Campbell's force consisted of a mixture of Dragoons and Mounted Infantry numbering about 600 men in all. [8] This small army contained a Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Dragoons, and one troop of U.S. Dragoons combined with squadrons of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan Volunteers. A company of the 19th U.S. Infantry, along with a Company of Pennsylvania Riflemen and the "Pittsburgh Blues" formed the Mounted Infantry. The two senior Officers under Campbell were Lt.Colonel James Simrall [9] and Major James Bell.
Campbell left Franklinton (now Columbus) on November 25th and proceeded via Springfield to Xenia, where the troops were mustered in and paid. William Northcutt of the 'Bourbon Blues' recalled,"We got there (Franklinton) about the 5th of November ...here we were about three weeks fixing for the Miami expedition on the Mississinawa river. Here we gave up our muskets and cartouch boxes that we drew at Newport in August 1812 and drew a sword, one pistol and a yauger or short rifle for the expedition"
At Xenia, Northcutt further recalled, "...here we drew our first soldiers pay. We drew three months back pay at the rate of five dollars per month for our own services, and twelve dollars for our horses. We staid at this encampment about three days and while lying here, we had considerable sport by riding a fellow on General Winchesters English filly (ie) a rail. This chap stole a brace of pistols from Capt. Marcle from Pensylvania and was sentensed by the Court Marshal that tried him, to be rode around the encampment on a fence rail carried by two of the stoutest men in camp, with the Rouges March playing after him, and then drumed out of camp".
To Dayton
From Xenia, Campbells small army moved to Dayton. Here his force was delayed for several days in order to obtain pack horses for the infantry. At Dayton Northcutt remembered that,"We left our baggage and baggage wagons and only took the clothes that were on our backs. I left my boots here and my valease with all the clothes I had with a private citezen of the town, and bought me a pair of shoes lined with leather and a pair of cloth wrappers which was the means of saving my feet from getting frost bitten, as the weather by this time had become very cold with considerable snow on the ground".
Fort Greenville was the next stop, after which they entered the wilderness. Northcutt, reflecting after his return from the campaign, wrote of this move, "...to Fort Greenville the outside post and there drew three days rashions, and was gone ten days on them three days rashions for our horses and ourselves". The weather by this time was very cold with deep snow. These conditions were looked on as being excellent for the crossing of streams, swampy ground and for the detection of any Natives. By comparison, little thought seems to have been given to what adverse effect such weather would have on the U.S.troops by Harrison or Campbell. This lack of consideration was to bring the expedition to a near calamitous ending.
Campbell left Greenville on December 14th. On each of the first two days his force covered 20 miles, and on the 16th 40 miles. This journey was not without incident, Northcutt relating that, "The second night out from Greenville and Accident happened to one of our company by the name of West. He was summoned on guard and in kendleing up a fire he unstopt his powder horn, to pour some of the powder on the fire when it flashed up and caught in his powder horn, and bursted it, making a great report and puting the fellows eyes out...The next morning the Captain sent him back to the fort and we saw no more of West for some time".
On the 16th December, Campbell had his men march through the day and most of the night until they were a few miles from a native village reported by the guides to be that of the Chief, Silver Heels. The village in question being on the banks of the Mississenawa river.
At the Village
A halt was called at about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 17th, and the men told to get what rest they could. Northcutt remembered, "...we marched all night in order to get to the Indian town about daylight and take it by surprise...", but the guide lost his way and though he found it again,"...we did not get there until about one hour of the sun on the morning...". The night was very cold and, "...a great many of the boys got frost bitten, by getting off thier horses and walking, in order to warm themselves. The fateauge of walking would put them in a perspiration and mounting again would chill off, and frost bite in a very little time".
At about 8 o'clock in the morning Campbell moved his men to within striking distance of the village. However, it appeared that his force had been discovered. Private Nathaniel Vernon of the Pittsburgh Blues recalled,"The night previous to reaching their settlement, our scouts came riding back and informed our Commander Col. Campbell, they feared from appearences we were discovered".
Northcott too confirmed this news,"The guide found his way as soon as the day light made its appearence and we resumed our march. We were then about 2 miles as near as we could guess, from the first town. We had marched about one mile when our spies let the Commander know that we were discovered. They were a little ways ahead of the army when they saw three Indians in the act of cacthing thier horses. The spies and Indians discovered each other about the same time".
The Dragoons had formed a line of battle, but with the news of their discovery they broke into a wild, yelling disorderly race for the village, accidently killing one of their sergeants as they did so. Vernon remembered that on being discovered, and, "Without stopping to consult with the Officers of the detachment, or to ascertain whether they might not be deceived, a Captain of one of the cavalry companies raised the yell, and was joined by our commander in their unfortunate demonstration, then fiercely spurring their horses, set off at full speed. What few warriors there were in the town made their escape, leaving the old and feeble, with the women and children to fall into our hands".
Northcott also took part in the scramble for the village, he remembered, "When our line of battle was formed it extended for more than one half mile in length and our squadron being on the extreme right, missed the town (and) struck the river a little below the town, and Simmeral's Rigement which was on the left struck the town and took it before we could wheel to the left and get up there they had taken it, and killed eight of the indians and one big negroe, took forty two prisoners and dispursed the ballance over the river".
The infantry had dismounted before the race for the village began and they entered it in good order. After the village was taken, all the, "hutts and wigwams" were burned except,"one of the largest cabins that was reserved for the accomodation of the prisoners"(Northcutt). Campbell ordered all livestock killed, then at the head of the Dragoons proceeded down the river for about two miles burning two more villages including one belonging to an old Chief, Metocinyah. But the alarm had proceeded them and the only native found was a sick squaw unable to be moved.
Livestock was again destroyed, despite the fact the animals could have provided food. Also, little corn was found, a nourishment the horses were beginning to need. Northcutt took part in this destruction, "When we got to the town, it was evacuated by the Indians...we burned the town, killed their dogs and caught about forty of their horses". The horses were brought to the first village and tied, "...in lines with our own horse, and that night a great many of them got killed".
Encampment
The Dragoons under Campbell now returned to the first village attacked and helped form an encampment. This camp was some 500 feet square with a redoubt outside of the northwest angle. It had been laid out during Campbell's absence with the Dragoons and though later he thought it a little too large, he did nothing about it. As the encampment was being built, the second American casualty of the day occured, a sergeant straying to far from the camp was shot by a Native, dying of his wound.
Northcutt was a witness to this, "Some of the boys says to me, Bill where is that Ax that belongs to the Mess? I said that I had thrown it away in the charge on the town...At the start of the charge, the men had 'raised the yell on the left and it extended to the right and put our horses in such a fret that I could not carry the Ax and my gun, and manage my mare, and I concluded that the gun would be of more use to me than the Ax so I threw the Ax away marking the place where I throw it...They said that I had to get it. Well says I if I must I suppose I must".
After retreiving the axe, Northcott, "...met two men that were going back after something that they had lost, and I had not got one hundred yards further until I heard a gun fire and they came running back and just after they passed me one of them fell dead from his horse, he being shot through with a bullitt".
The men settled in for the night cooking and eating what provisions they could. According to Northcutt most of the men's, "...forage were gone as well as our provisions". However not all the destroyed Native livestock was wasted, "With the Indian beef...", Northcutts mess, "...had a prety good supper that night and it was the last for some days". Later on that night, "...about two hours before day on the morning of the 18th we had a false alarm and we were roused and paraded for battle and that false alarm saved our bacon for we did not lie down anymore but roused up our fires and went to prepareing something to eat. We had a few sea bisket and a little coffe and some of the Indian beef".
Reveille and Attack
At about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 18th, Campbell, fearing a dawn attack, had reveille beaten on the drums. Shortly after this, the Field Officers and Captains met with Campbell at his fire to discuss on how to proceed. Frostbite was beginning to take its toll of the men, the prisoners presented a problem, the horses were short of forage, A report from one of the prisoners stated that there were five hundred warriors at Mississineway, the expedition's principal objective which was 20 miles downstream.
Perhaps worst news of all was that some of the expedition's ammunition supply had accidently been destroyed a few days previously. Considering it all, Campbell's opinion was that he had accomplished what he had been ordered to do, and that they should return to Fort Greenville at once. It was during this consultation, about half an hour before dawn, that the attack began.
One of Northcutt's mess mates,"...was on guard where the attack was made and said he saw them coming up in Indian file for some time and kept snapping his gun at them until another sentinal hailed them when the foremost one of them halted and fired his gun as a signal".
More Mississenawa
Vernon also remembered this alarm,"We were aroused by a shot from the sentinel posted at the south eastern angle, near the bank of the river, who declared he had fired at the head of an Indian, who was peeping over the bank...The camp was now aroused, the reveille beaten, and those not on duty permitted to prepare breakfeast...".
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