Fort Fayette: General James Wilkinson's 'Country Seat'

For a frontier town, Pittsburgh was already fairly industrialized by 1811. When the 4th Regiment of Infantry stopped there en route to Vincennes Indiana, ultimately to the Battle of Tippecanoe and to captivity following the Detroit campaign in 1812, both the ordinary soldiers and the officers and their wives were charmed by the town and regretted having to leave.

According to Musician Adam Walker:

At Pittsburgh we found excellent quarters, necessaries of all kinds, cheap and plenty--the inhabitants were kind, generous and hospitable-- they knew how to commiserate, and were happy in relieving the sufferings of the soldier; while we on our part were grateful for their favors, which we endeavored to merit by treating them with the respect due to good citizens. Our time here passed very agreeably for two or three weeks, at the expiration of which, we received orders to descend the Ohio river to Newport, Kentucky. On July 29, the regiment embarked on board ten long keel boats; each boat being sufficiently large to contain one company of men. With our colors flying and drums beating, we left the shore in regular order, and commenced our passage while the band, attached to the regiment, were chanting our favorite ditty of Yankee Doodle, amidst the cheers and acclamations of the generous citizens of Pittsburgh, assembled at the place of our embarkation. (Two Campaigns of the 4th United States Infantry Regiment, pp. 8-9)

While in town, the soldiers and unmarried company officers stayed at the Fort Fayette barracks, as did Colonel Boyd and most of his staff. Lydia Bacon, whose husband was serving as Regimental Quartermaster, stayed in a rented house with several other officers:

The military quarters are small and will not accommodate all our regiment. The Colonel resides with his staff at the quarters, with the exception of my husband, who prefers to live with his wife, the rest board or live in hired houses... We have plenty of servants, and those that are pretty fair, though all men. The military quarters here were built by General Wilkinson, and resemble an elegant country seat. In the rear of the house (which is both commodious and splendid), is a large garden arranged with much taste. All kinds of fruit trees, shrubbery and flowers charm the eye and please the palate, while the odors which perfume the air leave nothing which a refined taste could desire. A canal runs through this garden, over which is a Chinese bridge with seats around it. The Colonel has tea parties frequently, and entertains his company in the garden, while an excellent band at a distance and unseen discourses fine music. The whole appears like enchantment... Sometimes our band, in a boat, willl navigate each side of the village and send forth exquisite strains of music. (Biography of Mrs. Lydia Bacon, pp. 13-14)

A plan of Fort Fayette in 1800, showing a large area devoted to the garden.

A Day in the Life: the 4th Infantry Regiment at Pittsburgh during the Summer of 1811.

In May 1811, the War Department ordered the bulk of the 4th United States Regiment of Infantry, a regular army regiment established in New England in 1808, to assemble at the Lazeretto, a large quarantine hospital or barracks outside of Philadelphia. The individual companies, raised mainly from out of work sailors, had been stationed at different seacoast forts and garrisons throughout the Northeast. Their orders were to march overland along Forbes Road across the Allegheny Mountains to Pittsburgh. From there, the common soldiers were not told the ultimate destination. Rumor abounded that the regiment was headed for the swamps of Louisiana, an area notorious for malaria and yellow fever. Desertions increased before Lt. Col. James Miller, a trusted officer, promised the men they were not headed to the deep South. Instead, the regiment was destined for the Indiana frontier at Vincennes, where it would march under Governor William Henry Harrison in the Tippecanoe campaign. 

Along the way, the 4th Regiment spent about a month at Pittsburgh. The original Fort Pitt had been torn down in the years since the American Revolution, and a new fort named Fort Lafayette, usually refered to as Fayette, was established. This post never saw a shot fired in anger but from 1795 to 1814 was the main transit point for supplies, equipment and men travelling from the eastern seaboard to any point west along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. 

As Infantry Regiments go, the 4th was still a fairly young unit, but with the expansion of the regular Army during 1812, 1813 and 1814 it can be considered an "old" Army outfit. The Orderly Book of Colonel John Parker Boyd survived in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library, and was published in 1917. Reading through it gives some insight into the day to day operations of a pre- War of 1812 infantry regiment, as well as its long travels through the frontiers of the United States. 

 

Fort Fayette, Pittsburgh

Fort Fayette, June 27th 1811

D. Garrison Order

One or more commissioned Officers will inspect their Companies on their respective parade, and receive their morning report from the orderly Sergeant in which all extraordinaries that have occurred for the last Twenty four hours are to be inserted, signed by the officer, and handed by the Sergeant to the Adjutant at orderly hours.

One Commissioned Officer of each Company to visit the Rooms of the Barracks immediately after tattoo, and report all irregularities. 

Non commissioned officers of squads are to be responsible that their men have arms, accoutrements and clothing always ready for duty, and to allow no one to take his Gun to pieces without permission of his commanding officer and then only under their direction, nor to apply for a pass unless they are satisfied as to their fitness for duty. From two to four Privates may be absent from a Company at a time; their passes to be written on clean and vizable paper, to be handed to the orderly Sergeant by the non commissioned officer of the Squad, who will present it to the Commanding Officer of the Company for his signature, and then to the Adjutant at orderly hours, for the approbation of the Commanding Officer. It will then be handed to the officer of the day by the Soldier who is authorized to take it from him if he is not cleanly dressed; and in complete uniform. Non commissioned officers will apply immediately to the officer of their company and report to the Commanding Officer; and all applications must be made the evening before.

Officers waiters must have passes, and be in decent dress and not to blend the soldier with the citizen.

A typical barracks of the 1812 era. This is the recreated Fort Wayne, in Fort Wayne Indiana.

 

The Commanding Officers of Companies will be particular in the weekly inspection of the clothing, arms and accoutrements of their men and if any improper use, loss, waste or deficiency appear, it shall be reported, and a stoppage of pay made agreeable to regulation.

Fifteen minutes after Reveille the Drums and Fifes will play Yankee Doodle in front of the Barracks, when the morning drill will commence, and continue until half past six o’clock then be dismissed for breakfast, and to prepare for the Parade at half past seven. The Commissioned Officers will be particularly attentive that their men turn out at Reveille.

It is expected that the officer will attend every drill, half of the waiters will be on drills and parades; the drills for the afternoon will be ordered at the morning parade.

The Sutler will be allowed to sell (of Liquors) to each soldier one gill of whiskey and two pints of Beer at three different periods in the day.

A strict and close attention will be paid to the conduct of the Soldiers towards the citizens of this Town. Should any one be found guilty of detracting from the good character of the Regiment he will be severely punished. 

A commissioned officer from each company will attend to the issuing of the rations for their men (at which time the Drum will play roast beef) and see that they are such as the contract allows; and for preserving order and cleanliness in the Garrison, and regularity in messing they will be particularly governed by Steubens. 

One hour before morning parade the Drum and fife will play peas upon the trenches for Breakfast, at Twelve o’clock A. M., likewise for dinner, and one hour before retreat beating for supper, at which several beats of the drum, the rations will be cooked.

In addition to the Rolls now called there will be one at Twelve o’clock A. M. and at 4 P. M. which a Commanding Officer will attend, and the men will only be detailed to answer to their names.

Signed Jno. P. Boyd

Col. 4th Regt. Infy. C.D.

The Ohio Militia passes through Franklinton and Delaware, July 1813

With his characteristic promptitude, Governor Meigs on receiving General Harrison's requisition, at once called out, en masse, the two divisions of militia nearest that part of the frontier, with orders to march immediately to the relief of Fort Meigs...

Mr. Williams was at the time Clerk of the Chillicothe Regiment--a military officer then in existence, in the regimental staff of the Ohio Militia, with the rank of lieutenant. Instead of the privations and hardships which he endured in the campaign of the previous year (1812, with Captain Brush), Mr. Williams had now every thing that could contribute to his comfort and ease. As a regimental staff officer, he was well mounted, and was entitled to, and received transportation for his baggage-trunk, forage for his horse, two daily rations of provisions; and was a member of the Colonel's "mess," and quartered in his large marquee; and, withal, was exempt from all military and camp duty. His office was to prepare and record the regimental orders issued by the Colonel, and to record and file all brigade and general orders received by the Colonel from his superior officers.

Williams' letters provided a glimpse at the progress of the march through central Ohio:

Franklinton, July 21, 1813

 We reached this place about six o'clock this evening. The Governor and suite met and escorted our regiment into and through town, and then reviewed it, expressing himself highly pleased with its martial appearance. In the evening he visited us at our marquee, and engaged to breakfast with us tomorrow morning. General Manary's brigade--twelve hundred and fifty strong--arrived here this morning, and is encamped near us. Several regiments have already gone on to Sandusky. General Lucas, with the remainder of our brigade, from Portsmouth, will join us tomorrow. Dispatches have just arrived to the Governor from General Harrison, who is still at Seneca, nine miles above Lower Sandusky, awaiting our arrival. The enemy is still before Fort Meigs, entrenching themselves. 

While at Franklinton, a dispatch arrived from General Harrison urging Governor Meigs to hurry to the front:

 Headquarters, Seneca Town,

2nd August 1813.

Dear Sir:

The enemy have been, since last evening, before Lower Sandusky, and are battering it with all their might. Come, on my friend, as quickly as possible, that we may relieve the brave fellows who are defending it. I had ordered it to be abandoned. The order was not obeyed.

 I know it will be defended to the last extremity; for earth does not hold a set of finer fellows than Croghan and his officers. I shall expect you tomorrow certainly. 

Yours etc.

Wm. H. Harrison 

By the time the Governor's forces, estimated at 10,000 men, had reached Delaware Ohio, word reached him that the British had been defeated at Fort Meigs and Lower Sandusky (Fort Stephenson), and had pulled back. Nevertheless he determined to continue on to Upper Sandusky and establish a large camp there. In 1813, Delaware was a tiny settlement, already known for its sulfur spring on the site of the modern Ohio Wesleyan University.

Delaware was at this time a very small village. The only public house in it was kept by Major Byxbe, near the center of town, in a small brick house, very poorly fitted up, and which, we were lately informed, has recently been pulled down (in 1854). The large and celebrated sulphur spring here was then in its original state of nature. Across the morass lying between it and Byxbe's tavern the Major had constructed a footbridge, consisting of a single line of slabs set end to end, and standing on wooden legs driven into auger-holes, and having a rough hand-rail at the side.