harmar's campaign. 135 



fore him, the enemy, until they had crossed the Maumee, in 

 their front, and the St. Mary's on their left. Hardin had march- 

 ed down the St. Mary's on its northern bank, to its junction with 

 the St. Joseph's. Here Captain William Crawford who com- 

 manded the Pennsylvania volunteers, crossed the Maumee, 

 and attacked the Indians who lay on the north bank of the St. 

 Joseph's, and drove the enemy up that river, several miles, and 

 returned triumphantly, over to Fort Wayne, or rather where 

 that town now is. 



Colonel Hardin, with his men crossed over the St. Mary's 

 and followed the Indians up the St. Joseph's on the south side 

 of that river, but marching carelessly along, on the low lands 

 adjoining the river, he permitted the Indians to take posses- 

 sion of the high grounds, south of him, by which means, he 

 got defeated with great lose, considering his small command. 

 In these different engagements, Harmar lost one hundred 

 and eighty men, from the time of his leaving Covington, until 

 his return to Fort Washington. Some accounts place the 

 loss even higher than that number. On the whole, though 

 Harmar boasted of a victory, yet in common parlance it is 

 called Harmar's defeat. Major Wyllis and Lieutenant Far- 

 thingham, of the regulars, fell, fighting bravely; and fifty of 

 their men, were left dead on the field. Of the militia under 

 Hardin, nine officers were killed, and one hundred private sol- 

 diers, whereas Captain William Crawford lost very few men. 

 Why Colonel Hardin left the heights south of him, unoccu- 

 pied, we never could learn. After this severe action, Hardin 

 and Crawford joined the main army, and it returned to Fort 

 Washington. 



The effects of this unfortunate expedition, were very soon 

 severely felt, along the whole line of the Kentucky and Ohio 

 frontier. All the counties in Kentucky, and Western Virgi- 

 nia, immediately petitioned General Washington to commit the 

 entire defence of the frontier to their militia, unmixed with 

 regulars ; so that these troops might be forthwith drawn out to 

 punish the exulting foe. Though General Washington return- 

 ed a conciliating answer to these petitions, presented to him, 



