a private in a New York company of the regiment was found guilty of desertion, and was on the same day punished by one hundred lashes. On the 7th of Aug. a private in Eaton's company attempted to force the guard, and was shot dead. The company reached Lancaster, Pennsylvania, (on its way to join the army under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne at Pittsburgh,) on the 20th of Sept., and on the 30th Capt. Eaton wrote as follows to a friend in Bennington:

Extract of a letter from Capt. William Eaton to his friend in this town, dated Lancaster, (Pennsylvania,) Sept 30.

Our detachment arrived in this city on the 20th instant; not a single man has attempted to escape me since I left Bennington, and I have the reputation of marching the best company of recruits that have passed through the country. Ensign Charles Hyde has once more met the smiles of fortune, and had a very handsome and honorary compliment paid to his abilities, in receiving from the war-office an appointment of Judge Advocate General of the United States army.1

The Vermont company met Wayne at Pittsburgh on the 22d of October, and shortly after joined the army in winter quarters at Legionville; and the succeeding summer [1793] was spent in thoroughly organizing and drilling the army for fighting Indians, on a plan prescribed by President Washington, and in attempting negotiations with the Indians. The latter failing, Gen. Wayne advanced eighty miles north of Cincinnati and erected a fort on the site of Greenville, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1794, still actively preparing for a vigorous campaign. A few glimpses only of Eaton's company are found in the Vermout newspapers. The following is from the Vermont Gazette of Nov. 15 1793, preceeding Wayne's advance:

Extract of a Letter from Captain Eaton, to his friend in town, dated Head Quarters, [Hobson's choice,] Sept. 22d, 1793.

The Legion marches Monday next. Our object is to extend the chain of fortifications. The Indians are collected in large numbers at the Ox Gaze [Au Glaize river, at its junction with the Maumee, the site of fort Defiance,] on the Miami of the Lake, and are determined to meet us on our route-they are elated with their former successes [the defeat of St. Clair]-they are resentful, determinate, and laugh at the idea of our approaching their towns. These circumstances concur to make them less contemptible as an enemy. That they will fight with desperation, we expect and God grant they may have enough of it. We are well disci

plined and well reconciled to the expedition, and whatever may be our success, I will venture to assure you, that we shall not fly. Our business will be serious and decisive provided we are engaged, of which I have not a doubt.

Thomas Avery and Benjamin Coburn of my company are dead, the former died May 22, the latter June 1, both of an intermitting fever.

2

Vermont Gazette of Oct. 12, 1792.

President Washington styled Wayne's army "The Legion of the United States," and divided it into four sub-legions, each commanded by a General. Eaton's company was in the sub-legion under Gen. James Wilkinson.

They were excellent soldiers, I consider their death a very great loss in my company. But death is arbitrary.

From the Vermont Gazette of April 25 1794:

Extract of a letter from an officer in the western army to the editor, dated headquarters Greenville, Jan. 16 [1794.]

A few days since a sergeant, corporal, and twelve men of Capt. Eaton's Vermont company, under the conduct of a Mr. Collins [as guide,] advanced into the Indian country about thirty-five miles from this place, and fell in with a considerable large party of Indians, surprised and routed them; they assembled and fought our Vermonters, with a truly savage fury, killed three and wounded one through the shoulder slightly. Among the former was Samuel Wilder, William Sweetman, and Joel De Bell.

About this time the company was out in various skirmishing and scouting parties; assisted in gathering and burying the bones of those who were killed in St. Clair's defeat; and also in constructing Fort Recovery on that disastrous battle ground.1

The Vermonters were engaged in the decisive battle near the British fort Miami on the 20th of August 1794, which forced the Indians to sue for peace. The following list of Vermonters killed is from the Vermont Gazette of Oct. 31 1794:

Extract of a letter from Capt. James Underhill, to his friend in this town [Bennington,] dated Fort Randolph, Sept. 1, 1794.

For the information of their friends, I send you a list of those Vermont Heroes, who had the misfortune to fall in the glorious action of the 20th of August, at or near Rush Debeigh [Roche de Boeuf.] Their names are as follows, viz. John Louson, Levi P. Senter, Nehemiah Bracy, John Murray, and Peter Gordon. This information I received from Captain Slough, who was wounded in the action, and who was personally acquainted with all the men. Senter fell by the side of Capt. Slough, within reach of his espontoon.

Capt. Slough, of the Pennsylvania company, was in the regiment with the Vermont company; and in Gen. Wayne's report, he is returned among the wounded of the fourth sub-legion. Hence it appears that the Vermonters were in that legion. The official report of the casualties in that legion was as follows:

Killed-1 lieutenant, [Henry B. Towles of Virginia,] 1 sergeant, 11 privates. Wounded, 1 captain [Slough,] 1 lieutenant [Campbell Smith of Maryland, acting as aid to Gen. Wilkinson,] 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, 23 privates.

The fact, that the Vermont company lost five out of the eleven privates killed, is conclusive proof that the Green Mountain Boys were in the thickest of the battle.

It appears above that Lieut. Underhill had succeeded Eaton in the command of the company. This occurred doubtless in Feb. 1794, when

'Life of Eaton, 1818, p. 19.

2 For Gen. Wayne's report of the battle, see American State Papers, folio edition, title Indian Affairs, Vol. 1, pp. 491–495.

Eaton obtained leave of absence. In Vol. II, p. 202, note, a brief notice of Eaton was given, to which little need be added. He was employed in the recruiting service until Oct. 1795, when he was ordered with his recruits to St. Mary's river, on the border of Georgia and Florida, among the Creek Indians. Here a detachment of 160 Virginia soldiers joined, and Eaton was in command of the post with about three hundred men. Pursuant to orders, he erected Fort Pickering at Colerain, though he protested against the location. In May 1796, U. S. Commissioners met deputations of the Creeks and Seven Nations at the fort; Eaton was appointed Secretary of the Council, and on the 29th of June 1796 a treaty of peace was concluded. On the 7th of August following Eaton was displaced, and on the 17th arrested on various charges, which resulted in his being ordered finally to Washington, where he was informed that the sentence of the court martial was not confirmed. He was subsequently charged with other services by Secretary of State Pickering, and in July 1797 received a commission as consul to the city and kingdom of Tunis. In March 1804 he was entrusted by Jefferson with an enterprise on the coast of Barbary, which resulted in his march from Alexandria, Egypt, between March 8 and April 25, 1805, through the desert of Barca, to the city of Derne-a distance of more than four hundred miles; the capture of that city four days after his arrival; and the treaty of peace with Tripoli a few days thereafter. Sherman's famous "march to the sea" had nothing of the desperate temerity which marked Eaton's at every step.

1

THE MINUTE-MEN OF 1794.

An act of Congress, approved May 9 1794, directed a detachment from the militia of eighty thousand men, to be organized, armed, equipped, and held in readiness to march at a moment's warning in the service of the United States; of which number two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine were assigned to Vermont. May 19 President Washington issued his requisitions to the governors of the several states, directing them to use the most effectual means for making the necessary detachments. As soon as Gov. Chittenden received the requisition, he called a special meeting of the Council at Rutland on the 21st of June. No record of this meeting was entered on the journal of the Council, but its results appear in the following resolutions and orders":

From The Farmers' Library [Rutland] of June 24 1794.

Published by Authority.

STATE OF VERMONT, In Counci!, Rutland June 21 1794. Whereas it appears to this Council that the wages allowed by Congress, to the non-commissioned officers & privates of the militia, which are to be called into actual service, in case a war should take place, is not an adequate compensation for such service, Therefore,

1Life of Eatonpp. 301-340.

Resolved, that it be & it is hereby recommended to the legislature, that at the next October session, they make ample provision, that in case any of the militia of this state should be called into actual service, that the wages of non-commissioned officers and privates be as follows : -a Sergeant 48 shillings a month, Corporals and Musicians 44 shillings a month, and privates 40 shillings a month including what shall be allowed by Congress.1

Resolved, that his Excellency the Captain General be and hereby is advised as soon as may be, to issue his orders to the several Major Generals in this state to inlist or detach from the several corps under their command, their several quotas of the two thousand one hundred & thirty nine able bodied effective men as a detachment from the militia of this state, agreeable to the act of Congress of the ninth of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.

Resolved, that his Excellency the Captain General be and he is hereby advised to direct Brigadier General ELI COGGSWELL [of Castleton] to take command of the said detachment.

Extract from the minutes,

SOLOMON MILLER, Sec'y pro tem.

On the same day, Gov. Chittenden accordingly issued his orders to Major Generals Samuel Fletcher, Isaac Tichenor, Ira Allen, and Paul Brigham, with the assistance of Brigadier Generals, to detach officers and men for three regiments of seven hundred and thirteen “good able bodied effective men" each. The work was promptly done; but as the men were never called into active service, it has not been deemed necessary to print the list of the officers detached.

THE MINUTE MEN OF 1797-'8.

In pursuance of a requisition from President John Adams, under the act of Congress of the 24th June 1797, on the 20th of Dec. 1797, Gov. Tichenor issued orders for the detachment of three regiments of Vermont militia, numbering in all two thousand one hundred and fifty men, to be under the command of Brig. Gen. Zebina Curtis, of Windsor. As these men were not ordered into actual service, the insertion of the details of the general orders is not deemed necessary.-See Rutland Herald of Jan. 1 1798.

VERMONTERS IN THE 16TH REGIMENT U. S. ARMY IN 1798-'9.

The act of Congress of July 16 1798 added twelve regiments to the U. S. Army, of which George Washington was to have the command as Lieutenat General. The sixteenth and last regiment was to be filled by

1Oct. 30 1794, an act was passed raising the monthly pay as follows: privates to 40 shillings, sergeants 48, corporals 44, sergeant-major and quarter-master sergeant 60, drum and fife major 48, drummers and fifers 44. See printed Acts of 1794, p. 123. This was a precedent for the extra state pay to the volunteers in the war of the rebellion.

'For general orders, see The Farmers' Library of July 8 1794.

enlistments in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island; and of its ten companies Vermont was to furnish three. The enlistment offices were at Westminster, Newbury, and Burlington; and the rendezvous for the State was at Westminster, under the command of Maj. Cornelius Lynde of Williamstown. The Vermont officers were as follows: Major, Cornelius Lynde; Captains, William Woodward, Israel Elliot Trask, and George Woodward; first Lieutenants, Daniel Bissell, Isaac Putnam, and Marmaduke Wait; sacond Lieutenants, Jesse Lull, (who was quartermaster of the regiment,) Daniel Baker, and John W. Brownson.' None of the twelve new regiments were filled, in November 1799 the sixteenth having only two hundred and thirty-three men. In Feb. 1800, enlistments were suspended, and the army was shortly afterward reduced to four regiments.

'American State Papers, folio edition, title Military Affairs, Vol. 1, pp. 151, 152; and Spooner's Vermont Journal of Aug. 6 1799.