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Fort Jefferson, 1779
| By Finley Ryan |
Control access to the Ohio River Threat on St. Louis Forces to "The Falls" Retaliatory Attack Simon Girty Jefferson Attacked Court Martial Testimony | Ft. Jefferson was located in Ballard Co., KY. about one mile south of present day Wickliffe, KY. In September 1779, George Rogers Clark decided to build a fort at the intersection of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. It was named Fort Jefferson. Its purpose would be to consolidate his forces and control access to the Ohio River. The move to the area occurred in April 1780 with the arrival, from the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville KY), of 150 soldiers to garrison the fort, their families, and settlers to establish the adjacent town of Clarksville. Among these soldiers were Lazarus Rine and Philip Hupp of Captain Robert George's Company of Artillery. The soldiers began to erect the fort while the settlers cleared the land for planting. Later in April, more soldiers and settlers arrived. In late May and early June, the crops were planted and the fort's stockade was completed. On May 20, 1780, George Rogers Clark, warned of an impending attack on St. Louis and Cahokia, stripped the fort of most of its soldiers and marched to Cahokia. There, a small skirmish was fought in which two men were killed. He then sent 300 men to the relief of St. Louis. Upon their approach, the enemy withdrew. While here, he learned of the British plan to attack Louisville with 300 whites and 700 Indians. He began to plan to intercept the attack. Upon his return to Fort Jefferson in early June 1780, George Rogers Clark gives orders to issue necessary supplies to the soldiers who will be going to "The Falls". "The Falls" will be the jumping off place for the attack. Supplies were issued. June 12, 1780: Capt. George submits list of enlisted soldiers: L. Ryan, P. Hup and others (who are ordered to "The Falls"). "Capt. Robt. George requests of John Dodge (Quartermaster) to furnish (Captain) Rich. Harrison with the following for 26 men of George's Co. going to the falls by Clark's orders: 26 yds of stroud for making leggings and breech cloths for 26 men, 52 shirts, 26 knives, one ink pot, one bridle, and thread to make leggings." Also, "3 blankets, 26 horn combs, 13 ivory combs, 2 ½ yds blue bath coating, and thread." Capt. Harrison to take to the Falls of Ohio 500 lbs powder and 1000 lbs of lead. Also 18 lbs of tobacco. (p. 72 fjp) June 14, 1780: The troops begin the move to "The Falls" and arrive there in late June or very early July. June 22, 1780: The British forces, diverted from Louisville, attacked Ruddle's Station, KY. Shortly after it fell, they attacked and defeated Martin's Station, KY. Their plan to attack Louisville was abandoned and the Indians then withdrew to their villages in Ohio and the British retreated to Fort Detroit. A retaliatory attack was now planned. Clark, with his regulars from the Falls, rendezvoused at the mouth of the Licking River with volunteers from the Kentucky Militia. The total force was nearly one thousand men. The force then proceeded to the area of Cincinnati, OH. where on August 22, 1780 they began the march northeast, along the Greater Miami River valley, toward the Shawnee Indian village of Chalagawtha (also known as Indian Chillicothe) located on the Little Miami River about three miles north of present Xenia, Greene Co., OH. Chief Black Hoof, learning of their approach, ordered the village burned and retreated 12 miles north to Piqua Town on the Mad River which was located 5 miles west of present Springfield, Clark Co., OH. Upon Clark's arrival August 6, 1780, he found Chalagawtha abandoned and burning, The army camped for the night. The next morning they cut down several hundred acres of crops. They then proceeded toward Piqua Town where they arrived on the 8th. The Indians had again withdrawn up the Mad River, but had left a force to protect their retreat from Piqua. Clark attacked and sent most of his men to flank the west and east sides of the town. He, with Col. Slaughter's 150 troops and those attached to his artillery, marched directly toward the town. They came under heavy fire and the action became very severe. Simon Girty, a white man and a Mingo Chief, withdrew his 300 Indians stating that it was idiocy to fight against Clark's madmen who "rushed into the most extreme danger, with a seeming disregard of consequences". Soon after, the remainder of the Indian force withdrew. Killed were 19 Indians and 19 of Clark's men. (Consol W. Butterfield, "History of the Girties", so far alone among the writers I've found, claims that Simon Girty and his Mingo Indians were not present at this battle. He also claims that the Indians lost 6 men and Clark lost 17 men.) The next day, the 9th, Clark's men cut crops, burned the town and collected the Indian's horses. On August 10, 1780, they began their return to the mouth of the Licking River and home. Clark's regulars returned to the Falls where they remained until returning to Ft. Jefferson in early 1781. Lazarus Rine was discharged October 3, 1780. While Clark's force was striking the Shawnee, the Chickasaw Indians raided the area of Fort Jefferson. On June 7 and July 17, 1780, they killed five men and wounded several others. On August 27, they mounted a major attack on the town and the fort. The Chickasaw withdrew on September 1, 1780. They had killed six people and taken one prisoner, burned the corn crop and killed most of the livestock. Mrs. Rion, interviewed by the committee to assess the damage to the corn crop, stated that she helped farm 16 acres with eight others from Clarksville and that it would have yielded 320 bushels of corn had the Indians not burned it. After the attack, most of the useful settlers deserted; probably returning to Louisville. All that was left are the sick and weak. March 20, 1781, Phillip Hupp gave testimony at Fort Jefferson during the Court Martial of David Allen and James Taylor. Taylor was acquitted. Allen was acquitted of all charges except for speaking disrespectfully of Major William. He was sentenced to receive 50 lashes on his bare back, "well laid on". On June 8, 1781, due to sickness and a lack of supplies, Fort Jefferson was abandoned. The departing troops arrived at "The Falls" on July 12, 1781. Phillip Hupp was discharged September 3, 1781. _____________________________________________________ Finley Ryan dated February 13, 2000 I would like to thank Mr. Finley Ryan for allowing me to display his article. It is of importance to both the Ryan and Hupp families.-- Olin Hupp _____________________________________________________ References: "The Personnel of George Rogers Clark's Fort Jefferson and the Civilian Community of Clarksville [Kentucky] 1780-1781". Kenneth Charles Carstens, Published 1999 by Heritage Books, Inc. The author speculates that Mrs. Rion might be the wife of Lazarus Rine. "Notes on Kentucky" by John Bradford 1747-1830, San Francisco, The Grabhorn Press, 1932 "History of Green County, Ohio" R.S. Dills, Odell & Mayer, Publishers 1881 "That Dark and Bloody River" Alan W. Eckert, page 236, Bantam Books 1995 "Clark of the Ohio", Frederick Palmer pages 412-414. New York, Dodd, Meade & Co. 1929 |