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CRAWFORD'S CAMPAIGN.

CHAPTER VIII.

GEN. CRAWFORD'S CAMPAIGN.

This, in one point of view at least, is to be considered as a second Moravian campaign, as one of its objects ws that of finishing the work of murder and plunder with the Christian Indians at their new establishment on the Sandusky River. The next object was of destroying the Wyandotte towns on the same River. It was the resolution of all those concerned in this expedition, not to spare the life of any Indians that might fall into their hands, whether friends or foes. It will be seen in the sequel that the result of this campaign was widely different from that of the Moravian campaign the preceding March.

It should seem that the long continuance of the Indian war had debased a considerable portion of our population to the savage state of our nature. Having lost so many relatives by the Indians, and witnessed their horrid murders and other depredations on so extensive a scale, they became subjects of that indiscriminate thirst for revenge, which is such a prominent feature in the savage character; and having had a taste of blood and plunder, without risk or loss on their part, they resolved to go on and kill every Indian they could find, whether friend or foe.

Preparations for this campaign commenced soon after the close of the Moravian campaign, in the month of March; and as it was intended to make what was called at that time a dash, that is, an enterprise conducted with secrecy and dispatch, the men were all mounted on the best horses they could procure. They furnished themselves with their own outfits, except some ammunition, which was furnished by the Lieut.-colonel of Washington county.

On the 25th of May, 1782, four hundred and eight men mustered at the old Mingo towns, on the western side of the Ohio River. they were all volunteers from the immediate neighborhood {typo corrected} of the Ohio River, with the exception of one company from Ten Mile, in Washington county. Here an election was held for the office of Commander-in-chief for the expedition. The candidates were Col. Williamson and Col. Crawford. The latter was the successful candidate. When notified of his appointment it is said that he accepted it with apparent reluctance.

The army marched along Williamson's trail, as it was then