Military officer; born in
Kentucky in 1794.
His father was an officer in the Revolution and a hunter.
Leslie was the youngest of twelve children, and was distinguished for energy and bravery in the
War of 1812-15.
He commanded a company of scouts, and did admirable service for the salvation of Fort Meigs.
When
General Harrison was about to be closely besieged in Fort Meigs (May, 1813), he sent
Capt. William Oliver to urge
Gen. Clay Green (q. v.) to push forward rapidly with the Kentuckians he was then leading towards the
Maumee Rapids.
While
Colonel Dudley, whom
Clay had sent forward, was on his way down the
Au Glaize River,
Clay heard of the perilous condition of Fort Meigs, and resolved to send word to
Harrison of his near approach.
He called for a volunteer, when
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Leslie Combs—then nineteen years of age —promptly responded.
“When we reach Fort defiance,” said
Combs, “if you will furnish me with a good canoe, I will carry your despatches to
General Harrison and return with his orders.
I shall only require four or five volunteers and one of my Indian guides to accompany me.”
Combs was properly equipped, and on May 1 he started on his perilous errand, accompanied by two brothers named
Walker and two others (
Paxton and
Johnson); also by young Black
Fish, a Shawnee warrior.
They passed the rapids in safety, when the roar of the siege met their ears.
Great peril was in their way. It was late in the morning.
To remain where they were until night or to go on was equally hazardous.
“We must go on,” said the brave
Combs.
As they passed the last bend in the stream that kept the fort from view they were greatly rejoiced to see “the flag was still there,” and that the garrison was holding out against a strong besieging force.
Suddenly they were assailed by some Indians in the woods, and were compelled to turn their canoe towards the opposite shore, where they abandoned it. One of the party was killed and another badly wounded.
Combs and his unhurt companions made their way back to
Fort Defiance.
Subsequently, being made prisoner, he was taken by the
Indians, his captors, to
Fort Miami, below, where he was compelled to run the gantlet, in which he was pretty severely wounded.
His life was saved by the humanity of
Tecumseh.
Combs became a general of the militia, and was always a zealous politician and active citizen.
He was a Union man during the
Civil War. He died in
Lexington, Ky., Aug. 22. 1881.
