may and fright preceded his victorious march. His name struck terror throughout the whole Indian border. The crafty savages, who are admirable judges of human nature, in all that relates to military feeling or calculation, were aware that the pride of Kentucky had been touched; and that those who now sought them in their own towns, to challenge them to battle, came prepared to conquer or die—to revenge injury and wipe off disgrace. They declined a meeting with such men, led by such a commander; and Clarke found nothing but empty cabins and deserted fields. The former, as well as the latter, were desolated. The villages were reduced to ashes, and the standing corn destroyed. The soldiers reaped no laurels; but the effect of the expedition was beneficial. It displayed the power and the spirit of the Americans, and taught the savages that they could not make war upon our borders with impunity.

The next important expedition into the country west of the Ohio, was again led by General Clarke, and was equal in amount of men, to that just described. In 1785, the incursions of the Indians having again caused a popular excitement, an army of a thousand men was raised by voluntary association, and assembled at the falls of Ohio. The provisions and ammunition were sent round in keel-boats to Vincennes, to which place General Clarke marched his men by the nearest route. This expedition accomplished nothing, beyond the good effect produced by the appearance of a respectable force in the Indian country.

The next important expedition into the Indian

country, was that of Scott and Harmar, in 1790. General Scott, with two hundred and thirty volunteers, crossed the Ohio at Limestone, and was joined by General Harmar, with one hundred regulars of the United States army. They penetrated into the Indian country and destroyed several towns, but were unable to bring the Indians to battle.

The well known expedition of General Harmar, occurred in the autumn of the same year. He led into the Indian country, three hundred and twenty 'federal troops, and eleven hundred and thirty-three Kentucky volunteers, commanded by Colonel John Hardin, an intelligent and gallant officer. They penetrated into the Miami country, and laid waste the corn-fields of the Indians, and having accomplished the sole object of the expedition, were about to return, when some Indians appeared in the vicinity of the camp. Colonel Hardin was detached with a small party in pursuit of them. After pursuing them for six miles, he fell into a snare which they had prepared for him. The Indians, having divided themselves into two parties, had returned on each side of their own trail, at a distance from it, and then approaching it, had concealed themselves in the tall grass, and were quietly waiting the approach of the Americans. When Colonel Hardin and his detachment had passed into the ambushed spot, the enemy rose, discovering themselves on all sides, like the followers of Rhoderic Dhu, in the splendid conception of Scott, and standing exposed in the prairie, fired upon the troops, who were instantly thrown into disorder. The gallant leader endeavored in vain to

rally the panic-struck men. The Indians, greatly superior in number, rushed in upon them, and such as did not find safety in flight, were almost instantly overpowered and slain.

Two days afterwards, the army decamped and commenced its march towards the frontiers. At the distance of about ten miles from the ruined villages, the General halted, and detached Colonel Hardin, with a party of four or five hundred militia, and sixty regulars under Major Willis, with orders to return to the site of the principal Indian town, where it was supposed the Indian force might have collected, upon the retiring of our army. On reaching the village, a small body of Indians was seen, who, on being attacked, fled. The militia, eager to be revenged for the recent disaster, and maddened by the loss of many of their friends, dashed off in pursuit, leaving the regulars unsupported. This was precisely the object intended to be effected by the Indians, a part of whom had fled, merely to decoy the militia into a tumultuous pursuit. The main body of the Indians, who were lying in concealment, rose suddenly from their ambush, and with dreadful yells, rushed upon the regular troops. The latter were a small, though brave band, and the savages so numerous as to render resistance hopeless. The onset was of the most desperate character. The Indians, throwing aside their guns, fought with the tomahawk only. Never did men fight with more heroism than Willis and his regulars. Surrounded and overpowered, they met their fate with inflexible courage. For a time, they defended themselves with the bayonet, and made

great havoc in the ranks of the assailants. But the savages increased in number, like the heads of the fabled Hydra, and when one fell, several others rushed forward to fill his place and avenge his death. The brave Willis and his whole party were slain; scarcely one was left.

The militia were, in the meanwhile, recalled by their commander, from the injudicious pursuit, in which they had engaged without orders and without caution. They were rallied by Colonel Hardin, and brought into action, too late, however, to relieve the regulars. But they fought bravely, sustained a considerable loss, and at last retired in good order, before a superior force, who, flushed with their recent victory over the regulars, assailed their ranks with the fury of enraged demons. The army of Harmar returned to Kentucky, without further incident.

The officers who were first and second in command of this expedition, were much censured at the time, for its disasters, and it has ever since been popularly known, as "Harmar's defeat." The more impartial verdict of history, given on a calm review of all the evidence, will do justice to the names of Harmar and Hardin, and rank these brave soldiers among the defenders of their country, who are entitled to its gratitude. Their successes, and the important objects which they accomplished, have been obscured by their misfortunes; the country mourned the lives that were lost, without reflecting upon the advantages that were gained. The object of the expedition, was to destroy the Indian towns at and Mary's and Joseph's

near the confluence of St.

rivers. This was completely accomplished, and the Indian power in that quarter was effectually crippled, by the destruction of their whole stock of provisions for the winter. Their villages were burned and their corn-fields devastated. The duty imposed upon this army, was performed; and its disasters, though deeply to be deplored, should not be allowed to throw a shade over the services or the reputation of the patriotic individuals who composed it. Besides the destruction of their property and means of sustenance, the loss of life was greater on the part of the Indians than on the side of the whites; and that the victory which they claimed, and to which the retreat of our troops entitled them, was dearly bought, is sufficiently evident from the fact, that they neither repeated the attack, nor made any attempt to annoy the army on its return. An army, which had so far secured the respect of a victorious enemy, as to be permitted to march unmolested from a disastrous battle field, was certainly not dishonored, though it might have been vanquished. The error of Harmar, consisted in his dividing his force, by sending out detachments, giving to the enemy the opportunities for practising to advantage the stratagems peculiar to their system of warfare, and exposing our army to the hazard of being beaten in detail. It was thus beaten; but the error in judgment, which produced the result, was not greater than has often been committed by able commanders; and should at least find an excuse in the recollection, that it was preceded by a successful campaign, and followed by an able retreat. Harmar was a brave and accomplished officer, whose character was adorned by many amiable and brilliant