Consolidated Docket No. 317, Defendant Exhibits 61-171

Dft. Ex. 74

Historical Society of Pennsylvania Ms., Wayne Papers

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to [Anthony Wayne], Fort Knox,
May 29, 1794

Sir

I had the honour of writing your Excellency the 14^th Ins^t, by M^r Pu, whom I sent express.   a few day's after it was discovered that two Frenchmen who had been up white River trading, was killed, by Indians, supposed to be of the Delawar tribe,.--

On the 19^th Ins^t, a recruit by the name of James M^cNemarrow deserted from this Garrison, & after wandering in the woods for five days, he surrendered himself to me, praying for mercy & forgiveness, on the 26^th, I gave him fifty lashes, & on the 27^th he informed me he had deserted some time past from Cap^t Pike, ading he had reflected on his past conduct, & was determined to merit compassion by his future behavour, begging I would ask, & pray your Excellency for his pardon, on which, I, Immediately put him in cloase confinement, where I shall keep him untill I heare from you on the subject, with directions respecting him, he is capable of makeing a good Soldier.--

A few days past a number of the Inhabitants of this place was called together by M^r Vanderburgh, at which I am well Informed, he proposed that they should sign a Petition to the, President, for Cap^t Prior to be appointed Indian Agent at this place, & one of the most notorious vilians to be found his Interpreter, by the name of John Baptist Constong, well known to the officers who has been at this place, it was plainly seen by the observant that the plan was formed for private views, contrary to Publick good, Major Vigo retired after makeing his observation on it, a few others of Influence follow'd his example, which put an end to the business, since this, a Petition is on foot; for the safety of the Village, respecting part of the Militia being kept in pay, Major Vigo, I beleave will write your Excellency on this subject.--

This day Cap^t Prior shew me a letter, said to be from one Ducoin, who went to Philadelphia with him, informing that three, or four, Chiefs' of the Saucks would be here in a few day's, if he would inform them he was here to g to Congress with them, as they had heared,. Cap^t Prior has intended to leave this Tomorrow with M^r Ewing, by whom I forward this, but on the above information, he declines it, to wait for the arrival of the above

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to [Anthony Wayne], Fort Knox,
May 29, 1794
(page 2)

Indians'- Magee has sent the Indians of the Wabash, a belt with an invitation to take up the hatchet against us, which was delivered to me by a Chief Called the little Bever, of which he in presence of his young men, joined me in trampling under foot, as my father would him, & all his enimies if necessary.--

P. S. since I wrote this letter, Cap^t Prior has changed his mind, & informs me this evening, he will go on
with M^r Ewing--

Pasteur, Thomas
Information received from N^o 1.
Vincennes, June 22, 1794.

Information received from N^o 1.     June 22, 94.

That he went up the Wabash about 200 miles, which was about 12 miles below the Weyo Town, where he met one Indian from that Town, one other that belongs to the Eeal River Tribe, the latter said, my Brother beleave what I shall tell you, I have seen it myself, The Americans have left all their Forts, & the Delawar & Miamia Indians are now in posession of the ground where they stood, I myself follow'd the Army to the greate Miamia, & Stole six horses, the Americans done very right in going a way, for if they had stayed to fight, the Indians would have had a greate number of Slaves, for the Indians were much stronger then they ever was before, for their father the British had 300, men at the mouth of the Rapids, about 6 miles below Rock Debout, where the British sends Small Vessels, there is also a greate number of Canadian's, & militia ready to join them, the British told the Indians, you have fought by yourselves a long time; now I am come to help you, take greate courage, you go before and suround the Garrisons, & I will follow you with Cannon, after that, I will shoe you what I will do with them,-

The cause of N^o 1^es returning was that the above Indian told him to go back, for if he proceeded he never would return, you are well known, said he, & that you had a hand in trampling Magees red Wampum under your feet at Fort Knox, go back my Brother, if you wish to live, I have seen every thing I have told you-

Taken from N^o 1. as interpreted by Major Vigo,-

Attes^t Vigo

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to Anthony Wayne, Fort Knox,
June 23, 1794.

Sir

I had the honour of writing your Excellency the 10^th Ins^t, wherein I mentioned N^o 1. & inclosed the information given me by four of the Sagues'. Tribe of Indians, who arrived at this post the day before the date of that letter, On the 20^th Ins^t,
John Baptist Ducoin, accompanied by twenty other's of the Sagues, Fox, & Kaskaskias, arrived also, their business, what brought them, & the business done between us, I herewith inclose, it is said that one of them is a greate Chief of the Sagues; but it appeares to me, there is no leading Character among them except Ducoin, but be that as it may, I thought it my duty to act in the business as the proceedings will inform you of, considering, that if they have been deceived, by the invitation, they aught not to return dissatisfied, nor did I conseave it my duty to confirm the invitation by any means,

They haveing determined to stay with me untill I get an answer from your Excellency respecting them, I have hired M^r Pu, to hand you this, without delay, by whom I hope to have your Excellency's instructions respecting what further to do with them, the proceedings will inform you of their wants, & request's, from their publick, & private conversations it plainly appeares that they would go to Philadelphia if they were invited by the authority of General Washington, but if not they wish to wait for one,

They say, that if they return without presents, the Spaniards will rejoice, & obrade them for not beleaveing what they have allways told them, that the Americans were poore, & liers,.

Much to my disappointment, N^o 1. returned to this place yesterday at 12 O, Clock, the information he gives, I have the honour herewith to inclose.

Major Vigo, will give you some information, respecting the Spaniards purchasing the Cheksaw Bluff, & their intention to build a garrison at that place,

Examination of a Patawatime Warrior,
July 23, 1794.

The Examination of a Potawatime Warrior who was in the Attack upon Fort Recovery on the 30th Ultimo, & taken
prisoner by Mr. Wells & his party near Grand Glaise on the 21st July 1794.

     Qv.  How many cannon have the British at Roche de Bout

     Ansr.  By every account from 15 to 20 the Delawayes who pass & repass almost daily say that the Number is
20 pieces--

     Qv.  What Number of British troops are at Roche de Bout & how many have been promised to join with the
Indians to be operated against the Americans.

     Ansr.  The British told all the Indian Nations to bring on all their Warriors & that then the British would bring more than all of them put together, this was one moon before the Action at Fort Recovery the Indian Chiefs told the British now
to raise their strong arms & come The British told them to come as before & they would wait with their strong arms to strike the Americans who were expected to come the other way in their r[illeg.] after the Indians went to war.

     Qv.  What numbers of Indians were in the action at Fort Recovery on the 30th Ultimo & what were their number

In addition to those several hundred around after the repulse There were also two British officers & 4   along who brought on ammunition to Batter the Fort, as soon as the Cannon should be discovered that were heretofore hid by the Indians after Genl St Clairs defeat-they could not find them

     Qv.  What was the real object of the Indians when they set out from Roche de Bout.

Examination of a Patawatime Warrior,
July 23, 1794.

     Ansr.  The Great man of Canada told them to go & take the first Fort & to go on & take one fort after an other & overturn General Waynes Army & roll them into the Ohio. The Indians thought their numbers equal to the [U.S.?] but were
soon convinced of their mistake in their repulse at Recovery Post.

     Qv.  What number of Indians were killed & wound in the assault upon Fort Recovery.

     Ansr.  I can not tell, the Indians carried off all their dead except a few that lay too near the Fort in the course of the night after the assaut I only saw the bodies of 4 Shawanoes and Potawataimes 10 Chipawas, two Wyendotts and about 16 Tawas, the Tawas suffered most there were a great number of wounded carried off on horse back and a number on bearers- most of those who were carried on bearers are since dead. The Chepawas & Tawas & indeed all of the other nations feared their dead nor do they like to talk of them- or to let other nations know how many another lost   the Chepawas & Tawas put their wounded in boats [at] Grand Glaise went off immediately by water, much disgusted & angry with the Shawanoes, who they suspected of having fired upon their rear whilst attacking the Fort   The Chepawas & Tawas were jealous of the other Nations & all the other Nations were jealous of them [illeg.] equal of mutual reproaches for bad conduct during the action

     Qv.  what is the present object or determination of the Indians

     Ansr.  The Shawanoes Delawars & Miamies are very uneasy for their situation- the General opinion appeared to be that they must abandon their Country as they can not expect any further assistance from the Chepawas & Tawas who are actually gone home highly disgusted with them- their attention was wholy absorbed for the safety of their women & children, who they were determined to move off as soon as the Army advanced towards Roche de Bout Detroit & up bear Creek which empties into the Miami a little above Grand Glaise

     Qv.  What is the size & form of the Fort or Works at Roche de Bout & what number of cannon are in it

     Ansr.  It is large & of a circular form so as to enclose all the Houses & Stores of Colo McKee & the Brit[ish] & other traders,  I do not know what number of cannon, I only saw the Holes that were made for them to fire out of

     Qv.  of what materials is the Fort made

Examination of a Patawatime Warrior,
July 23, 1794.

     Ansr.  It is made of large trees put end ways in the ground & high like this we are now in.

     Qv.  Is there a ditch round it, & is there any Abbetis, that is falley timber [illeg.] down with the points
of the limbs being outwards-

     Ansr.  There is not any ditch nor any of those kind of things you mentioned- all is smooth & clear on the
outside of the works.

     Qv.  Is there a work at the high bluff about two miles below Colo McKee's on the North side & bank
of the river.

     Ansr.  There was no work or sign of a work there on the first of May, I know this place very well & I am
sure there was none there then, if there is any, it must be since that time, but I have never heard or seen anything of it.

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to Anthony Wayne,
Fort Knox, February 15, 1795

Sir

I had the Honour of writing your Excellency the 6^th Dec^r Inclosing Return's for Nov^r, Since which there has nothing of Consequence taken place in this quarter.--

On the 26th Dec^r, a Pettowattomy Chief Called the Sun, requested me to meet him in Council on that day, I did so accordingly, when he delivered a Speach from the Chiefs, & Chief wariors of his Tribe, to the following purport, That they had heared my Speaches frequently, & that they were very good, That they were very sorry they could not come & See me then, but hoped I would open a clean road for them, That they had Sent their messenger the Sun to speake for them, & to Inform me they had opened a clean road for you, or any of your Warior's that chose to come & see them, That they did not Speake for themselves only, but for several nations, That they all threw themselves in your Arms, & knew no other Father then you, & hoped that pitty would be Shone them, That they Intended to come & See me & give their hands to their Father, never more to forsake him, he added, that I knew there was foolish People among them, That those, had been excited to War against you, by Magee, & other's of the British, That Magee Sent to each Chief & Village, a large keg of Powder, & told them to go & attack the Army again, but they answered him, they were done fighting; That they had returned to Magee all the Belts; & Madles, they had received from the British, & told him, they were done with them, & should listen to you their greate Father, & hoped you would take pitty on them, as they acknowledge you their faithful Father, & threw themselves under your protection.--

I answered them that if it was their wish to come & speake to me, on business of accomodation, I should be ready to heare them, & should Immediately transmit the business done between us, to your Excellency, that you might be able to decide thereon, & make such arrangements as you should think most propper, & effectual, at the same time I strongly recommended it to them, to bring in all the Prisoners they may have among them, as a Strong proof of their Sincerity. The Sun with his party, (one of which was a Brother to Lashase, who died in Philadelphia, greate Chief of the Tribe, but no speaker)left me on the 4^th day of Jan^y well pleased, & said he should return with pleasing news to his distressed Brothers', & that I might expect to see him, with some Chiefs I have never yet seen, about the 20^th of March,.--

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to Anthony Wayne,
Fort Knox, February 15, 1795
(page 2)

I have two Recruits in confinement, whom I should have sent to Head Quarters, had an opportunity have offered, one Inlisted by the name of James M^cNemarrow, & after a short time acknowledged himself to be a Deserter from Cap^t Pike, & that he Inlisted with him, by the name of James Doran, & whom I have before wrote your Excellency respecting. The other is Henry Allen, whom I am Confidently shure would have went off with my other three deserters, had I not confined him the moment I did, & I still bereave that was he liberated at this place, he would desert Immediately, for which reason I wish to send him to the Army the first opportunity, M^r Buntin is acquainted with the whole circumstance. The Detachment is very much in want of Cloathing & Kittles.--

My principal Interpreter M^r Lemott, has called on me for his pay as such, from the 1^st day of May last, his account among others, will be handed your Excellency by M^r Buntin, for directions of Settlement; haveing examined them, that I have signed.--

Duty in a short time will be very hard on the Privates at this Post, my number is small at this time, & by the end of June, it will be much more so, as a number of their times will expire by that date, adding the approach of the Sickley Season.--

I have the Honour herewith to Inclose Returns for Dec^r & Jan^y, together with Muster Rolls of the Detachment up to the 1^st Ins^t., By M^r Buntin, the Bearer of this, will be a safe opportunity for the Conveyance of any money, Cloathing, or stores, your Excellency may think propper to direct for this Post, he will wait your order's, & take charge of them, if you think propper.--

The yellow Beaver, who left your Excellency in June last, on a visit to his Father, (who has since died,) has at length
called on me for a Safe guard, in order that he may return to your Excellency, I have therefore sent him on, under the care
of M^r Buntin.--

Pasteur, Thomas

Letter to Anthony Wayne,
Fort Knox, February 15, 1795
(page 3)

Since I wrote so far of this letter & on the 14^th Ins^t, I received another message from the Pettawattomy Indians, by a
Chief Warior, called Turkey Foot, amounting to the very same, as that delivered by the Sun, to which I returned an
answer Similar to the one I gave him,