Wayne, Anthony (1745-1796) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.06137 Author/Creator: Wayne, Anthony (1745-1796) Place Written: Greenville, Ohio Type: Manuscript letter Date: 7 July 1794 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 23.8 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy
Copy of a letter describing the build up to the Battle of Fallen Timbers. States Major [William] McMahon was attacked at Fort Recovery by a large band of Indians early in the morning. Reports the attacks lasted all day and night, and throughout the next day before the Indians were finally forced to retreat. Eight to ten bodies were found dead. Comments the real goal of the "savages" was to take the fort by a "coup de main." Notes the camp was left short on supplies and it appears the soldiers killed and ate a number of the pack horses. Reports three small parties of Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians had been dispatched to gain intelligence a few days prior to the attack. Notes the Chickasaw and Choctaw parties reported seeing a number of white men with a large party of Indians. Also mentions the men reported they heard white men encouraging the Indians during the attack and they saw three British officers who were in scarlet. Believes the British were looking for cannons. A list of names of the officers who were involved in the attack, excluding those wounded or killed, are listed. Text is in the hand of War Dept. clerk Nathan Jones.
Abstract of a letter from Major General Wayne to the Secretary of War dated Greenville 7 July 1794 -
At 7 OClock A M. the 30 June an escort consisting of 90 Riflemen & fifty dragoons under Major McMahon was attacked by a very numerous body of Indians under the Walls of Fort Recovery followed by a general assault on that post in every direction - they were soon repulsed but rallied and reiterated the attack at a more respectable distance for the remainder of the day, which was answered with spirit and effect. The Savages were employed during the night which was dark and foggy in carrying off their dead by torch light, which drew occasionally a fire from the Garrison, they succeeded however that there were but 8 or ten bodies left on the field and those close under the fire of the fort. they renewed the attack next day but were finally compelled to retreat. enclosed returns of the killed and wounded - the same as before. - the real object of the Savages was to have carried the fort by a coupe de main, they could not have had intelligence of McMahons escort which only marched from Greenville in the morning of the 29. and deposited the supplies the same evening at Fort Recovery from thence if it was to have returned at Reveille the next morning - their being at that post was accidental - perhaps fortunate - From every information and the extent of their encampments, which were perfectly square and regular, and their line of march in 17. Columns forming a wide and extended front their numbers were not less than from 1500 to 2000 - it appears that they were short of provision [inserted: evinced by] their killing and eating a number of pack horses in their encampment after the assault and also at their next encampment Seven miles from Fort Recovery where they remained two nights probably encumbered with dead and wounded - a number of the pack horses actually were loaded with the dead - expresses his high approbation of every Officer and Soldier - particularly of Capt Gibson - transmits their names.
The following facts induce him to believe that there was a considerable number of the British in the militia of Detroit in this attack.
Three small parties of Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians were detached a few days previous thereto, to obtain prisoners to gain intelligence - One of these parties fell [2] in with a large party of Indians at the place marked [Gertys] Town in Harmars [Corte], on the evening of the 27. bending their course toward Chilakothe on the Great Miami - this party returned to Greenville the 28 with this further information that there were a great number of White men with the Indians -
The other two parties got much scattered in following the trails of the hostile Indians at some distance in their rear and were close in their rear when the assault commenced on Fort Recovery - these Indians all insist that there was a considerable number of armed white men in the [struck: Camp] rear who they heard frequently talking in English and encouraging the Savages to persevere in the assault that their faces were generally [blaiked], except - three British Officers who were in scarlet and appeared to be men of great distinction from being surrounded by a large party of White Men and Indians who were very attentive to them - these kept at a distance in the rear - Another circumstance - a number of Ounce balls and buck shot were lodged in the blockhouse and stockades of the fort
It appears they expected to find the artillery lost the 4 Nov 1791 and hid by the Indians in the beds of old fallen timber which they turned over and laid the Cannon in and then turned the logs again into their former birth in the manner they were found deposited - during the attack they turned over a great number of logs in search of those cannon, which it would appear they depended on in the reduction of the fort - fortunately they served to defend it- is in hourly expectation of receiving more full and certain intelligence of the number and- intention of the Enemy. The horses that were killed wounded and missing will not in the least retard the advance of the legion - after the arrival of the mounted Volunteers - because provision had been made for those kind of losses and contingencies -
Names of the Officers in the Action exclusive of those killed and wounded -
Captain Gibson
Lieuts. - Covington
Dunn
Michael
Shanklin
Ensigns. - Dangerfield
Dold -
[docket]
Abstract of Genl Wayne's
letter - 7 July 1794 -
to
The Secy of War -
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