HARMAR TO KNOX, AUGUST 7, 1787 |
35 |
tance from the Ohio, but we were obliged to oblique for the sake of the water.
On the 16th we forded the White River (a
considerable stream) about fifteen miles below the forks, and arrived at Post
Vincennes on the 17th at noon.3 The whole march computed to be about
seventy miles. From the Ohio (where we set out)
to the White River we had a very difficult march, the country being full of
thickets & scarce of water, but afterwards we marched through fine open
woods, & large prairies or natural meadow, & encamped on the banks of
the Wabash.4
On the 18th we were visited by Colonel Legras, the magistrate, & the principal French inhabitants, welcoming us upon our arrival. Their behaviour was most respectfully submissive. In the afternoon of the same day, finding the Wabash
3 Harmar encamped on the night of the 17th "near a small stockade erected by Gen. Clarke on the banks of the Wabash." The next day the encampment was removed "about a quarter of a mile higher up the Wabash." This latter site was probably at the foot of Buntin Street, the location of the garrison which Hamtramck was to build and which Harmar named Fort Knox. Diary of Josiah Harmar, July 17 and 18, 1787, in Harmar Papers. See also below, pp. 108, 138, and "A Plan of the Borough of Vincennes in the Indiana Territory as established by an Ordinance of the Trustees . . . 18th November 1816," by Robert Buntin, surveyor, photostat in Indiana Division, Indiana State Library. This plan shows the site of Fort Sackville on the river at the foot of Church Street, and the site of Fort Knox up the river at the foot of Buntin Street.
4Lieut. John Armstrong, a member of the expedition, wrote from Vincennes to his friend Col. Richard C. Anderson in Louisville, August 8, 1787, "Our march from the Ohio to this place was a disagreeable one. The weather being warm we suffered much for want of water, marching sometimes eight and ten miles without a drink. The country which we passed is and ever will be a desert." Transcript in John Armstrong Collection in possession of Charles F. Cochran, La Porte. For another account of an overland journey to Vincennes by Armstrong, see below, pp. 143-44.
Two of the soldiers who accompanied Harmar on his Vincennes expedition left diary accounts which have been published. " Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny," in Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, VII (Philadelphia, 1860). 303-5, and the journal of Joseph Buell quoted in Samuel P. Hildreth, Pioneer History: Being an Account of the First Examinations of the of the Ohio Valley . . . (Cincinnati, 1848), 154-58.
HARMAR TO KNOX, AUGUST 7, 1787 |
37 |
published in English & French which amazed the inhabitants exceedingly,
particularly those who stile themselves Americans. A copy of the said resolve
& the orders relative thereto I do myself the honor to enclose.
On the 28th eight Piankeshaw Indians arrived
from the Terre haut up the Wabash in consequence of Colonel Legras
information to them of the troops coming to the post. On the 29th I had a
conference with them & presented them with
13 strings of wampum, and assured them of the friendly disposition of the
United States, & advised them not to listen to
what any bad people might say to the contrary. I sent a message by these
Indians to all the chiefs of the different tribes on the Wabash, inviting them
to assemble here & hear what I had to say to them. These Indians were well
pleased, they presented me with a calumet. I gave them some small presents, and
they set off on the 31st to deliver my message to the different chiefs. The
French inhabitants at the same time sent a speech to them, a copy of which I
have the honor to enclose.8
On the 5th instant, Lieut. Armstrong & Ensign Sedam arrived with the stores, clothing, &c from the mouth of the Wabash, after a very fatiguing dangerous passage. Several parties of Indians were hovering about the Wabash, they waylaid a canoe on the 25th ult which had fell in the rear at what is called the Long Rapid, on board of which was some flour & whiskey, private property belonging to our guide; they killed one of Captain Zeigler's company, & a French man & took prisoner one of the men whom I had enlisted for one year.9 I informed the Indians of this circumstance & to tell their chiefs that if they did not desist, they would certainly draw upon them the vengeance of the United States. They disavowed in strong terms any knowledge of this murder.
claims without the express authority and
direction of the United States in Congress assembled." Journals of the
Continental Congress, XXV, 602.
8In the Harmar Papers, there is a
speech of Colonel Le Gras addressed to all the Indian Nations on the Wabash.
There is an endorsement that a copy was forwarded to Knox in Harmar's letter of
August 7.
9John Siddon, who later escaped. See below, Harmar to Hamtramck, July 26, 1788, and note.
44 |
OUTPOST ON THE WABASH |
mouth of the Little Wabash & I have not seen them since. I hope sir my
conduct during this command will meet your approbation.
I am sir with every respect your obdt. servt,
JOHN ARMSTRONG, Lieut. 1st U. S. Army |
COL. HARMAR
[Addressed:] Josiah Harmar Esqr. Lieut. Col. Commandant
[Endorsed:] Report on his Command down the Wabash river August 8th 1787
HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, November 3, 1787
[ALS]
POSTE VINCENNES Novemb'r the 3d 1787 |
DEAR SIR Since your departure from us1 nothing extraordinary has hapened. I have been told of many Shawness Indians being out for war but have not yet hear of their success, and as they have no other mode of geting their leaving I have send them an invitation to come and hunt in our neighborhood to divert them from depredation on the frontiers.
The building of our garrison comes on but very
slow, owing to the great scarcity and difficulties of obtaining the timber. Our
civil administration has been and is in great confusion. Many people are
displeased with the magistrates. How it will
go at the next election which is to be the 2d of Decemb'r I know not. But it is
to be hoped that Congress will soon establish some mode of goverment for I
never saw so injudicious administration. Application has repeatedly been made
to me for redress. I have avoided to give answer not knowing how far my power
extended. In my opinion the Minister at War should have that matter determined
and sin-
1Harmar left Vincennes October 1. See his letter to Knox, November 21, 1787, below.
HARMAR TO KNOX, NOVEMBER 34, 1787 |
47 |
in order that I might be enabled to render a statement of affairs in that part
of the United States.
Accordingly I marched on the 9th day of August
from the post, with a subaltern (Ensign McDowell1) & thirty men
through the prairies, and arrived at Kaskaskias on the 16th of the same month.
Our march was very fatiguing, as the weather was excessive warm, and water very
bad & scarce on our route. The distance is about 160 miles. The French call
it 60 leagues.
I was accompanied by two Indians (Pacahn, a Miami chief,2 & his
comrade), who hunted & supplied the party with meat (Buffalo & deer)
both on the march and on our return.
These prairies are very extensive natural
meadows, covered with long grass. One in particular which we crossed was eight
leagues in breadth. They run in general North to South, and, like the ocean, as
far as the eye can see, the view is terminated by the horizon. Here and there a
copse of woods is interspersed. They are free from bush & underwood, and
not the least vestige of their ever having been cultivated. The country is
excellent for grazing, and abounds in buffalo, deer, bear, etc.
It is a matter of speculation to account for the formation of the prairies. The
western side of the Wabash is overflown in the spring for several miles.
On the 17th I was visited by the magistrates & principal inhabitants of Kaskaskia welcoming us upon our arrival. Baptiste de Coigne, the chief of the Kaskaskias Indians,3 paid me a visit in the afternoon, and delivered me a speech, expressive of the greatest friendship for the United States, and
1Ens. Nathan McDowell, of Pennsylvania
2Whether or not this is the chief who succeeded Little Turtle as the great chief of the Miami is not certain. "Pucan" and "Pacan" signed treaties with the United States in 1809, "Pecon" signed the second Treaty of Greenville in 1814, and "Pacan" a treaty of the following year, undoubtedly all the same Indian. Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, Ind. . . . (Chicago: B.F. Bowen, Publisher, 1901), pp. 220, 225-26; Charles F. Kappler (ed.), Indian Affairs. Laws and Treatises (2 volumes. Washington, D. C., 1904), II, 102, 103, 106, 119.
3For sketch, see below, p. 197n.
HARMAR TO KNOX, NOVEMBER 34, 1787 |
51 |
the request of the inhabitants10 (which is enclosed) I assembled
them, & gave them advice to regulate their militia, & obey their
magistrates &c until Congress should be pleased to order a government for
them. I have to remark that all these people are entirely unacquainted with
what Americans call liberty. Trial by jury, &c, they are strangers to. A
commandant with a few troops to give them orders is the best from of government
for them, it is what they have been accustomed to.
On the 27th, I left Kaskaskias, after having received every mark of respect and attention from the inhabitants, in order to set out for the post. We marched by a lower route; several of the French, and the Kaskaskias chief with his tribe (about ten in number), accompanied us, and we arrived safe at Post Vincennes on the afternoon of the 3rd of September. I made the distance by the lower route to be about 170 miles.
On the 5th the Piankishaw and Wea Indians arrived at the Post from up the Wabash, to the number of about 120. Every precaution was taken. We had a fortified camp, two redoubts were thrown up on our right & left, & the guard in front entrenched. The troops were all new clothed, and made a truly military appearance. The Indians saluted us by firing several vollies on the Wabash, opposite our camp. Their salute was returned by a party of ours firing several platoons.
I was determined to impress upon them as much as possible the majesty of the United States, and at the same time that they were informed that it was the wish of Congress to live in peace & friendship with them, likewise to let them know that if they persisted in being hostile that a body of troops would march to their towns and sweep them off the face of the earth.
10The letter from the magistrates of Kaskaskia to Harmar, August 25, 1787, is printed in Carter (ed.), Territorial Papers, II, 67-68. "We are certain Sir,"the magistrates wrote, "that if you will assemble the people previous to your departure, and in their presence recommend to them obedience to the Laws, and a proper respect to the Magistrates, that we shall have the satisfaction yet to see justice, peace, union and happiness reigning, among us."
52 |
OUTPOST ON THE WABASH |
On the 7th I invited them to camp & made the enclosed speech to them. The
Indians admired the troops. I believe they had never seen such a sight before.
On the 8th they answered by speech, and in strong figurative language expressed their determination to preserve perfect peace and friendship with the United States, as long as the waters flowed, &c. They utterly disavowed any knowledge of the murder that had been committed, and assured me that enquiry should be made for the prisoner.11 They presented me with a number of calumets & wampum, which I now have the honor of transmitting to you enclosed in a rich otter skin; they will be delivered by Mr. Coudre.12 Mr. Coudre has acted as volunteer for a considerable time in the Regiment, and has conducted himself with propriety. If a vacancy should happen in the Connecticut quota, I beg leave to recommend him to your notice.
On the 9th, the young warriors were drinking whiskey and dancing before our tents all the morning, to demonstrate their joy. On the 10th, I made them several presents from the commissioner's goods, to no great amount. On the 12th the chief part of them left the post for their different villages up the Wabash. They returned highly satisfied with the treatment they received. Indeed it was a proper tour of fatigue for me. I found it politic to pay the greatest attention to them. They are amazing fond of whiskey, and destroyed a considerable quantity of it. I trust that you may find this conference with the Indians attended with very little expence. I question whether the whole, provision whiskey & presents, will cost the public more than 150 dollars. Their interpreter18 is a half Frenchman and married to a Wea squaw. He has very great influence among them. I judged it necessary to pay extraordinary attention to him.
11See above, Harmar to Knox, August 7.
12John Coudray ?
13Probably Jean Baptiste Constant. See Hamtramck to Harmar, August 12, 1788, below.
HARMAR TO KNOX, NOVEMBER 34, 1787 |
71 |
one who was in the action with respect to the Ilinois country.5 I
have not heard from there long ago. Last winter a party of the Kikapoo who lives
on St. Joseph River made an excursion in the Ilinois, killed four and tooke
prisoner 12 men.
We have had a total change in our goverment, for it was the most injuste court that could have been invented. If any body called for a court the president had
| 20 livers in peltry 14 magistrates at 10 livers do for a room 10 do other small expences 10 do which made in peltry |
20 140 10 10 _____ 180 |
and which is 360 in mony, so that man who had
twenty or thirty dollars due was oblig'd to pay, if he wanted a court,
180 livers in peltry. This court also never granted an execution but only took
care to have the fees of the court paid.
The goverment of this country has been in the
Legras and Gamelin family for a long time to the great dissatisfaction of the
poeple who presented me a petition some days ago where in they complained of
the injustice of their court, in consequence of which I have disolved the old
court, ordered new magistrates to he elected and established new regulations
for them to
go by. Copy of which I have the honor to enclose.6 My code of laws
will no doubt make you laugh but I hope you will consider that I am nither a
lawyer or a legislator. I have done it for the best. One good thing is that
their is not one among them that can find fault with it.
This place is so extravagant that the officers have requested me to represent you their situation and beg that if you should think propre to represent their situation to the minister at war. I believe that if they were permited to draw provision beside their subsistance they would be satisfyd.7 With respect
5For Harmar's reply to this, see his letter to Hamtramck, July 26, 1788, below.
6See below.
7See below, Harmar to Hamtramck, August 7, 1788.
76 |
OUTPOST ON THE WABASH |
ration essentially necessary and will be a means of preserving their health in
a very considerable degree.
J. ELLIOT S M |
[Endorsed:] Return of hospital stores wanting at Post Vincennes Aprl 14th 1788
[Enclosure 4-ADS]
A return of stores on hand 15th April 88
| style='mso-bookmark:76'> | lb of pork | lb of beef | bls flour | lb of soap | lb of candles |
bush'ls of salt |
barrels whiskey |
|
| 10400 | 4300 |
--- |
--- | --- |
2 |
--- |
| POST
VINCENNES 15 April 88 |
H. VAN DER BURGH15 |
HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, May 21, 1788
[ALS]
POST VINCENNES May 21st 1788 |
DEAR GENERAL I hope you have recived my letter by Mr. Spear1 in which I had the honor of communicating you all the neuse of this country, and I also conclude that you have by this time recived four of my letter; if you have not, I hope you will not charge me with neglect, for I can assure you that I have wrote by every opportunity.
Since the departure of Mr. Spear I have recived a number of intelligence from the Weyah villages2 and my information which I not doubt in the least, is that scalps are dayly
15Henry Vanderburgh, who had a
store in Vincennes, was also acting as commissary for the post at this time.
_______
1Letter of April 13, above.
2On the Tippecanoe below the present city of Lafayette.
HARMAR TO KNOX, MAY 21, 1788. |
77 |
brough[t] in supposed to come from Kentuckey. I am about taking a measure which
I hope you will approve. I am sending to them that if after a month after my
notification to cease commiting depredation, I hear they bring in more scalps,
or prisoners, I shall prohibit all Weyatenas to enter the vilage. In my opinion
we will have goodill of trouble with those vilains, until they are distroy 'd.
Their vilages may easily be surprised and if you t[h]ought propre to procure me
4 or 500 men I would do my best to accomplish the business. About 80 of the
Weyas are out at war on the Ohio.
I am very much at lost how to act respecting goods coming from Detroit; the merchants of this place are dayly making application to bring in some; I will be very much oblige to you to give me dire[c]tion. If it is not permited I could wish that some merchants of our country might be incouraged to come here, for if the Indians can not get their necessary supplys at this place they will go to the British merchants at the Meamie. Linen is a capital article, a man with a good assortment of it would get all the peltry of the Illinois and of this place. The white poeple are without shirts.
I have a ranger with me whose time will expire very soon. He has not as yet recived any cloathing and if I can be permited to reinlist him he may be serviceable.
In my letter by Mr. Spear I had the honor to inform you how much obligation I had to Mr. Vigo for supplying the garison. Finding myself particularly interested being accontable for the payment (for all the provision has been purchased on my credit) I hope and I am assured you will give me a coup de main to extricate myself from a hevy debt. The rations I have bought will come to about 13 d/o Pens. money.
Not a man has yet reinlisted and imagine very few will; the soldiers dont like the place. It is too dear for them. I shall be very week in August, the time of Smith's company expiring every day. I have the honor of inclosing you a return respecting their inlistment, also a return of provision in
80 |
OUTPOST ON THE WABASH |
[Enclosure 1-ADS]
Return of the number of fiting men in different villages on the Wabash and at the Mawmee and distance from the post
|
High lands8 Vermillion Wyahtinaws9 Kickapoos opposite the Wyah The Isle River10 Mawmee Grand Elks hart Little Elks hart |
Distance miles 120 60 60 60 120 60 15 |
Men 30 200 300 100 150 350 100 those leaves [lives] on the two 60 rivers that forks at the Mawmee ______ 1290 |
I believe the computation not to be an extravagant one.
| J. F. HAMTRAMCK Major |
POST VINCENNES May 16th 88
[Enclosure 2-DS]
James Gray & William Griffin Garland
relate that on the morning of the 21st of last month11 coming down
the Ohio river [in a] Kentucky boat in company with three other men they were
taken between the Little and Great Miami by a party of
one hundred Indians. Forty of them were in a flatt and the others on shore.
They were principally Shawanees, with a few Mingo's and Cherokees. Capt. James
and Captain Snake, two Shawanees, appeared to be the principal men amongst
them. That in the afternoon of the same day they took another boat with five
men and a very considerable quantity of merchandize. The prisoners were divided
amoungst the Indians to be taken to the different towns. That they two were
carried up the Great Miami within two or three days' march of the Shawanees
Towns where they made their escape on the 22 of April. They also say that a few
days
8Site of Terre Haute. 9Ouiatanon. 10Eel River.
11This must have been on the morning of March 21.