52 The Winning of the West 



was under the command of Wilkinson, and con- 

 sisted of over five hundred men. He marched in 

 August, and repeated Scott's feats, again burning 

 down two or three of the towns, and destroying the 

 goods and the crops. He lost three or four men 

 killed or wounded, but killed ten Indians and cap- 

 tured thirty. 23 In both expeditions the volunteers 

 behaved well and committed no barbarous act, ex- 

 cept that in the confusion of the actual onslaught 

 two or three non-combatants were slain. The Wa- 

 bash Indians were cowed and disheartened by their 

 punishment, and hi consequence gave no aid to the 

 Miami tribes; but beyond this the raids accom- 

 plished nothing, and brought no nearer the wished- 

 for time of peace. 



Meanwhile St. Clair was striving vainly to hasten 

 the preparations for his own far more formidable 

 task. There was much delay in forwarding him the 

 men and the provisions and munitions. Congress 

 hesitated and debated; the Secretary of War, ham- 

 pered by a newly created office and insufficient 

 means, did not show to advantage in organizing the 

 campaign, and was slow in carrying out his plans; 

 while there was positive dereliction of duty on the 

 part of the quartermaster, and the contractors 

 proved both corrupt and inefficient. The army was 

 often on short commons, lacking alike food for the 

 men and fodder for the horses; the powder was 

 poor, the axes useless, the tents and clothing nearly 

 worthless ; while the delays were so extraordinary 



** Do., Wilkinson's Letter, August 24, 1791. 



