Death of Colonel Crafford, The

DESCRIPTION: Crafford leads a party out to slaughter the Indians outside Sandusky. Despite the valor of the white officers, they are forced back and Crafford is taken. The tribal council condemns him to be burnt. The survivors go home and cry for revenge
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1873 (Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio)
KEYWORDS: Indians(Am.) execution war
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Mar 7, 1782 - American militia massacre 96 Delaware Indians (all Christians) at Gnadenhutten, Ohio. This was in retaliation for raids in which the Delaware took no part
May 25-June 6, 1782 - Colonel William Crawford's campaign against the Indians (and British loyalists) on the Sandusky River, culminating in his severe defeat and the massacre of his army.
June 11, 1782 - Execution by burning of Crawford. Crawford's defeat brought many Indians into the Revolutionary War on the British side, but this did little to change the balance of power; Cornwallis had already surrendered and American independence was assured
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio 115, "A Song on the Death of Colonel Crafford" (1 text)
Cohen-AmericanFolkSongsARegionalEncyclopedia2, pp. 390-393, "A Song, Called Crawford's Defeat by the Indian on the Fourth Day of June, 1782" (1 text)
ST E115 (Full)
Roud #5341
File: E115

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