Because there is so much detail and research that goes into this, I'll be posting it in installments which allows for 2 things; 1) to keep the reader from getting too bored and 2) I can have a life outside of blogging. :-)
The Location?
Before going into the proposed location, let's first look at "why" it would be located there keeping in mind that Native Americans used the Auglaize River like we use Interstate 75 today. We know that there was an early trail leading from Piqua to the Auglaize River. So lets start in Piqua.During the war of 1812, once the Army crossed the Great Miami River into the tiny village of Piqua, they marched out of town and set up camp in what is today known as "Mote Park" Entry from Schillingers Journal:
Wensday the 24
at 7 oclock this morning
we all struck our tents march,d 7 miles to
honey creek halted A few minutes, proceed to Staunton 5 miles from
thence 8 miles to Piqua. Cros,d the Big Miamia to washington march,d
out of town ½ mile to the woods & Camp,d for the night weather
moderated some snow yet laying on the ground.
Leaving Piqua, Schillinger marched to Ft. Amanda via what is today Rt. 66. The road to Ft. Logan began at the intersection of Rt. 66 and N. Hardin rd.
The trail followed Hardin-Wapakoneta road.
Murders on the Hardin-Wapakoneta Rd.
In April 1792, President George Washington sent word to Col. John H. Hardin asking him to negotiate a peace with the Shawnee. While traveling on the trail between Piqua and the Auglaize (Hardin-Wapakoneta rd) Hardin met a party of the Shawnee, who offered to escort him to their village. Instead, they attacked him and murdered him as he slept. Also killed was a servant of Hardin's, identified simply by his last name, Freeman. Another of the party, a guide and interpreter named John Flinn - who had lived among the Indians after being captured by them as a boy - survived, later settling in Miami County, Ohio
Hardin left behind wife, Jane (Daviess) Hardin whom he married in 1779, 3 young sons Martin, Mark and unk. and 3 young daughters,Lydia, Sally, Rosannah all under the age of 12.
Seven months later in November 1792, the Shawnee and several other tribes massacred 692 soldiers, 200 women and 50 children at the battle of Ft. Recovery. For details of that battle check my blog, "A Massacre worse than Custer's."
My 2 Theories (or best guess)
There are currently 3 schools of thought on exactly where Ft. Logan (1812) was located. Some claim it was located in the city of Wapakoneta (Theory #1) and others, like myself who claim that it was located west of Wapakoneta (Theory 2). The following are arguments for both. Then there are those Theory 3 folks who never heard of it. It did exist so I'll forego addressing Theory 3 :-)Theory #1
Fort Logan was located near S.R. 198 in Wapakoneta, Ohio
Seems logical. That would place the fort near the road that led from Piqua to Wapak (Hardin-Wapak rd) then goes northwest on to Ft. Amanda (S.R. 198).
But first, we have to assume the road that ran northeast (yellow line with the red dots) was an old trail. The army didn't build it so it would have to have been before 1812 and probably used for trade between the Indians at Piqua and Wapakoneta. The army could then have used it to deliver supplies to Ft. Logan at the site shown above. That makes sense, but if Logan sat in Wapakoneta, they would have needed a road between Wapakoneta and Ft. Amanda.
Q: No problem, S.R. 198 Right?
A: Not so fast, we don't now for certain when 198 was constructed.
Q: "But What if it too was an old Indian trail?".
A: A trail to where?
Prior to 1812, there would have been nothing at the north end of that trail (future site of Ft. Amanda. We know that in the fall of 1812, Harrison was moving Heaven and Earth to get supplies to the troops in and advancing to the north. We also know that Harrison was pushing Lt. Col. Pogue at Ft. Amanda to keep all his men busy working on and cutting new roads from St.. Marry's to Amanda, to Jennings, then on to Defiance. Nowhere in his correspondence have I found that anyone was ordered to cut a road from Amanda to Wapakoneta.
In his journal, Schillinger mentions only once that he went to Wapakoneta but in every occassion where soldiers were looking for deserters that had headed south, those needing medical attention, attending meetings, being sent home to recuperate or being discharged, they went via. St. Marys to Loranies store then on to Piqua. Keep in mind that Anthony Wayne's plan called for transporting supplies overland from Loramies Store to the Auglaize, not from Loramies Store to Wapakoneta.
So while the old trail leading into Wapakoneta may have been used to deliver supplies to Ft. Logan, the vast majority of supplies were delivered to Amanda via. St. Marys.
Another factor is that while the soldiers did interact with the Indians at Wapakoneta at times, there was still a great deal of tension between the two as many in the village, especially the younger Indians still looked to Tecumseh as their leader and hero. Keeping a military presence nearby by would be beneficial, but too much "in your face" by building a military post in the middle of an Indian village might have been a little too provocative.
Theory #2
Fort Logan was located 2 miles West of Wapakoneta, Ohio
Theory #2 suggests that the road from Piqua did not follow an old trail (if it indeed existed), northeast into Wapakoneta , bur rather continued in a northerly direction until it reached the Auglaize River 2 miles west of Wapakoneta.
At the branch (bottom of pic) the Hardin-Wapak rd becomes Hardin Pike and goes to Wapakoneta. The red line indicates a trail that led from that branch point north to Kohler rd and followed it directly north to the river and site of Ft. Logan.
Clue #1
The following was taken from the book: History of Duchouquet & city of Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio (part 1) Edited By: William J. McMurray Historical Publishing Company, Indianapolis - 1923During the War of 1812 the site of the Indian village at Wapakoneta was the scene of considerable activity, this having been a sort of a cross roads of the military trails from Cincinnati up through Piqua to Defiance and from Franklinton through Ft. McArthur and on to Ft. St. Marys, and what is now beautiful Greenlawn cemetery just on the western edge of the city was a common camping ground for marching and countermarching troops, a good spring located between the camping ground and the present site of the county fair grounds furnishing the troops with an abundance of fresh water. It is recorded that in the spring of 1813 a log house was erected at this camping ground to be used as a storage house and officers' quarters and that General Harrison was a not infrequent visitor at that point during the progress of his campaign throughout northwestern Ohio.
Clue #2
On the hill just west of the mouth of Pusheta creek barracks were erected for the use of the troops stationed there, it being the duty of this company "to watch the movements of the Shawnees and to intercept British emissaries and renegade Indians from the savage tribes of the north and west." It also was used as a depository of goods and provisions for the armies on the Maumee. Thus it will be seen that there had been a good deal going on in and around the site of the present city during the pre-settlement period
On the hill just west of the mouth of Pusheta creek barracks were erected
What I've presented here is the best evidence I've found to date to support my theory that Ft. Logan was located 2 miles west of Wapakoneta and not in the city itself. History may prove me wrong in the futures, but as comedian Colin Quinn used to say on Saturday Night Live, "that's my story and I'm sticking to it." :-) (at least for now).
I apologize for all the math and details that follow. I'm the kind of historian who needs details. I not only want to know what happened, but why, what caused it and what was the outcome. This helps me more holistic view of events that took place. So if you like details, you might like what follows, if not, it could be a bit of a snoozer.
What follows are references to Fort Logan (in red print) made by the Ensign William Schillinger in his journal. I've taken the liberty of transcribing his writings into modern day vernacular for ease of reading. I've also included some personal observations.
To put things into perspectives, there was a fear that Ft. Meigs was about to be attacked by the British and Indians so General Harrison's plan was to march his army to Ft. Amanda, load onto boats and travel down the Auglaize to the Maumee then on to Ft. Meigs. Part of this story involves the men at Ft. Logan who were to join in the upcoming fight.
Fort Logan
Tuesday April 6th Dull Heavy weather
Major Kain (Commandant at Ft. Amanda) sent a courier with an urgent message to Capt. Hamilton at Ft. Logan telling him that General Harrison was on his way to Ft. Amanda with a large body of troops and that he (Hamilton) and his company were to join the others at Amanda on Thursday the 8th. Meanwhile the men at Amanda spent the day working on boats and assembling provisions that would be shipped with Harrison’s troops.
Note:
It is interesting to note that 300 soldiers, supplies, horses, etc were about to descend on Ft. Amanda along with the Commander in Chief of the United States Army yet Schillingers only comment in his journal that day was; “Nothing particular occurred this day.”
A Dignitary Goes AWOL
Wednesday April the 7 Weather Clear & warm
Apparently not everyone at Ft. Logan was particularly thrilled about the possibility of going into battle. During the night 35 year old Private John Bailey deserted. Bailey had served as a County Commissioner for Hamilton County in 1801 and also served as the Constable for Cincinnati. As it turned out, deserting may have saved his life. In just a few days his comrades would be engaged in a major battle at Ft. Meigs.
Note::
Right or wrong, Bailey’s decision to desert his company may have stemmed at least partially from the fact that 3 of his brothers had already been killed by Indians. When, where or if, Bailey was ever apprehended or disciplined is unknown, but what is known is he fled the state of Ohio and lived out his life in Vigo County, Indiana dying there in 1840 at the age of 62.
After breakfast, the cook in Schillinger’s mess group, along with an Indian companion went hunting. They killed five turkeys, brought them back to the fort and shared them with others in the company. James Campbell the private who had been home on furlough since March 14th returned to Amanda and brought with him two letters for Schillinger; one from his wife Alasanna and the other from his brother-in-law Major John Armstrong.
At 5:00 in the afternoon, some of the boats loaded with supplies shoved off and started down the river toward Ft. Jennings. Meanwhile at Ft. Logan, Capt. Hamilton, and his men were making preparations for their march to Amanda the following day.
Wednesday April the 8 Weather clear and pleasant
Ft. Amanda was a flurry of activities that day. General Harrison and some of his senior staff offices arrived at the fort around 1 o’clock that afternoon and an hour later Capt. Hatfield, Schillinger’s friend, arrived with his company of 10 officers and non-commissioned officers and 50 riflemen. Around 5 o’clock that afternoon, Capt. Nearing with his detachment of 140 regulars arrived.
Note:
Sadly, this would be Capt. Nearing last military campaign. He would survive the upcoming British bombardment on Ft. Meigs but in less than 5 months, the 48 year old gentleman from Connecticut, a Revolutionary War veteran with a young family at home would lose his last battle, the victim of a more sinister enemy; disease.
The Auglaize Armada
Friday April the 9th 1813 Weather Cloudy with light showers.
At 4 o’clock that morning General Harrison was busy penning a letter by candlelight to the governor of Kentucky asking for more troops. The letter reads:
Head Quarters Fort Amanda on the Auglaize River
9th April 4 o’clock A.M. Altho I have reason to believe that the power formerly given to me to call upon the Executive of the adjacent states and Territories for Detachments of Militia is considered by the Secretary of War as being annulled yet such is my view of the critical situation of our affairs in the country that I am induced to request your Excellency to take such measures as you may judge most effectual and speedy to send me a reinforcement of at least fifteen hundred men. The reason is scarcely sufficient advanced to afford wild food for horses but as we have a considerable of forage at some of he advanced posts I must request to dispatch immediately the Regt. Of Mounted Riflemen commanded by the Honble. R. M. Johnson or such part of it as may be raised without waiting for the infantry. Should the government not think proper to authorize the employment of the latter you will receive notice of it before they have arrived at the General Rendezvous as I have already written on the subject and I am persuaded that neither your Excellency not the officers and men who may be called out will regret the trouble you will have on this occasion should it even prove ultimately to produce no advantage.
From the information received yesterday it is very evident that the enemy intended to attract the post at the Miami Rapids. They have been apprised of the reduced state of the troops there and calculate upon an easy conquest. I have been obliged to dispatch for its protection the Squadron of Dragoons and have now with me about 300 men which is all that I could possibly take the protection of the posts on this line. Indeed one of them is left to the protection of this line. Indeed one of them is left to the protection of the Friendly Indians with only a sergeant and 3 men of ours. I shall embark in one hour in a boat and perogues and calculate on reaching the Rapids tomorrow night. I am informed by the Major Stoddard who commands at Fort Meigs that the Indians are in force on the Rivers between Fort Winchester and the former. Without a very considerable addition to my present force it will be impossible to defend the extensive line of weak posts on the frontier and maintain that at the Rapids. The enemy have a single point only to defend, their forces are concentrated , they command the lake and can take their troops to any point they think proper to attack with a great facility. Our movements on the contrary are necessarily laborious and tardy and not knowing on which of our numerous and vulnerable points the storm is so fall it is necessary upon every military principle that our force should be treble theirs; at present it is inferior.I have the honor to be with great Respect Sir Yr. Obt & Hbl. Servt. W. H. Harrison
Note:
Harrisons estimate of reaching the rapids “tomorrow night,” may have been a little optimistic. The distance from Ft. Amanda to Grand Rapids by water is approximately 112 miles. Harrison’s letter written at 4 AM stated that he “shall embark in one hour” (5 AM). To reach the rapids “tomorrow night” meaning arriving there before midnight, means that the boats would have to navigate a winding river at almost 2 1/2 miles per hour non-stop for 43 hours, 15 of which would be in the dark. He may have wanted to be there by the 10th but he didn’t get to Ft. Meigs until the 12th
WOW! That's a Lot of Boats
By daybreak, the 300 troops encamped on the commons south of the fort were preparing to load onto boats. Boat construction had halted temporarily and men were busy making oars and push poles for navigating the winding river. Around 11:30 that morning, Harrison's force started loading onto boats and starting downriver. For some unexplained reason Harrison didn’t leave until 4 o’clock that afternoon, 11 hours later than he originally planned.
I wondered how many boats would have been needed to transport 300 men and equipment so I used the number of 15 men per boat. If that number is correct, Harrison would have needed 20 to 25 boats for his men and perhaps another 5 or 10 to carry baggage, ammunition, etc. Whatever the final number, it was without a doubt, the largest armada of watercraft ever to navigate the Auglaize River before or since.
Darn it!
Around 4 o’clock, that afternoon, as the last boats were pushing off, including Harrison's. Capt. Hamilton and his company of 62 militiamen and 30 Indians from Ft. Logan arrived at Ft. Amanda. Hamilton wasn’t able to join the others as the boat carrying his company’s baggage hadn’t arrived yet. Finally around 7 o’clock, the boat arrived but for some unknown reason, they weren’t able to leave until 8:30 pm.
The Moon phase that day was a waxing gibbous meaning slightly more than half of the Moon’s visible disk was illuminated. Considering the fact that it had been a cloudy day there was probably even less moonlight. The real sense of urgency is seen in the fact that Hamilton was about to head downstream on a totally unfamiliar, winding and at times very shallow river, in the dark.
Harrison must have realized that traveling the Auglaize in the dark wasn’t a good idea because he didn’t reach Ft. Meigs until the 12th instead of the 10th. More than likely he traveled as far as Ft. Jennings the first night, the following day (the 11th) went as far as Defiance, stayed the night , then on the 12th of April moved on to the Rapids. Even thought Capt. Hamilton was only a few hours behind Harrison why did it take him two day longer to reach the rapids. Perhaps the answer lies in a journal entry made by Hamilton’s 22 year old Lt., William Shafor. Shafor wrote:
“April 9th, we were ordered to Amanda, and on the same night started to Fort Jennings, arriving there on the 11th.
On the 12th we went to Brown and on the same night to Defiance, and on the 14th to Fort Meigs.
Note:
Note the key words in both entries, “on the same night.” It appears as though Hamilton was trying desperately to catch up with the main body by doing most of his traveling by night. Shafor wrote that they left Amanda after dark on the 9th, but didn’t get to Jennings until the 11th. Why it took so long to make the 23 mile trip is unknown. The distance from Ft. Jennings to Ft. Brown by water is 30 miles it is another 17 miles to Ft. Defiance. If they were traveling at night that means they went 47 miles during 10 hours of darkness the night of the 12th averaging nearly 5 miles per hour. The following day they went another 42 to the Rapids. Regardless of the speed, hours of darkness, etc., Hamilton’s men had traveled nearly 90 miles in two days, much of it in the dark. This in itself attests to the urgency of the situation and the Herculean efforts of Hamilton’s men
Saturday April the 10 This morning Dull rainy weather
Saturday morning must have seemed like a vacation day at Ft. Amanda compared to day before. Around noon Doctor Jacob Lewis arrived at Amanda for one of his routine visits to treat the sick and injured. Schillinger was told to select eight men, go to Ft. Logan the following day and bring back one of the flat boats that was being worked on there. Being a rainy day the men spent most of the day inside making cartridges (bullets).
Sunday the 11th
Schillinger assembled his eight man team, drew two days rations and started for Ft. Logan around 10:30 that morning arriving there at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It had taken them nearly 5 ½ hours so apparently they had been in no hurry.
Thursday the 15th Cold & blustering
Around 8 o’clock that morning, Lt. Davis and 6 others men left to go to Ft. Logan to work on another boat. Meanwhile, the remainder of the company worked on boats at Amanda. They turned one shortly after 1 o’clock in the afternoon and another at 5 o’clock.
Saturday the 17th April, 1813 Weather Clear & Pleasant
The day was clear and pleasant weather wise, a welcome relief from the freezing weather the day before. The men completed work on yet another boat and launched it around 10:00 that morning. The boat brought up from Ft. Logan apparently had some leaks so the men sank it in the Auglaize to allow the wood to swell and seal the joints. With his work activities done for the day, Schillinger went hunting but returned back to the fort empty handed.
Monday the 26 of April
Lt. Davis returned from Ft. Logan with a boat loaded with 50 barrels of flour. Around 4:00 that afternoon Capt. Hosbrook returned to the fort. He was sent home 21 days earlier so he could recuperate from an illness. He brought with him a large number of letters and packages from families who lived nearby. Schillinger received five letters from his wife Alasanna, two from his brother-in-law and one from his friend Ensign McGaughy. Meanwhile across the river, the contractors continued their work building boats while the men at Amanda spent the day moving supplies down to the river’s edge.
Monday May the 3 This morning Pleasant light showers through the Day but Clear at evening
Once again, the fluctuations in the weather were beginning to take its toll as several more men at Amanda were reported for sick call that morning. Capt. Hosbrook, Lt. Davis and Sgt. Swing along with several soldiers went to Ft. Logan to bring back a boat that was being built there.
Tuesday the 4th Light Showers
During the night it began to rain again and it continued throughout most of the day so the men at Ft. Amanda worked indoors making cartridges. Doctor Jacob Lewis came to the fort during the day to treat some of the sick men. Around 7:00 that night Capt. Hosbrook and his men returned to Amanda with the boat they brought back from Ft. Logan.
May 5th - Dudley’s Massacre
By now the British now had constructed artillery emplacements across the river from Ft. Meigs and were shelling it. The night before, May 4th, General Clay’s 1200 man force had loaded onto 18 flatboats and had now arrived at the Grand Rapids. The river current was very fast that night and it was dark owing to very little moonlight so the river pilot refused to try to float across the shallow rapids unless he was ordered to. The decision was made to tie up to shore and wait until morning. Around 2 or 3 in the morning, Capt. Hamilton arrived at the spot and told Clay and Dudley that Harrison wanted them to move to within 1 ½ miles of Meigs, unload 800 men on the north side of the river then advance to and attack the British gun emplacements across from the fort and spike their cannons. The remainder of the force would land on the south bank and fight its way into the fort. (Note: if you're doing the math and if he number are correct, 1200 men in 18 boats means that there was an average of 56 men in/on each boat)
A Disaster
Shortly after sunrise the Clays force moved on toward Ft. Meigs. Col. Dudley was in the lead boat and General Clay in the 13th. Instead of landing a 1 ½ miles from Ft. Meigs as instructed by Harrison, for some reason they landed 5 miles east of Meigs at a place called “Hamilton’s Station.” Dudley, the ranking Col. and 866 men went shore and quickly advanced to the British guns batteries. By the time they reached the batteries they were exhausted, having marched through swamp and high grasses, but that changed to exuberance when they saw that the batteries were abandoned. After spiking the cannons, the men, mostly raw recruits looking for a fight, charged off into the woods looking for the enemy. By that point, the officers had lost all control. In their excitement, they failed to see the Indians circling in behind essentially cutting off from their escape route to the boats. The Indians then attacked with ferocity. Many of the soldiers their weapons wet and/or out of ammunition were quickly surrounded and killed on the spot. The 46 year old Col. Dudley described as a “heavy and fleshy man,” was shot through the body then again through the thigh. Disabled and exhausted, he sat down on a stump and was immediately surrounded by a large number of Indians who on converged on him, killing him then scalping and mutilating his body.
The Worse Was Yet To Come
Those men not killed or left to dying on the battlefield were rounded up and marched along the north side of the river 2 miles to old Ft. Miami. As the prisoners were herded back into the British fort, the Indians, formed lines and arbitrarily stabbed, shot or clubbed men to death as they passed by. Enraged by Proctors failure to stop the carnage, Tecumseh screamed at him calling him a “woman” for not stopping it. Proctor finally ordered a stop to the killing. The survivors were taken to Detroit with many dying on the way. Those who survived were either exchanged or paroled to return to their homes.
Harrison’s final report showed that of the 866 man force that landed, Only 150 men were able to wade back across the river to the safety of the fort. Of the remaining, 80 had been killed on the battlefield, 100 had been wounded and taken prisoners, 530 were not wounded but taken prisoner and 6 were missing. In other words, of the original 866 man landing party 82% of them were either dead, prisoner or missing. Indians killed; 19. This day had been a total disaster in the worst of terms.
Captain John Hamilton, the commander at Fort Logan was lauded for his bravery during Dudley's ill fated mission across the river from Fort Meigs. He was wounded during the battle and his Lieutenant, William Shafor and several privates were killed in the battle.
Meanwhile Back at Ft. Amanda
Wednesday the 12th May Rain
Lt. Davis, Regimental Quartermaster Joseph Warner and Capt. Perry left Amanda that morning to go to Ft. Logan. As they were nearing the fort, they noticed a great deal of commotion and large numbers of the friendly Indians from the nearby village flocking to the fort for shelter. Seems the night before they had spotted and shot at three of what Schillinger referred to as “hostile Indians.” This morning several of the local Indians followed tracks for about 8 miles but couldn’t overtake them so they returned to the village. Apparently the furor died down later in the day as the only additional note that Schillinger made was that Lt. Davis brought some sugar back with him from Ft. Logan.
Wednesday the 12th May Rain
Lt. Davis, Regimental Quartermaster Joseph Warner and Capt. Perry left Amanda that morning to go to Ft. Logan. As they were nearing the fort, they noticed a great deal of commotion and large numbers of the friendly Indians from the nearby village flocking to the fort for shelter. Seems the night before they had spotted and shot at three of what Schillinger referred to as “hostile Indians.” This morning several of the local Indians followed tracks for about 8 miles but couldn’t overtake them so they returned to the village. Apparently the furor died down later in the day as the only additional note that Schillinger made was that Lt. Davis brought some sugar back with him from Ft. Logan.
Monday the 17th May Clear and pleasant
With much of the construction work completed, at least for the time being, the men were kept busy making something solders can never have enough of; bullet cartridges. Schillinger paid Capt. Perry for the sugar that he had brought from Ft. Logan on the 12th.
Thursday the 17th June Warm & Dry
Apparently the two men from Holbrook’s company who had been left behind at Ft. Jennings were either still too ill or too lame to travel, so Hosbrook dispatched two men that morning with horses to go to Jennings and bring the two men back to the fort. Later that morning another group of men were sent to Ft. Logan to bring back a cow to slaughter
Friday the 18th Very warm
The men returned from Ft. Logan with the beef cow. During a lull in activities, Schillinger went to his cabin and wrote a letter to his wife.
Monday July the 26th Warm & sultry
With their 6 month tour of duty coming to an end in a few days the men At Ft. Amanda loaded their personal belongings onto wagons to be shipped home. The first wagon driven by Privates Joseph Abbott and Thomas Patterson, left Amanda around 12:30 that afternoon headed for Clermont County. Instead of taking the regular trail southwest to St. Marys, the men started south by way of Ft. Logan, the most direct route to Piqua. Unfortunately for Schillinger, history seemed to be repeating itself. He had been ill on his first trip home in May and when he awoke this morning he once again wasn’t feeling well and that he had a “very severe turn of the face & headache.”
Sunday August the 1st Clear & warm
Lt. Davis and Sgt. Bradbury went to Ft. Logan early in the day to tend to business there. In the early afternoon, Capt. Benagh and Mr. Steel left for St. Marys. A short time later one of the men at Amanda who was still very ill was discharged to go home. Another soldier was sent along to help care for him. Later that day Francis Duchouquet, the Indian interpreter came to the fort to draw provisions for the Indians at Wapakoneta.
Happy Birthday Capt. Hosbrook
Tuesday the 3rd August This morning clear & warm
At morning muster, Capt. Brier officially took command of Ft. Amanda. Today was an especially important day for Capt. Daniel Hosbrook. In addition to going home, today was his 28th birthday. The men returned their weapons to the quartermaster and by mid morning, most of Hosbrook men had left for home. The officers were among the last to leave including, Private Robert Irwin the 23 year old corporal in the company.
Note
Schillinger wrote in his journal on this day; “Delivered up our arms, etc.” implying that the weapons the men had while on duty at Amanda were government issue and not their own personal weapons. This seems likely as all weapons would have been of the same caliber.
Schillinger, Davis and Hosbrook had originally planned to travel home together that day but to their unpleasant surprise they found that the horses they had planned to use were gone. Schillinger wrote; “some evil disposed persons having drove them off and we could not find them.” It must have been especially frustrating for him as he was still not feeling well. They asked the quartermaster for another horse but were told that only one was available so it was agreed that Schillinger would take the horse loaded with their baggage and meet them at the home of Christopher Statler two miles north of Piqua.
Looks are Deceiving
Hosbrook and Davis took the route to Piqua via Ft. Logan, (40 miles) while Schillinger took the route to piqua via. St. Mary's (43 miles). He didn't leave until 2 o'clock that afternoon and stayed the night at St. Marys. Why they went in separate directions is unknown.
In the picture below, the blue line represents the road from Ft. Amanda to St. Marys then on to Piqua. The yellow line with the red dots represents the road from Ft. Amanda through Ft. Logan then on to Piqua. At first glance, the blue road looks longer than the yellow road when in fact there is only a difference of 3 miles.
Note: There isn't that much difference in the distance between the Amanda to Piqua via Ft. Logan and the Amanda to Piqua via St. Marys which explains why Hosbrook and Davis expected to meet Schillinger at the Statler farm even though they took different routes. In other words, they must have figured they all arrive at approx. the same time. Why the 2 groups went separate ways could be explained by the fact that shortly after reaching Piqua, Schillingers brother-in-laws arrived bringing him a horse so it's possible that had been pre-arranged and that Schillinger had expected to meet him on the army road which went from Piqua to St. Marys.
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