CHAPTER XI
LITTLE TURTLE
FIRST AN ENEMY, THEN A FRIEND
T the close of the Revolution, the boundaries of the United States were the Mississippi River on the west, the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes on the north, and the thirty-first parallel on the south. But for the famous expedition of Captain George Rogers Clark in 1778, the western boundary would have been the Allegheny Mountains. Clark was an elder brother of Captain William Clark, who, with Captain Merriwether Lewis, made his memorable journey across the continent to the Pacific, a quarter of a century later.
The opening of the vast region to the west of the old original thirteen States set flowing a tide of emigration into the new and inviting territory. The stream poured steadily year after year, but was often checked by the enmity of the Indian tribes, who claimed the country as their own, and resisted the inroads of the white men. Exposed cabins and small settlements were burned, and the inhabitants slain, while the stream of flatboats going down the Ohio had to run the gauntlet of the redskins along the shores. Although the craft had bullet-proof sides, even those, in many instances, failed to save them from destruction.
The most active leader of the Indians in their fights with the military forces sent thither to bring them to terms, was Little Turtle, or Michiniqua, a Miami chief, of great ability. Although his father was also a chief, Little Turtle won his rank at an early age by his skill and bravery. Every attempt having failed to bring peace to the frontier, President Washington sent a powerful military force into the region. It was under the command of General Josiah Harmar, who had served well through the Revolution, and was commander-in-chief of the United States army from 1789 to 1792. He marched from old Fort Washington, the site of Cincinnati, in 1790, at the head of three hundred and twenty regulars, to whom more than a thousand militia were soon afterward added. Six hundred Kentucky troops, led by Colonel Hardin, pushed in advance, and, finding the Indian villages deserted, destroyed them, after which a part of his force was sent in pursuit of the savages. They had not gone far when they met a body of warriors, under the command of Little Turtle. The latter attacked the whites so furiously that over fifty were quickly killed, and the militia fled in headlong panic. General Harmar laid waste the only remaining Indian village in the neighborhood, and returned to Fort Washington. He determined to try again. Halting within a few miles of Chillicothe, he ordered Colonel Hardin to hunt out the Indians, and give them battle. Little Turtle was quite willing to be found, and again under his lead, the redskins fought with such daring that a hundred and fifty of the regulars and militia, including several leading officers, were killed. Although the survivors fled, General Harmar claimed a victory. The only ground for this claim was that the Turtle lost so many of his men, that he permitted the soldiers to retreat unmolested.
The result of these disasters was bad indeed. The Indians became so bold in their raids that a reign of terror spread along the western border. The situation was so grave that Congress ordered the organization of a force for the punishment of the savages. In addition to several forts and garrisons, this army numbered fully two thousand men, under the command of General Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory. Before he set out on his campaign, President Washington called him to Philadelphia and warned him to guard against a surprise by the Indians. "They have a leader of great ability in Little Turtle," said he, "and have proved more than once that they will fight with bravery. Remember, my words: Beware of a surprise!"
