The history behind the event referred to as “Lochry’s Defeat or Lochry’s Massacre is an event which took place in the greater Cincinnati area. The area of conflict occurred just east of the Great Miami River near the present day Cleves, Ohio.
Scott Freeman (L) and Michael Gunn (R) on site of the interment camp in Cleves Ohio
Mike Gunn of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution wrote an excellent article for SAR magazine about this. The document can be read below:
Lochry’s Defeat Prisoners Remembered in a Twilight Ceremony on September 22, 2014
To commemorate the event referred to as Lochry’s Defeat or Massacre, on September 22nd there was a Twilight History Walk in Cleves Ohio.
List of the Militia Held Captive at this site near Cleves Ohio
Three members of CCSAR showed up to portray militiamen from Lochry’s Expedition, who following an ambush were held prisoner at an encampment on the Great Miami River near present day Cleves, OH from August 26 to September 15th, 1781.
Cincinnati SAR President Scott Freeman, former President and current Grave Marking Committee Chair Mike Gunn and Chaplain Dr. Ed Bonniwell were on hand to participate.
The brave members of the CCSAR from Left to Right – Ed Bonniwell, Scott Freeman and Mike Gunn
These CCSAR militia were attempting to look the part, like men who had been ambushed and taken prisoner after a long and hard trip down the river.
Scott Freeman bears the scars of others plight
Background of the Event:
After trying to catch up and join forces with Brigadier General George Rogers Clark’s Virginia militiamen for several weeks, Lochry’s force of 100+ Pennsylvania Militia from Westmoreland County were ambushed and massacred on August 24, 1781 near present day Aurora, IN by a similar number of Native Americans led by Joseph Brant.
Thirty-seven were killed including Colonel Archibald Lochry, many after surrendering, and the remaining 64 were taken prisoner.
The ill-fated Lochry’s Expedition was always “a day late and a dollar short” and seemingly unprepared for what they were about to face. They weren’t river men and had trouble making their way the down Ohio River from present day Wheeling, WV.
Their scouts and messages sent ahead to contact General Clark informing him of their progress and need for supplies had been captured by the enemy. The Indians knew their situation and had been tracking their progress. Hence the eventual ambush.
Like the original Lochry’s militiamen, the CCSAR militiamen (due to miscommunication) were in the wrong place at the wrong time and set up at the Ohio Historical Marker at the actual site of the internment camp, just north of town, a little over a mile from the start of the history walk. The history walkers never showed, as the internment camp was to be portrayed in town much closer to the start and other stops and historical sites.
The hearty CCSAR militiamen stuck it out for an hour and a half until darkness was falling, and it was certain no history walkers or shuttle were coming up the road from town. Two of the three had to leave, but President and First Lady Freeman drove into town and were able to catch up with the tour on its second to last stop, where John Cleves Symmes was giving a talk. There, when he was finished, we were able to tell the story of Lochry’s expedition to the history walkers.
Scott Freeman speaks to other participants in this event
Afterwards, we were given a private viewing of the sword of John Cleves Symmes at the museum.
The sword of John Cleves Symmes on display
We previously shared the story of the sword of John Cleves Symmes and you can access it with the following link:
https://cincinnatisar.org/cincinnati-sar-guards-the-ode-to-the-sword-at-taylor-high-school/
Despite the miscommunication, our participation and perseverance were greatly appreciated.
