CHAPTER V 



MAD ANTHONY WAYNE; AND THE FIGHT OF THE 

 x- FALLEN TIMBERS, 1792-1795 



THE United States Government was almost as 

 much demoralized by St. Clair's defeat as was 

 St. Clair's own army. The loosely-knit nation was 

 very poor, and very loth to undertake any work 

 which involved sustained effort and pecuniary sac- 

 rifice; while each section was jealous of every other 

 and was unwilling to embark in any enterprise un- 

 likely to inure to its own immediate benefit. There 

 was little national glory or reputation to be won 

 by even a successful Indian war; while another 

 defeat might prove a serious disaster to a govern- 

 ment which was as yet far from firm in its seat. 

 The Eastern people were lukewarm about a war 

 in which they had no direct interest; and the fool- 

 ish frontiersmen, instead of backing up the adminis- 

 tration, railed at it and persistently supported the 

 party which desired so to limit the powers and ener- 

 gies of the National Government as to produce mere 

 paralysis. Under such conditions the national ad- 

 ministration, instead of at once redoubling its ef- 

 forts to ensure success by shock of arms, was driven 

 to the ignoble necessity of yet again striving for a 

 hopeless peace. 



It would be impossible to paint in too vivid colors 



(75) 



