ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT

This is partly from Bob Gibson and partly from Anne Grimes Folkways LP---OHIO STATE BALLADS FH 5217


ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT

It is a topical ballad circulated through broadside prints. Said to've been hung on walls of many OHIO homes in the early 1800s. Is from one of the bloodiest battles of the Indian wars which continued in the Ohio country during and after the revolution. Nov. 4, 1791---details in the song are pretty accurate. Some of the participants names have been slightly rearranged.
The troops st Marietta, Ohio were sent by Pres.Washington down the Ohio River to Cincinnatti where they were joined at Fort Hamilton by the Virginia militia. Led by Gov. Arthur St. Clair--they were accompanied by wives and children. Going north, they built a chain of forts, including Fort Jefferson, south of Greenville. In camp at the headwaters of the Wabash River (which they took to be the St. Mary's) they were ambushed by a large force of Indians led by Chief Little Turtle. Nearly 1000 were killed. The place was named Fort Recovery by the troops of General (Mad Anthony) Wayne who fought off the Indians in order to bury the defeat's victims. Wayne's eventual victory at Fallen Timbers, which put an end to most of the large scale uprisings, was achieved after the lessons learned from "St. Clair's Defeat"---the actual name of the song in the first publication of the song (1834). __The Recollections Of John M. Brackenridge"__. He told of hearing a blind ballad maker, Dennis Loughey, at a race track in Pittsburgh around 1800. Loughey was hawking copies of broadsides by chanting it out loud. St. Clair, himself, survived the ambush.

Now, here's the song!

'Twas November the 4th in the year of '91,
We had a sore engement near to Fort Jefferson,
St.Clair was our commander ehich may remembered be,
For we left 900 comrades in that dreadful territory.

At Bunker's Hill and old Quebeck where many a hero fell,
Likewise at Long Island, it is I the truth can tell,
But such a dreadful carnage may I never see again,
As happened near Fort Jefferson all on that river plain.

Our army was attacked just as the day did dawn,
And was soon overpowered and driven from the lawn,
They kille Major Oldham, Levin and Briggs likewise,
While horrid yells of savages resounded to the skies.

For 3 more hours we fought 'em, until to them we had to yield,
When 900 bloody warriors lay stretched upon the field,
Says Colonel Gibson to his men, "My boys, be not dismayed,
I am sure that true Virginians were never yet afraid".

"10,000 deaths I'd rather die than they should take the field"...
With that he got a fatal shot which forced him for to yield,
Says Major Clark, "My heroes, we can no longer stand,
We'll strive to form in order and retreat the best we can."

The word retreat being passed around there rose s a dismal cry,
Then helter skelter through the woods like wolves and sheep they fly,
This well apointed army which had fought so brave before,
Had braved, defied all danger-- was like a cloud passed o'er.

Alas, the dying and the wounded how dreadful was the thought,
To the tomahawk and scalping knife in misery were brought,
Some had an arm and some a thigh broke on the field that day,
Who writhed in torment at the stake to close that bitter day.

To mention our brave officers is what I wish to do,
No sons of Mars e're fought so brave or with more courage true,
To Captain Bradford I belonged, to his artillery,
He fell that day amongst the slain--a valiant man was he.

Oh, sweet Dicky Butler, Wayne'll nae see ye more,
A Miami did scalp you, and the ground ran with gore.