Beschreibung:

A Narrative of the Manner in which the Campaign Against the Indians, in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-one, was Conducted Under the Command of Major General St. Clair. Half green morocco with marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine and raised bands, marbled pastedowns and fore-edge with the title page and inside board cover signed by James McBride. Printed by Jane Aitken Philadelphia, 1812. 273pp. with the extended list of subscribers not found in all copies. Due to his friendly relations with American Indians and impressive military career, Congress appointed Brigadier General Arthur St. Clair the first governor of the Northwest Territory in 1777. St. Clair failed to subdue American Indian resistance and suffered a demoralizing defeat against Chief Little Turtle near the Wabash River in Ohio Territory in 1792. Of the 1,400 men under his command, 623 soldiers were killed and another 258 wounded; making it the most overwhelming defeat by the American Indians in the history of the United States. Overcome with surprise and indignation, when George Washington heard the news at a dinner party, the typically polished president purportedly spewed insults towards the beaten general saying, "Did not my last words warn him against a surprise" (William Menzies, Catalogue of the books, manuscripts and engravings belonging to William Menzies, 1875, p. 356). Shocked, Congress ordered an investigation into the defeat while Washington demanded St. Clair resign. St. Clair resigned, and Major General Anthony “Mad Anthony” Wayne took his place. The investigation eventually found that St. Clair’s defeat was due to inadequate forces, gross mismanagement by the quartermaster and contractors, and the lack of discipline and experience in the troops. Congress permitted St. Clair to remain Governor of the Northwest Territory, but Thomas Jefferson removed him after he refused to recognize Ohio's statehood. Defeated politically and personally, he retreated to his estate in Pennsylvania and established a foundry that made stoves and castings. Although Congress excused him for the Battle of Wabash River, it failed to repay him for his expenditures while serving as governor. As a result, he lost most of his fortune. He died in a small log cabin on August 31, 1818. A self-educated man, James McBride (1788-1859) remarkably became a pioneer author and antiquarian; archaeologist; Miami University Secretary and President of the Board of Trustees; Butler County's fifth Sheriff; a surveyor; the first Mayor of Hamilton, OH; and an officer of other various entities. He also authored an important account of the history of Hamilton, OH titled Pioneer Biography: Sketches of the Lives of Some of the Early Settlers of Butler County, Ohio. Condition: The book is in relatively poor condition with a fragile board cover, that is slightly attached to the original binding. There is some shelf wear and cracking on the leather spine in addition to toning and light foxing of the pages. There are signatures from several owners, many prominent members of Butler County.