The Sandusky Exposition of 1782

By Olin L. Hupp

Indian Summer

Moravian Massacre

Sandusky Exposition

The Battle

Retreat

Col. Crawford's Death

Dr. Knight's Escape

Campaigns End

"Indian Summer" is an expression, like many others, that continues in general use even though its original importance has been forgotten. To a backwoodsman, it brings to mind a feeling of horror.

The coming of winter at the end of 1781 brought joy to the early settlers in the western country. Indian attacks from across the Ohio River had been numerous all fall. With the onset of winter, settlers that had been cooped up in the local fort for their safety began moving back to their cabins. It was a time for gathering of corn, digging potatoes, fattening hogs and repairing cabins. To these early backwoodsmen, winter was more pleasant than the warmth of spring.

Sometimes the weather became warm and the snow melted for a considerable number of days. This allowed Indians another opportunity to visit the settlements during "Indian Summer". This was the case with the winter that began 1782.

By the end of February the weather warmed, allowing the war councils to hold their "Powwowing Days" that planned the spring campaigns into the settlements. By early March Shawnee war parties from Sandusky captured John Carpenter and murdered two other families. Carpenter subsequently escaped.

It was assumed, due to the early timing, that the Indians were either Moravians or that the attacking warriors had wintered in the Moravian towns on the Muskingum River. Since the Moravians were at fault in some manner, it was decided that the safety of the frontier settlements necessitated the destruction of the Indian settlements in that area.

Col. Williamson gathered between eighty and ninety men and upon reaching the Moravian settlements found them gathering corn. After placing them all in two large huts, he had a vote to decide whether they should be taken as prisoners to Fort Pitt or put to death. All the Indians regardless of age or sex were then massacred. This action was so bad that a list of the men involved has never been recorded.

The Indian war had been going on for many years. Each spring and fall, and sometimes in the summer, Indians raided the settlements along the frontier. John Carpenter's escape was fortunate because it was the Indian custom for the first captured settler each spring to be burned. The horrid murders were on so extensive a scale that a considerable portion of the population called for revenge. Many resolved to kill every Indian they could find.

On May 25, 1782, 480 men mustered at the old Mingo towns on the western side of the Ohio River. Westmoreland Co. sent 130 men, Washington Co. 320 men and Ohio Co. Virginia 20 men. They were all volunteers from the immediate neighborhood of the Ohio, with the exception of one company under Col. Crawford from Ten Mile in Washington Co.. Lt. Everhart Hupp, Philip Hupp and Lazarus Rhyne, were among the volunteers [Pa. Archives, 6th ser. Vol.11]. An election between Col. Williamson and Col. Crawford placed Col. Crawford in command.

The army followed Williamson's Trail, as it was now called, to the Moravian villages on the Muskingum River. Shortly after arriving, two Indians were spotted outside of camp. When the news reached the camp, over half of the force rushed out, without command, to see what had happened. Col. Crawford's intuition feared the defeat that was to follow.

Truthfully, the Indians saw their rendezvous on the Mingo Bottom, knew their number and destination. They saw the writing on the trees that stated "No quarter was to be given to any Indian, whether man, woman or child". However nothing significant happened on the march until June 6, when they arrived at a Morivian village on an upper branch of the Sandusky River. They discover high grass and the remains of huts. The Indians had moved. The officers held a council and decided to march one more day in the direction of upper Sandusky, and if they did not reach a village, to retreat with all speed.

With their families away from harm on the Scioto River, the Shawnee Indians returned to the Sandusky plains to wait in ambush. The army started marching early in the morning and continued until about two o'clock. As the advance guard passed through the high grass that covered the plain, they encountered a large number of Indians and were driven back to the main force. The firing was heavy until dark, when it ceased. Both sides built large fires along the line of battle and then retired back to prevent a surprise night attack.

The following day the settler's army occupied the battlefield. Indians were seen in large groups moving in various directions around the plains, but an attack did not come until evening.

As morning came on the third day of battle, the officers held a council and resolved that retreat was the only means of saving their army. Burying the dead, burning fires over the graves to prevent discovery and arranging means to carry off the wounded made preparations for the retreat. They planned to leave after dark.

The Indians number seemed to increase as each hour passed. As sunset began, so did a full force Indian attack from all directions excepting that of Sandusky. The line of march was formed with the retreat going north toward Sandusky. After about one mile, the line took a left turn and circled back to the trail they had taken to reach the plains. Some of the men broke off in small groups to try to make it home on their own.

The march continued through the next day with little annoyance. At nightfall fires were built, suppers eaten and the men rested without posting any guards. The main body was composed of about 300 men. Those small groups that broke off were not so lucky. The Indians paid little attention to the main body, choosing to pursue the small parties. Few of these made good their escape.

After about a half mile Col. Crawford, finding his son John, son-in-law Major Harrison, and his nephews Major Rose and William Crawford missing, left the head of the command dropping back to the rear in search. Loosing the main force he joined company with a small party and traveled north throughout the night. The next day while under attack Col. Crawford and Dr. Knight were taken captive to a nearby Indian encampment, then on to an old Wyandot town. Most of the captives were then tomahawked and scalped by squaws and boys.

Col. Crawford was taken to a large fire, stripped and ordered to set down. He was then severely beaten and afterwards tied to a large post that was in the center of the fire. The rope allowed Crawford to walk around the fire two or three times. The Indians then discharged a large number of loads of powder on his skin, placed burning ends of poles against his body and allowed the squaws to throw coals and hot ashes at him.

After suffering for about three hours, Crawford became faint and fell face down. An Indian scalped him, then an old squaw poured burning coals on the open scalp wound. He rose and walked around the post for a short time, then died. His body was tossed into the fire. The Shawnees' executed Col. Crawford's son and son-in-law.

Dr. Knight escaped while being transported to another Indian village to be burned. He reached home after 21 days alone subsisting on roots, a few young birds and berries.

This disastrous campaign was the last that took place in this part of the country during the revolution. It was taken with murder and plunder at its hart and completely failed at obtaining its objective. Lt. Everhart Hupp, Philip Hupp and Lazarus Rhyne survived the campaign.

[Except were noted the information contained in this article was extracted from "The Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, 1763-1783" by Joseph Doddridge; c1912, p.188 - p.216]