Charles Scott, 1791

General Charles Scott led a company of mounted men a cross the Ohio River at the mouth of the Kentucky River. Although his description does not prove it, one author says the route to the Wabash River Indian villages cross Jefferson, Switzerland, and Jennings Counties. The angle that Scott would have needed to travel from his starting point to the Wabash region would likely have taken him immediately in Jefferson County

American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.v1791.] 31

WAR DEPARTMENT, March 9th, 1790.

Report of Brigadier General Scott.

LEXINGTON, 28th June, 1791. SIR:

“I have the honor to inform you that the detachment of mounted volunteers under my command, authorized to be raised by your letter of the 9th of March last, arrived at the mouth of Kentucky on the morning of the 19th of May, from which time to the 23d, I was employed in transporting the troops across the Ohio river, in having them mustered, and in issuing to them provisions and ammunition. The delay at the river was greater than I wished, yet, I trust, justifiable, as it was, in part, occasioned by the request of General St. Clair, which you will find by referring to the extract of his letter, contained in No. 1.

In prosecution of the enterprise, I marched four miles from the banks of the Ohio, on the 23d; and on the 24th, I resumed my march, and pushed forward with the utmost industry, directing my route to Ouiatanon, in the best manner my guides and information enabled me, though I found myself greatly deficient in both.

By the 31st I had marched one hundred and thirty-five miles, over a country cut by four large branches of White river, and many smaller streams, with steep muddy banks; during this march, I traversed a country alternately interspersed with the most luxuriant soil and deep clayey bogs, from one to five miles in width, rendered almost impervious by brush and briars.”

Indiana Historical Collections,
vol. 7.