142 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



There were in the army, at the commencement of the 

 action, about two hundred and fifty women, of whom, fifty-six 

 were killed in the battle, and the remainder were made pri- 

 soners by the enemy, except a small number who reached 

 Fort Washington. One of the survivors, lived until recently 

 in Cincinnati, a Mrs. Catharine Miller. This woman ran 

 ahead of the whole army, in their flight from the field of 

 battle. Her large quantity of long red hair, floated in the 

 breeze, which the soldiers followed through the woods, as their 

 forc-ruTmer that moved rapidly onward, to the place of their 

 ultimate destination. 



On reaching Fort Jefterson, General St. Clair, met Hamtra- 

 mack, with the first regiment, whom we have mentioned, as 

 having been ordered to bring back the deserters, and protect 

 the provisions, and heavy baggage-wagons which had been 

 left slowly making their way along, in the rear of the army. 



A council of war decided that they would not return to the 

 battle ground, so leaving the wounded in Fort Jefferson, St. 

 Clair, with a mere remnant of his army, returned to Fort 

 Washington. 



While congress was in session at Philadelphia, early in De- 

 cember, President Washington received the official account of 

 this most calamitous battle of the 4th of November, which 

 information was forthwith communicated by him to the national 

 legislature. Nothing could have been more unexpected, than 

 this disaster. The public mind was exasperated, in a high 

 degree against St. Clair, but for want of officers of a rank 

 high enough to try him, no court martial could be, or was 

 called upon his conduct. Late in the session of 1792, con- 

 gress appointed a committee to inquire into it, but, that civil 

 committee, acquitted him. 



The Indian war now assumed a serious aspect, and the 

 reputation of the nation required to be retrieved from the dis- 

 grace it had sustained. The whole western frontier, lay 

 exposed to fresh inroads of the enemy, now flushed with so 

 dreadful a victory. 



General Washington wished to have congress give him 



