16th. We marched through their towns, four in number, in the bounds of three or four miles, in which there were fresh signs of Indians. We cut up their corn and put it in piles, sixty or eighty acres, so that it might rot. A variety of beans were found growing with their corn; potatoes, pumpkins, water-melons, and cucumbers were also cultivated by them. Their houses were all burnt by the orders of General Harrison; some of them were built of bark and some of logs. The tomb of a chief was discovered; it was built on the ground with timber and clay, so that no rain or air could enter; the chief was laid on his blanket, his head towards sunrise, his rifle by his side, his tin pan on his breast, with a spoon in it; he was ornamented in their style, with ear-rings, brooches, &c. This is one of the most beautiful places in the western country; the land is level, well timbered, well watered, and the soil equal to any part of Kentucky. Near the town, where the timber has been cut, it is covered with an elegant coat of blue grass.
17th. We got back to the baggage, and found all was well. Capt. Langhorne had fortified against the enemy with rails, so that he would have been able to have held his place against a considerable force. We took some refreshments and pursued our journey, and encamped near our former encampment.
18th. We arrived at Fort Wayne, and met with a reinforcement of five hundred mounted riflemen and cavalry, from Kentucky. A man was accidentally shot through the head by one of the mounted riflemen. Colonel Wells’s division returned this evening from their route, which was fifty miles from Fort Wayne, on the waters of St. Joseph’s River, very much fatigued. They found nothing but deserted houses and corn to destroy, which was about the same amount as was found at the Wabash. Capt. Morris’s 1st sergeant (David Irwin) died on the road. One of the light-horsemen wounded a man as he was feeding his horse, believing him to be an Indian.
19th. We encamped in the forks of the river half a mile from the fort. Gen. Harrison not being legally authorized by the general government, as commander of this army, the command, of course, devolved on Winchester. This resignation of Gen. Harrison’s was done with much reluctance, as he had placed great confidence in the Kentuckians, and found he was their choice, in preference to Gen. Winchester. The conduct of Gen. Harrison at Tippecanoe, and his familiarity with the troops while on their march to this place, had gained to him a peculiar attachment. Gen. Winchester being a stranger, and having the appearance of a supercilious officer, he was generally disliked. His assuming the command almost occasioned a mutiny in camp; this was prevented by the solicitations of some of the officers to go on.
20th. The Kentucky mounted riflemen started to St. Mary’s under the command of Gen. Harrison, in order to pursue the Indians in some other quarter; their number was about fifteen hundred.
21st. We received marching orders to march to-morrow morning at 7 o’clock.
The following general order, will show Gen. Winchester’s order of march.
“General Orders.—Fort Wayne Sept. 22, 1812.
“The army will march in the following order, to wit: the guard in front in three lines, two deep in the road, and in Indian file on the flanks, at the distance of fifty to one hundred yards from the centre line, when not prevented by obstructions.
“A fatigue party, to consist of one captain, one ensign, two sergeants, two corporals, and fifty privates, will follow the front guard for the purpose of opening the road. The remainder of the infantry to march on the flanks in the following order; Col. Wells’s and Allen’s regiments on the right, and Scott’s and Lewis’s on the left.