 
 officers also are furnished in Charleston with a small 
 supply. Make a very fine appearance. Exercised often ; 
 perform the parade duties in absence of the adjutant 
 very fond of this. Officers go frequently to the city 
 police boat for that purpose ; row there in half an hour. 
 A short walk from the huts, and we have a view of 
 Charleston, of Hadrel's Point, which is the main land 
 east, and of Sullivan's Island, east across the channel 
 from James Island. Visit Fort Sullivan, celebrated for 
 the defense made against Sir Peter Parker. Curtains 
 and embrasures faced with the cabbage tree soft 
 spongy wood, admirably calculated for this use. Saw 
 where a great many shot from the British ships had en- 
 tered the logs, but no damage done ; holes almost closed 
 up. From Sullivan's Island to Hadrel's Point was for- 
 merly a bridge it was burnt by the British. Fort Sul- 
 livan still in very good condition ; but Fort Johnson, 
 upon James Island, immediately opposite (across the 
 channel), nearly demolished. Plenty of fish and oysters 
 all round us, and what the folks here call stone crabs, 
 very fine; they are like the common crab, but much 
 larger, and soft shells. Officers in rotation dine with 
 General Green, at his house in the city. Colonel Stew- 
 art, of the Maryland regiment, on an excursion in the
 
 52 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 country, was cast from his horse into the ditch and broke 
 his neck. Officers of the army (those on duty excepted) 
 attended his funeral in Charleston. Preliminaries of a 
 peace arrive. Great rejoicing grand review dinner 
 fire works, and dance at the cantonment. Ladies and 
 gentlemen come over on this occasion from Charleston. 
 
 June 1st. Preparations making to send home, by sea, 
 the Maryland and Pennsylvania troops ; transports want- 
 ing. A New England brig arrives, and contracts to 
 carry two companies. Bond's and Irwin's companies or- 
 dered to embark. I had belonged to the latter since the 
 action of Jamestown, \vhen Captain Montgomery, who 
 was wounded, returned to Pennsylvania. Had a very 
 pleasant passage of seven days to Philadelphia, where 
 we landed on the 15th. Mrs. Green, wife of the General, 
 came passenger with us. Quartered in the Philadelphia 
 barracks, along with about one hundred and fifty new 
 raised men. Our companies of the southward appear to 
 great advantage. The near approach of the disband- 
 ment of the army, and a tardiness in Congress to make 
 provision for a settlement, produced dissatisfaction among 
 the officers in Pennsylvania, as well as among those at 
 head- quarters. To us who were strangers in our own 
 State, this business was unknown. About eighty men 
 from the recruiting rendezvous at Lancaster, turned out 
 and marched to Philadelphia without an officer; were 
 joined by the recruits in the barracks ; marched to the 
 State House where Congress were, frightened that body, 
 and broke up their sitting. This proceeding took place 
 about noon, when the officers belonging to the two com-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 53 
 
 parries from Charleston were at Governor Dickinson's on 
 an invitation to dinner. The alarm reached us hasten- 
 ed to the barracks long roll beat ; our two companies 
 fell in to a man ; marched to the Governor's house in 
 Market street ; several troops of militia horse paraded ; 
 great uproar in the city. Although the insurgents had 
 posted sentinels round the State House, the members of 
 Congress made out to escape, after passing a resolution to 
 assemble at Trenton. The officers who were concerned 
 in this business, and who had privately directed the 
 movements, now thought of themselves ; they fled and 
 escaped in a light boat down the river ; men soon dis- 
 persed. A few days brought General Howe from head- 
 quarters with a brigade of light troops, for purpose of 
 suppressing the insurrection. Most of the officers who 
 were here previous to our arrival were arrested, and a few 
 taken in close custody. General court martial ordered for 
 their trial. Government were desirous of getting rid of 
 the army in as quiet a manner as possible ; at this par- 
 ticular period it was thought best not to be too rigid. 
 Howe had his cue ; officers released. Captain Alexander 
 Parker (my uncle) , on furlough from Lancaster, was re- 
 turning home ; obtained leave of absence, and accom- 
 panied him to Carlisle. Our regiment from southward 
 not yet arrived. 
 
 Dec. 3d. By proclamation of Congress, the American 
 army was disbanded ; a few men, under the command 
 of a captain at Fort Pitt, excepted. A resolution soon 
 followed for raising a regiment for the purpose of garri- 
 soning the western posts this regiment to consist of ten
 
 54 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 companies, portioned as follows : Pennsylvania 4 com- 
 panies and Lieut.-Col. Commt. Jersey 1 company. 
 New York 3 companies and a Major. Connecticut 2 
 companies and a Major. 
 
 1784. The States made the appointments in the first 
 instance, which were confirmed by Congress. The offi- 
 cers were all from those who had been in service. Colo- 
 nel Harmar was in France; had been sent with the 
 ratification of the treaty. The command of the new 
 regiment was reserved for him, and indeed the Pennsyl- 
 vania appointments not made until his return. Governor 
 Miiflin at this time was President of Congress, and very 
 popular in Pennsylvania, and Harmar's great friend ; 
 but the Colonel's character as a military man stood high ; 
 the regiment he brought from the southward eclipsed 
 every thing. I was nominated by Harmar one of his en- 
 signs ; the appointment reached me at Carlisle. As soon 
 as they had a knowledge of my acceptance, recruiting 
 instructions were sent me. Marched about a dozen men 
 down to Philadelphia ; joined the camp on west side of 
 Schuylkill. The four companies nearly full. Some time 
 spent in equipping and exercising the recruits. 
 
 September. Marched through Lancaster by Carlisle, 
 &c., to Pittsburgh. Waited for the arrival of commis- 
 sioners appointed to hold a treaty with the Indians. 
 Treaty expected to be holden at Cuvahoffa. Commis- 
 
 / o 
 
 sioners late getting out, season advanced, plan changed, 
 and Indians invited to attend at Fort M'lntosh, about 
 thirty miles below Fort Pitt, on bank of Ohio ; to which 
 place we repaired, and found exceeding good quarters.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 55 
 
 January, 1785. About four hundred of the Senecas, 
 Delawares and Wyandots come in. After considerable 
 difficulty, a treaty is agreed to, but with much reluctance 
 on the part of the savages. Amongst the Indians are a 
 number of women and children. The whole a very 
 motley crew an ugly set of devils all very few hand- 
 some men or women. Colonel Harmar did not join us 
 until we reached Fort Pitt, at which place I was appoint- 
 ed to do the duty of adjutant; this had always been 
 favorite duty of mine. 
 
 FOET M'INTOSH, 1785. Winter passed away no or- 
 ders for marching ; did expect, as soon as the season 
 would permit, to march for Detroit. April and May de- 
 lightful season frequent excursions into the country 
 fishing and hunting. Officers visit Fort Pitt, where we 
 left a lieutenant and thirty men. Fort Pitt and Fort 
 M'Intosh both handsome places. Fort Pitt erected by 
 the British long before the late war an elegant work, 
 regular pentagon ; vast labor and money expended here. 
 Ditch and parapet with pickets and fencing, and every 
 thing in the most complete order. Very considerable 
 quantity of military stores at this place. Indians come 
 in to trade, will get drunk a white man killed by a 
 drunken Indian at Pittsburgh people rise and attempt 
 to put the Indian to death. Express sent to Colonel 
 Harmar at M'Intosh. I was ordered to Pitt with certain 
 instructions to Lieutenant Ashton, who commanded there. 
 The Indian guarded to county jail. Pittsburgh in West- 
 moreland county. Hannahstown, about thirty miles east, 
 the seat of justice. Cornplanter, chief of the Senecas,
 
 56 MILITAEY JOURNAL OF 
 
 arrived at Pitt. He had signed the treaty of M'Intosh; 
 was dissatisfied his people reflected on him ; came to 
 revoke. Colonel Harmar was informed of this, and in- 
 vited up to Pitt I accompanied him. Meeting appoint- 
 ed in the King's Orchard. Speeches on both sides taken 
 down. Cornplanter dismissed with assurances, &c., but 
 no revoking. 
 
 Summer nearly gone. Men have been enlisted but 
 for one year ; orders to re-enlist for three. Of the four 
 companies, we re-engaged seventy effective men rest 
 all discharged. Officers went on the recruiting service. 
 Anxious to know how I was to be disposed of. Proper 
 complement of officers kept for the new company. Did 
 count upon returning over the mountains, but would 
 have preferred remaining at Pittsburgh. Dislike the 
 recruiting service. The new company ordered to pre- 
 pare to embark for the Great Miami, where another 
 treaty is intended to be held. Generals Butler and Par- 
 sons, two of the commissioners, arrive. The party all 
 ready to descend the river, when the Colonel instructed 
 me to prepare and accompany them ; this to me was very 
 unexpected. The company has its complement of offi- 
 cers ; I was extra. Must move. 
 
 29^. I agreed with Mr. Duncan, about the wintering 
 of my mare; he promising to keep her safe in his 
 meadow, while the grass continued, and charge noth- 
 ing but the remainder of the winter she should be well 
 fed and kept on good hay, for thirty shillings per month. 
 Having arranged affairs as well asjbfte shortness of my 
 time would afford, I set off for M'Intosh, in company
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEK DENNY. 57 
 
 with Mr. O'Hara, but did not arrive until the next morn- 
 ing ; the water being exceedingly low, and Mr. O'Hara 
 so unfortunate as to run aground in the night. At ten 
 o'clock set out on horseback for Fort Pitt to make some 
 arrangements ; stayed one day. Found the party had 
 sailed. A corporal and six men with small boat left for 
 me. After receiving from the Colonel particular orders 
 relative to myself, I embarked again with Mr. O'Hara. 
 and in a few hours, with brisk rowing, overtook the com- 
 missioners, who had halted at Little Beaver creek, where 
 Captain Hutchens and several surveyors were encamped. 
 Here we stayed some minutes. About ten o'clock at 
 night we got to where the troops were encamped, near 
 the mouth of Yellow Creek, 30th September, 1785. A 
 very pretty looking company, commanded by Captain 
 Doughty, of New York, arrived at M'Intosh the same day 
 the other left. 
 
 Oct. 3d. Reached Wheeling. Joined by several of 
 the contractor's boats loaded with provisions. Our fleet 
 now consists of twelve small keels and batteaux, besides 
 two large flats called Kentucky boats. The flats carry 
 cattle, horses, &c. ; the others, the troops and goods for 
 the Indians. Ohio river remarkably low two pilots 
 employed to keep ahead and point out the channel ; not- 
 withstanding, some of the boats frequently ground. 
 
 Stk. Encamped opposite mouth of Little Kanahwa. 
 My uncle, Captain Parker, owns the ground above 
 Kanahwa ; crossed over in light boat ; his improvements 
 made just before the war scarcely visible ; place grown 
 up ; pretty tract of land. Settlement and pre-emption
 
 58 MILITAKY JOURNAL OF 
 
 entitle him to fourteen hundred acres. Will be valuable 
 property not long hence. 
 
 \\th. Passage very tedious; water low and frequent 
 interruptions ; made not more than ten and fifteen miles 
 a day. Fine opportunity of hunting and fishing along 
 the shore. Game plenty, particularly turkeys. Some 
 elegant bottoms on both sides of the river ; but generally 
 opposite the most prominent parts of the bottoms, the 
 hill makes in and forms what is called narrows. Colonel 
 Monroe, a member of Congress from Virginia, on a 
 visit to Kentucky, took passage with the commissioners. 
 Obliged to meet Congress early in October, and anxious 
 to get on ; a light boat got ready ; a sergeant, myself, a 
 corporal and six privates, embark with the Colonel 
 leave the fleet, and after rowing about fifteen miles ar- 
 rive at Great Kanahwa. 
 
 12th. Spent this morning with Colonel Lewis, who is 
 proprietor of the place. Several families reside with him 
 on the point it is a very pretty situation. Set out about 
 eleven o'clock ; kept half our crew at the oars all night. 
 
 13th. In the evening passed the Three Islands ; nar- 
 row channel here ; Indian crossing place. Frequent at- 
 tacks on boats at this place ; saw nothing ; arrived safe 
 at Limestone, late. 
 
 14th. Colonel Monroe having procured horses to 
 carry him to Lexington, left me at ten o'clock. Nothing 
 remarkable here ; place only settled this spring ; indif- 
 ferent kind of folks. This is said to be the best and 
 nearest landing place to Lexington if so, it will in a 
 short time become of some importance.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 59 
 
 18th. Fleet arrive make a short halt and pass on. I 
 follow in my light boat ; encamp early in the evening ; 
 men cook provisions for next day. 
 
 22d. Arrive at the Great Miami. Best ground for our 
 station about a mile above the mouth, where the boats 
 were brought and every thing unloaded. All hands set 
 to work chopping, clearing, &c., and preparing timber 
 for block-houses and pickets ; and on the 8th instant had 
 ourselves inclosed. Hoisted the United States flag, and 
 christened the place Fort Finney, in compliment to Cap- 
 tain Finney, the commanding officer. Our work is a 
 square stockade fort ; substantial block-houses, two 
 stories, twenty-four by eighteen feet in each angle ; cur- 
 tains one hundred feet of stout pickets, four feet in the 
 ground, and nine feet above ; situate one hundred and 
 fifty yards from the river, on a rising second bank. A 
 building, eighteen by twenty feet, within the east and 
 west curtains, for the accommodation and reception of 
 contractors' stores and Indian goods ; and one small, but 
 strong building, centre of north curtain, for magazine. 
 A council house, twenty by sixty, detached, but within 
 gun shot. Commissioners and their followers pitch their 
 tents within the fort, and erect wooden chimneys. Sea- 
 son very favorable, but growing cool. Men employed 
 finishing the block -houses, and clearing off the timber 
 and brush to some distance outside. 
 
 Nov. 13th. Corporal Thompson arrived with his boat, 
 in company with General Parsons, one of the commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 24,th. Messengers who set out from Pittsburgh to the
 
 60 MILITAKY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Indian towns, to invite the Indians to a treaty at this 
 place, arrive with six chiefs of the Shawanees, Wyan- 
 dot and Delaware nations, to wit: Captain Johnny, or 
 Red Pole, Half -King, Crane, Pipe, Wingeman and 
 White-Eyes all very glad to see us brothers. Some 
 grog and smoke produced. 
 
 2oth. Wrote to Colonel Harmar at Philadelphia, an 
 account of our passage, &c., and of the arrival of the In- 
 dians, state of the troops, &c. 
 
 27th. Caught two large Kentucky boats floating down 
 empty had been unloaded at Limestone, and carried 
 away by a sudden rise of water. Boards served us for 
 floors, sentry boxes and other useful purposes. About 
 one hundred Indians assemble and encamp a couple 
 of miles from us ; the greatest part Wyandots, a few 
 Delawares. 
 
 Dec. 5th. Generals Clark, Butler and Parsons leave 
 us on a visit to the Falls of Ohio, about one hundred and 
 fifty miles below. Captain Finney and myself, with a 
 party of soldiers in boat, go to Big Bone Lick, thirty 
 miles down ; dig up and collect some astonishing large 
 bones. 
 
 Dec. 6th. Spent this day in the Indian camp by in- 
 vitation ; treated with attention. It was a high day 
 among them, a frolic and feast ; several games played 
 exceedingly active at the game our boys call shinny or 
 common. About forty young men were paraded for this 
 game, equally divided ; the ground had been cleared for 
 the purpose. At the centre was a painted post, decorated 
 with pieces of cloth suitable for legsinsrs and breech
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 61 
 
 clouts ; the winning side got these. Their ball the size 
 of a man's head, made of deer's hair, covered with skin ; 
 their sticks four or five feet long, resembling a racket. 
 The ball was thrown in the air all endeavored to catch 
 it upon his racket ; a fellow would take it in this way 
 and keep in until another more smart overtook him or 
 knocked it abroad, when another scramble took place. 
 They insisted on my joining in one of these games. 
 Several other games were played ; some with beans and 
 dishes or bowls, in imitation of backgammon. Our din- 
 ner was served upon skins spread on the ground. Had 
 walked to the camp, but must ride back ; girl and horse 
 got for me. l 
 
 1 Elsewhere in a note he says : " I left the garrison in company with Mr. 
 Zane (a man who has been brought up during his youth amongst "the 
 Wyandots), to share in the amusements of a frolic that was to take place 
 this day. Accordingly, when we arrived at their encampment we were 
 taken very friendly by the hand, and desired to fall in with them at a 
 game of common. The first thing did was to divide the whole into two 
 parties; this ceremony was performed by two old sachems; and then took 
 post on each side of an elegant decorated post of sugar tree, on the top of 
 which was as much new scarlet cloth as would make a pair of leggings ; 
 around the middle was bound a pair of scarlet garters. These were the 
 prizes. When all was ready, one of the old men gave a halloo as a signal 
 to make ready, which was answered by another from each of the company ; 
 at that instant the ball was thrown up in the air, then at it we went, and 
 contended for half an hour. At length it was sent past the stage, and the 
 person who struck it declared it aloud, which ended that game he being 
 presented with the leggings. And in the same manner was the garter 
 played for ; he who hit the ball the last got the prize. 
 
 " After dinner another play was introduced, which was called mamondys. 
 Having all sat down in a circle, they placed some blankets in the centre, 
 and two of them began the play, with a wooden dish and six plum stones 
 in it, marked on each side something like dice. They shook the dishes 
 about, and from certain marks one would soon exceed the other. With
 
 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 . The Indian women assembled in our council 
 
 house and desired the attendance of the chief captain 
 (Captain Finney). We all turned out, heard an oration 
 from one of their elderly ones, the conclusion of which 
 was a request for something to warm their hearts. 
 
 I2tk. Accompany Isaac Zane, a white man, and two 
 Indians, on a hunting party. We took a light boat, went 
 up the river seven miles, and pitched a camp ; had an 
 Indian woman along to keep camp. First day, too anx- 
 ious in pursuit of buffalo, lost my course ; intended to 
 have kept near to Zean ; he was led off. I was alone and 
 followed by wolves, yowling occasionally. Zean heard 
 the report of my rifle and came up ; was very glad to see 
 him. Concluded to return to camp ; he conducted me 
 some distance. Before we parted he killed a doe ; open- 
 ed the udder with his knife milk collected, of which I 
 drank. Got to camp and stayed there. Party returned 
 home the fourth day, and brought with us the meat of 
 three buffaloes, two bears and parts of a number of deer. 
 
 \5th, The same day we returned from our hunt, it 
 rained excessively hard. We were joined by our com- 
 missioners from the Rapids, just at the landing ; they 
 having received a plentiful quantity of wet that occasion- 
 ed a near resemblance to drowned rats. 
 
 18th. Three Shawanee Indians arrived with a speech 
 
 these and other affairs we diverted ourselves until it grew late, when 
 taking our leave, one who had expressed a great deal of friendship for me, 
 remarked that the road was dirty, that we had three miles to go, and that 
 I would be much the better of a horse if I would accept of one he would 
 soon have him procured ; I assented ; accordingly a squaw was dispatched, 
 and soon after we were both mounted and conducted home by two females."
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENXY. 63 
 
 from their nation, informing us of their being on their 
 way to this place. This was very agreeable news to our 
 commissioners. 
 
 19/A. Major Montgomery and Mr. Elliot were sent 
 in a boat, with a sergeant and four privates, up to Lime- 
 stone, in search of several horses that were stolen from 
 the Indians here, and were heard of at that place. 
 
 2Qtk. Commissioners returned a few days since from 
 the Falls ; disappointed at not finding more Indians 
 come in. Those with us, about one hundred, are princi- 
 pally Wyandots and Delawares, with whom the treaty at 
 M'Intosh was held. The Shawanees are the fellows the 
 present treaty was intended for ; they seem to hang back. 
 Indians treated very kindly dancing parties in our 
 council house almost every afternoon ; the men jump, 
 stamp and exert themselves much, but all keep good 
 time ; females glide round, and have a gait or step pecu- 
 liar to themselves. An old fellow has a keg, with skin 
 drawn over each head sort of drum on which he beats 
 time considerable regularity dance in a circle round 
 the fire can't dance without something to make their 
 hearts warm, and generally break up pretty merry. 
 Very few went home sober, but those who did were sure 
 to get drunk at night. They would come next day and 
 peremptorily demand a quantity of rum; on being re- 
 fused they set homeward very much offended, declaring 
 that the next day should move them off, never to be seen 
 as friends again. This day our clothing came. 
 
 Dec. 20th. The commissioners are of opinion that 
 a post will be continued here ; they think it an eligible
 
 64 MILITAKY JOURNAL OF 
 
 position until we are in possession of Detroit, &c. It 
 is convenient to the principal body of the savages who 
 inhabit the head waters of the Miami, and we are about 
 seventy-five miles north of Lexington, to which place a 
 road is now marked out ; the Falls of Louisville, below, 
 and Limestone settlement above. 
 
 2lst. Sent a return to Colonel Harmar by Mr. Hu- 
 lings, inclosed in a letter, the copy of which is as follows : 
 
 COLONEL Since my last, the commissioners after sending back the 
 Shawanee chiefs, to bring in their nation and others on the Wabash, &c., 
 have taken a trip to the Rapids, where they left General Clark. Whether 
 he will return or not, is a doubt with us ; but General Butler and Gen- 
 eral Parsons say he will be up in a few days. Our reason for thinking he 
 will scarcely return, is, that while here he had received almost daily 
 complaints from the people on the frontiers of Kentucky, against the In- 
 dians, and reflecting on him for trifling, as they think, with some of the 
 savages, while others are plundering them. The people are very ripe for 
 a campaign into the towns. 
 
 A runner arrived two days since with a speech from the Shawanees, 
 informing us of the whole nation being on their way to this place. But 
 after they do arrive, there are several more nations to be coaxed, so that 
 from every appearance, next spring will bring up the rear of the treaty 
 Much more indulgence is allowed the Indians here than was at M'Intosh. 
 Dancing, playing common, &c. (for which they are well supplied with ma- 
 terials to make their hearts merry), are frequent amusements here. Major 
 Finney is determined they shan't act Pontiac with him, for every precau- 
 tion is taken at that time. 
 
 The commissioners are of opinion that this place is the most advanta- 
 geous spot to keep troops at, until we have possession of others farther 
 northerly, as it is convenient to the principal body of the savages, and 
 nearly an equal distance from the Rapids, the interior part of Kentucky, 
 and Limestone, which is the upper part of the settlement. There has 
 been a road marked out from this place to Lexington, their capital town,
 
 MAJOK EBENEZER DENNY. 65 
 
 from which we can have any supplies we might stand in need of. The 
 distance is about seventy-five miles. 
 
 The companies' clothing came to hand yesterday, all in good order. 
 The commissioners made a compliment to Major Finney of as much white 
 half-thicks as made each man a pair of over-alls ; they have been worn for 
 some time past, so that their sufferings are not so great as you might 
 imagine. Opportunities are so seldom up the river that I can't possibly 
 send you returns as regular as I could wish, but none shall be neglected. 
 I have the honor to remain, your very humble servant, 
 
 E. D. 
 
 23*7. General Clark arrived from the Rapids, which 
 was a very agreeable surprise, as few of us expected him. 
 
 25th. -A very dull Christmas (Sunday). 
 
 28th. The chiefs of the Delaware nation (particularly 
 Captain Pipe) made proposals to our commissioners to 
 send once more to their towns, to know why a certain 
 tribe of their's did not come in agreeably to a promise, 
 and likewise, if the commissioners would send a mes- 
 senger, he should be accompanied by their runners into 
 the Shawanee towns, and to the more western towns, to 
 bring a final answer from them. All was agreed to ; and 
 at the request of the commissioners, Mr. Doyle prepared 
 to accompany Mr. Ranken. 
 
 29th. New deputation sent to bring the Shawanees, if 
 possible, to treat Lieutenant Doyle went along all 
 mounted. The caravan took up the line of march, and 
 was expected would move on in state. Mr. Doyle, with 
 his friend, Mr. Ranken, and a young man, an assistant, 
 with two Indian men and several women, formed the line. 
 They had not been long on the road until a very heavy 
 cold rain came on, from which they must have suffered 
 5
 
 66 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 much ; but as the party consisted of old warriors, it was 
 expected they would not be discouraged at any difficul- 
 ties of that kind, but proceed as men employed on such 
 business ought to. 
 
 31st. I set out in company with two Shawanees to 
 
 provide a few turkeys for the first of the year, and at the 
 request of General Parsons, agreed to meet him, General 
 Butler and Major Finney, at a large pond about six 
 miles up the river ; they to go in a boat. After we had 
 rode the distance of four or five miles (for our party was 
 all on horse-back ; I Avas mounted on one of the Indians' 
 wife's horse and saddle), we got amongst the turkeys; 
 and the first thing done was to charge upon them, so as 
 to cause them to fly up on the trees, and all the bowlings 
 and frightful screeches I ever heard, were given to effect 
 this purpose. As soon as the turkeys rose we alighted 
 and commenced firing. In this manner we sported with 
 two flocks, until we had as many as we could convenient- 
 ly carry home ; then steering our course toward the boat, 
 met a horse belonging to the Indians, and the only one 
 that was left behind ; he missing his old companions, got 
 on their track, and having a bell on, alarmed the boat, 
 just as it was putting into the place appointed for our 
 meeting, and occasioned them to make to the other side 
 of the river ; so we were obliged to return home without 
 the refreshment which we expected from them. 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1786. Agreeably to an invitation, the com- 
 missioners and their gentlemen dined with Major Finney, 
 Mr. M' Do well and myself, in our hut, where we spent a 
 few sociable hours in memory of the late year, and drink-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY- 67 
 
 ing success to the ensuing one. Just as tattoo was striking 
 off, a gun was fired on the river and a light shone that 
 did not a little alarm us, but upon examination was dis- 
 covered to be a boat passing ; we made her come to shore. 
 One of her hands was an old man, who had been lately 
 made a prisoner by the Shawanees. His story is as fol- 
 lows : About two weeks since, himself and his two sons 
 were hunting on the head waters of Yellow Creek ; at 
 a time when the sons were after their horses, two Indians 
 came on him, and after inquiring of his company (for 
 they could talk English) moved off very rapidly, taking 
 him along as a prisoner ; he says they treated him toler- 
 ably, only that his hands were bound ; but when they 
 arrived at the Indian town, an old man took the direction 
 and loosed his arms, returning to him his blanket, which 
 had been taken, along with a rifle and some ammunition. 
 He was kept about two hours, when the same old man, 
 who could talk very good English, conducted him from 
 the town, placed him on a path that led to where two of 
 the old man's sons were hunting ; he at the same time 
 gave the prisoner a horse, three pints of parched corn 
 and a shell to deliver to these boys, and then sent him 
 off. The prisoner found the boys and delivered the shell ; 
 they knowing the horse, and understanding the token, 
 conducted the prisoner down to the Three Islands, about 
 eleven miles above Limestone; and just as they ap- 
 proached the river they discovered a boat on its way 
 down. The Indians being apprehensive of some danger 
 from the boat, did not wait for its coming ashore, but 
 after bidding farewell with the white man, took their
 
 68 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 horse, which he rode, and moved off. The white man 
 hailed the boat, got on board, and so arrived at this place. 
 
 2d. Major Montgomery and Mr. Elliot arrived with 
 
 two of the horses that they went in search of; the third 
 one they were not able to get, but expect that Colonel 
 Boon, a very worthy gentleman at Limestone, will re- 
 cover him. 
 
 8?A. Lieutenant Doyle arrived, and informed us that 
 after a disagreeable march of sixty miles, they w r ere met 
 by a party of one hundred and fifty Shawanees, on Sun- 
 day, the first of the year. After consulting, it was agreed 
 that he and Mr. Rankin should return, and Wengeanem, 
 the Indian chief, go forward as far as was first intended ; 
 indeed, the chief thought, that as Lieutenant Doyle and 
 Mr. Rankin were under his protection, that he ought to 
 have the right of ordering them, and did order them 
 back with the Shawanees. Lieutenant Doyle says that 
 the few nights he was with them their march was con- 
 ducted with great regularity ; that the whole appeared to 
 be formed in certain squads, equal in number, and when 
 any of their young men or hunters would kill meat, it 
 was brought, laid down by the chiefs, one of whom cut 
 it into as many shares as there were squads or fires (for 
 every squad had their own fire) and sent it off by men, 
 who appeared to serve as fatigue men for the day ; so 
 there was no one lived better than another, but all fared 
 alike. Every evening after they halted and fixed them- 
 selves properly, Captain Johnny, a young Indian who 
 lived with the chiefs, and seemed to act as an aid, would 
 take a drum made out of a keg, with skins tied over each
 
 MAJOE EBENEZEK DENNY. 69 
 
 end, and beat some kind of a signal ; on hearing which, 
 the whole would assemble and spend the greatest part of 
 the night in dancing and feasting. Lieutenant Doyle 
 continued with them until the whole got within twenty 
 miles of the Fort, when hearing that they intended 
 resting at that place, while another party of the same 
 number would join them, he took leave of Mr. Ranken 
 and came with his suite to the garrison. 
 
 9th. George White-Eyes and Pipe's son, set out with 
 dispatches for Muskinguin, the purport of which was to 
 have stores and liquors sent down. 
 
 14^A. We received information of the Shawanees in- 
 tending to come into the council house, and that on their 
 approach they would salute us with three rounds per 
 man. Our commissioners knowing them to be a very 
 proud nation, thought it best to pay them the same 
 honors, and ordered preparations in a style rather de- 
 grading to the United States, which was, that a party 
 of soldiers should cook and serve out provisions to them 
 in the council house. Now with them, the most decrepit 
 old women are made choice of for that business; and 
 nothing could have occasioned greater laughter than the 
 appearance of soldiers carrying kettles of provisions to 
 them. When the Indians saw them, they cried out, 
 " There come the old women with warriors' coats on," &c. 
 And who knows but they conceived us all old women 
 clad in uniform. In order to return their salute, twelve 
 men were ordered to parade, with three rounds of car- 
 tridges, and myself to command them. We waited 
 their approach, which was very solemn. As they came
 
 70 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 up they gave us Indian music, beat on a keg drum by 
 one of the chiefs, the whole singing at the same time. 
 Their line was formed in rank of file, the women bring- 
 ing up the rear, all in very regular order. When their 
 firing was over I commenced, and in the intervals gave 
 them a tune on the drum and fife. 
 
 After all were seated, their chief warrior, Wiendooha- 
 lies, from Wapotomaky, rose and wiped our eyes, open- 
 ed our hearts, &c. After which our commissioners de- 
 livered a speech, informing them of their commission and 
 Congress' desire to treat with all nations between the 
 Mississippi and the St. Lawrence, north of the Ohio, and 
 bidding the Shawanees welcome to the thirteen great 
 fires ; that at their next meeting the business would be 
 entered into more fully. The Shawanees then desired 
 to shake hands with the warriors ; accordingly the officers 
 paraded in the centre and received them all by the hand. 
 A smoke from their pipes of peace took place next ; and 
 about dark a signal was given to march, and off they 
 went. 
 
 Vdth. It snowed until the ground was nearly six 
 inches covered ; but immediately after came warm 
 weather which melted the whole, and caused the river 
 to rise. 
 
 '2\st. Bohengeehalus, J with about twenty Delawares, 
 arrived. They were saluted in the same manner that 
 the others were. Bohengeehalus is esteemed one of the 
 greatest warriors now among all the Indians. After he 
 
 1 Bohengeelwlus, a very largo stout man, brother of the " Grenadier 
 Squaw."
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 71 
 
 had seated himself he discovered General Clark, and 
 knowing him to be a great warrior, rose and saluted him 
 very significantly instead of taking hold of each other's 
 hands, they gripped nearly at the shoulder, and shook 
 the left hand underneath the right arms. 
 
 This evening we were entertained with the Shawanees 
 dancing much in the same manner as was performed by 
 the Wyandots, but the assembly was vastly larger. After 
 they had gone through several of their common dances 
 they prepared for a war dance. The Shawanees have a 
 variety of dances ; but the most pleasant one is their 
 social dance, as it is interpreted. As many young men 
 as please, form a ring round the fire, move, dance and 
 sing love songs ; the girls looking on for some time at 
 length they rise one after the other, as the spirit moves 
 them, and seize a partner. The couple stick to each 
 other, dancing and performing every possible gesture, 
 but still keep in the ring, singing and beating time to 
 their music. Now, while busily engaged, the parties ex- 
 change some articles of dress, or other things, as a token 
 of their regard. The girls were very fond of getting a 
 few of us engaged in this dance. But the war dance ex- 
 ceeds all it was performed at the request of the officers. 
 Eight or ten of the most active men stripped themselves 
 quite naked, except the breech clout, painted their bodies 
 and faces, so as to have a horrid appearance ; armed with 
 tomahawk and scalping knife, they formed a circle, 
 danced moderately to a mournful kind of tune for ten or 
 fifteen minutes, gave the war-whoop, and sat down to- 
 gether on seats placed for the purpose. They now hung
 
 72 MILITARY JOUENAL OF 
 
 their heads a dead silence for a short time ; one gets up, 
 dances and capers to the music repeats his exploits, 
 the injuries they had sustained, urging the others to be 
 strong, and rise and revenge themselves upon their ene- 
 mies. At length they are roused, one after the other, 
 until all get up, when they commence the most tremen- 
 dous yelling, jumping and figuring about in imitation 
 of shooting, scalping and tomahawking, exerting them- 
 selves exceedingly, until a signal is given for silence. A 
 short speech concludes. 
 
 24th. The treaty concluded at M'Intosh was explain- 
 ed to Bohengeehalus and his tribe, to their satisfaction. 
 
 2oth. One of the Shawanee chiefs died. 
 
 26th. Shawanees occupied our long house in dancing 
 every day, for ten days past. Officers and young gentle- 
 men attending the commissioners very frequently join 
 them. Business opened this day by an excellent speech 
 from our commissioners to all the Indians about four 
 hundred present. The boundary lines, designating the 
 lands allotted the several nations, were particularly de- 
 scribed and pointed out on the map. They were told 
 that as they had joined the English and taken up the 
 hatchet against the United States, and the war having 
 terminated in favor of the latter, and that the English, 
 also, to obtain peace, had ceded the whole of the country 
 on this side of the lakes to the Americans ; that they, 
 the Indians, must now look up to the Americans, and 
 ought to be thankful if allowed to occupy any part of the 
 country, which by the war they had forfeited ; neverthe- 
 less, more perhaps than they expected would be done for
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 73 
 
 them, but they must leave hostages for their good be- 
 havior, &c. 
 
 27 th. Shawanees met in council house. Their head 
 warrior, Kickwaypalathey, replied to the speech of yes- 
 terday ; denied the power and right which the United 
 States assumed ; asked if the Great Spirit had given it 
 to them to cut and portion the country in the manner 
 proposed. The Ohio river they would agree to, nothing 
 short; and offered a mixed belt, indicating peace or war. 
 None touched the belt it was laid on the table ; Gen- 
 eral Clark, with his cane, pushed it off and set his foot 
 on it. Indians very sullen. Commissioners told them 
 it was well, that the United States did not wish war, that 
 two days yet would be allowed to consider of the terms 
 proposed, and six days more with provisions to return 
 home ; but after that to take care, for they would cer- 
 tainly feel the force of the United States. Council broke 
 up hastily. Some commotion among the Shawanees. 
 Returned same afternoon and begged another meeting, 
 when their old king, Molunthy, rose and made a short 
 speech, presented a white string, doing away all that 
 their chief warrior had said, prayed that we would have 
 pity on women and children, &c. 
 
 Feb. 1st. Treaty concluded and signed ; presents de- 
 livered, and provisions furnished each tribe for six days. 
 Five Shawanees left as hostages. 
 
 8th. The commissioners, messengers and attendants, 
 left us ; returned in three boats. Wrote to Colonel Har- 
 mar at Philadelphia. Our commissioners were heartily 
 sick of continuing so long at this place ; their fare was so
 
 74 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 indifferent for a month past, having nothing but whiskey 
 with beef and bread. Fortunately a boat arrived two 
 days before they determined to start, which supplied 
 them with some liquors for their trip, and a small quan- 
 tity of sugar, an article they have been out of since the 
 rum was done. After they had prepared and determined 
 to start up in boats, took leave of us in the afternoon, 
 and hoisted sail. We fired a few rounds by way of 
 a salute. They having a fine wind, and their boats, 
 three in number, being well rigged with a sail each, 
 soon got out of sight. 
 
 By Lieutenant Doyle, who accompanied the commis- 
 sioners, I sent two returns to Colonel Harmar, one dated 
 the 1st of January, the other the present date; they 
 were both inclosed in a letter a copy of which is as fol- 
 lows, viz : 
 
 COLONEL We were agreeably surprised a few days after I wrote you 
 last, with the arrival of General Clark in a small canoe. I think I men- 
 tioned his going to the Rapids with the other commissioners, and not re- 
 turning with them. I likewise mentioned that the Shawanees were on 
 their way to the treaty ; it was true, but their movements were very slow, 
 for they did not arrive until the 14th of January. Lieutenant Doyle and 
 Mr. llankin (one of the messengers) had set off to go to their towns, but 
 meeting them about sixty miles distant, returned. Lieutenant Doyle's 
 descriptkm of their march, and the mode of conduct since they arrived, 
 confirms the character which we had of them, which is a proud, ambitious, 
 smart nation. The young men seem to be under strict subordination to 
 two or three old sachems. They have a white flag, which they marched 
 in with, a drum and several other instruments of music. The pipe of 
 peace is the most elegant I have ever seen. They have a greater com- 
 mand of their appetites than some other nations; as a proof, they abso- 
 lutely refused receiving any liquor for some days after their arrival.
 
 s r 
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 75 
 
 Twenty-first of January a tribe of Delawares came in. The leader's 
 name is Bohengeehalus. It is said he is the principal warrior amongst 
 the Wyandots and Delawares. Nothing more than an explanation of the 
 treaty at M'Intosh was done with him. 
 
 Twenty-sixth, our commissioners delivered a speech to the Shawanees, 
 setting forth their business, &c., and acquainting them of the country 
 which would be allowed them. Next day a reply was made, in which they 
 burlesqued the dividing of lands, and asked if the Great Spirit directed 
 the Americans to cut and divide the land as was proposed; no, they did 
 not understand that part. The Ohio, they thought, was the fittest line, 
 and if we were satisfied, they would agree to let it remain the boundary. 
 At hearing this we began to entertain different notions of matters, but the 
 affair was soon cleared up. The commissioners did not attempt to touch 
 the string which was given, and without rising, determined on an answer, 
 which was, that if they did not agree with the terms proposed, in two 
 days, they should then be furnished with six days provisions to carry 
 them home, and no harm should be done them during that time j but after 
 that take care, for they would certainly feel the force of the United States. 
 Council was not broke up more than fifteen minutes when a messenger 
 came for the commissioners. After they had assembled, the chief took a 
 white string and destroyed the whole of his former speech. 
 
 On the 1st instant the treaty was concluded with the Shawanees, and 
 articles similar to those at M'Intosh were signed. 
 
 The Half-King of the Wyandots has acted meanly in the business of 
 this treaty : he endeavored to prevent the Shawanees agreeing to our pro- 
 posal, with a view, we suppose, of expecting a larger quantity of goods 
 that he thought would be a drug on our hands ; but when he found they 
 desired peace, and were determined to agree, he then declared that he had 
 not given an answer to the treaty at M'Intosh, nor would he give one here ; 
 but when the warm weather would come, he would then go to Congress 
 and hear from them what was to be done with these lands. No reply was 
 made to this. A few days after he desired a council for himself and the 
 Delawares. When they convened, he rose and very strenuously insisted on 
 the commissioners enlarging the country allowed his people and the Dela- 
 wares. The commissioners told him that matter was settled, and they
 
 76 MILITARY JOUKNAL OF 
 
 would not make the smallest alteration. Captain Pipe, of the Delawares 
 (who was sitting listening), rose and said, " Brothers, the Delawares are 
 perfectly contented, they have land enough; and as a proof of our satis- 
 faction, myself and another chief, with several young men (good hunters), 
 will go as soon as we hear of the surveyors being out, and assist them to 
 mark the lines, and (turning to the Half-King) you'll go too. The Half- 
 King was so much confused he said nothing. 
 
 The Lord knows when we'll get rid of these creatures. 
 
 Major Finney does not expect to leave this place until further orders 
 from you. He has lately received orders from Major Wyllys, dated at 
 M'Intosh, to send him returns of the troops, and that only four rations 
 (extra) were allowed to a complete company. The commissioners think 
 it probable another treaty will be held next summer, somewhere to the 
 northward of this place. They regret the misfortune of not holding this 
 one somewhere near Detroit; however, they all clear themselves of that 
 matter. 
 
 Our men have been kept in health with plenty of exercise ; but in 
 spring we may expect fever and ague, as the country about here is very 
 low, and frequently covered with water. 
 
 Three privates of Captain Doughty's company and two of Captain 
 Hart's, that were here, have returned with the commissioners. 
 With respect, &c. 
 
 E. D. 
 
 Captain Dunn had arrived the day before from 
 Lexington, on his way to the Shawanee towns, where he 
 intended spending winter. He took leave and set off 
 with several of the Shawanee chiefs. General Clark left 
 us this day for the Falls. 
 
 Wth. A canoe came down from Limestone, and in- 
 formed us that this morning our commissioners were not 
 more than seven miles up the river, but they had got 
 under way early in the morning. 
 
 12th. I wrote to Mr. James Parker at Lexington,
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEE DENNY. 77 
 
 relinquishing all claims to our former connection, provi- 
 ded he would clear me of the obligation given Captain 
 Parker for warrants. The bearer was Mr. West. 
 
 13t7i. Mr. Sims passed for Fort Pitt, with whom I 
 sent the following letter to Colonel Harmar : 
 
 COLONEL : I forgot to mention that upon the arrival of the Wyandots, 
 Shawanees and Delawares from White river, we were saluted by them, 
 and having received notice of their approach and intention of firing, we, 
 agreeably to the commissioners' request, returned the salute with three 
 rounds of twelve men each time ; and previous to the commissioners leav- 
 ing the garrison to embark, Major Finney directed me to parade the com- 
 pany, march them down to the bank, which is about one hundred yards 
 from our fort, and there to form, so as to present arms to the commission- 
 ers as they passed to the boats ; this was done, and when they had taken 
 leave and hoisted sail, I gave them a platoon by way of an acknowledg- 
 ment. 
 
 General Clark left us for the Kapids on the 10th. He did not trouble 
 us with much parade, neither did he take away any of our men. This 
 last was a matter Major Finney endeavored to prevent as much as possi- 
 ble. There would not have gone half the number of soldiers from us 
 up the river, only for the petty messengers who took up as much room as 
 
 the commissioners, and occasioned a third boat. There were B , 
 
 M , E , and Mr. K , all in constant pay at twenty shillings, 
 
 three dollars, and twenty-five shillings per day, in proportion as they 
 ranked. These men went out together to the towns, returned together, 
 and were waiting here, when we arrived. The Lord knows what service 
 some of them were of, for we can't imagine. 
 
 We are now clear of commissioners, messengers, Indians, and every kind 
 of animal except five hostages. Such a sudden change makes me rather 
 melancholy. I feel as if I ought to have gone with them; though my 
 desire is to stay. I would be glad enough to be up, but the season is so 
 cold, that I think the trip would be very disagreeable. I will be very 
 thankful if you will put it in my power to go up in the beginning of
 
 78 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 April, or as soon as convenient, and leave for a few weeks, that I might 
 settle some affairs at Carlisle ; for if we should go any farther off I shall 
 
 despair. 
 
 E. D. 
 
 26(h. Captain O'Hara (the contractor) arrived with a 
 large cargo of Indian goods and stores for the commis- 
 sioners. He came in consequence of the dispatches sent 
 by George White-Eyes on the 9th of January. This was 
 a time when they expected all the western Indians. He 
 likewise brought with him the settlements for last year's 
 service, and two months' cash for the present, with six 
 months' subsistence for the officers. 
 
 Captain O'Hara informs us that he lay with the com- 
 missioners the night of the 23d instant, about twenty- 
 five miles below the Great Kanahwa; that Captain 
 Beatty, our pay-master, was coming to this place to pay 
 the troops the above mentioned money, but being very 
 unwell, and having orders to return with the commis- 
 sioners, he put the cash into his hands and went back. 
 
 March Isf. Major Finney commenced the payment, 
 and Captain O'Hara opened a cheap assortment of goods, 
 which he disposed of to the soldiers as quick as they re- 
 ceived their money. 
 
 3d, 4th and 5th. After they had laid out the greatest 
 part of their settlements for dry goods, reserving only a 
 small share for liquor, they got permission to purchase 
 the same, and toleration to get drunk, so that it would not 
 interfere with their duty ; but this charge had no effect ; 
 for three days there was scarcely one sober man in the 
 garrison, and God knows how long they would have con-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEE DENNY. 79 
 
 tinned so, if the issues had not been stopped. So between 
 the wet and dry affairs, Captain O'Hara will take nearly 
 the same sum of money back that he brought, except 
 what the officers received. 
 
 \2tJi. Two boats called from Fort Pitt, on their way 
 to "0-post," loaded with liquors and flour. 
 
 VI tli. A majority of the men in garrison are Irish. 
 The soldiers requested to have the privilege of cele- 
 brating this day, as was customary. Accordingly the 
 bung was opened and every man had permission to 
 purchase and drink what quantity of liquor he pleased ; 
 and a pretty good portion did some of them take, for 
 toward the evening we had not six men in the garrison 
 fit for duty, not even the guard excepted. 
 
 'ISth. Gr. Palfrey died from the effects of too much 
 liquor and was buried the next day. 
 
 20tk. Since our establishment at this place a few 
 families had erected a station six miles below us, on the 
 Kentucky side. This morning an express from them 
 informed us that Indians had attacked two of their peo- 
 ple, a short distance out, killed one and wounded the 
 other. The wounded person escaped in. I took a light 
 boat, with sergeant and twelve, hastened to the station ; 
 found the dead man scalped and cut in several places ; 
 buried him, assisted in securing the stockade, &c., and 
 returned. 
 
 21st. Mr. Bradshaw arrived about ten o'clock at 
 night, with a boat loaded with provisions ; likewise Mr. 
 Devoire and Mr. Le Bere arrived on their way into the 
 Indian country. Mr. Le Bere intends spending a few
 
 80 MILITAEY JOUKNAL OF 
 
 weeks in the Indian towns and then return by way of 
 Sandusky, to join his company at Muskingum. 
 
 24th. This night the five Shawanee hostages deserted 
 from their lodging, and pushed with great expedition 
 toward the towns. They likewise took with them Mr. 
 Sufferins' family, who were encamped about a mile dis- 
 tant Mr. Sufferins being absent on a hunting party. 
 
 2oth. Our interpreter, Mr. Sufferins, came in ; very 
 much surprised at finding his people had gone off, and 
 still more when hearing how the hostages had left us. 
 This day we completed a block-house on the bank, to 
 guard the boats. 
 
 26th. Mr. Sufferins set off on purpose to overtake 
 his family and the hostages, if possible, and to know the 
 reason of elopement. But after riding twenty miles, 
 only arrived at the place where they lay the night before. 
 The distance he thought they might be in front of him, 
 at the rate they had gone, discouraged him from pursu- 
 ing any farther, and he turned back with the intention 
 of preparing to go to their towns. 
 
 27th. We were surprised by the arrival of Mr. Abner 
 Dunn, an old officer, who had been to the Shawanee 
 towns. lie arrived with five Indians (Shawanees) and 
 six white prisoners. Mr. Dunn informed us that their 
 chief, with the six prisoners, had halted about five miles 
 off, being doubtful of the manner in which they would 
 be received, having the night before sent two runners 
 with some tobacco for us to smoke until their arrival, 
 and to get leave for their friends, the hostages, to go and 
 meet them ; but when the runners came and could see
 
 MAJOE EBENEZER DENNY. 81 
 
 no hostages they retired undiscovered, and informed their 
 people, which alarmed them ; however, Mr. Dunn pre- 
 vailed on five of them to go in with him and the others 
 to remain until he would send for them. The Indians 
 soon found us to be friends, and sent for the remaining 
 party. After they had all arrived, the White-Horn, 
 their chief, seemed much astonished at the conduct of the 
 hostages. Two speeches were delivered by Johnny Har- 
 ris from Molunthy, their king ; one of them consisted of 
 professions of friendship, &c., the other was information 
 respecting some parties of Cherokees that were out. 
 
 30^. Major Finney delivered a speech to the Indians 
 and sent a message to their king, thanking him for his 
 information respecting the Cherokees, after which they 
 marched off. The night preceding, a girl and boy of the 
 prisoners that were delivered up yesterday, eloped. 
 
 31st. This night Corporal Thompson and John Geary 
 deserted, and took off one of our best boats. 
 
 April 1st. Sergeant Wilcox pursued the deserters. 
 
 2d. Captain O'Hara and Mr. Smith left us for Fort 
 Pitt. 
 
 4ih. Mr. Dunn took leave for the Falls. 
 
 Copy of a Letter to Colonel Harmar, dated 31s March, 1786. 
 
 SIR The Shawanees have been very slow in executing their business 
 
 respecting the delivery of the prisoners. They overstayed the time agreed 
 
 on better than a month ; their delay, and an account from the station a 
 
 few miles below (since evacuated), of five Indians attacking two men of 
 
 the place, killing one and wounding the other, we suppose frightened off 
 
 the hostages ; for on the night of the 24th of March the whole of them 
 
 eloped, and we have not heard from them since. But fortunately, two 
 
 6
 
 82 MILITAEY JOURNAL OF 
 
 days after there came in two chiefs with six prisoners, whom they deliver- 
 ed up, with a speech from their king apologizing for the delay, &c. We 
 don't apprehend any danger from the Shawanees immediately, but there 
 is now a number of others in the woods for war, that makes our situation 
 rather unsafe. They have killed at Limestone and near the Falls the 
 last which I have mentioned above, was about four miles distant. 
 
 Captain O'Hara arrived here on the 26th of February with the ar- 
 rearages of pay and clothing for the men who were in service last year ; 
 in six months notes and two months for the present in cash, and the same 
 with six months subsistence for the officers. He brought with him a 
 pretty assortment of goods suitable for the soldiers, which he let them 
 have at reasonable prices. I believe he will take back all the notes and 
 cash (which are the same to him), except what the officers received. I 
 mentioned in a letter some months ago that the commissioners had made 
 a compliment to Major Finney of cloth for over-alls for the men. Since, 
 there has some alteration happened or otherwise it was a mistake in me, 
 for as they went up the river they met Captain O'Hara near the Great 
 Kanahwa, and turned the account over to him. He has charged each man 
 that had them with his price. 
 
 There was a letter received from Mr. Armstrong, (to which he put his 
 title, Lieut. 1st A. R.) for the purpose of acquainting us of his promotion. 
 
 Colonel as I stand next on the list, am induced to beg your interest to 
 fix me clear of the censure of a number of my friends. For certain it is 
 that I have in some measure lessened, having once served as an officer a 
 grade higher, and that at a more honorable time than at present. But 
 the attachment I have to a military life, and the expectation of rising, 
 persuades me to this duty, hoping that my friends, yourself in particular, 
 will assist me in procuring a lieutenancy what I once had the honor to 
 hold under you. 
 
 I shall ever endeavor to render satisfaction for your assistance in this 
 Vry material affair, as well as for many past. 
 
 While I have the honor to subscribe myself, &c. 
 
 E. D. 
 N. B. Sent a return of the troops with the above. 
 
 23d. Captain Blue- Jacket, a chief of the Shawa-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEK DENNY. 83 
 
 nee nation, came in. He informed us of the good in- 
 tentions of his people, and that a number of them 
 would hunt this summer near this place, and would 
 bring in the skins ; begged that we would receive the 
 Shawanees friendly. As a proof of his friendship, and 
 that we might be assured the nation wished for peace, he 
 left his son, a boy about eighteen years of age, to con- 
 tinue with us until some opportunity would offer for 
 sending him home. 
 
 24th. He took leave, and as he went off said he would 
 go by a hunting camp where there were a number of In- 
 dians, and inform them how desirous we were to see them 
 come in to trade. 
 
 25th. In the evening there arrived two young war- 
 riors of the Shawanees, with a white boy, a prisoner, 
 whom they delivered up to us ; and after receiving a few 
 presents, and being asked if they did not think the boy 
 would run back again, they candidly told us, that he cer- 
 tainly would, if not bound or confined some way. This 
 was enough. Though the boy seemed fond of having it 
 in his power to go to his father's, but yet it was all affect- 
 ed ; for in a few hours after a boat came along, bound 
 for the Falls, in which he was put, and in a manner by 
 force ; for when he found there was no way of escaping 
 he cried, and appeared to leave the Indian with more re- 
 gret than he could have done if they had been bearing 
 him away a prisoner from his mother. 
 
 2Qth. Our friends, the warriors, left us, and took with 
 them Blue-Jacket's son. 
 
 May ~L4ith. We have Shawanees with us every day.
 
 84 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 The most of their hunting men are now in the woods 
 around us, at the distance of twenty miles. They intend 
 bringing their peltry to barter at this place. Several of 
 the boys, and even one young woman of the prisoners, 
 made their escape and returned to the Indians. The 
 chiefs who have been in, particularly the White-Horn, 
 say they never mean to break the chain of friendship 
 that now subsists between the Americans and them, and 
 threaten vengeance upon the first who infringes upon the 
 articles of the treaty. 
 
 18th. From a letter sent by Major Finney to the 
 commanding officer at Fort M'Intosh, requesting a rein- 
 forcement of men at this post, and from several late re- 
 ports of troops being on their way to us, we prepared a 
 small boat and set out up the river, intending to sail two 
 or three hours for amusement, at the same time thought 
 it probable we might meet them. We had got about 
 four miles, and halted at a spring, w T hen we were very 
 agreeably surprised hy the arrival of Captain Ziegler's 
 company of seventy men Lieutenant E. Beatty, Doctor 
 Allison, and the Major from Connecticut, Wyllys, com- 
 manding. 
 
 22c7. I received orders to prepare to go on command 
 to the Falls of Ohio. 
 
 23d. Set out with sergeant, corporal and twelve men 
 in a barge, for Louisville. River very full. Landed 
 next morning at the place distance said to be one hun- 
 dred and fifty miles run it in twenty-four hours. Four 
 Kentucky boats, which passed Fort Finney the day be- 
 fore I left it, were attacked at the mouth of Kentucky
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 85 
 
 river by the Indians on both sides of the Ohio, supposed 
 to be in number two hundred fortunately no other 
 damage than a few horses killed. Very alarming ac- 
 counts of the depredations of Indians in neighborhood of 
 Yincennes a settlement on the Wabash. Every day 
 fresh accounts of mischief done in the upper counties 
 and on Cumberland. People of Kentucky talk of an ex- 
 pedition against the Indians on the Wabash. Four 
 days I remained at the Falls, and every day there were 
 accounts of men being scalped between that and the 
 upper counties. General Clark informed me that he 
 had frequent intelligence from the different posts on the 
 Mississippi and Wabash, which he took from the British 
 last war, and that if something was not done immediate- 
 ly respecting that country, there will be much more diffi- 
 culty in subjecting them than there ever was. 
 
 After many altercations between General Clark, my- 
 self and the two gentlemen who had the artillery in 
 charge, they agreed I should have a piece, with a few 
 shot, which I immediately had put on board. 
 
 28^. Having procured a brass three-pounder, with a 
 few boxes of suitable shot, left the Falls ; embarked 
 again for our Fort. River very high, and obliged to 
 work up close along shore, giving the savages every pos- 
 sible advantage. This evening, about seventeen miles 
 up, we discovered two bark canoes lying on the bank, 
 and a number of trees barked, which we supposed had 
 not been done longer than two days. We passed on 
 as silent as possible. This night our cable and anchor
 
 86 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 served to keep us in the middle of the river ; but the 
 river rose so high it was of no more use afterward. 
 
 SQth. About a mile below Kentuck we discovered 
 some appearance of an Indian camp, and saw a black 
 horse with a belt on. We passed the mouth of Kentuck 
 in the night, and lay near a mile above. 
 
 Slst. We met with such strong water below and 
 above the Big Bone, that we were obliged to drop the 
 oars (though we worked fourteen,) and pull up by the 
 bushes ; lay this night five or six miles above Big Bone. 
 We arrived safe at the Fort, near the Miami, in the af- 
 ternoon, and were received with gladness. 
 
 June 1st. Several Delawares came in, w r ho seemed 
 surprised at the field-piece which I lately brought from 
 the Falls, and at our additions to the Fort. 
 
 \\th. Captain Pipe's brother, with three other Del- 
 awares, arrived with a speech from Pipe, the purport 
 of which was, that he hoped we still held the chain of 
 friendship fast, that was made between them and us, at 
 this place, and informing us, that for his part, nothing- 
 should be wanting which was in his power to keep the 
 Delawares and the Americans upon the most friendly 
 footing, and begging we would treat his young men (a 
 number of whom were hunting near us) as we have 
 hitherto done. 
 
 13th. Mr. Sovereign came in with the Shawanees 
 with a speech from Molunthy, informing us that he was 
 very glad to hear we treated his young men so friendly, 
 and apologizing for the delay in delivering up the pris-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 87 
 
 oners. He says the nation is divided ; that the people 
 of Chillicothe will not hear reason ; they will not give 
 the prisoners up. In fact, the plain English of which is, 
 that a party of them are as much inclined for war as 
 
 anything else, from the d d lies imposed on them by 
 
 British emissaries. They are fully of the opinion that 
 their king and sachems have sold both land and war- 
 riors, and are determined not to agree to what has been 
 done. Molunthy gives us information of four men being 
 killed by the Mingoes, on the waters of the Muskingum. 
 He says that he has advised the Mingoes and Cherokees 
 to be quiet, but they would not hear him. He desires us 
 to have patience. He is striving all he can to fulfill the 
 promises made to our chiefs at the council fire. 
 
 ~L4:th. Mr. Sovereign returned homeward Avith a speech 
 to Molunthy, informing him that we still kept the road 
 open, and hoped he would soon send in the prisoners ; 
 thanking him for the intelligence he sent, and begging 
 he would endeavor to persuade his contentious people to 
 listen to reason, otherwise the consequence would be 
 fatal ; we would wait with patience for a time, until he 
 would fulfill the promises made to our chief at the great 
 council fire, &c. 
 
 15th. Major Wyllys left us in a small boat bound up 
 the river, with whom I sent the following letter to 
 Colonel Harmar, with an inspection return : 
 
 SIR After the arrival of Major Wyllys and Captain Ziegler, I was 
 ordered to the Falls to procure and bring up a field-piece, with ammuni- 
 tion, &c. I got a brass three-pounder, with about thirty rounds only of 
 ball and grape-shot. And if it had not been for General Clark, who has
 
 88 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 always beeii our friend here, I should have returned as I went, owing to 
 a contentious set of men in civil office there, all of whom are candidates 
 for something, and were afraid would be censured by the public for giving 
 any of the military stores away, at a time when their country is suffering 
 by savage depredations. True it is, that everywhere below us, the Amer- 
 icans have as much reason to be engaged in an Indian war as they ever 
 had. They are daily losing men in the lower part of Kentuck settlement ; 
 all which aggravation could not unite the people in a sufficient body to 
 carry on any kind of an expedition such is the division amongst them. 
 
 I brought from the Falls, and delivered to Major Wyllys, all the intel- 
 ligence I could collect, amongst which are the particulars of two skir- 
 mishes which the Americans at St. Vincent had with the Piankeshaw 
 Indians in that neighborhood. 
 
 Some Shawanees and Delawares went with us as usual, professing much 
 friendship. The arrival of Captain Ziegler's company has added much 
 to the appearance of this place, and something to the other company. 
 For since, a better spirit of emulation has subsisted, which has been of 
 service. Captain Ziegler tells me the regimental book for last year was 
 left at M'Intosh, and not used very well by the officers last winter ; I am 
 sorry for it, but hope you will get it. My coming away from that place in 
 such haste occasioned several neglects; I even forgot my Bible with you. 
 We long to see you. With respects, &c. . 
 
 E. D. 
 
 26th. Captain Doyle arrived from M'Intosh; lie 
 informed us of the arrival of Colonel Harmar and lady 
 at M'Intosh. 
 
 July Ath. This day was celebrated with three rounds 
 of small arms and three with the field-piece, after which 
 the gentlemen all dined together. When dinner was 
 over thirteen toasts were drunk, each accompanied with 
 a round from the three-pounder, attended in the inter- 
 vals by two drums, two fifes and a couple of excellent
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 89 
 
 violins. The evening was spent as well as circumstances 
 would allow of. 
 
 5th. Captain Beatty and Mr. M'Dowell left us, hav- 
 ing been ordered, by Colonel Harmar, to go up imme- 
 diately after the arrival of Mr. Doyle. With Mr. 
 M'Dowell I sent a letter to Doctor M'Dowell, desiring 
 him to ask Colonel Harmar for permission for me to go 
 up, &c. 
 
 13^. Major Finney received a letter from General 
 Clark, informing him that on the 1st of August he in- 
 tended marching into the Indian country, with fifteen 
 hundred men, and requested that the field-piece which I 
 brought up might be sent down against that time. 
 
 17 ih. Corporal Thompson, Gairy, and two other de- 
 serters, were brought in by three men from Lexington, 
 by whom Major Finney received an account from Col- 
 onel Patterson of orders being arrived from the State of 
 Virginia to the County-Lieutenant of Kentucky country, 
 directing them to plan and put into execution an expe- 
 dition through the Indian country immediately. It is 
 thought General Clark would command. 
 
 Captain Armstrong arrived with the boat and men 
 which Major Wyllys took away. He brought a letter 
 from Colonel Harmar to Major Finney, in which, there 
 was an order to send up Ensign Denny, for the purpose 
 of acting as adjutant to repair to a new fort at the 
 mouth of Muskingum, called Fort Harmar, where the 
 Colonel, with Mrs. Harmar, had arrived. 
 
 23d. Embarked about noon, in a swift boat, with 
 corporal and six choice men ; rowed six oars. River in
 
 90 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 good order. Anxious to make a quick passage. Had 
 provisions for several days cooked, and boat fitted for 
 anchoring in the stream, &c. Reached few miles above 
 Little Miami. 
 
 24th. Met the water rising. 
 
 2oth. Reached Limestone about same time of the day 
 we left the Fort ; this is coming at rate of forty miles a 
 day. Stayed and cooked. 
 
 2Qth. Work along. River risen five feet. 
 
 27th. In the evening pass the Scioto river. 
 
 28^. Within a few miles of Sandy. Water falling. 
 
 29th. Pass Sandy and Guyandot. 
 
 30th. Helped forward by a violent storm of wind 
 and rain, directly up the river ; reached Great Kanahwa. 
 
 3lst. Lay by drying our things and cooking. 
 
 August 1st. Got within a few miles of Letart's Falls. 
 Water rising rapidly. Met Mr. Le Bere in the evening. 
 
 2d. Passed the Falls and anchored ten miles below 
 Flin's Station. 
 
 3d. Passed the Scotch Settlement and Flin's, and lay 
 in sight of Little Kanahwa. 
 
 4.th. In the morning arrived at Muskingum, Fort 
 Harmar, where I met with Colonel Harmar and a 
 number of acquaintances. Here I was received as a 
 brother officer might expect. Though I was ordered up 
 in haste, yet I had some hopes of getting a furlough to 
 go to Philadelphia, as I had not been absent during our 
 service. Having hinted in a letter to Colonel Harmar, be- 
 fore I left the Miami, that a short furlough would be very 
 acceptable and knowing, that if he could with any kind
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 91 
 
 of propriety grant it, he would, I deferred asking. Next 
 day after my arrival he proposed a furlough ; I thanked 
 him and accepted it. But as I had no non-commission- 
 ed officer from the Miami, he thought it best to send my 
 boat back under the care of Major North and Captain 
 Beatty, just arrived and on their way to the Miami, and 
 to take a passage to Fort Pitt with Mr. Bradford, who 
 was to start on the 10th instant. Fort Harmar is un- 
 finished. Doughty's company from New York, Heart's 
 and Strong's from Connecticut, are here and at work. 
 
 Major North and E. Beatty got under way. 
 . Received a furlough for two months ; took pas- 
 sage with Lieutenant Bradford, who was ordered to Pitt 
 for artillery, stores, &c. 
 
 1.6th. Arrived at the mouth of Little Beaver ; found 
 Mr. Hutchons and the old surveyors encamped there. 
 Hamtramck's company, from New York ; Mercer's, from 
 New Jersey, and M'Curdy's, of Pennsylvania, escorting 
 the surveyors. 
 
 Vlth. Reached M'Intosh. Captain Ferguson's com- 
 pany here. Here Mr. Bradford had business, which 
 would detain him a day. Major Finney and myself 
 having no time to lose, agreed to walk to Fort Pitt, thir- 
 ty miles distant, knowing that when the boat did move, 
 it would take her two days, as the water was very rapid. 
 
 ~L8th. We breakfasted with my old friend, Captain 
 M'Curdy, and set off for Fort Pitt. I tripped along 
 after Major Finney exceedingly well, for near two-thirds 
 of the way ; but having been confined so long to my 
 boat, and not accustomed to walking, I got much
 
 92 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 fatigued; however, we reached Fort Pitt about two 
 o'clock, P. M., where we refreshed ourselves upon a tol- 
 erable dinner and a glass of claret. 
 
 August 22d. I received my mare, left in care of Mr. 
 Duncan, in miserable order. 
 
 23d. Left Fort Pitt in company with Mr. James 
 Sample. The weather being favorable, we traveled very 
 agreeably together as far as Shippensburg, where we ar- 
 rived on the 28th. 
 
 29th. I got to Carlisle. Time short staid a few days. 
 Left Carlisle for Philadelphia, at which place I arrived 
 on the 8th September. 
 
 Sept. 12th. Having completed my business, I parted 
 with my friends, James Campbell and several other ac- 
 quaintances, and left Philadelphia, with once more my 
 face turned toward the western country. 
 
 13^. Got to Carlisle. 
 
 20th. Left my friends at Carlisle. 
 
 25th. Arrived at my uncle, John M'Clure's, on the 
 Monongahela, seven miles above Pittsburgh, where I 
 left my mare, saddle and bridle, for further use. 
 
 2Qth. - - Went in canoe to Pittsburgh, where I met 
 Major North and Captain Beatty, just arrived from the 
 Falls of Ohio, where they left Major Finney and Captain 
 Ziegler with their companies. 
 
 3Qth. Left Fort Pitt in the boat in which North and 
 Beatty came, and proceeded to Muskingum, at which 
 place I arrived the 3d of October, in the morning. 
 
 FORT HARMAR, Oct. 3d. John Pratt, formerly Lieu- 
 tenant and Quarter-master in the 4th Pennsylvania reg-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEK, DENNY. 93 
 
 iment, had originally been of Connecticut, came out now 
 as one of the officers of that State, and appointed Quar- 
 ter-master, myself announced as adjutant. Strong, Pratt 
 and Kingsbury belonged to one company and formed a 
 mess ; I was invited to join them. Yery pleasantly fixed. 
 
 1.0th. Captain Doughty and Captain* Strong left us 
 with leave of absence until spring. 
 
 ~L5th. Captain Tunas, a Delaware Indian, arrived 
 with information that the different nations of Indians 
 from the Wabash, who had collected at the Shawanees 
 towns with a determination to visit this country, had 
 returned home ; that one hundred and twenty Shawanees, 
 Mingoes and Cherokees had left "Wapotomeky with in- 
 tention to strike the people on the Ohio ; that but few of 
 the Shawanees continued ; the greater part of them were 
 in the Kentucky country, scalping and stealing horses. 
 He says Captain Brant, a civilized Indian, had been at 
 Sandusky this summer, but his business was not known. 
 Mr. Johnston, the British agent, had asked all the red 
 people to Niagara; that the Shawanees and a number 
 of other nations had gone, but not any of the Delawares ; 
 that Johnston told them they would be no people in a 
 short time, if they did not unite. They should all be 
 one people, and what they did, either to make peace or 
 war, would then be strong. 
 
 Nov. 13tk. Three men arrived from Limestone, who 
 had been with Colonel Logan against the Shawanee 
 towns. They informed us that Logan left Limestone the 
 6th of October, marched with eight hundred men in six 
 days, to the Shawanee towns, where he found some men
 
 94 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 and a number of women. The warriors had all set out 
 to meet General Clark, who was marching with fifteen 
 hundred men toward the Wabash, and only a few 
 sachems remained at home with the squaws. Colonel 
 Logan destroyed all their towns, killed and scalped eleven 
 Indians, amongst whom was the king Molunthy, and 
 carried twenty-eight Indian women and children pris- 
 oners to Danville, where they were kept in confinement. 
 The old king was tomahawked after he had delivered 
 himself up. Logan found none but old men, women and 
 children in the towns ; they made no resistance ; the 
 men were literally murdered. 
 
 ~L5th. Left Fort Harmar in a light boat, a sergeant 
 and twelve men ; arrived at Fort Pitt the 22d. 
 
 24^7*. Rode to Hannahstown, accompanied by Mr. 
 Brison. Viewed several farms and tracts of land in West- 
 moreland county, belonging to Colonel Harmar, property 
 which he got with Mrs. H. 
 
 Dec. 5th. Was ready to return, but the heavy snows 
 and frost had filled the river with ice. 
 
 9th. Ohio frozen over in many places. Monongahela 
 and Allegheny both passable on the ice. 
 
 13^. Had several days of soft rainy weather. Rivers 
 broke up. The rise of water was sudden. Several boats 
 loaded with goods, &c., carried down with the ice passed 
 Pittsburgh. An attempt made to save them, but fruit- 
 less. We had great difficulty to preserve our boat. 
 
 16^. Ohio pretty clear of ice. Loaded our boat and 
 sailed for Fort Harmar, where we arrived on the 19th, 
 in the morning. In my absence, Lieutenant Pratt, the
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 95 
 
 Quarter-master, attended to the ordinary duties of ad- 
 jutant, but much left undone. Regimental book opened, 
 monthly returns of the regiment, &c., to be made out 
 and transmitted to the War Office. 
 
 FOET HARMAK, Mouth of Muskingum River, Jan., 1787. 
 No change of movement of any consequence. Officers 
 and men in close quarters. Officers pass and repass up 
 and down to the several posts. Ferguson's company of 
 artillery at M'Intosh. Hamtramck, M'Curdy and Mer- 
 cer had put up quarters, after the surveying was over, 
 at a place which they called Fort Steuben, about thirty 
 miles below M'Intosh. Doughty, Strong and Heart with 
 their companies at Fort Harmar. Finney and Ziegler's 
 companies had evacuated Fort Finney and erected a 
 small work opposite Louisville. One other company, 
 commanded by Captain Burbeck, of New York, station- 
 ed at West Point. 
 
 Receiving and digesting the monthly returns of the 
 troops at all these different posts, was a business of some 
 trouble. Those from the post commanded by Ham- 
 tramck less difficulty with. Colonel Harmar thinks 
 him one of his best captains. 
 
 Feb. 4:th. Mr. M'Dowell arrived on his way to the 
 Rapids of the Ohio. Fortunately there came with him 
 a supply of provisions for the troops at Fort Harmar. 
 For upward of thirty days past they had been on half 
 allowance of flour, with whiskey only one-half their time. 
 
 8^. Major Wyllys and Mr. M'Dowell left us for the 
 Rapids.
 
 96 MILITAEY JOUENAL OF 
 
 . Captain Heart and Lieutenant Beatty ar- 
 rived from Fort Pitt. The latter brought with him near 
 two months pay and three months subsistence, chiefly in 
 paper money, and likewise part of the annual allowance 
 of clothing for the troops. The money being a particu- 
 lar currency of one State only, the officers at this post 
 (Fort Harmar) objected to receiving it; for though it 
 might answer their present purposes, being in the neigh- 
 borhood of the State, yet it might be setting a precedent 
 for others, which would be very injurious. Several days 
 spent in deliberating upon the receiving this paper 
 money. Sometimes it was in contemplation to send it 
 back ; again they would conceive it more to their advan- 
 tage to keep it. However, as the Colonel had some bu- 
 siness up the river, he postponed the payment until (we 
 suppose) he would consult the officers up the river. Ac- 
 cordingly he, Beatty, Pratt and Mr. Spear set off the 
 forenoon of the 25th. 
 
 2oth. This afternoon we were agreeably surprised by 
 the arrival of Major Finney from the Rapids, after a 
 passage of seventeen days to this post. The Major be- 
 ing on the way to visit friends down the country, he only 
 tarried until next morning and set off up the river in 
 hopes to overtake Colonel Harmar. 
 
 March 6th. Mr. Lakesang called, being on his way to 
 the Rapids of the Ohio. He continued over night. By 
 Mr. Lakesang I forwarded to Major Wyllys three hun- 
 dred hard dollars, and a receipt for thirteen hundred 
 dollars, left with me by Beatty to be sent by the first
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 97 
 
 conveyance (Captain Heart witness). By the same boat, 
 and under Mr. Lakesang's care, I sent the proportion of 
 clothing for the troops at the Rapids, and likewise a new 
 rifle, complete, for Lieutenant Doyle, with a number of 
 letters, &c. 
 
 26th. Our commandant, with his suite, arrived from 
 Fort Pitt, about seven o'clock at night, and disappoint- 
 ed the garrison of a little parade that was intended in 
 receiving him. 
 
 27th. Major Hamtramck arrived, having been di- 
 rected by the commandant to muster the troops. 
 
 29th. Muster and inspection took place, after which 
 a few manoeuvres, &c. 
 
 April 1st. The Major left us, bound for Fort Steuben. 
 
 10th. Captain Heart ordered to proceed with his com- 
 pany to a place called Venango, on the Allegheny river, 
 about one hundred and fifty miles above Pittsburgh ; 
 there to erect a suitable work. This place had formerly 
 been occupied by French and English troops, but burnt 
 down. 
 
 ~L5th. Colonel Harmar, Lieutenant Beatty and Pratt, 
 left us, bound for the Rapids. Soon after their depar- 
 ture, Major Hamtramck arrived, having been ordered 
 down to command at Muskingum, owing to the Colonel's 
 absence. 
 
 May 10th. At night our Colonel arrived from the 
 Rapids of the Ohio, to no little satisfaction of all the 
 officers at Fort Harmar. 
 
 15th. Major Hamtramck set off, accompanied by 
 Captain Beatty, for Fort Steuben. Captain Beatty goes 
 7
 
 98 MILITAEY JOURNAL OF 
 
 on to New York to obtain a settlement for the regiment 
 up to the first of the present year. 
 
 17^. We were surprised with the arrival of Captain 
 Strong, from Connecticut, with dispatches of very con- 
 siderable importance to Colonel Harmar, from the War 
 Office. 
 
 25th. In consequence of the dispatches brought by 
 Captain Strong, Fort Steuben has been ordered to be 
 evacuated; accordingly Lieutenant Kersey, with sixty 
 men, arrived here from that place. Major Hamtramck, 
 with the remainder of the troops, are expected daily. 
 Hamtramck promoted to Major, in room of Fish of 
 New York, who resigned. Lieutenant Smith, captain in 
 place of Hamtramck. 
 
 27th. Captain Strong, with his company, embarked 
 on board keel boats for the Rapids of the Ohio. 
 
 June 1st. Major Hamtramck, with the whole of the 
 troops under his command, arrived safe. 
 
 2d. Captain Mercer, with part of his company, and 
 Lieutenant Kersey, set oif for the Rapids, on board two 
 family boats that were passing down. Ensign Spear, 
 with fifty-four men, left us this day for the surveying 
 business. 
 
 5th. Captain Smith, with his company, Ensign Se- 
 dam, with part of Mercer's company, Lieutenant Peters, 
 Doctor Elliot and myself, left Fort Harmar to join the 
 troops at the Rapids. 
 
 10th. In the morning we joined our friends at the 
 Falls. 
 
 11th. Our commandant, with Major Hamtramck and
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 99 
 
 Mr. Pratt, the Quarter-master, &c., arrived in the barge. 
 They bring accounts that Colonel Todd had returned 
 from the Cherokee town on Paint creek, with three or 
 four scalps and six or seven prisoners. 
 
 18^. Water favorable. We began to send our boats 
 and stores over the Rapids, for fear of low water. Sub- 
 altern's command at landing below the Rapids as guard. 
 Troops wait for a supply of provisions. Some clashing 
 between contractors. Turn bull and Marmie superseded 
 by O'Hara and Duncan. When Bradshaw the agent is 
 at a loss, commanding officer directs the purchase of 
 provisions. 
 
 July 2d. Strong's, Mercer's and Smith's companies 
 cross the Ohio from their encampment opposite Louisville, 
 march down and encamp at the landing below the Falls. 
 
 3d. Finney's and Ziegler's companies crossed and 
 encamped with the others. This evening Ferguson, 
 with his company of artillery, from M'Intosh, and Dan- 
 iel Britt, with a cargo of provisions on account of late 
 contractors, arrived. 
 
 6ih. Captain Ziegler, with a command of a lieuten- 
 ant, one sergeant, one corporal and sixty-two privates, 
 embarked with all the cattle and horses and a quantity 
 of flour, on board eight Kentucky boats and two keel 
 boats, with orders to proceed down to Pigeon creek, eight 
 miles above Green river, and there wait for the arrival 
 of the troops. 
 
 8th. Troops embarked for Pigeon creek, one hundred 
 and eighty miles below the Rapids. 
 
 Wth. Arrived in the evening at Pigeon creek, where
 
 100 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 we found Captain Ziegler, who had arrived the evening 
 before. 
 
 H^._The cattle, horses and necessary baggage, with 
 fifteen days flour, taken out of the boats, and the boats, 
 with artillery, stores and heavy baggage, under com- 
 mand of Major Hamtramck, proceeded down the Ohio 
 to mouth of Wabash, with orders to ascend that river and 
 meet the troops as soon as possible at Vincennes. Troops 
 took up the following order of march, (see Plan,) and 
 proceeded by the most direct route for Vincennes, agree- 
 ably to the advice of a pilot. Columns regulated in their 
 march by signals from the drum. Weather exceedingly 
 warm and woods close. With heavy packs and not late- 
 ly used to marching, the troops were hard put to. We 
 encamped on a branch of Pigeon creek. 
 
 12th. Marched at daylight. Woods not so thick. 
 Crossed Pigeon creek twice, and encamped on its bank. 
 
 13th. The troops march with more ease pass through 
 a level open country. Buffalo numerous in these woods. 
 Several seen standing and gazing at the men, appearing 
 to hearken to the drums. Encamped on the head waters 
 of Pigeon creek. 
 
 l^th. Marched at the usual time. Fine open country 
 until about twelve o'clock, intercepted by a thicket of 
 plum and rose bushes, which our pilot said reached to a 
 great distance on the right and left. Opened our way 
 through. Some delay and disorder. Columns unable to 
 keep their proper distances. Cattle scattered. Halted 
 until the cattle were collected. Moved on and encamped 
 on bank of Patoka.
 
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 MAJOE EBENEZEE DENNY. 101 
 
 15th. Heavy rain over night. Waited till twelve 
 o'clock. Got on tolerably well considering our tents be- 
 ing very heavy with the rain. Encamped on high ground 
 near a branch of Patoka. 
 
 16th. Marched at daylight. Passed through a very 
 fine rich open country, and arrived at White river about 
 twelve : forded, breast high upon the men. Proceeded 
 to the river De Shay, and encamped. 
 
 17th. Took up the order of march, not until nine 
 o'clock ; moved on near to Vincennes. Met by some of 
 the inhabitants. Halted and formed battalion, marched 
 into the village with colors, &c., and encamped close to 
 the American fort, Clark's block-house. 
 
 ISth. Moved our encampment about a quarter of a 
 mile up the Wabash, for the sake of good water. Here 
 we found a number of Cherokee Indians, who had fled 
 to the French for refuge. The people on Cumberland, 
 joined by the Chickasaws, had lately made an expedi- 
 tion to their towns and totally defeated them. The 
 Cherokees were very shy of us, but being told by the 
 French that we intended no hostilities, they rejoiced ; 
 were thankful and claimed protection. 
 
 2lst. The French inhabitants prepared and treated 
 the officers to a very pretty entertainment. 
 
 25th. This day Major Hamtramck, with the boats 
 and baggage, arrived safe, excepting some few articles 
 which could not be brought on, owing to the water being 
 so shoal, and were left at the mouth of Wabash, guarded 
 by Ensign Sedam and a small party of troops. This 
 was a pleasant sight to us, as on leaving the boats we 
 
 \RY 
 
 UNIVER.- >f CALIFO 
 
 SANTA BARBARA
 
 102 
 
 had divested ourselves of everything not indispensably 
 necessary. The six companies having now all assembled, 
 they made a handsome parade. Men well clothed and 
 well disciplined. The order and regularity observed 
 gave the people of Vincennes a very favorable opinion of 
 us. Our little camp, formed agreeably, in every respect, 
 to the regulations, with the company of artillery divided 
 on the right and left ; tents new, &c., made no indifferent 
 show. The inhabitants of Vincennes all French, except 
 a few Americans, who found their way here since the 
 war ; but few speak English. Had on several occasions 
 been visited by militia from Kentucky, who rather 
 served to alienate and estrange them. They viewed us 
 as belonging to another nation ; called us the real Amer- 
 icans. 
 
 26th. Lieutenant Armstrong and forty-five privates 
 were detached with craft, to join Ensign Sedam, and as- 
 sist in bringing up the whole of the stores from the 
 mouth of the Wabash. 
 
 27 ill. Several persons came in who had been with a 
 party that were defeated coming up the Wabash. They 
 informed us that the day before, just at the Grand 
 Rapids, a party of Indians, about fifteen in number, at- 
 tacked three perogues, killed three men and took four 
 prisoners, two of whom were French, who were liberated 
 immediately. Among the killed was a soldier of Cap- 
 tain Ziegler's company. One of those who made their es- 
 cape, informed us that Daniel Britt, with whom we had 
 left six soldiers at the Falls (to help him on, expecting 
 he would overtake our fleet before it would get to the
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 103 
 
 Wabash), had passed the Wabash unknowingly, and was 
 as low down as Cherokee river; that two of the sol- 
 diers had come up from the boat in a canoe, and being 
 satisfied of the mistake, returned. Craft has been sent 
 for Britt's cargo, and is supposed will proceed until they 
 find him. 
 
 28th. Two large canoes bearing white flags, appeared 
 coining down the Wabash ; they proved to be Pianke- 
 shaws, who inhabit the upper waters. Had been invited 
 by Colonel Le Gras to come and see their friends the 
 true Americans. Mr. Le Gras appears to be the chief 
 magistrate here ; sort of little governor among the 
 French ; is looked up to, and has great influence among 
 the neighboring Indians. The Piankeshaws were timor- 
 ous, having considered the Americans as their enemies. 
 Indeed it was but last year that a formidable expedition 
 went from Kentucky against their towns (but the princi- 
 pal officers, jealous of Clark, w T ho had the command, 
 excited a dissatisfaction among the corps, and when 
 within a day or two's march of the Indians, broke up 
 their camp and returned home). Some pains taken to 
 conciliate and dispel their fear. They seemed to rejoice 
 at their reception, expressed great satisfaction ; said we 
 were different Americans from any they had seen. They 
 presented Colonel Harmar with an elegant calumet, and 
 departed, intending to return and bring with them all 
 the chiefs of the Wabash nation. 
 
 Aug. 4th. A Mr. Vigo, a gentleman of Post Vin- 
 cennes, gave the officers of our corps an entertainment. 
 In the evening three Indian men came in, who had
 
 MILITARY JOURNAL OP 
 
 been down the Wabash with Lieutenant Armstrong. 
 They brought information that forty Piankeshaws were 
 lying in wait, at the Grand Rapids, for Lieutenant 
 Armstrong's fleet; in consequence of which informa- 
 tion, Major Hamtramck, with a captain, one subaltern 
 and fifty-eight men, set out in three keel boats to meet 
 the fleet. 
 
 5^. The whole of our boat stores arrived. 
 
 VINCENNES, 9th. Colonel Harmar had informed us 
 of his intention to visit Kaskaskia and the settlements 
 on the Mississippi, and had directed me to detail a sub- 
 altern and twenty-eight men to accompany him. I felt 
 a desire to see the Mississippi, and offered myself for the 
 command. This the first time I solicited any service ; 
 others might do it, but this soliciting service was a busi- 
 ness I disapproved. Was living with the Colonel at the 
 time. However, he chose that I should not go. Ensign 
 M'Dowell was ordered in his turn for this pleasant tour. 
 They set out early this morning, accompanied by a very 
 accomplished Frenchman, a Mr. Tardiveau. Major 
 Wyllys, the senior officer, left to comm.and. A Mr. Ma- 
 son, with a small party, left us this day for the Falls. 
 By him sent several letters, under cover, to Mr. Kings- 
 bury, at the head of the Rapids, addressed to my friends 
 in Pennsylvania. One for P. F., Philadelphia ; another 
 for Mr. Lyon, Carlisle, and one for Doctor M'Dowell, at 
 Muskingum, all respecting my rank, &c. I likewise 
 sent per Mr. Bradford, a letter to my friend Parker, at 
 Lexington. 
 
 20tk. A gentleman from Kaskaskia arrived, but did
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 105 
 
 not meet the Colonel's party. Must have been upon dif- 
 ferent traces. Tells of two hundred Shawanees and 
 Delawares having left their villages on the Miami and 
 settled across the Mississippi, under protection of the 
 Spaniards. That more were expected, as the Spaniards 
 had given them pressing invitations. 
 
 2lst. An express arrived from the Rapids, with dis- 
 patches for Colonel Harmar from the War Office. By 
 this opportunity I received a letter from Mr. Kingsbury, 
 telling me that he had forwarded my letter for P. F. and 
 the one to Carlisle, per Mr. Abner Dunn, through the 
 wildnerness. 
 
 Sept, 2d. A runner from the Piankeshaws informed 
 Major Wyllys that the chiefs of the tribes invited down 
 had agreed to come, and that he might expect them 
 daily. 
 
 3d. The Colonel and his party returned from the 
 Illinois. 
 
 5th. One hundred of the Piankeshaws and Wyohto- 
 mas appeared in great style ; all in canoes, but twelve 
 horsemen who guarded the shore. The chiefs' canoes 
 carried white flags. On their approach they gave us 
 three fires. We were prepared for this, and had in 
 readiness twenty men, who returned the salute with 
 three rounds. They all came ashore expressed much 
 gladness at seeing us as friends. Taking a little milk 
 for nourishment, they set out for town to see their French 
 brothers, giving another fire as they went oif. 
 
 7th. Colonel Harmar made a speech to the Indians, 
 the purport of which was, informing them of the peace-
 
 106 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 able disposition of the United States ; that he was di- 
 rected by the principal chief to take by the hand every 
 tribe of Indians desirous of peace, and authorized to 
 destroy those otherwise inclined. He told them that 
 everything should be done to make them glad ; that the 
 road should be kept clear and smooth between them and 
 us, that traders might pass freely and with safety, &c. 
 As a pledge of remembrance of the thirteen great fires 
 (the thirteen United States) , he presented each tribe with 
 thirteen strings of white wampum. 
 
 StL Five of the Indian chiefs each made a reply to 
 the Colonel's speech, expressing their gladness at being 
 taken by the hand by their fathers the Bostonians. Pro- 
 fessed great friendship ; said that they had been misled, 
 were now sensible of their error ; hoped their fathers 
 would let all the blood which has been spilt be washed 
 down with the river, never to be seen or thought of 
 more. That they would stand upon fresh ground, keep 
 the road and the stumps between them and their fathers 
 quite smooth ; and as a proof and remembrance, each 
 presented the Colonel with a calumet and a string of 
 wampum. 
 
 107A. The old chiefs attended, expecting, as was cus- 
 tomary, some presents. The Colonel told them that we 
 were warriors, that we did not come to purchase their 
 friendship with trinkets, but barely to take them by the 
 hand if they chose to give it ; if they did not, it was a 
 matter of indifference. But, however, since things had 
 been so well settled, he told them his warriors had a few 
 articles, which they would give to the old men only.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 107 
 
 The sachems returned thanks. Pleased to take what 
 they could get. The greatest beggars I have seen yet 
 among all the savages. 
 
 . Two men out of fifteen who had set out on the 
 9th for the Rapids, returned, having been fired on near 
 the forks of White river, by a party of Indians. From 
 their report it is likely the greater number of their com- 
 pany fell a sacrifice. This story circulating through the 
 town had like to have frightened off all the Indians who 
 had been invited. 
 
 13th. The Indians took their departure. 
 
 15//J. Lieutenant Armstrong, with a party of soldiers 
 and militia,, set out to meet a drove of cattle which Mr. 
 Bradshaw, with some hands, was bringing on. Fortu- 
 nately the two parties met about seven miles off, and came 
 in the same evening. This day Captain Mercer and Mr. 
 Britt arrived from Kaskaskia. 
 
 Yincennes, or Post Yincennes, as it is called, is said to 
 be the most capital village in the western country. 
 There are about five hundred souls, French, and about 
 half as many Americans. It is handsomely situated on 
 the left bank of the Wabash, out of danger of the floods. 
 The village is built in the centre of a large prairie, the 
 greater part of which is at present cultivated, but under 
 no inclosure. A sufficiency only is inclosed for their 
 cattle, and is in common. Their houses are chiefly frame 
 work, and many of them covered with bark Five or six 
 families live on the opposite side and have little farms. 
 The land is excellent and the country generally fine for 
 growing. It was first settled by a Monsieur Yincennes,
 
 108 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 near seventy years ago, from whom it takes its name 
 It is allowed to be one hundred and seventy miles from 
 Post Vincennes to Kaskaskia. The prairies between 
 these two places are remarkable. One, in particular, I 
 am told, is thirty miles in width, and near one hundred 
 miles in length. They run north and south. They are 
 grown up with long grass, free from brush and under- 
 wood ; here and there a small copse of handsome young 
 trees. The country abounds in buffalo, deer, elk and 
 bear. 
 
 Kaskaskia, though more ancient than the Post, is not so 
 extensive a village. Opposite is a settlement called Mi- 
 sere, where a lieutenant and five or six regular soldiers 
 are stationed. About sixty miles above Kaskaskia is 
 Cahokia, and opposite it, on the Spanish side, is St. 
 Louis, where the commandant (a lieutenant-colonel) 
 resides, with about twenty soldiers. Between Kaskas- 
 kia and Cahokia there are several small villages, some 
 of them inhabited by Americans only, w r ho have emi- 
 grated to that country chiefly since the late war. 
 
 POST VINCENNES, 30th. Orders issued for Ziegler's 
 and Strong's companies to march next day, with the 
 commandant, for the Rapids of the Ohio. Finney's and 
 Mercer's companies to embark on the 3d October, under 
 command of Major Wyllys, for the same place. Major 
 Hamtramck, with Ferguson's and Smith's companies, to 
 continue at the Post. 
 
 Oct. \st. Set out with the commandant and the two 
 companies ; marched to a branch of the river De Shay, 
 supposed to be nine miles.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 
 
 2(7. Crossed the west fork of White river and 
 
 encamped on a branch, - - - _ t 20 
 
 3d. Crossed and encamped on north fork of 
 
 White river, 24 
 
 4th. Reached the Great Lick, - - - 18 
 
 th. Branch of Patoka, 16 
 
 6th. Branch of Blue river, - - - 25 
 
 7th. Rapids, - 18 
 
 130 
 
 In this route we pursued General Clark's trace, made 
 a twelvemonth ago, on his way against the Wabash In- 
 dians. First and second day passed through tolerable 
 land ; third day very indifferent, owing to the path keep- 
 ing about three and four miles distant, for thirty miles 
 up the north fork of White river, which led us through 
 neither rich nor level land, but just across the heads of 
 gullies leading into White river. Fourth day's march, 
 passed over a great deal of good land, particularly near 
 the Great Lick, which is not far distant from the road. 
 When within a few miles of the Lick, our hunters had 
 leave to go ahead. Presently heard the report of both 
 their guns, and in a few minutes five buffaloes made 
 their appearance, bearing furiously toward the head of 
 the column. When within fifty paces, the men in front 
 were permitted to fire ; this turned the heads of the ani- 
 mals ; they passed along and received the fire of the 
 whole line. Three only were shot down, near the rear, 
 where they approached within twenty paces. Fifth day's 
 march, through pretty good land. Sixth, barren. Sev-
 
 110 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 enth, broken with knobs and small mountains, until we 
 got within seven or eight miles of the Rapids, when the 
 land became level and of the first quality. 
 
 9th. Mr. Wells set out for Fort Pitt, with two light 
 boats, by whom I sent several letters ; one to Esquire 
 Lyon, and inclosed a duplicate of a letter sent from the 
 Post to G. F., and likewise two small letters inclosed to 
 my friends in Carlisle. 
 
 21st. Major Wyllys, with our fleet, consisting of 
 eleven boats, arrived at the foot of the Rapids. 
 
 22(7. Baggage brought round the Falls in wagons. 
 The troops marched up to the fort and took quarters 
 with us. 
 
 23d and 24th. The men employed in dragging the 
 boats up through the Falls. 
 
 FORT FINXEY, Rapids of Ohio, 28th. Colonel Harmar 
 received brevet commission, with pay and emoluments of 
 Brigadier-General. He sets out for Fort Harmar. Quar- 
 ter-master Pratt and myself accompany in a barge, with 
 sergeant and fourteen men. Orders left for Captains 
 Ziegler and Strong with their companies to follow on to- 
 morrow. Major Wyllys, with Finney's and Mercer's 
 companies, to continue at Fort Finney at the head of the 
 Rapids. Got to the eighteen mile Island. 
 
 29th, to Kentucky river. 
 
 30th, Big Bone creek. 
 
 3lst, Great Miami. 
 
 Nov. 1st, to the Little Miami. 
 
 2;?, about half way between Little Miami and Lime- 
 stone.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. Ill 
 
 3^?, to Limestone. 
 
 4th, lay still. 
 
 5th, twenty-two miles up. 
 
 6th, just below Scioto. 
 
 7th, thirty miles up. 
 
 8th, just below Guyandot. 
 
 9th, within eighteen miles of the Great Kanahwa. 
 
 10^, six miles above the Great Kanahwa. 
 
 11M, got five miles above the Little Falls. 
 
 12th, to the Scioto settlement. 
 
 13th, arrived at Muskingum, Fort Harmar, after a 
 passage of sixteen days one other day we spent at Lime- 
 stone. 
 
 20th. Lieutenant Beatty arrived from New York, 
 with some pay for the regiment. 
 
 21st. Ziegler's and Strong's companies arrive and 
 take quarters for the winter. Dough ty's company we 
 had left here. M'Curdy's, which had been employed 
 through the summer escorting the United States survey- 
 ors, was here also. 
 
 24th. Alexander Parker and Mr. Dunn arrived on 
 their way to Kentucky, by whom I received several let- 
 ters from my friends at Carlisle and a box of linen. 
 Parker and Dunn left us the same day, not wishing to 
 lose good weather and high water. 
 
 Dec. 6th. Captain Ashton, who had come to this place 
 with Parker and Dunn, set out for the Falls. 
 
 10th. Lieutenant Beatty set out again for New York 
 for more cash. 
 
 12th. Mr. Jacob Melcher, a candidate for the vacant
 
 112 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 ensigncy in the Pennsylvania quota arrived ; with whom 
 came John Siddon, a man enlisted for one year to serve as 
 a ranger, and who had been taken prisoner on the Wa- 
 bash the 26th July last. At the time he was taken, he 
 received a slight wound on the hip. The Indians carried 
 him to their farthermost town on the Wabash and adopt- 
 ed him in a family, where he continued to live peaceably. 
 When an opportunity offered for his escape, he left them 
 and passed through several Delaware towns without any 
 interruption, and arrived safe at Pittsburgh. 
 
 2oth. The river Ohio bound fast with ice. 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1788. The weather continues exceedingly cold. 
 
 th. The thermometer sixteen degrees below zero. 
 Horses, &c., crossed the river on the ice. 
 
 20th. The river broke up much ice floating. 
 
 Feb. 4th. The weather intensely cold ; the mercury 
 down to fourteen degrees below zero. A messenger 
 arrived from Captain Pipe, with a friendly talk, request- 
 ing that the roads might be kept smooth and clear for 
 the Delawares to pass and repass. 
 
 24:th. The navigation had been shut or interrupted 
 by ice since 20th December last. To-day we had the first 
 arrival. Colonel Elaine, his son James, and Mr. C. Wil- 
 kins, all old acquaintances of the officers, came just from 
 Fort Pitt. Very glad to see them. Mr. Wilkins con- 
 tinues here, with a store of goods suitable for the troops. 
 
 March 1th. Colonel Blain and his son left us and set 
 out with Mr. Spear, who was ordered to the Rapids to 
 bring up the commissioners' goods, to be in readiness for 
 the intended grand treaty.
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 113 
 
 8th. Captain Pipe and his tribe came in. 
 
 9^. Although the time, for which the men now in 
 service were enlisted, does not expire until midsummer, 
 yet, to provide recruits and to have them out in season, 
 it was thought advisable that a few officers should go to 
 their respective States for that purpose. Accordingly 
 Captains Ziegler and Bradford (the latter in place of 
 Doughty, promoted,) and Lieutenant Pratt, the Quarter- 
 master, all volunteering this service, set out. 
 
 17th. Mr. Schuyler pursued the recruiting officer 
 with some dispatches which had been forgotten. 
 
 April 6th. Left Fort Harmar, in company with the 
 General and Daniel Britt, the contractor, on board a 
 barge with twelve oars. 
 
 7th. Rained all day. Got to the fourth island on the 
 reach. 
 
 8^. Fine day, with wind. Lay just below Fish creek. 
 
 9th. The river still continues to rise. Had the water 
 remarkably hard. Got to Grave creek. 
 
 10^. The water began to lower. Arrived at Wheel- 
 ing about eleven o'clock, when Mr. Britt took horse to 
 go by land to Pitt. 
 
 llth. The river falling fast. Got to Edgington's. 
 
 1.2th. A fine wind. Lay half mile above Beckar's 
 Fort. 
 
 13th. Got to M'Intosh early in the evening, where we 
 tarried all night. 
 
 14th. With extreme hard work we got to Fort Pitt. 
 
 15th. A rainy morning ; the water began to rise. 
 
 16th. A fine day. 17th, the same. 18th, cold rain. 
 8
 
 114 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 . Blustering rainy weather. 
 
 20tk. A considerable quantity of snow fell. The 
 rivers up to a considerable height ; the weather exceed- 
 ingly cold. 
 
 2lst. The weather moderate and the water falls. 
 
 22d. Some rain, and windy. 23d, fine day. Water 
 falls slowly. 
 
 24th. Rained in the morning. Cloudy. 
 
 2oth. Wet and disagreeable day. 26th, rain all day. 
 
 Sunday, 27th. It was the General's intention to spend 
 a day or two here, and proceed up the Allegheny river 
 to Fort Franklin (formerly Venango), but a continuation 
 of heavy rains and consequent high water, induced him 
 to delay for a more favorable time ; but unwilling to be 
 absent too long, we set out with high water, and rising. 
 This day we passed seven islands, and gained fifteen 
 miles. 
 
 28th. Had severe thunder, with rain. Passed eight 
 islands and several lodges of Indians near Kiskiminitis. 
 Lay five miles above the mouth of that river. 
 
 29th. Clear and cold. River still rising. Passed 
 seven islands, and encamped a mile above Mahoning. 
 
 30^. Last night the contractor's boat, from Venango, 
 passed down on its way back to Pitt ; had a passage of 
 fifteen days up. Very hard water to-day. Passed two 
 islands ; gained twenty miles. 
 
 May 1st. Current this day very rapid. Passed Stump 
 creek and six islands ; made about twenty miles. 
 
 2d. Passed a creek on the east side about nine o'clock. 
 Eleven o'clock passed another, and about half after three
 
 MAJOK EBENEZER DENNY. 115 
 
 another of considerable size, on the west side, supposed 
 to be Sandy. Five islands this day, and rain from 
 morning till night. 
 
 3d. About eight o'clock this morning, after passing 
 one island, we entered the mouth of French creek. The 
 fort stands half a mile up. Several miles below we were 
 discovered by some Indians, who cut across and gave 
 notice to Captain Heart of our approach. The arrival 
 of General Harmar was announced with seven rounds 
 of a six-pounder from the fort. Very kindly received 
 by the Captain and Lieutenant Frothingham, at the 
 head of their command. The company reviewed and 
 dismissed. Spent the day in examining Captain Heart's 
 work, viewing the adjacent country and the old fortifica- 
 tions of the French and British. There is a fine flat of 
 good land here, altogether on the lower side of French 
 creek, sufficient for several farms. The only flat land 
 from Mahoning or Mohelboteetam, up. The hills come 
 in close on the opposite sides, both of French creek and 
 the Allegheny river, and I am informed that the coun- 
 try for at least five miles in all directions, is very much 
 broken with hills and rocks. Captain Heart's Fort, or 
 Fort Franklin, as it is called, is built precisely after the 
 one which had been erected by the British, called Ve- 
 nango. It is a square redoubt, with a block-house three 
 stories high, in the centre ; stands better than half a 
 mile up French creek, upon very good ground ; but the 
 situation, in my opinion, by no means so eligible as that 
 of old Venango built by the English. This last work 
 stood upon commanding ground pretty close to the bank
 
 116 MILITAEY JOUENAL OF 
 
 of the Allegheny, half a mile below French creek, and 
 a mile from Fort Franklin. The cellar wall and huge 
 stack of chimneys of the block-house, are of stone, and 
 yet quite entire. The parapet and some other parts re- 
 main perfect, and the whole work might have been re- 
 built with half the labor and expense of that built by 
 Heart. The only reason the captain could offer for 
 taking new ground, was the convenience of timber. The 
 French, who made the first establishment here, chose the 
 ground several hundred yards below where the British 
 built. They had a small stockade fort; some remains 
 of it are yet to be seen. But around the British work 
 there is everything to be seen which was not consum- 
 ed by the fire ditches and parapets, stone walls, &c. 
 Several handsomely disposed gardens, walks, &c., very 
 visible, and a few fruit trees remaining still ; some gar- 
 den roots, &c., particularly the parsnip, in considerable 
 abundance. 
 
 We see a number of the Senecas here. The Sene- 
 cas, who inhabit the banks of the Allegheny, some 
 three or four day's journey above this, are frequently 
 here. They bring their peltry and exchange it with the 
 traders for such articles as suit them. We saw several 
 families of them ; all appeared indolent, dirty, inanimate 
 creatures ; most so of any Indians I had seen. 
 
 4#A. Left Fort Franklin at five o'clock. Allegheny 
 river flowing brim full ; current not less perhaps than 
 six miles an hour. We worked twelve oars steadily. 
 Had two extra hands that afforded some relief; and 
 except about an hour, which was taken up in whole in
 
 MAJOE EBENEZEK DENNY. 117 
 
 eating, and a little time spent on an island, we lost no 
 time. Arrived and landed at the fort on the Mononga- 
 hela side precisely at eight o'clock fifteen hours passage. 
 After leaving the mouth of French creek, there appeared 
 little else than hills and rocks and rugged looking ridges 
 until as low as Mahoning, or what was originally called 
 Mohelboteetam ; from thence the bottoms increased on 
 one side or the other until we reached Pitt. Some very 
 beautiful situations and tracts of land, indeed ; old Kit- 
 tanning a delightful one. 
 
 7th. Accompanied General Harmar on horseback on 
 a visit to his lands in Westmoreland countv. Made 
 
 . 
 
 nearly the same tour I had done last winter was a year. 
 Returned to Pitt on Sunday, the llth. 
 
 13^. Visited my uncle John M'Clure's family, nine 
 miles above Pitt, on the Monongahela ; spent a very 
 pleasant day. Two or three gentle acquaintances were 
 along; they were formerly from Carlisle. A very re- 
 spectable portion of the society of Pittsburgh are from 
 that place, and this circumstance, no doubt, tends to at- 
 tract and to create the social intercourse and very great 
 harmony which prevails among them. 
 
 15^. A Mr. White, member of Congress, and some 
 gentlemen of Pittsburgh, accompanied the General in 
 the barge, on a visit up the Monongahela to Braddock's 
 Field. We viewed the battle ground. Saw several 
 small heaps of bones which had been collected, with a 
 little brushwood thrown over them. The bones of the 
 poor soldiers are still lying scattered through the woods,
 
 118 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 but the ground where the heaviest of the action was is 
 now under cultivation. 
 
 17^. Lieutenant Beatty, our pay-master, arrived 
 from Is r ew York with cash for the troops. 
 
 20th. He set out for Yenango by land, escorted by 
 five soldiers. After paying that post, he will return to 
 Pitt to proceed with us in the barge to Fort Harmar. 
 
 23d. General Arthur St. Clair, lately appointed Gov- 
 ernor of the Western Territory, arrived at Pitt. He has 
 been expected for some time. Had dispatched messen- 
 gers to the Indian towns to invite them to another treaty. 
 Accompanied by the Governor we took another road to 
 Braddock's Field, and visited the remains of poor Brad- 
 dock's soldiers. On our return I saw my uncle's family. 
 
 27th. The messengers returned from the Indian 
 towns, inform us that no assemblage of them can be had 
 for two or three months. The Governor returns to Lig- 
 onier, where his family reside. 
 
 28th. General Harmar, Mr. White and myself em- 
 barked for Fort Harmar, at which place w T e arrived 
 about twelve o'clock on the night of the 29th. Here we 
 found Spear and Melcher, two subalterns of the regiment, 
 and Mr. Ephraim Blaine. They had landed a few hours 
 before us. Spear and Melcher, on their way from Vin- 
 cennes, below the Falls, were fired upon by a party of 
 savages in ambush on the bank, close up which the oth- 
 ers were rowing. Two men only were killed. It is a 
 matter of astonishment, that when the Indians do attack 
 our boats in this dastardly way, from the very great ad-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 119 
 
 vantage they have, that the men in the boats are not all 
 destroyed. There have been too many instances this 
 spring of our people being fired on, but the loss incon- 
 siderable to what it might have been. Preparations are 
 making for another grand treaty. Government have 
 directed it. Our commandant thinks it all idle business. 
 One-half will come in, sign articles and receive presents, 
 while the others are killing, scalping and doing us every 
 possible damage they can. 
 
 An association of persons in the New England States, 
 having made a purchase from the United States of a 
 tract of country extending along the Ohio about one 
 hundred and fifty miles, and back perhaps thirty, had 
 formed themselves into a company known by the name 
 of the Ohio Company. A number of the proprietors and 
 directors elected had come on and fixed upon the ground 
 at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, as 
 a central situation from which they could extend their 
 operations, and at the same time be protected by the 
 garrison of Fort Harmar, which was situate on the other 
 side of the Muskingum. These men from New England, 
 many of whom were of the first respectability, old Revo- 
 lutionary officers, had erected and were now living in huts 
 immediately opposite us. A considerable number of in- 
 dustrious farmers had purchased shares in the company, 
 and more or less arrive every week. A spacious city is 
 laid out here, called Marietta, in honor of the Queen of 
 France. About half a mile up the Muskingum, upon 
 very commanding ground, the site of a very ancient and 
 very extraordinary fortification, was erected a place of
 
 L20 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 arms and security,, called Campus Martius. Building 
 put up of hewn timber, two stories high, forming an ob- 
 long square, with strong block-houses in each angle, leav- 
 ing a considerable area; here their stores, &c., were 
 lodged, and some families perhaps more timid than others, 
 reside, but generally both men and women appear en- 
 terprising. Generals Parsons and Varum, two of the 
 company's directors, were also territorial judges. Mr. 
 Symmes, the other judge, was the principal agent in the 
 purchase of another tract of country, including the Mi- 
 amis. 
 
 8th. Jane Beatty arrived from Fort Pitt. 
 
 9th. Armstrong embarked for Fort Pitt. 
 
 13^. Ensign M'Dowell, with a party of soldiers, set 
 out to escort Mr. Duncan, the provisions and stores in- 
 tended for a treaty, to the Falls of Muskingum. 
 
 June \otJi. Major Doughty embarked in the barge 
 for Fort Pitt. His design is to accompany Governor St. 
 Glair to this post. 
 
 July 4th. The officers of Fort Harmar were enter- 
 tained on the point (Marietta side) by the Ohio Com- 
 pany. Heard a very suitable oration delivered by Judge 
 Yarum. 
 
 8^. Captain Bradford and Lieutenant Ernest ar- 
 rived from New York, where they had been sent to re- 
 cruit. Their Legislature not having taken up the re- 
 quisition of Congress for raising the regiment, these 
 gentlemen were obliged to return without effecting their 
 object. 
 
 9th. The arrival of the Governor of the Western Ter-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZEE DENNY. 121 
 
 ritory (General St. Clair) was announced by the dis- 
 charge of thirteen rounds from a six-pounder. The 
 garrison turned out, and troops received him with pre- 
 sented arms. 
 
 ~L3tk. About a month since, Ensign M'Dowell, with 
 a command of thirty men, escorted boats with provisions, 
 &c., to the Falls of Muskingum, about seventy-five miles 
 up, where the intended treaty was to be held. We are 
 informed by express that his party were attacked in their 
 camp yesterday by a party of Tawas ; that his picket 
 guard was routed ; two soldiers only were killed and one 
 missing. A black servant of Mr. Duncan was killed. 
 The Indians were repulsed with the loss of one killed 
 and left behind. 
 
 14A. This evening a party with a craft was sent up 
 the Muskingum to bring off Ensign M'Dowell, command, 
 &c. The treaty, if any, determined to be held at Fort 
 Harmar. 
 
 15th. Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the Territory, 
 and one of the directors of the Ohio Company, had 
 reached this with the ordinance of Congress respecting 
 the government, and with the commissions for the sever- 
 al officers. The people convened on the point ; military 
 officers invited over. When assembled, the Secretary 
 read the law and the appointments. Those people ap- 
 pear the most happy folks in the world ; greatly satisfied 
 with their new purchase. But they certainly are the 
 best informed, most courteous and civil to strangers of 
 any people I have yet met with. The order and regu- 
 larity observed by all,, their sober deportment and perfect
 
 122 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 submission to the constituted authorities, &c., must tend 
 much to promote their settlements. 
 
 16M. Lieutenant Ford, who had been stationed at 
 Fort M'lntosh, arrived with his party. He is to proceed 
 to Post Yincennes to join his company. 
 
 Yiih, Lieutenant Beatty embarked with part of 
 Ford's command for the Rapids. 
 
 20th. Ensign M'Dowell returned. By his address be- 
 fore he left his camp, had managed to get hold of six of 
 the fellows who had made the attack upon him. They 
 were brought down bound, and confined under the garri- 
 son guard. They called themselves Tawas and Chippewas. 
 
 28th. Two of our Indian prisoners made their escape 
 from the guard. Four of the soldiers had been conduct- 
 ing them, as was usual, to the necessary which stands 
 outside the fort. Those within are used only after night. 
 A corn patch adjoining the necessary. The Indians had 
 previously found that the irons on their hands and feet 
 could be slipped off ; when close to the corn, and at a 
 moment when the attention of the guard was taken off, 
 they slipped their shackles, leaped into the corn field, 
 which sheltered them from the view of the sentries, aiid 
 were soon out of reach. 
 
 Aug. 7th. Ensign Thompson sent express to Fort 
 Pitt with orders for Captain Ziegler, who we hear has 
 arrived there with his company. 
 
 Sth. Lieutenant Ford set out for the Rapids of the 
 Ohio ; from thence he is to proceed with the pay-master 
 to Post Vincennes. 
 
 17th. Captain Heart arrived from Venango, and Cap-
 
 MAJOE EBENEZER DENNY. 123 
 
 tain Strong set off for Connecticut, by whom I wrote to 
 my friend J. C. 
 
 27th. Judge Bynames, with-several boats and families, 
 arrived on their way to his new purchase at the Miami. 
 Has a daughter (Polly) along. They lodge with the 
 General and Mrs. Harmar. Stay three days and depart- 
 If not greatly mistaken, Miss Symmes will make a fine 
 woman. An amiable disposition and highly cultivated 
 mind, about to be buried in the wilderness. 
 
 31st. Captain Smith arrived from New York on his 
 way to the Post to join his company. With him came 
 Ensign Thompson, Mr. Melcher and Mr. Brown, a 
 member of Congress from Kentucky. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Mr. Brown proceeded down the river. 
 
 2d. Captain Heart and Major Doughty set out for 
 Venango. The latter to muster the troops at that post. 
 
 9th. General Richard Butler, commissioner on the 
 part of Pennsylvania, and Captain James O'Hara, the 
 contractor, with Cornplanter and about fifty Senecas, 
 arrive. They were escorted from Pitt by Captain Zieg- 
 ler's company of recruits. They were received with a 
 salute of three rounds of cannon and the music. Zieg- 
 ler is a German, had been in Saxon service previous to 
 our late war with England. Takes pride in having the 
 handsomest company in the regiment ; and to do him jus- 
 tice, his company has been always considered the first in 
 point of discipline and appearance. Four-fifths of his 
 company have been Germans. Majority of the present 
 are men who served in Germany. 
 
 FORT HARMAR, IWi. Mitchell arrived express from
 
 124 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 the Falls, by whom we learn that Lieutenant Peters 
 with a command of thirty men, had been defeated near 
 the mouth of the "Wabash. Eight of his men were 
 killed and ten wounded. That one boat loaded with 
 provisions fell into the hands of the enemy. That Mr. 
 Peters retreated down the Ohio, and was making for 
 Kaskaskia. By the same express are told that Captain 
 Hardin, from Kentucky, had conducted thirty active 
 woodsmen (militia) into the Indian country about the 
 mouth of the Wabash, and it was supposed had fallen 
 in with the Indians who defeated Peters ; that he had 
 returned to the Falls with thirty horses taken and ten 
 scalps. Messengers arrive from the Indian towns. Say 
 the nations in grand council had agreed to attend the 
 treaty. Saw the young men return daily with scalps. 
 
 12tk. A singular occurrence took place to-day in sight 
 of the fort, between two of the Seneca Indians. Both 
 among the best looking men, and duly sober, met, drew 
 their knives and fought until both sank under their 
 wounds. It seems that they had formerly lived together 
 as brothers. One of them, a married man, was obliged 
 to go on a mission to some distant nations, and unable 
 to take along his wife, left her in charge of his friend, 
 who was to provide for and protect her. When the hus- 
 band returned he found that his poor frail wife had been 
 left in care of a savage. She was seduced and carried 
 out of the nation. He bore this with manly fortitude, 
 but resolved if they ever met, one of them must die. It 
 seems that they had a knowledge of each other coming 
 here, and were prepared for the meeting and for what
 
 MAJOE EBEXEZER DENNY. 125 
 
 took place. The fellow who had eloped with the woman 
 came last from the Shawanee towns, where it is said he 
 lately killed a girl for refusing to comply with his wishes. 
 
 14th. A messenger arrived from the Indian towns 
 with speeches, &c. They report that all the nations 
 will attend the grand treaty as soon as possible for them 
 to arrive. That they had been counciling at the Miami 
 town, where they had agreed on the above ; at the same 
 time scalps were daily brought in by the young men. 
 
 15th. Mr. Ernest and Mr. Wilkins set out for Fort 
 Pitt, the former with orders to relieve Lieutenant 
 Schuyler, who is stationed there. By the latter I sent 
 a letter to my sister Nancy, and inclosed a bank note of 
 twenty dollars. 
 
 21st. Lieutenant Armstrong arrived on his way to 
 the Falls. 
 
 22d. Lieutenant Kersey, with forty-eight Jersey re- 
 cruits, and Ensign Hartshorn, with twenty-nine from 
 Connecticut, arrived. 
 
 29th. Major Doughty arrived from Yenango, where 
 he had been sent to muster Captain Heart's command. 
 With him came Major Alexander and several other gen- 
 tlemen. 
 
 Oct. 4th. Captain M'Curdy, with Ensign Hartshorn 
 and cadet Morgan, and about forty men, were detached 
 to escort the geographer to the Scioto river. 
 
 13th. Doctor Knight joined the regiment in character 
 of a substitute for Doctor Sumner, who had occasion to 
 remain at home longer than his furlough specified. 
 
 One of the two savages mentioned on the 12th Sep-
 
 126 
 
 tember as having fought respecting a woman, is found 
 drowned in the Muskingum. It is said the tribe gener- 
 ally wished for his exit, and that some of them must 
 have been the instruments of his death. Every possible 
 attention was paid by the Senecas, as well as by the sur- 
 o-eon of the garrison, to the husband. His life was 
 despaired of. The other totally neglected, an outcast, 
 left to shift for himself, to dress himself; a small portion 
 of victuals sent daily from the fort, and left in his reach 
 where he lay near the bank. Notwithstanding, and con- 
 trary to the expectation and wishes, was recovering and 
 able to crawl about, when now, a month after the fight, 
 and all hopes of his death having ceased, he is found 
 drowned in the Muskingum. Some one or two of his 
 nation had in the night dragged him down the bank and 
 put him in the river. From the appearance of the 
 ground being torn up where he lay and along to the 
 water's edge, he must have made considerable resistance. 
 
 ~L9th. General Gibson, a commissioner on the part of 
 the State of Pennsylvania, arrived from Fort Pitt. He 
 and General Butler are appointed by the State to treat 
 with the Indians, particularly the Senecas, and to make 
 them compensation for a tract of country lying on Lake 
 Erie, and including Presqu' Isle, which the State has 
 purchased of Congress. 
 
 20th. Notwithstanding the treaty was solicited by the 
 savages, it is doubtful whether the chiefs will come in or 
 not. A late message from them says, that they have 
 been informed by good authority, that we have poisoned 
 the whiskey which we intend for them ; and infection for
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DEXXY. 127 
 
 the small pox has been put in the blankets to be present- 
 ed them. This message, with the daily accounts of mis- 
 chief doing in some quarter or other, seem to indicate as 
 if they had no mind to treat. Three canoes arrived last 
 night from Limestone, brought accounts that Lieutenant 
 Armstrong's boat was fired on near the Scioto ; that one 
 of his men was shot through the cheek. The Indians 
 have lately killed a soldier in the vicinity of the fort at 
 the Rapids, and not content with scalping him, cut him 
 in four quarters and hung them up on the bushes. 
 
 28th. OK W., a trusty Indian messenger who had 
 been sent to the towns, arrived with an account that 
 the chiefs were preparing to attend the treaty, and might 
 be expected in twelve or fifteen days. 
 
 Nov. 1st. Captain M'Curdy, with his command, and 
 the geographer, arrived. 
 
 7th. Messengers Wilson and Rankin return from the 
 Indian towns. With them came Captain Davie, of the 
 Six Nations, and several others. These last are from 
 Grand river, on the British side of Lake Erie. Brant 
 is expected in a few days. 
 
 Dec. 13th. About two hundred Indians arrive con- 
 sist of Delawares, Wyandots, Senecas, Tawas, Pottowat- 
 tamies, Chippewas and Socks. No Shawanees. 
 
 14ith. Meeting in council house to welcome each oth- 
 er, &c. 
 
 15th. Met in council. Treaty opened. This evening 
 Captains Ferguson and Beatty set out, and Ensign M'- 
 Dowell arrived, who had been escorting Mr. Marten sur- 
 veying up the Scioto.
 
 128 MILITAET JOURNAL OF 
 
 20th. The weather extremely cold. The river driving 
 with ice. The Governor and Indians have had frequent 
 meetings in the council house, but nothing conclusive yet. 
 
 29th. A grand council was held. The old Wyandot 
 chief, Shandotto, addressed the Governor in behalf of all 
 the nations present. He began by telling their origin 
 and how the thirteen fires had gotten possession of their 
 country; how we had in two instances cheated them. 
 The first, he said, was in a bargain made with them for 
 just as much ground as an ox's hide would cover, merely 
 to build one fire upon. The Americans cut the hide into 
 strings and claimed all the ground they could encompass 
 therewith. The second case was a bargain for such an 
 extent of country, in a certain direction, as a white man 
 would travel to and back in one day. A surprising 
 walker was found, who went as far and back again the 
 same day as any of their swiftest men could do in two. 
 These, said he, were submitted to, as you were strangers 
 in our country, and professed to be our friends, but you 
 have gone on from one step to another, so that we don't 
 know when you will stop. At a treaty concluded to the 
 northward, before the late war, he said, they had given 
 up all the country south of the Ohio river. That boun- 
 dary was a very plain one. It was such as could not be 
 altered or mistaken ; there could be no dispute about 
 it. Concluded by saying that all the nations present had 
 determined to grant no more of the country, but were 
 willing to abide by the treaty which established the river 
 Ohio as the boundary line. He presented a large belt 
 of wampum with a black stripe running through the
 
 MAJOK EBENEZER DENNY. 129 
 
 middle of it, representing the Ohio river dividing, &c. 
 The Governor replied, and told them that he could not 
 possibly make the least deviation from the treaties which 
 had been concluded at Fort Stanwix, at Fort M'Intosh 
 and at the Miami river. That at these treaties the sev- 
 eral boundaries had been fixed, and were unalterable. 
 Council adjourned. Several days pass over. Indians 
 pow-wowing. The Ohio rising and driving with ice. 
 
 Jan. 6th, 1789. All hands assemble again. The Gov- 
 ernor made a speech to the Indians. Explained to them 
 by a simile how they had forfeited their country. He 
 supposed the Wyandots and some distant nation at war 
 with each other. The Shawanees living between, were 
 desired by the Wyandots to lie still, which was agreed 
 to, but the Shawanees being of a restless disposition, and 
 easy persuaded, took up the hatchet against their neigh- 
 bors the Wyandots ; notwithstanding, the Wyandots con- 
 quered their enemies, and obliged them to sue for peace, 
 and the Shawanees' lands were given as a price for the 
 same. Now, whether had not the Wyandots a good 
 claim to the lands? They all agreed it was but just; 
 then, said he, this is exactly your case, you took up the 
 hatchet against the United States, and joined the English 
 in the late war. The English, to obtain peace, ceded to 
 the United States all the country south of the great 
 lakes. He told them that they had been all summer en- 
 deavoring to meet, but it seemed to be to no purpose. 
 The United States, he said, were much inclined to be at 
 peace with all the Indians, but if the Indians wanted 
 war they should have war. He told them that if they 
 9
 
 130 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 would renew the articles which had been agreed to and 
 signed at M'Intosh and at the other treaties, he would 
 add another article, and allow them the privilege of hunt- 
 in^ any where in the United States' territory, and would 
 deliver over to them a certain quantity of goods, such as 
 might be agreed on. Adjourned. 
 
 Sth. Lieutenant Pratt joined us, from Connecticut, 
 with about seventy recruits. 
 
 9^. In council once more. The old Wyandot chief, 
 Shandotto, who spoke for all the nations present, said he 
 was sorry the Governor talked of war. It was not long 
 since both had felt the effects of it. For their part, they 
 wished for no more. He said they all had a great re- 
 gard for the thirteen fires, and would do everything in 
 their power to accommodate them for the sake of peace, 
 only hoped the line would be removed a little way. 
 
 llth. This was the last act of the farce. The articles 
 were signed. 
 
 13^. The goods were given out to the different na- 
 tions of Indians. The death of General Yernum, one 
 of the judges of the territory, who was buried this after- 
 noon, is generally lamented. The officers of the fort at- 
 tended his funeral. 
 
 22d The Indians mostly dispersed. Mr. Thompson, 
 Luce and Schuyler, embarked for the Rapids. 
 
 2Stk. --The Governor, Pennsylvania commissioners, 
 and sundry other gentlemen attending the grand treaty, 
 left us for Fort Pitt. 
 
 Feb. 15th. Captain Bradford, with his company, em- 
 barked for the Rapids. Dr. Carmichael proceeded with
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 131 
 
 him as far as the Great Miami, there to join Lieutenant 
 Kersey. 
 
 22d. Married this evening, Captain David Ziegler, of 
 the first regiment, to Miss Sheffield, only single daughter 
 of Mrs. Sheffield, of Campus Martius, city of Marietta. 
 On this occasion I played the captain's aid, and at his 
 request, the memorandums made. I exhibited a charac- 
 ter not more awkward than strange, at the celebration 
 of Captain Ziegler's nuptials, the first of the kind I had 
 been a witness to. 
 
 March 18th. Lieutenant Kingsbury was sent to con- 
 duct a number of M'Curdy's discharged men to Fort 
 Pitt. 
 
 April 19th. Ensign Hartshorn detached with a party 
 for Wheeling, where he expected to meet Mr. Ludlow, 
 with whom he was to proceed to run the northern boun- 
 dary of the Ohio Company purchase. 
 
 May 1st. The Indians attack and kill a Mr. King, a 
 proprietor in the Ohio Company, just below the Little 
 Kanahwa, where a settlement is forming. The directors 
 apply to General Harmar for a few soldiers for the pro- 
 tection of the place. A sergeant, corporal and fifteen 
 men, detached to protect the settlement below, called 
 Belpre, and a corporal and eight sent up the Mus- 
 kingum to Wolf creek, where the people are making 
 another settlement. 
 
 5th. The commission of first Lieutenant, which ought 
 to have been sent me last year, was received but to-day. 
 It is dated 28th of March last ; the detention occasioned 
 by a claim, of Mr. Spear for the same appointment.
 
 132 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Spear had filled a vacant ensigncy twelve months after 
 our appointments, but having been an older subaltern in 
 the Revolutionary war, thought he was still entitled to 
 the right. Our State, where the appointments originate, 
 decided against him. This evening Lieutenant Ford, 
 with Captain Mercer's company, arrived from Vincen- 
 nes. Captain Mercer and Lieutenant Peters came also, 
 on their way home 
 
 28th. Two parties of a corporal and nine men each 
 were detached to escort the surveyors of the Ohio Com- 
 pany in running out certain ranges upon the river, and 
 to the extension of the purchase westward. They took 
 two men and provisions. 
 
 June 4:th. Lieutenant Kingsbury, Mr. Tupper and 
 myself set out in a small boat with four men, to visit 
 the settlements made by the New England people on 
 donation lands, called Belpre settlement. We got 
 down about one o'clock found everything appeared as 
 well as industry could make. 
 
 5th. We embarked and returned up within seven 
 miles of the garrison. Landed and struck off on a west 
 line, and at the distance of one mile, got upon Mr. 
 Kingsbury's one hundred and sixty acre lot, and mine, 
 which adjoins his. We found mine to be tolerably good 
 land, having a branch of the Little Hockhocking run- 
 ning directly through it. A great deal of poplar, walnut, 
 locust, cherry, shellbark hickory and black oak. Re- 
 turned to the boat and got home about dark. 
 
 9^. Ensign Hartshorn and his party returned from 
 escorting Mr. Ludlow, the surveyor, who was running
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 133 
 
 the northern boundary of the Ohio Company purchase. 
 They completed the business without the least molestation. 
 
 9th. Major Wyllys, Ensign Sedam and Dr. Allison, 
 arrived from the Rapids on their way to New York. 
 
 28th. A young Delaware came in with information 
 that George Washington was wounded by some person 
 in ambush, on the Tuscarawas branch of the Mus- 
 kingum. They are willing to lay it to Brant's people, 
 but at the same time think the mischief done by militia 
 from Wheeling. 
 
 July 7th. Major Doughty joined us from New York. 
 
 l&h. Captain M'Curdy and Ensign M'Dowell came 
 with forty-four recruits good looking fellows. 
 
 Aug. 9th. Captain Strong, with his two subalterns, 
 Lieutenant Kingsbury and Ensign Hartshorn, and a 
 complete company of seventy men, embark for the Mi- 
 ami. 
 
 \\th. Captain Ferguson joined us with his recruits. 
 Major Doughty follows Captain Strong for the purpose 
 of choosing ground and laying out a new work intended 
 for the protection of persons who have settled within the 
 limits of Judge Symme's purchase. 
 
 21st. A corporal and six men escorting surveyors of 
 the Ohio Company, attacked by the Indians. The cor- 
 poral only escaped. 
 
 Sept. 4:th. Ferguson with his company ordered to join 
 Strong in erecting a fort near the Miami. Lieutenant 
 Pratt, the quarter-master, ordered to the same place. 
 
 14th. At a meeting of the agents of the Ohio Land 
 Company, a tract of land lying at or near the mouth of
 
 134 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 Tyger's or Kyger's creek, on the Ohio, about four or five 
 miles above the Great Kanahwa, was granted to an as- 
 sociation of thirty-five proprietors, formed for settling 
 the same ; each to have one hundred acres at least. The 
 1st September, 1790, is the time allowed for commencing 
 the settlement. Captain Beatty and myself are of the 
 association. 
 
 22d. Captain Heart, with his company from Fort 
 Franklin, arrive here. 
 
 Nov. 10th. The General intends removing to head- 
 quarters very shortly, to the new fort building by Ma- 
 jor Doughty, opposite the mouth of Licking creek. Had 
 hinted that a short furlough would be very desirable 
 before I went lower down, and if I could be excused 
 from the regiment, would proceed to Philadelphia, and 
 complete some business of his and of the officers of the 
 Pennsylvania quota. I had, in the absence of quarter- 
 master, performed both duties of adjutant and quarter- 
 master. Mr. Pratt I always found ready and willing. 
 On this occasion he volunteered, and I obtained a fur- 
 lough until 1st May. Embarked in a twelve oar boat 
 with Doctor Scott. 
 
 llth. Lay near the upper end of the Long Reach. 
 
 12th. Met a rise of water, and got one mile above 
 Sunfish. 
 
 13th. Rainy weather. Lay all night at Mr. Mahan's, 
 seven miles below Wheeling. 
 
 14th. Deposited with Esquire Zeens sundry articles 
 found with Rogers (drowned), to be sent to his wife at 
 Marietta. Got to Carpenter's at Short creek.
 
 MAJOE EBENEZER DENNY. 135 
 
 . High water. Lay one mile above Holliday's 
 Cove. 
 
 \Qth. The river continued to rise. With hard work 
 we made Dawson's, opposite the mouth of Little Beaver, 
 about eight o'clock at night. 
 
 17th. As we turned up Beaver creek, to go to the 
 block-house two miles up, where an officer and party is 
 stationed, we met General Parson's canoe, with some 
 property, floating down. Found the old gentleman, in 
 attempting to pass the Falls, about five miles up, was 
 cast out and drowned, with one man who accompanied 
 him. Judge Parsons was esteemed a useful, enterprising 
 citizen. He had an interest in Salt Spring tract, on the 
 Mahoning, and anxious to prove the navigation of the 
 Falls practicable, the experiment cost him his life. It is 
 said that his life was insured in New York. 
 
 18th. Set out after breakfast and got as high as the 
 lower end of Montour's Island. 
 
 19M. Arrived at Pittsburgh about two o'clock, P. M., 
 when to our great satisfaction we found Major Wyllys, 
 Captain Mercer, Captain Beatty, Lieutenant Peters, En- 
 sign Sedam and Doctor Allison, all on their way to join 
 the regiment. 
 
 PITTSBURGH, Dec. th. With Beatty, the pay-master, 
 I had business which detained me here longer than was 
 intended. My boat and crew were taken back by these 
 officers. Got upon the road this afternoon. 
 
 12th. Reached Carlisle. 
 
 Jan. 9th, 1790. Left Carlisle in company with Mr.
 
 136 MILITAEY JOUENAL OF 
 
 Xesbit. That evening reached the Susquehanna on my 
 way to Philadelphia. 
 
 \3th. Arrived in the city after a cold and tedious ride. 
 
 26th. Having settled all my business fully, took leave 
 of the pleasing amusements of the city and got back to 
 my friends at Carlisle on the 29th. Had been here but 
 a few days, when a strange indisposition came on me, 
 altogether unaccountable. Few persons have been favor- 
 ed with better health than I have enjoyed all my life ; 
 once only, in South Carolina was I laid up for a while. 
 Temperance and an active life may have contributed to 
 exempt when few escaped, but never was without a grate- 
 ful sense of the favor of Divine Providence. In the 
 present case endeavored for several days to keep up, 
 when it was discovered that I had taken the measles, a 
 disease very prevalent here at this time, and which it 
 was supposed I had had. This sickness could not have 
 taken me at a more convenient or happy time was in 
 the house with my mother and sisters. In the space of 
 a couple of weeks was again about, and as soon as it was 
 prudent to be exposed to the roads and weather, left my 
 kind and aifectionate relations, and arrived at Pittsburgh 
 on the 22d. March. 
 
 April \\tli. No place appears to me more inviting 
 than this ; could willingly remain here awhile, but my 
 furlough draws to a close, nor would I go over it one day, 
 for a week of pleasure anywhere. Besides, I know that 
 nothing short of unavoidable delay would do in my case. 
 The only conveyance for one down the river is a Ken-
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 137 
 
 tucky boat loaded with flour for head-quarters. The 
 boat and hands are put under my charge, and with three 
 soldiers, making seven of us, we set sail. 
 . Buffalo creek. 
 
 . Land at Fort Harmar, mouth of Muskingum, 
 a place where I had spent most part of the last two years 
 with much satisfaction. It was now in a manner desert- s 
 ed. Head-quarters had been removed to Fort Washing- 
 ton, opposite the mouth of Licking. Spent one day with 
 some old friends of the Ohio Company. Accounts from 
 below that Indians are in force on the river near Scioto. 
 
 17$. Reached the Great Kanahwa, where were sev- 
 eral boats waiting to increase their force. An express 
 had arrived from Limestone to Colonel Lewis, with ac- 
 counts that the savages had attacked and taken several 
 boats at the mouth of Scioto. 
 
 18$. While waiting to enlarge our fleet, Mr. Kings- 
 bury arrived from the Miami, by whom I received a let- 
 ter from the General, but too late for me to execute his 
 business. 
 
 19$. Having examined the several boats and the 
 people on board, the arms, &c., and made such disposi- 
 tion of the whole as was thought most judicious, sailed 
 at the head of sixteen Kentuck boats and two keels. 
 The Kentucky boats were lashed three together and kept 
 in one line. Women, children and stock all put into 
 the middle boats. Outside boats only manned and 
 worked. The men belonging to each block of boats had 
 their own commanding officer, and the whole could re- 
 pair to either side as necessity might require. The keels
 
 138 MILITARY JOURNAL OF 
 
 kept on each flank. The river is in good navigable or- 
 der, and weather pleasant. The boats were enabled to 
 keep their stations. Passed the Scioto about daylight. 
 
 20th. About eight o'clock in the morning a .storm of 
 wind and rain met us. Such a one I had never before 
 seen on the river. The boats had to be cut loose, and 
 even when single were in danger of filling every instant. 
 At this time were supposed to be about five miles below 
 Scioto and close upon the Indian shore. Any apprehen- 
 sion from the Indians by me was forgotten ; I was clear 
 for making the nearest land, headed my boat for shore, 
 and made the signal for the others to follow. One only 
 obeyed the signal and landed along side of me. The 
 rest passed and made for the Kentucky side, at the 
 hazard of their lives. They, however, got safe, with no 
 other damage than shipping large quantities of water. 
 In this situation we were obliged to remain the whole 
 day. As the sun went down the storm ceased. I fired 
 a gun and put off the boats all followed, and next 
 morning reached Limestone. 
 
 LIMESTOXE, 2lst. Upon landing here was informed 
 that an officer of the regiment^ with soldiers, was on the 
 opposite shore. Procured a light boat and crossed the 
 river, where I found Lieutenant Pratt with a small party 
 of men. He informed me that General Harmar, with 
 about three hundred regulars and A r olunteers, had 
 marched the morning before for Paint creek, which 
 empties into the Scioto about sixty miles up, at which 
 place it was expected the Indians who had been on the 
 Ohio, would be found with their plunder. Here I found
 
 MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY. 139 
 
 that the General had calculated my time, for expecting 
 that Mr. Pratt would see me, he had left instructions for 
 me to proceed to Fort Washington. Parted with Pratt 
 in the evening. 
 
 22d. Arrived at Fort Washington about twelve o'clock. 
 
 FORT WASHINGTON, May 2d. The troops returned 
 from Paint creek, under command of Captain Ferguson. 
 General Harmar parted with them at mouth of Scioto, 
 and proceeded in his barge for Muskingum. 
 
 July 11 th. Governor St. Clair arrived at Fort Wash- 
 ington from the Illinois, where he had spent part of the 
 winter and spring in organizing the several counties in 
 that quarter of the territory, and establishing a system 
 of government. General Harmar had returned to head- 
 quarters some weeks since. The Governor remained 
 with us but three days. In the mean time it was agreed 
 and determined that General Harmar should conduct 
 an expedition against the Maumee towns, the residence 
 of all the renegade Indians, from whence issued all the 
 parties who infest our frontiers. One thousand militia 
 were ordered from Kentucky, and the Governor on his 
 way to New York, the seat of the general government, 
 was to order five hundred from the back counties of 
 Pennsylvania. 15th September was the time appointed 
 for the militia to assemble at Fort Washington. 
 
 \bth. The General commenced his preparations; cal- 
 culations of provisions, horses, stores, &c., were imme- 
 diately made out and ordered accordingly. Every day 
 employed in the most industrious manner. Captain 
 Ferguson, with his company, engaged in getting in com-