The following information concerning the movements of General Harrison at Fort Wayne, on the occasion, is compiled from the writings of Messrs. Knapp and Bryce:

"The second day following the arrival of the army at Fort Wayne, General Harrison sent out two detachments, with the view of destroying the Indian villages in the region of country lying some miles around Fort Wayne, the first division being composed of the regiments under Colonels Lewis and Allen, and Captain Garrard's troop of horse, under General Payne, accompanied by General Harrison. The second division, under Colonel Wells, accompanied by a battalion of his own regiment under Major Davenport, (Scott's regiment,) the mounted battalion under Johnson, and the mounted Ohio men under Adams. These expeditions were all successful; and after the return of the divisions under Payne and Wells, General Harrison sent them to destroy Little Turtle Town, some twenty miles northwest of the fort, with orders not to molest the buildings formerly erected by the United States for the benefit of Little Turtle, whose friendship for the Americans had ever been firm after the treaty of Greenville. Colonel Simrall most faithfully performed the task assigned him, and on the evening of the nineteenth returned to the fort.

"In addition to these movements, General Harrison took precaution to remove all the undergrowth in the locality surrounding the fort, extending toward the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary, to where now stands Rudisill's mill, and westward as far as St. Mary, to the point where now stands the Fort Wayne College; thence southeast to about the point of the residence of the late Allen Hamilton, and to the east down the Maumee a short distance. And so well cleared was the ground, including a very large part of the entire limits of the present site of the city of Fort Wayne, that it was said by those who were here at that early day, and to a later period, a sentinel 'on the bastions of the fort looking westward, could see a rabbit running across the grounds as far as so small an object was discernible to the naked eye.' The seclusive points were thus cut off, and the Indians now had no longer any means of concealing the approach upon the fort.

Some

thirty or forty acres of what is now known as the Cole farm, extending to the junction of the rivers, and just opposite the Maumee, was then known as the Public Meadow, which of course was then, as it had long before been, a considerable open space. The soldiers were thus readily enabled to observe the approach of any hostile movement against the fort, and to open the batteries, with formidable effect, upon any advance that might be made against the garrison from any direction."

It will be observed that Fort Wayne, up to this period, and for several years after, was but little else than a military post. This may be said of it during the whole period of its existence, or from 1705, when the first French stockade was erected, until the final evacuation of Fort Wayne in 1819. During this time it had been in charge of different commanders. Captain Hugh Moore succeeded Captain Rhea, in 1812, who, in 1813, was superseded by Joseph Jenkinson. In the spring of 1814, Major Whistler took charge of the post and repaired it, or built an addition to it, which he occupied until 1817, when he was succeeded by Major J. H. Vase, who held the command until the post was permanently evacuated in 1819.

CHAPTER XLIII.

A

FORT WAYNE- EARLY SETTLEMENT.

SIDE from a mere military post, we may date the first settlement of the town of Fort Wayne in 1815. In this year a few houses began to appear some distance from the fort, but usually under the protection of its guns. One of these, and perhaps the first, was built about the center of what is now Barr street, near the corner of Columbia, which, some years afterwards, being removed from its original location, formed a part of the old Washington Hall building, on the

southwest corner of Columbia and Barr streets, wnich was destroyed by fire in 1858. In referring to incidents of pioneer life in these years, Mr. Bryce, in his work, says that during 1818, "a year remarkable for the congregation of many Indians here, the red man is referred to as presenting a general spirit of order and love of peace, not surpassed by many of the whites of the time, and well worthy of emulation in many instances. It was no uncommon thing, in their visits to Ke-ki-on-ga, seeing a new hut, to inquire whether the newcomer was quiet-if he 'make no trouble for Injun,' etc. And their intuition and close observation were presented very often in the most striking and remarkable light. On one occasion, about this period, an elderly Miami had come to the village to trade a little. Soon meeting his old friend, Jas. Peltier, the interpreter, his observing eye, in looking about the place, soon fell upon a hut near, that had but recently been built. Ugh!' ejaculated the Indian; 'new wigwam!' He now became most anxious to know if the white man was peaceable—whether he come to make trouble for Injun? The two now soon entered the hut of the new-comers, and shook hands with the inmates. The Indian at once began to look about him, and to inquire how many warriors (children) they had, etc. Eyeing the matron of the house or squaw, as the Indian called her, and observing that she was quite sad, the Indian became anxious to know what was the matter with her- he was sure she was sick. The woman averred that she was not sick. But the Indian knew she was. Turning to his old friend P. again, after looking at the woman and striking his hand upon his breast, exclaimed, 'White squaw sick at heart;' and was anxious to know if she had not left something behind at the settlement from which they came to Fort Wayne. In response to this, the woman quickly replied that she had left her only son, by her first husband, at Piqua, and that she was anxious to have him with her, but her present husband did not want him to come. 'Didn't I tell you white squaw

Didn't I tell

sick at heart!' replied the Indian, much elated; and he at once proposed to go to Piqua and bring her son to her, if Mr. P. would give him a blanket-which was readily agreed to.

Receiving a note from the mother, the next morning early, with two Indian ponies, the generous red man was on the road to Piqua, and in five days from that time returned with the boy! The woman's heart was eased, and as the faithful Indian gazed upon the happy meeting of the mother and the son, his heart warmed within him, and turning to his friend Peltier, he exclaimed: Isn't that good medicine for the white squaw!' The Indian now became the faithful protector and friend of the woman and her son, assuming the special guardianship of the latter; telling the husband that if he ever heard a word of complaint, either from the son or mother, as to ill treatment, 'he would have his hide, if he had to lay in the Maumee river until the moss had grown six inches on his back.'"

Attached to the fort, and extending west of it, to about where the "Old Fort House" afterwards stood, and embracing about one acre of land, was a well cultivated garden, belonging to the commanding officer, always filled, in season, with the choicest vegetables. West of this was the company's garden, extending to about where the Hedekin House afterwards stood. This was also well tilled, affording suitable labor for the soldiers when military discipline was slackened. The main thoroughfare in those days, extended westward from the fort along what is now the canal.

Not far south of the fort in what is now known as "Taber's addition," was located the burial ground of the garrison, and where also were deposited others who died, not immediately connected with the garrison. Lieutenant Ostrander, who had one day unthoughtedly fired upon a flock of birds passing over the fort, had been reprimanded by Captain Rhea, and because of his refusal to be tried by a court-martial, was confined in a small room in the garrison, where he subsequently died, was among the number buried in this old place of interment. Another place of burial, where also a number of Indians were interred, extended along the northwest corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, and to the adjoining block. Many bones were removed from this point some years ago, in digging cellars, and laying the foundations of buildings.

In 1846, while some parties were making an excavation for

a foundation wall, in the vicinity of Main and Calhoun streets, they dug up and removed the remains of an Indian, who had long before that been buried, with a gun excellently mounted, some trinkets of silver, and a glass pint flask of whisky, which liquid was still preserved in at least as good a state as when buried. The hair was also in a fair state of preservation, though the skull was much decayed, as were the gun mountings corroded.

At that date, the old Indian burying ground was still a scene of attraction. The stranger would often see swinging from the bough of a tree, in some grove near the bank of the river, the infant of the Indian mother; or a few little log enclosures, where the bodies of adults sat upright, with all their former apparel wrapped about them, and their trinkets, tomahawks, etc., by their sides. Such were a few of the features of pioneer Fort Wayne.

وو

In those days a 66 new comer was hailed with delight. He was welcome. There was "enough and to spare" of everything but money. Land was plenty and cheap, and the few pioneers, tired of seeing only each other, always extended a cordial welcome to new settlers.

One of the most general ways by which Fort Wayne was reached in early days, was by water, either by way of the St. Mary's or Maumee rivers, usually in flat boats, and what was then called pirogues. The old boat landing was just below the fort, about where the Maumee bridge was afterwards erected. For many years, and down to 1838, it was a common sight for residents to see pirogues and flat boats, laden with various articles of merchandise, whisky, flour, furs, etc., load and unload at this little commercial center. This system of river navigation was finally impeded, and completely obstructed by dams which were erected on the St. Mary's for mill purposes. The first of these was built on the St. Mary's in 1822, at the "Devil's Race Ground," by Captain James Riley. Two years later, Samuel Hanna and Joseph Barnett built a mill about three miles from Fort Wayne, at the present site of "Beaver's Mill."

Fort Wayne was, for many years, one of the principal depots