Copus massacre
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settlers and Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
on the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
frontier during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Reverend James Copus and 3 other settlers died while defending the Copus' homestead
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
near present-day Charles Mill Lake
Charles Mill Lake
Charles Mill is a reservoir located in central Ohio near the junction of State Routes 430 and 603. Charles Mill Lake is a quiet and enjoyable place for boating, camping, fishing, hunting, or hiking. The lake is located in both Richland County and Ashland County , with the dam located in Ashland...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Traditional legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
has it that Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
"raced throughout the region warning others of impending attack" after this incident. Consequently his name is included on the Copus memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
, (a monument dedicated in 1882 to Copus and others fallen in similar attacks), the "earliest known monument erected to his memory and legend".
Background
Reverend James Copus was a trusted friend of the Greentown Indians. He was called upon by Colonel Samuel Kratzer and Captain Douglas to persuade the Indians to peacefully leave and temporarily relocate for fear that the British Army would recruit them as British allies. At first Rev. Copus refused to interfere against them and that he would personally stand accountable for their conduct. Col. Kratzer and Capt. Douglas, told Copus that they were under orders and that if the Natives didn't comply, there would be "blood-shed." Reverend Copus was then compelled to accompany soldiers to the Indian village and speak with the Indians, but not before being assured that the Native's lives and property would be protected if they agreed to surrender. James and his three sons; Henry, James and Wesley reluctantly met with the council of Elders and after much persuasion and reassurance, the Greentown Indians agreed to leave their village.It is said that after the soldiers led the Greentown Indians on their march, several soldiers straggled behind and ransacked the village and burned it to the ground. After seeing the smoke from their homes, billowing up from where they had left, many Indians broke free and returned for revenge against the settlers. Following the deaths of some of his neighbors by the hands of the Indians, Reverend Copus asked for protection and was moved with his family to a blockhouse. After several days he was told by the Army that there was no longer any danger, so on 14 September 1812, nine soldiers were detailed to accompany him to his home. Upon his return, nothing there had been disturbed and he felt somewhat at ease. Later that afternoon, one of Copus' daughters noticed a Native American at the edge of the woods but did not report the incident.
Attack
The following day, seven of the soldiers left to wash at a nearby spring, leaving their weapons near the house. The Native Americans attacked the men at the spring. Three fled to the woods. They were pursued by the Native Americans and two of them were tomahawkTomahawk (axe)
A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan word.Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials...
ed; the third man was shot and mortally wounded.
The only soldier who regained the cabin was George Dye, who fought through the Native Americans. He was wounded in the thigh by a musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
ball. As he came through the door, Copus was hit by a shot through his chest. Wounded, Copus shot and hit a Native American.
On the east of the cabin extended a range of hills several hundred feet high covered with timber and large rocks, which furnished an excellent cover for the enemy and gave them a position from which they could fire down upon the cabin. The Native Americans besieged the cabin from the hill. The soldiers tore up the puncheon
Puncheon
Puncheon is a tool or instrument for piercing or punching, such as those used for impressing designs onto coin dies. The "barrel" meaning is thought to derive from the fact that it would have been marked by use of a punch to denote its contents....
s of the floor and placed them against the door to prevent the balls from penetrating to the interior of the cabin. Nancy Copus, a little girl, was wounded in the knee by a ball that passed through the door. One of the soldiers, George Launtz, had his arm broken by a ball. Reportedly Launtz killed the attacker who wounded him.
The soldiers fought back. The battle lasted from daybreak until midmorning. The Native Americans then retreated, killing some sheep on their way. As soon as the Native Americans disappeared, one of the soldiers crawled out through the roof of the cabin and went for assistance. The day before, Captain Martin had agreed to call at the Copus cabin the same evening with a number of soldiers and remain all night. But he and his soldiers, having been scouting all day and finding no signs of Native Americans, concluded that all apprehensions of danger were frivolous, therefore neglected to appear as agreed. He had encamped on the Black Fork and reached the Copus' cabin by late morning. On approaching the cabin, he and his soldiers attended to the wounded. Search was made for the Native Americans but they were not found. On the 70th anniversary a monument was put up at the site of the killings.
Killed:
George Shipley
John Tedrick
Robert Warnick
James Copus
External links
- The Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama includes the Copus Massacre, although it has been embellished considerably.