Court of Inquiry on General Harmar.

and said frequently that ten Federal regiments should not keep them.

Question by the Court. Did you observe whether the militia were as well treated as the Federal troops ?

Answer. Perfectly the same.

Ensign Gaines, who was Captain of horse in General Harmar's expedition, being sworn, deposed: That on the expedition he was almost every evening at General Harmar's tent until the 24th October, when he was detached forward to Fort Washington, and that during the whole time he did not see General Harmar in the least intoxicated with liquor, but that on the contrary the General conducted the Army in a manner which, in his estimation, did him great honor. He further observed, that he had served on a number of expeditions against the savages, undertaken by the militia of Kentucky, and that he never saw in any of them, the like good order and military arrangement which accompanied General Harmar's expedition; he also observed, that the people in Kentucky never alleged any charge against General Harmar, until Colonel John Hardin had acquitted himself before a Board of Inquiry of several charges exhibited against him, respecting his conduct on that expedition; that the populace finding nothing they could say to the prejudice of the Colonel would be believed, levelled their malice at General Harmar. He did not conceive that any thing would have been said against the General in that country, if a Baptist preacher's son, who resides there, had not been whipped in the Army for disobedience of orders.

Question by the Court. I think you say you have been in several expeditions against the Indians; did the militia who were with General Harmar conduct better or worse than those in other expeditions?

Answer. Much better, sir.

Wyllys had a good effect in securing the Army from being attacked and harassed on its return? Answer. I think it had a very good effect. Question by the Court. Did the Indians ever attack you afterwards?

Answer. Not while I continued with the Army. Captain Asheton, being sworn, deposed: That the organization of General Harmar's Army was a source of trouble and difficulty, arising from disputes among the militia officers for precedency, but, when effected, was in all its parts systematical; that the organization of the Army, the order of march, encampment, and battle, when duly considered, cannot fail to raise the General in the estimation of every military man. That it had been basely reported that the General was in a state of intoxication nearly the whole of the campaign; this he asserted to be a malicious falsehood; and he averred that his personal conduct during that time will ever do him honor. He said the motives which influenced the detachments of the 14th, 19th, and 21st of October, could only be accounted for by the General himself; but he supposed that the detachment under Colonel Hardin was sent in consequence of information gained from a prisoner taken on the morning of the 13th, and from a Frenchman employed as a guide, who reported that it was something more than half a day's ride from a place called the French Store (at which place the Army encamped the night of the 13th) to the Maumee villages. This detachment was supported by the whole Army, and moved off the ground at the same time with as much rapidity as possible, and arrived at the villages on the 17th, where the Army encamped. On the morning of the 18th I mounted guard in front of the encampment. In the course of that day I was informed that a detachment of three hundred men were ordered out under Colonel Trotter, with three days' provisions, with orders to scour the country; but

Question by the Court. Was you in the action they returned the same evening to camp, without of the 19th?

Answer. I was.

Question by the Court. Is it your opinion, that if the militia had been properly arranged in that action, and would have fought, that they would have been sufficient to have defeated the Indians? Answer. Yes; for it appeared to me that the Indians were surprised; that if Colonel Trotter on the preceding day had not returned, he most certainly must have been in their camp, and completely defeated them; for I had taken two of their spies the day before, which appeared to be the only two they had out.

Question by the Court. Do you think that, if General Harmar had ordered the Army back, after the action of the 21st, that the militia would have gone?

Answer. They would not have gone willingly. I think in that case there would have been danger of mutiny. When the militia of Major Wyllys' detachment were ordered to march, they appeared unwilling to go, and some were so much so as

He

effecting anything. Colonel Hardin, disgusted at the conduct of Colonel Trotter, and anxious to retrieve the lost honor of his countrymen, solicited the same command, which was granted. marched on the morning of the 19th, while he was yet on guard, and was defeated the same day by the Indians. He could not say what influenced the General to send out a detachment on the 21st, but he observed that the Indians were flushed with success in the action of the 19th. That it had become necessary to give them a sudden check, in order to prevent the Army from being harassed on its return; and that, if this was the General's intention, he was fully pursuaded it had its desired effect. On the 21st the Army marched eight miles from the Maumee villages, on its return. Late that night a corps of three hundred and forty militia and sixty of the Federal troops, under the command of Major Wyllys, were detached, that they might gain the vicinity of the Maumee villages before the morning, and surprise any Indians who might be found there. The detachment marched in three columns, the Federal troops in the centre, at the head of which he was posted, with Major Wyllys and Colonel Hardin

Court of Inquiry on General Harmar.

opinion that the detachment of the 14th was in consequence of information received from a prisoner, taken the morning before, which was, that the enemy were running away; and the detachment of the 19th was to gain some knowledge of them, and the detachment of the 21st was to surprise and take advantage of them; which, in his opinion, would have happened had the militia attended to the directions and plan laid down for that enterprise. He observed that the reduced state of the pack-horses, notwithstanding every attention was paid to secure and keep them in good condition, rendered it impossible for the Army to take any advantage of the enemy. The militia had proved that they were not to be depended upon; their dastardly behaviour, in three instances, de

He therefore determined to return, and not to hazard another engagement, unless the enemy came in reach of the main body. That the Army took up the march to return to Fort Washington, and it was with great difficulty that the General kept them together until they arrived there.

Question by the Court. From your knowledge of service, is it your opinion that the organization of the Army was judicious?

in his front; the militia formed the columns to the right and left. From several delays, occasioned by the militia's halting, they did not reach the banks of the Omee till some time after sunrise. The spies then discovered the enemy, and reported to Major Wyllys, who halted the Federal troops, and moved the militia on some distance in front, where he gave his orders and plan of attack to the several commanding officers of corps; those orders were not communicated to him; that Major Wyllys reserved the command of the Federal troops to himself. Major Hall, with his battalion, was directed to take a circuitous route round the bend of the Omee river, cross the Pickaway Fort, (or St. Mary's,) which brought him directly in the rear of the enemy, and there wait until the attack should commence with Major McMullen's batta-stroyed every confidence the General had in them. lion, Major Fontaine's cavalry, and Major Wyllys with the Federal troops, who all crossed the Omee at and near the common fording place. After the attack commenced the troops were by no means to separate, but were to embody, or the battalions to support each other as circumstances required. From this disposition it appeared evident that it was the intention of Major Wyllys to surround the enemy; and that if Colonel Hall, who had gained his ground undiscovered, had not wantonly disobeyed his orders, by firing on a single Indian, the surprise must have been complete. The Indians then fled with precipitation, the battalions of militia pursuing in different directions. Major Fontaine made a charge upon a small party of savages; he fell the first fire, and his troops dispersed. The Federal troops, who were then left unsupported, became an easy sacrifice to much the largest party of Indians that had been seen that day. It was his opinion that the misfortunes of that day were owing to the separation of troops and disobedience of orders. After the Federal troops were defeated, and the firing in all quarters nearly ceased, Colonel Hall and Major McMullen, with their battalions, met in the town, and, after discharging, cleaning, and fresh loading their arms, which took up about half an hour, proceeded to join the Army unmolested. He was convinced that the detachment, if it had been kept embodied, was sufficient to have answered the fullest expectations of the General, and needed no support; but he was informed that a battalion under Major Ray was ordered out for that purpose.

Question by the Court. Is it your opinion that, if the General had ordered the Army back, the militia would have gone?

Answer. I do not think they would. Lieutenant Kersey, being sworn, deposed: That when the militia arrived at Fort Washington, they were formed into battalions and properly organized. He knew that General Harmar had a great deal of difficulty to get them arranged; their arms and accoutrements were in very bad order. He wished to refer the Court to the General's Orderly Book for information relative to the order of march. In his opinion General Harmar's conduct was uniform, steady, and sober, during the whole expedition. He was also of

Answer. I think it was.

Question by the Court. Do you think that all the movements of the Army were so connected as to be able to sustain each other in case of attack by the enemy?

Answer. I think they were.

Question by the Court. Do you think that through the course of the campaign the General's conduct was open and decisive throughout? Answer. I think it was.

Question by the Court. Was the conduct of the militia tolerably regular on their advance towards the Maumee towns?

Answer. It was more regular than it was on the return; but it was very irregular.

Question by the Court. Do you suppose it was necessary to make the detachment of the 21st, in order to prevent the Indians harassing the Army on its return?

Answer. I think it was, and for that purpose. Question by the Court. If the General had ordered the Army to return to the towns, after Major Wyllys' misfortune, would the militia have gone?

Answer. I think they would not; they would have mutinied.

Question by the Court. Was the Army harassed by the Indians after the 21st, on its return? Answer. Not to my knowledge; I believe there was not one seen.

The Court adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock, tomorrow morning.

SEPTEMBER 21.

The Court met according to adjournment.

Major Heart was sworn, and deposed: That General Harmar's conduct on his expedition in October, 1790, was at all times steady, calm, and deliberate, and was always attentive to the ar

Court of Inquiry on General Harmar.

late for giving any assistance. He did not expect that the General would make a detachment to support them, after the repeated proofs that the militia would not stand, and he presumed the situation of the horses would not admit of returning with the Army. He supposed the detachment calculated to cover itself, and doubtless would have happily succeeded, had the right and left columns obeyed the orders which it is said Major Wyllys had given. He knew of no one circumstance in the General's conduct during the expedition, which ought to injure his reputation; and, though the misfortunes of the 21st were to be lamented, yet he believed the salvation of the remainder of the Army, the baggage, and stores, were due only to the making that detachment.

Question by the Court. On the arrival of the troops in camp, who were defeated on the 21st, do you think, from the state of mind the militia were in, that, if the General had ordered the Army back, the militia would have gone?

Answer. I do not know whether they would or not; but, if they had gone, and not having any place to retreat to, I am of opinion they would have fled as soon as they were attacked, and have left the Federal troops to be sacrificed.

The Court then adjourned to to-morrow morn

SEPTEMBER 22.

The Court having met according to adjournment, directed the Recorder to write the following letter to his Excellency General St. Clair :

rangements and applications made to him, and to
the informations given, as far as came under his
observation; that he was often at his quarters and
marched in front of the right column, which was
generally within fifty yards of him. That the
organization of the Army being published in the
daily orders, would speak for itself; he, however,
never heard an individual find fault with it dur-
ing the campaign, or point out any defects, ex-
cept in the commissary and pack-horse depart-
ments, and in those the execution, and not the
arrangements were found fault with; that the
order of march was in three columns, covered
with front, rear, and flank guards, which order
was generally preserved, and as well executed as
could be expected with a body composed mostly of
militia, and embarrassed with pack-horses; that
the encampment was in a square with the bag-
gage, horses, cattle, and stores in centre; guards
were posted in such manner as to form a line of
sentries round the whole, field officers appointed
to dispose those guards, and to see duty well done,
and they were so disposed as to prevent surprise,
and had the horse department followed orders,
would have secured the horses; as they had not
occasion to form the line of battle, he could not
determine how it would have been executed, but
it was simple, easy to be understood, and univer-ing, at 9 o'clock.
sally approved. With respect to making the de-
tachments, he had never been in council, and could
only assign such motives as offered themselves
at the time from a concurrence of circumstances.
The detachment of the 14th, he presumed, at that
time, was made in consequence of information ob-
tained from a prisoner, that the Indians were con-
fused and distracted in their councils, and was de-
signed to surprise them, prevent their concerting
measures to unite, and attack them, and not give
them time to secure their provisions and property,
and that the desired effect was answered, so far as
to prevent their securing so much as they would
otherwise have done. The whole Army was put in
motion the moment the detachment moved off,
and followed with as much rapidity as artillery
and stores would admit of, to support the detach-
ment; that the detachment of the 19th was made
in consequence of repeated information of having
discovered a trail of men, women, and children,
and on the fullest assurance, as he was then in-
formed, that the detachment was adequate for at-
tacking the party they were in quest of.
A corps
de reserve was ordered, but never came up; it was
dark before information was brought to the Gene-
ral that the party were defeated, and a support
could not be sent that night; a detachment was
ordered to march next morning, but for what pur-
pose he could not say. The detachment of the
21st, he had every reason to believe, was made on
the general system, viz: to find the enemy, and
give them a check,, to prevent their attacking and
harassing the Army on the retreat, and on that
principle the detaching was inevitable; he did
not know that any support was ordered; he was
on the left, but he knew that the greater part of
the detachment came in very soon after the intel-
ligence of the defeat was brought, and it was too

FORT WASHINGTON, September 22, 1791. SIR: I am directed by the Court of Inquiry now sitting in this place, to inform your Excellency that the Court have gone through the examination of all the witnesses that have been adduced, and that those from Kentucky, who were referred to in your Excellency's letter to the President of the Court, have not appeared. The Court are now ready to close their proceedings, unless your Excellency has information of any further evidence being ready, of which the Court beg to be informed.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect
respect, your Excellency's most obedient servant,
WINSLOW WARREN,
Recorder to the Court.
To His Excellency General St. Clair.
To which letter, his Excellency General St.
Clair sent the following answer:

FORT WASHINGTON, September 22, 1791. SIR: You will please to inform the Court that I know of no evidences here, other than those that have been before them, and that it is not probable those from Kentucky will come forward. I therefore see no reason why the proceedings should not be closed.

I am, sir, your very humble servant,

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.

Mr. WARREN,
Recorder to the Court of Inquiry.

Court of Inquiry on General Harmar.

Soon after, the following letter was received:

SEPTEMBER 22, 1791.

SIR: Since I wrote to you a moment ago, I have been informed that it is probable more testimony will be offered to the Court in the course of this day. If the Court, then, have not already closed their proceedings, I wish they would be pleased to defer it until to-morrow morning, of which please to inform them.

I am, sir, your humble servant,
Mr. WARREN.

To which the following answer was returned:

FORT WASHINGTON, September 22, 1791. SIR: I am directed by the President of the Court of Inquiry to inform your Excellency that, in consequence of the last letter with which you were pleased to honor them, they have adjourned to meet to-morrow, at 9 o'clock, a. m.

I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

WINSLOW WARREN.

His Excellency General ST. CLAIR.

The Court then adjourned to September 23d, 9 o'clock, a. m.

The Court met according to adjournment ; and, no further evidences appearing, came to a resolution to close their proceedings.

The Court, having deliberately considered the evidence before them separately and aggregately, are unanimous in the following opinion:

John Thorp, Superintendent of Artificers in the 1st. That the personal conduct of the said Bri- Army of the United States now serving at Fort gadier General Harmar was irreproachable. Washington, in the county of Hamilton, maketh 2d. That the organization of the Army was cal- oath and saith: That he, this deponent, comculated to support harmony, and give mutual con-manded the Corps of Pioneers on the late expedifidence to the several parts.

Court of Inquiry on General Harmar.

William Wells, Esq., of the North Bend, in the county of Hamilton, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas held in and for the said county, and superintendent of commissary's stores during the late expedition against the Omee savages, being duly sworn, maketh oath, and saith as fol-pressed a very great desire to make his route by lows, that is to say: First, this deponent saith that the duties of his late appointment as superintendent, aforesaid, required him to be about the person of the General commanding the troops on that expedition every morning and night, and that the said Commanding General (Josiah Harmar, Esq.,) uniformly appeared to him (this deponent) in a state of sobriety, competent to the transaction of any business pertaining to his station. And further this deponent saith not.