Aboite, Indiana Named For Indian Massacre and French Word For Slaughterhouse

Aboite, Indiana Named For Indian Massacre and French Word For "Slaughterhouse."

103 men were massacred west of Fort Wayne, Indiana at a place called Aboite. The Miami Indians left the mutilated bodies to rot, which resulted in the French calling the site, "The Slaughterhouse." 
A slaughterhouse, also called by the French word abattoir.  Today the site is still called the "Slaughterhouse" in the name of a small town and township in Allen County, Indiana called, Aboite.

     On the 3d of November, 1780, numbers of frightened savages created alarm in the quiet Miami Town by rushing in with the tale that an army of the "rebels" (Americans) was approaching rapidly from the southwest. There was no time to call in the scattered braves and traders for a defense of their homes — nothing to do but hasten to places of safety. Hurriedly abandoning the village, the men, women and children fled to the northward or across the St. Joseph, while others launched their canoes and pirogues upon the open river and paddled to places of safety. Among the families which chose the latter method was that of Jacques Lasselle; in some manner, one of the children, a girl, fell from the boat and was drowned. Soon the invaders poured into the villages and plundered the dwellings of the traders and a large storehouse belonging to Baubien, 8 remaining long enough to make thorough work of the destruction of the property of those whom they considered the most offensive enemies of the American cause.7 Then they retired to their camp for the night. They chose a spot a few miles to the west of the scene of their raid, an open space, on the bank of a small stream, known as Aboite8 (or Aboit) river or creek. The leader of this adventurous body of men was Augustus Mottin de LaBalme. He had served in France as a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, and as a colonel in the colonial army during the latter part of the American revolution. LaBalme had come to America with the Marquis de LaFayette and entered at once into active service for the republic. Without announcement, he appeared in October, 1780, at Kas- kaskia on the Mississippi, now under the American flag, where he was received with gladness9 by the French and the Indians who encouraged his plan to proceed to Detroit to capture that post for the United States.10 Fired with the vision of a success which should equal or surpass that of Clark on the lower Wabash, LaBalme lost no time in gathering his followers and starting to the northward. A great demonstration attended the departure from Kaskaskia. The inhabitants en masse, as well as large companies of Indians, accompanied the expedition for a considerable distance on its way up the Wabash. At Ouiatanon, LaBalme went into camp with the hope that re-enforcements would reach him before his movement northward. Here he passed twelve impatient days. The four hundred men who were to have joined him failed to appear.

The Vermilya house sits on the hill that overlooks the confluence of Aboite Creek and the Little Wabash Rivers.  It is on this hill that De la Balmes men were massacred. No historic markers have been placed at the site to commemorate the loss of American lives.

      Meanwhile, he feared, the anti-American settlements on the site of Fort Wayne might learn of the proximity of his detachment and prepare for defense. So he decided to make the raid on the offending villages and then go into camp and await the addition to his numbers before proceeding to Detroit. We have seen his confiscation of the villages, and now we find the small company of 103" men settling themselves for the night in their camp on the Aboite. The tragic fate of the expedition is soon told. While the men were arranging for a few hours of comfort, Charles Beaubien, the chief trader at Miami Town, who seems to have been the chief anti-American agitator of the region, was active in assembling the savages and laying plans for a fierce retaliation. That LaBalme 's attack on the Miami village was directed against Beaubien is shown by a clause in a letter written by Richard Winston to Colonel John Todd to the effect that "'is the general opinion that he will take Baubin [Beaubien], the general partisan at Miamis [Fort Wayne], and proceed thence to Fort Pitt." With the gathering of the shades of night, a large number of Indians, fully armed, were assembled at the village. A council, directed by Beaubien, resulted in the choice of Little Turtle to plan and execute the attack on the camp of the invaders. Following the custom of savage warfare, to which LaBalme and his men appear to have been strangers, the Indians quietly surrounded the place, and then, with the terrifying war whoop, fell upon the sleeping encampment. The scene is best imagined from the story of the results. 

A marker was mistakenly placed in the adjoining county of Whitley, Indiana that was not the place of La Balmes defeat. 

     During the few minutes that followed the opening of the attack, thirty or forty of the Americans, including LaBalme, were killed, a few escaped in the darkness, and the remainder, among whom was one "Mons. Rhy, who styles himself aide-de-camp"1* were taken prisoners. The Miamis lost five of their party. Such re-enforcements as may have been on the way to join LaBalme were turned back by the news of his destruction, and the Wabash valley, above the influence of Vincennes, remained in the hands of the British partisans. The LaBalme escapade sent a thrill of alarm throughout Canada. "It was certainly the beginning of a general attack against this province," wrote Governor Haldimand, at Quebec, to DePey- ster, in command at Detroit, "which, from different intelligence I have received, I have every reason to think, will be attempted in the spring against these upper posts. Monsr. LaBalm's papers clearly evince the sentiments of the Canadians, and you will benefit by the discovery. "

1790 Massacre of General Harmar's Army by the Miami Indians

1790  Massacre of General Harmar's Army by the Miami Indians

Gen. Harmar issued his orders on the 20th of October, 1790, before taking up the line of march on his return to Fort Washington. It is probable that the Delaware 
towns referred to in the account as being located on the St. Mary's River, are 
the '• Pickaway " towns of history, because the upper St. Mary's was long known 
as the Pickaway fork of the Maumee.* 

Some other interesting details of the proceedings on the 19th of October 
are given in an account somewhat amplified from that given by Col. Armstrong, 
which has been cited above. 

Col. Hardin, on the morning of that day, having pursued the same route as 
that taken by Col. Trotter on the day preceding, in pursuit of the savages, 
"finding himself in their neighborhood, he detached Capt. Faulkner, of the 
Pennsylvania militia, to form on his left, which he did at such a distance as to 
render his company of no service in the approaching engagement. Hardin's 
command moved forward to what they discovered to be the encampment of the 
enemy, which was flanked by a morass on each side, as well as by one in front, 
which was crossed with great promptness by the troops, now reduced to less than 
two hundred, who, before they had time lo form, received a galling and unex- 
pected fire from a large body of savages. The militia immediately broke and 
fled, nor could all the exertions of the officers rally them ; fifty-two of those dispersing being killed in a few minutes. 

" The enemy pursued until Maj. Fontaine, who had been sent to hunt up 
Faulkner and his company, returned with them, compelled them to retire, and 
the survivors of the detachment arrived safe in camp. 

11 The regulars, under Armstrong, bore the brunt of this affair, one Sergeant 
and twenty-one privates being killed on the battle-ground, and, while endeavoringto maintain their position, wen- thrown in disorder by the militia running       through their lines, flinging away their arms without even firing a shot. The    Indians killed in this affair nearly one hundred men."* 

The site of this sanguinary affair was, from the best information now attain- 
able, by observation, and deductions from the observation of others, in the south- 
western part of Eel River Township, not far distant from where Eel River crosses 
the county line. Indeed, there are numerous points within an area of less than 
three miles along Eel River, which bear unmistakable evidences of a terrible con-flict at arms. 

In the engagement that took place on the morning of the 22d, there are 
some details in the account before us not found in the more general yet mainly 
official narrative, from which we have before liberally quoted, but which, it is 
thought, contains some facts of interest not contained in the other. 

The detachment sent out under Col. Hardin, being formed in three divisions, 
with militia on the right, and left and regulars in the center, the left, under 
Maj. Hall, was ordered to pass round the bend and cross the St. Mary's in rear 
of the Indian towns on the St. Joseph's, and remain there until the battalion of 
Mai. McMullen, occupying the right, should cross the Maumee lower down, and 
eonnnenee the action by attacking the Indians on the east side of the            St. Joseph's. 
This latter movement was to be the signal for the regulars, under Hardin and 
Wyllys, who occupied the center, with Major Fontaine's cavalry, to cross the 
Maumee at the old ford and attack the enemy in front, and thus surround the 
Indian camp. Contrary to orders, however, Maj. Hall, instead of waiting for 
the signal, permitted some of his men to fire upon a straggling Indian, which, 
alarming" the Indians in the town, they attacked the troops on the left, The con- sequence of this was the discovery by the Indians" of Hardin's men, on the      opposite side of the Maumee, who immediately began to cross over, Major Fontaine 
being in advance. Before this division had crossed, it was attacked in front, on 
the north bank and in the river, the cavalry having, in the mean time, gained a 
footing in the borders of the town. The fight, soon became general, the Indians 
having the whites at a disadvantage. The contest was terrific, the savages being 
wrought up to a pitch of desperation seldom equaled, perhaps never excelled. 
Owing to the premature engagement on the left, the whole plan was so much dis- 
arranged that no two divisions could execute orders in concert ; thus divided, 
defeat was inevitable. Though the regulars and cavalry bore the brunt of battle 
with the most heroic fortitude, they were finally overcome by superior force. 

Saved From Burning at the Stake at the Hands of the Miami Indians

Saved From Burning at the Stake at the Hands of the Miami Indians

     It was less than a hundred years ago when the prevailing customs of the 
Indians were generally observed by the Miamis. A white captive had just been 
brought in, and the question was about to be submitted to the council whether 
the young man should die. The council was held, and its mandate had gone 
forth that he must burn at the stake. All is confusion and bustle in the village, and the features of all save the hapless victim bespeak the anxiety with which 
they look forward to the coming sacrifice. Already the prisoner is bound to the 
stake, and the fagots are being placed in position, while the torch which is to 
ignite the inflammable mass was in the hands of the brave selected to apply it. 
But hold ! the time has not yet come when the fates have decreed that the man- 
date of the council is to be executed. A chief is to be chosen to rule over the 
tribe. There are many candidates apparently alike entitled to recognition. Again 
the question of eligibility is mooted, and the usages of the ages must be 

observed. 
   

    He would save the young man. The torch is being extended to fire the combus- 
tible material, and all attention is directed toward the spot. At a signal from 

his mother, young Pe-che-wah sprang from her side and bounded forward, knife in 
Hand, to assert his chieftaincy by the captive's rescue. Electrified by the mag- 
netic force of his mother's desire, he dashed through the wild crowd, cut the 
cords that bound him, and bid the captive go free. Surprise and astonishment, 
not unmingled with displeasure, was visible in every countenance at the unex- 
pected denouement. Yet this daring feat of voluntary heroism was the universal 
theme of exultation. He was thereafter the recognized chief. In the mean 
time, the thoughtful mother, to make the rescue complete, placed the man in a 
canoe, covering him with furs and peltries, put him in charge of friendly hands, 
and sent him down the Mauuiee to a place of safety. 

Little Turtle -The Native Americans Greatest General

Little Turtle -The Native Americans Greatest General

ME-CHE-CUN-NA-QUAH, OK LITTLE TURTLE. 

was the son of Aque-nac-que, the great war chief of the Twightwees [Miamis] 
at the beginning of the eighteenth century, who was also the principal of the 
three Deputies who represented the Twightwee nation at the Treaty of Lancaster. 
Penn., on the 23d day of July, 1748. His mother was of the tribe of the 
Mohegans, and is reputed as having been a superior woman, transmitting many 
of her best qualities to her son. Aquenaeque was of the Turtle branch of the 
Miamis, and lived i„ the Turtle Village on Eel River, some sixteen miles north- 
west of Fort Wayne. 

At this village Little Turtle was born, about the year 1747, and was the 
senior of his sister Algomaqua, wife of Capt. Holmes, by less than two years. He 
became chief at an early age.- not on account of any right by inheritance, because 
the condition of the offspring follows the mother, and not the father, and his 
mother not standing in the line of descent from hereditary chiefs, the child stood 
in the same category, but because of his extraordinary talents and adapted- 
ness for the position, which were noticeable from early boyhood. Upon the death 
of his father, therefore, he became the principal chief of the Miamis, by selec- 
tion. His first eminent services were those of a warrior, in which he distin- 
guished himself above all competitors. His courage and sagacity, in the estima- 
tion of his countrymen, were proverbial, and his example inspired others to 
unwonted achievements in. council and the field. Neighboring consanguineous 
tribes, in their operations against the whites, drew courage from his presence, andachieved successes under his leadership. He was in himself a host on the battle- 
field, and his counsel always commanded respect. 

At the time of St. Clair's expedition against the Wabash Indians, Little 
Turtle was the acknowledged leader, directing the movement of his people, 
which resulted in the defeat of the former, as he had previously done in the 
several actions in the campaign of Gen. Harmar. In comparison with Gen. St. 
Clair, as director of forces at Fort Recovery, his exhibitions of skill and tact inthe management of the assault upon the white troops, were those of the more 
expert tactician. His loss in that engagement was light, while that of Gen. St. 
Clair was heavy. 

" Again, he commanded a body of Indians in November, 1792, who made 
a violent attack on a detachment of Kentucky volunteers under Maj. Adair, under 
the walls of Fort St. Clair, near Eaton, Ohio, but the savages were repulsed with 
loss. He was also at the action of Fort Recovery, in June, 1704. The campaign 
of Gen. Wayne, in August of the same year, proved too successful for the Turtle 
and superior to the combined force. Prior to the battle of Fort Miami, two miles 
below Maumee City, a council was held, when Little Turtle showed his sagacity 
and prudence by refusing to attack the forces of Gen. Wayne." 

Having satisfied himself of the impracticability of further opposition to the 
whites, Little Turtle lent his influence toward the maintenance of peace, and, in 
part consideration for his services in this respect, the American Government 
erected for him, at bis village on Eel River, a comfortable house in which to live. 
■'His habits were those of the whites, and he had black servants to attend to his 
household wants and duties. He was true to the interests of his race, and 
deplored their habits of drunkenness. In 1S02 or 1S03, he went before the Leg- 
islature of Kentucky, and, through his interpreter, made an appeal in person for 
a law preventing the sale of ardent spirits to the Indians. The like mission he 
performed before the Legislature of Ohio, but without success. He described the 
Indian traders to life, viz.: ' They stripped the poor Indian of skins, guns, 
blankets, everything, while his squaws and children, dependent upon him, lay 
starving and shivering in his wigwam.' 

" He was the first to introduce among his savage tribes the practice of vacci- 
nation for 'preventing the small-pox. and did much to prevent human sacrifice." 

From the first appearance of Tecumseh and the Prophet, in their attitude of 
manipulators of opinions directed toward the formation of an Indian confederacy, 
he opposed their movements, and in consequence, through his influence, little was 
accomplished in that direction among his people and others for a long time. 

In a communication dated at Fort Wayne, January 25, 1812, bearing his 
own signature, addressed to Gov. Harrison, be expressed himself as anxious to do 
all in his power to preserve peaceful relations between the white and red people. 
He was destined, however, to take no part in the pending conflict. " He came 
to this city, in 1812, from his residence, to procure medical aid, and was under 
the treatment of the United States Surgeon, and in the family of his brother-in- 
law, Capt. Wells, at the Old Orchard— or rather was cared for by Capt. W.'s family 
at his own tent, a few rods distant, preferring it to the more civilized mode of 
living ' in doors.' His disease was the gout, of which he died in the open air, at 
the place (Old Orchard), above described, July 14, 1812, having the universal 
respect of all who knew him. The Commandant of the fort at that time. Capt. Ray, 
the friend of Little Turtle, buried the remains of the chief with the honors of 
war. A writer says: ' His body was borne to the grave with the highest honors 
by his great enemy, the white man. The muffled drum, the solemn march, the 
funeral salute, announced that a great soldier had fallen, and even enemies paid 
the mournful tribute lo his memory.' " 

To the left of the black square marks the site of Little Turtles Grave. The grave was found while constructing houses in the neighborhood.  His skeletal remains were identified by the sword that was presented to him by George Washington. His bones 

were discarded, his grave goods stolen and the sword is now in the Allen County 

History Center.

The place of his burial is near the center of the " Old Orchard," and his Indian 
ornaments and accouterments of war, a sword presented to him by Gen. Washington 
and a medal with Gen. W.'s likeness thereon, were buried with him. Some years 
ago, Cocsse, a nephew and real chief, since dead, came to Fort Wayne and pro- 
nounced a funeral oration over the remains of his uncle, full of eloquent pathos, 
which was listened to by many of the old citizens of that period. 

A distinguishing trait in the character of this celebrated chief, says Mr. 
Dawson, " was his ardent desire to be informed of all that relates to our institu- 
tions ; and he seems to possess a mind capable of understanding and valuing the 
advantages of civilized life, in a degree far superior to any other Indian of his 
time.