[CRUIKSHANK] HARRISON AND PROCTER 145 
October several of their chiefs had visited Harrison at Franklinton fully 
prepared to extenuate or deny the charges against them, but when he 
declared he had positive proof of their guilt, they threw themselves 
upon the mercy of the Government and consented that five of their 
number should remain in his power as hostages until the decision of 
the President could be ascertained. A white spy had since reported 
that the war-party among them had quite gained the ascendant, and 
Harrison feared that these villages would become a rendezvous and 
base of operations for hostile warriors seeking an opportunity to inter- 
cept his trains on their way from St. Mary to the Miami. If they 
were laid waste and the corn stored up for the winter destroyed, an 
enemy would be unable to find any means of subsistence nearer than 
the Pottowatomie villages at the mouth of St. Joseph’s river on Lake 
Michigan. ! 
He detailed for this expedition Simrall’s regiment of Kentucky 
Dragoons, Ball’s squadron of the Second United States Light Dragoons, 
Elliott’s company of the 19th United States Infantry, Alexander’s 
volunteer riflemen and Butler’s Pittsburg Volunteers, all of whom were 
mounted and armed with rifles. Lieut-Colonel John B. Campbell, of 
the 19th Infantry, a zealous young officer, was placed in command. 
Under pretence of returning to Kentucky for the winter this force was 
moved from Franklinton to Dayton, where all ranks were supplied with 
fresh horses. They were required to carry twelve days’ provisions 
and a certain amount of forage, and be provided with guides. From 
Dayton they marched to Greenville, where the final preparations were 
completed. The ground was hard frozen and covered with snow. The 
distance yet to be travelled was about eighty miles. On the evening 
of the third day, when about twenty miles from their destination, it 
was determined to march all night and attack the nearest village at 
daybreak. Their approach was discovered by some mounted Indians, 
and although they advanced at full speed nearly all the men in the 
village succeeded in making their escape, leaving about forty women 
and children behind. In the pursuit several Indians were killed. 
Three small villages a few miles distant were found entirely deserted. 
These were at once destroyed, although one of them belonged to the 
band of a chief named Silver Heels, which Campbell had received 
special instructions to spare as undoubtedly friendly. Very little corn 
was found, much to his disappointment, as his horses were already suf- 
fering for want of food. So little resistance had been offered that he 
had lost only two men killed. But his troops were so greatly fatigued 
that he determined to fortify a position and encamp for the night. 
Outlying pickets were posted in small outworks built for their protec- 


1 Harrison to Secretary of War, 23 Oct., 1812 and Nov. 15, 1812. 
Sec. II., 1910. 10. 
