but in an engagement with them near Chillicothe, he was defeated with considerable loss. Upon the failure of Harmer, Gen. St. Clair was appointed to succeed him. With an army of nearly 1500 men, St. Clair suffered himself to be surprised, with the loss of 630 men killed and missed, and 260 wounded.

"On the 3d of November, 1791, Gen. St. Clair had reached the vicinity of the Miami villages, with an army of about 1400 strong, regulars and militia, when he was joined by a small force under the command of General Hamtrank.

"In this position Gen. St. Clair concerted measures to advance against the Miami villages; first by constructing a breast-work to cover his baggage, and next by detaching a party of militia to occupy a position about one fourth of a mile in advance of the main army.

"Thus posted, the general contemplated to commence the work of destruction the next morning; but the enemy, alive to their safety, surprised the militia at break of day the next morning; put them to flight, and pursued them with such fury as to drive them back with great disorder upon the main body. Gen. St. Clair beat to arms, and put himself at the head of his troops to cover the flying militia, and repulse the enemy; but all in vain; the action continued, the enemy appeared upon all sides of the American army, and poured in a deadly fire from the surrounding thickets, that strewed the field with heaps of the wounded, the dead, and the dying.

"Such was the fury of the contest, that the savages rushed to the combat, and penetrated even to the mouths of the cannon, regardless of danger and fearless of death; the artillerists were slain, the guns taken, and the enemy penetrated the camp; where General Butler fell, mortally wounded. General St. Clair ordered the charge of the bayonet to be renewed; the order was promptly obeyed by Majors Butler, Clark, and Drake; the enemy were repulsed, the camp was cleared, and the cannon recovered; but such was the destruction by the enemy's fire from the thickets, that General St. Clair ordered Major Clark to charge the enemy in front, and clear the road, that the

army might effect a retreat, and thus be saved from total ruin; this order was promptly obeyed, the road was cleared, and the army commenced a flight, which was closely pursued about four miles, when the savages returned to share the spoils of the camp, and left Gen. St. Clair at liberty to pursue his flight to Fort Jefferson, (about thirty miles.) Here he was rejoined by the regiment under Major Hamtrank, and he called a council of war to decide on their future operations; it was resolved to pursue their retreat to Fort Washington, which was accordingly accomplished."

The Indians still continuing hostile, Gen. Wayne was appointed to succeed Gen. St. Clair. Failing to conclude a treaty, Wayne, with a force of 900 men, on the 20th of August, 1794, attacked a body of 2,000 Indians, on the banks of the Miami. The Indians were totally routed, a great number killed, and their whole country laid waste. "By means of this victory over the Miamis, a general war with the Six Nations, and all the tribes north-west of the Ohio, was prevented."

"In the year after, Wayne concluded, at Greenville, treaties with the hostile Indians north-west of the Ohio; by which peace was established, on terms mutually satisfactory and beneficial. A humane system now commenced for ameliorating their condition. They were, henceforth, protected by the United States from the impositions and incursions of lawless white people; taught the use of the loom; and encouraged in the pursuits of agriculture: measures reflecting high praise on Colonel Hawkins, who was amongst the first to execute the benevolent intentions, originally projected by the humane spirit of General Washington."

96. Difficulties with the French.

In 1797, France wished to involve America in her European wars; but finding her maintaining a steady

Butler's Hist. U. S.

system of neutrality, she adopted measures highly injurious to the American commerce, and many vessels were taken and confiscated. The American government sent

66

envoys to France, in order to settle the differences. Before the French government would acknowledge the envoys, money by way of tribute was demanded; this was refused. These events were followed by depredations on American commerce, by the citizens of France; which excited general indignation throughout the United States. Civil discord appeared extinct; and this was the general motto: Millions for defence, not a cent for tribute.' The treaty of alliance with France was considered by congress as no longer in force; and farther measures were adopted by congress, for retaliation and defence. A regular provisional army was established, taxes were raised, and additional internal duties laid. General Washington, at the call of congress, left his peaceful abode to command the armies of the United States, while General Hamilton was made second in command. The navy was increased, and reprisals were made on the water. At sea, the French frigate L'Insurgente, of forty guns, was captured after a desperate action, by the frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, commanded by Commodore Truxton. The same officer compelled another frigate of fifty guns to strike her colours; but she afterwards escaped in the night.

"On hearing of these vigorous preparations, the French government indirectly made overtures for a renewal of the negotiations. Mr. Adams promptly met these overtures, and appointed Oliver Ellsworth, chief justice of the United States, Patrick Henry, late governor of Virginia, and William Van Murray, minister at the Hague, envoys to Paris for concluding an honourable peace. They found the directory overthrown, and the government in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte, who had not partaken in the transactions which had embroiled the two countries With him negotiations were opened, which terminated in an amicable adjustment of all disputes. The provisional army was soon after disbanded by order of congress.'

* Willard.

97. Death of Washington.

On the 14th of December, 1799, General Washington expired, at his seat at Mount Vernon, in Virginia, leaving a nation to mourn his loss, and to embalm his memory" with their tears.

The disorder of which General Washington died, was an inflammatory affection of the windpipe, occasioned by an exposure to a light rain, while attending, the day be fore, to some improvements on his estate.

The disease at its commencement was violent, and medical skill was applied in vain. Respiration became more contracted and imperfect, until half past eleven o'clock on Saturday night, when, retaining the full pos session of his intellect, he expired without a groan.

"The equanimity which attended him through life, did not forsake him on his death-bed. He submitted to the inevitable stroke with the becoming firmness of a man, the calmness of a philosopher, the resignation and confidence of a Christian.

When convinced that his disso

lution was near, he requested leave to die without farther interruption; then, undressing himself, went tranquilly to bed, and having placed himself in a suitable attitude, soon after closed his eyes with his own hands, and yielded up his spirit without a struggle."

On the melancholy occasion, the senate addressed to the president a letter, in which they say: "Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours. On this occasion it is manly to weep. To lose such a man at such a crisis, is no common calamity to the world. Our country mourns a father. The Almighty Disposer of events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to HIM who maketh darkness his pavilion.

"With patriotic pride we review the life of Washington, and compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent in favour. Ancient and modern names are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than

It is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendour of victory.

"The scene is closed; and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory. He has travelled on to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of honour. He has deposited it safely, where misfortune cannot tarnish it; where malice cannot blast it. Favoured of heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weakness of humanity; magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave could not obscure his brightness."

The committee appointed to devise some mode by which to express the national feelings, recommended that a marble monument be erected by the United States, at the city of Washington, to commemorate the great events of Washington's military and political life; that a funeral oration be delivered by a member of congress; that the president be requested to write a letter of condolence to Mrs. Washington; and that it be recommended to the citizens of the United States, to wear crape on the left arm for thirty days.

These resolutions passed both houses unanimously. The whole nation appeared in mourning. The funeral procession at the city of Washington was grand and solemn, and the eloquent oration delivered on the occasion by Gen. Henry Lee, was heard with profound attention, and with deep interest.

Throughout the United States, similar marks of af fliction were exhibited. Funeral orations were delivered, and the best talents devoted to an expression of grief, at the loss of "the man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow citizens."*

* Goodrich.