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party of the chiefs were actually on their way to Post Vincennes and intended
to request the commanding officer there to have them removed. That if he did
not they were determined to fall on them. He also informed me that when he was
on the Ohio a few miles from the Mississippi that he heard a heavy fire of
small arms that it had the appearance of an engagement and continued for some
time. The firing appeared to him to be on the Point.
In ascending the Ohio I saw tracks of several parties of Indians who appeared to have been waiting an opportunity to attack my party had they found us relaxed in our duty. I had the good fortune however to return without any accident or the loss of a single man. I conclude the expedition made by the exertions of the party prevented the enimy from collecting in force sufficient to march as I should have been here one day sooner but was detained that time on the Wabash giving protection to a boat bound for Orleans.
I am sir with due respect your obed't serv't
JOHN ARMSTRONG Lieut. 1st U. S. R. |
FORT FINNEY 25 June 1789
CAPT. ASHTON Commandant
HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, July 29, 1789
[ALS]
FORT KNOX AT POST VINCENNES July 29th 1789
DEAR GENERAL The last I had the honor to write you was the 15th of last June, in which I was to inclose Lieut. Armstrong report to me during his ascending the Wabash, but by a mistake it was neglected. I now inclose it.
In my last I informed you that I had send to the Wabash Indian an invitation to cease their carnages since which a number of them have come down from the Weeya; they spoke to me with a submition rare to be seen with Indians, they gived me thousans protestations of their repentance and they
| HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, JULY 29, 1789 |
179 |
went back assuring me that all their parties at war would be called in. They
told me that if their yong men refused to live amicabely with us that they
would leave them and come under the protection of the United States, in fact
the French tells me that they never had heard the Indians speak in so
humiliating maner. I suppose that their povrety obliges them to make friend
with us.
The garrison is very sickly, forty nine men are this day sick with the intermitting fever, and what chagrins me most is that we have not an ounce of bark, and the sick obliged to live on salt provision for the want of hospital stores. The knowledge I have of our sickly climate as well from observation as from personal experience obliges me to represent the difficiency in our supply of medicine, and Doctor Elliot informs me that a great part of the little he has received has been of a very bad quality. This I know that he gives 8 to ten grains of tarter emetic when 2 or 3 ought to perform the operation and I am well persuaded that every man who composes this garrison can take a pound of bark during the sickly season.
The acc't of Mr. Vigo will be made against the late contracter.1
As in my last letter I mentioned to you that I had left the garrison to go down to the relief of Lieut. Armstrong and as it is some thing uncommon for the commandant of a garrison to leave it (Col. Bidle last war was broked for having left his garrison at the Cedres in Canada) it may not be impropre for me to give my reasons. In the first place I had not an ounce of provision in store, second I had received information that an attack was premeditated on the village in a few days, which if it had taken place would have cut off any supplys I might have expected, thirdly I knew that the Indians were sufficiently in force to prevent Lieut. Armstrong from ascending and finding, that the post I occupied was not the key of a Medeteranian, I concluded that it was not 70 yards of grond
1 James O'Hara. See above, pp. 70, 92, 137, 148-49.
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I am dear general with every sentiments of respect and estime your most
obedient and very humble servent,
J. F. HAMTRAMCK (turn over) |
P. S. I am this moment inform'd that the people of Kentuck are going on an expedition against the Wabash Indians and from every circumstances I believe it.5 But Mr. Vigo who will pass at the Falls will be able to inform you better. I am also inform'd that one Daniel Sulivan from this place and others from this place are gone to meet the Kentuck people. If so I shall be glad of your direction how and what I am to do with them when the[y] return.
Since I have wrote the above I have recived a message from the Weya Indians with new protestations of their good intentions and as a testimony of it, they have send me one of our deserters they had with them, another will also be sent. A number of Indians were coming to the village. But this Kentuck affair will undo every thing. It is very mortifying to see the authority of the United States so much insulted.
I would be very much oblig'd to you if you would order me some cloathing for a private servent I have.
This other deserter that I expect will be sent down, is a corporal6 who lifted his guard and deserted with the one that is return and whom at that time was a prisoner in the guard.
1 On August 26 Captain Asheton, commanding at Fort Steuben at the Falls of the Ohio, wrote Harmar that an expedition of Kentuckians led by Maj. John Hardin had marched from Clarksville on August 3 for the Wea towns. "On the 9th at one o'clock, & within one day's journey of the town, they fell in with a party of Shawanese 22 in no. men women & children. They had kindled their fires & turn'd out their horses to feed, with their bells open, by which means they were discovered. The spies instead of giving the information to the comman'g officer gave it to the advance guard, who without orders rush'd on to the attack in such disorder, that they only kill'd three men, a boy, three squaws & a child & took two children prisoner; the remainder got off unhurt, and took with them eight or ten of the Kentuckians best horses. Two of the militia were badly wounded and Major Harden returned on the 15th without attempting any thing father." Harmar Papers.
6Cpl. David Core. See below, Knox to Harmar, August 25, 1790.
| HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, AUGUST 14, 1789 |
183 |
house under the charge of this corporal. If he is sent to me as a [I] expect he
will, I will keep him in confindment until I hear from you, as I think his
crime is too great to be tryd by a garrison court martial. If you are pleased
to order a General Court one officer will only be wanted as I can be the
president.
HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, August 14, 1789
[ALS]
FORT KNOX AT POST VINCENNES August 14, 1789
DEAR GENERAL In my last I had the honor to inform you of an expedition made by the people of Kentuck against the Wabash Indians. A party of them are now in this place on their return to Kentuck. This expedition consisted of 220 men who have gone near the Weeya, killed 12 Indians. All this great campagn whas done in 16 days. It may be call'd a provocation for I am well persuaded that they will pay for it and perhaps this village. Some Americans of this village were with them. Mr. Daniel Sullivan and one Mr. Duff1 and others. Mr. Duff was walking this day in the streets with two scalps fasened on a stick. If those people are to be taken notice of I shall execute your directions with very great pleasure, and I am this moment at a s[t]and about confinding them. It is very mortifying to me to see the authority of the United States so much sneered at and not having sufficient power to chastise the aggressors.2
1Perhaps Michael Duff, of Kaskaskia.
2 The people of Kentucky were not without incentive for these raids against the Indians, for their settlements were constantly being attacked, their horses stolen, and men, women, and children murdered, scalped, or wounded. Governor St. Clair wrote to President Washington on September 14, 1789, "The constant hostilities between the Indians who live on the Wabash, and the people of Kentucky, must necessarily be attended with such embarrassing circumstances to the Government of the Western territory, that I am induced to request you will be pleased to take the matter into consideration. . . .
"It is not to be expected, sir, that the Kentucky people will or can, submit patiently to the cruelties and depredations of those savages; they are in the habit of retaliation, perhaps without attending precisely to the
EDGAR TO HAMTRAMCK, OCTOBER, 28, 1789 |
199 |
Every day are we threaten'd with being murdered & having our houses & village
burnt, the Piankashaws steal our horses & take them to the Spanish side
where they live and where we dare not, even allowing we had sufficient forces,
follow them, so that truly speaking our situation is desperate & even
pitiful. These Indians have hatred enough to the Americans without being pushed
on by white men, for this reason I am fearful of Ducoigne's life this winter,
as the Piankashaws threaten hard because he is a friend to America.
It is well known that the minds of the Indians are continually poisoned by the traders on the other side, who set off America in the most despicable light possible which has not a small influence with the Indians. Gouvernment may not encourage it but surely if friends to us they ought to put a stop to it.
The next spring it is impossible I can stand my ground, surrounded as we are by savage enemies. I have waited five years in hopes of a government, I shall still wait until March; as I may be able to withstand them in the winter season, but if no succour nor gouvernment should then arrive I shall be compelled to abandon the country, & I shall go to live to St. Louis. Inclination, interest & love for the country prompts me to reside here, but when in so doing, it is ten to one but both my life & property will fall a sacrifice, you nor no impartial mind can blame me for the party I shall take.
If you could consistent with your duty & character write to the commanding officer of St. Louis it will have a very good effect, and will in a great measure add to our safety.
Piankashaw Indians to prey upon the Americans in Kaskaskia, particularly Jones and Edgar, burn their property, steal their slaves, and commit other acts of depredation. Apparently two Piankashaw testified that they had been ordered to set fire to Edgar's house and kill everyone living there. The Indians had been told that as Edgar was not even an American, but a Royalist, they had nothing to fear in killing him. The enmity between Dodge and Jones was of long standing. See above, p. 190n. Hamtramck forwarded these depositions and letters to Harmar in his letter of November 11, below.
JONES TO HAMTRAMCK, OCTOBER 29, 1789 |
203 |
times by the Sacs & Renards, who in seeking for Ducoigne, will kill the
Americans as his friends, tho' for my part I believe that most of these stories
are fabricated on the other side on purpose to frighten us away, seeing no
other plan has had the desired effect.
The English lord that lately came from Michilinimackinak & visited St. Louis & St. Genevieve & is since gone down the Mississipi to Orleans on his way home, is Lord Edward Fitzgerald, a younger brother of the Duke of Leinster in Ireland & major of the 54th Reg't of foot now in Canada. He went up the Mississipi forty leagues above the Falls of St. Anthony, and held conferences with the Indians above as well as with the Shawnese & Delawares here. What the purport of his journey was we know not nor can conjecture. However one thing is certain, that he never visited the American villages on the Mississipi, which is rather extraordinary, if he was only on his travels for curiosity.7
We have just received the news from St. Louis that a no. of petty augurs from Michilinimackinak with English goods are stationed on the American shore opposite to the mouth of the Missouri, for the purpose of drawing down to them the trade of the Indians on that river. They say the no. is 24 petty augurs.
I have wrote a long letter, perhaps it may be disagreeable & tire your patience; if s[o] or the liberty I take in sending you the occurrences of this country, should not meet [with] your approbation, I would thank you to inform me, that I may not hereafter unwillingly offend.
7The sketch of Lord Fitzgerald (1763-1798) in the Dictionary of National Biography, gives a spirit of adventure as the only incentive for this trip. "Infected by the fashionable Rousseau admiration for savage life, Fitzgerald made his way by compass through the woods from Frederickton [New Brunswick] to Quebec, was formally admitted at Detroit into the Bear tribe, and went down the Mississippi to New Orleans." He returned shortly thereafter to England. Volume XIX (New York and London, 1889), 110.
| HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, NOVEMBER 2, 1789 |
205 |
an ounce in store, but the commissary informs me that he expects some on from
the Falls, for which purpose I have directed Capt. Ashton to furnish an escort.
Ever since last summer I have been taken measures to divide the Weeyaw Indians and I am happy to inform you that I have so far succeeded, that a tribe of about eighty warriors have come under the protection of the United States and delivered me two white prisoners taken some time ago in Kentukey. How long this alliance will last, I know not, as I have nothing to encourage them with and they expect it.
I have the honor to enclose you a petition from the inhabitants of Kaskaskias, and a copy of my answer.2 I also inclose a return of cloathing wanted in Capt. Smith's company, and a monthly return of the troops, the return of military stores for the inspection of July and also the returns of the last inspection. The troops were in very good order, the arms as well as the cloathing. As it is not improbable that the Minister at War will scold at the hospital expences I have been compelled to make, I will make my apology to you in time, who I hope will approve of my conduct. I had but two choices, to be guilty of murder, or to put the United States to some expence. The latter I adopted. The wine that has been drank has been consumed by those who must have died without it, and the sugar, tea, &c. were as necessary as the root of a tree is to its vegetation.
The Indians of the Kaskaskias have paid me another visit with new protestations of their fidelity.
Gibault has made his exit from this place for Kiokia, where he expects to make more money.3 I will be much obliged to you to inform me wether the reward offered for deserters is to be taken from their pay or not.
I am dear general with every sentiments of respect and esteem your most obedient and very humble servent,
J F. HAMTRAMCK |
2See above, September 14 and October 14.
3See above, pp. 61n, 201.
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of their new enlistments, and not from the expiration of their former service.
you will please to regulate matters accordingly. As for McCurdy's & Smith's
men, nothing was promised them on this head; therefore they are to serve out
their three years.
Respecting provisions, the contractor himself Mr. Elliott has gone forward for your post; he has given me the strongest assurances, that he will make such arrangements that all the posts shall be abundantly supplied. I am very happy to hear that from the measures you have taken you have so far succeeded as to divide the Weea Indians and that 80 of their warriors have come under the protection of the United States. This will be highly pleasing to the Governor. The petition from the inhabitants of Kaskaskias together with all the French papers &c &c which you transmitted me were laid before him for his perusal and consideration.
Captain Beatty takes on with him the clothing for Smith's company, & Lt. Peters will deliver you your new commission, & commissions for the rest of the officers at Post Vincennes.2 Beatty has made a glorious settlement for the regiment; he will inform you of the particulars. You will muster & inspect the troops under your command up to the 31st December 1789 inclusive, & do not detain Beatty. I shall expect his return here sometime in the latter end of April or beginning of May next. The boat called the Governor's barge we stand in great need of; send it as early as possible to head quarters.
The officers & men are to take the oath before you agreeably to the enclosed form, & each man is to subscribe the same. A roll is to be made out as in case of a muster. It will be necessary that you take the oath yourself before the Governor or Major Wyllys previous to your entering upon this business.
2Commissions in the Army of the United States under the Act of Congress of September 29, 1789, which recognized the army as established under the Confederation and prescribed the oath to be taken by all the officers and privates. U. S. Statutes at Large, I, 95-96.
| HAMTRAMCK TO HARMAR, MARCH 17, 1789 |
223 |
confined myself to particular places mentioned in the map, but the object was
as I presumed to know every obstructions as well as the distances and to which
I have particularly attended.
The boat which carry this letter is send by me to the Falls by the direction of His Excellency to procure some corn for the use of the village which is in a starving condition;4 so much so, that yesterday a woman, a boy of 12 years of age, and a girl of six were so much distressed by hunger, went to gather Indian patatoes, poisoned them selfs and die in about five hours. I have seen them my self. I have directed Mr. Peters that if he found that the boat would have time to go to head quarters before the corn could be procured by the contractor to send it.
We are in a similar situation in our garrison as you have been at Fort Washington. All this is indeed a bad begining for the first contract under our new goverment.
I received an express from Governor St. Clair the 14th instant. He says that he was stoped 15 days by the ice in the Mississippy and did not arrive at Kaskaskias until the 5th instant.5
Yesterday, Capt. Pier Gamelin went as a messenger from the governor to the Indians on the Wabash and to those of the
4On January 23, 1790, from Fort Steuben at the Falls of the Ohio, Governor St. Clair wrote to Hamtramck, "It is with great pain that I have heard of the scarcity of corn which reigns in the settlement about the Post. I hope it has been exaggerated, but it is represented to me that, unless a supply of that article can be sent forward, the people must actually starve. Corn can be had here in quantity, but can the people pay for it? I entreat you to inquire into the matter, and if you find that they can not do without it, write to the contractor's agent here, to whom I write you orders to send forward such quantity as you may find to be absolutely necessary. They must pay for what they can of it; they must not be suffered to perish. And, though I have no direct authority from the government for this purpose, I must take it upon myself. . . ." Smith (ed.), St. Clair Papers, 11, 131-32.
5St. Clair left Fort Washington on January 5, so his passage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia took two months.
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Miamie with propositions of peace.6 What his success will be time
can only determine, although I am
most certain that
6 St. Clair enclosed in his letter to Hamtramck of January 23, "a speech to the Indians of the Wabash and those of the Miami village," a message demanding assurances of peace and friendship from these tribes, which he asked Hamtramck to forward to them. This was St. Clair's move in following the President's instructions to determine the disposition of the Indians. (See above, p. 212n.) The Governor suggested that the person carrying the message should probably be a Frenchman and the speech should be translated into French and be made perfectly clear to the Indians through interpreters. "It is much the wish of the general government that peace may be established with those people, and the trial to affect it must be made. Should it fail, there is no doubt but an attempt must be made to chastise them." Smith (ed.), St. Clair Papers, II, 131.
Hamtramck wrote on February 24 to Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the Territory, who was then at Kaskaskia with Governor St. Clair, that he could not send the speech to the Indians when he received it, for all the Indians were then out hunting and it was necessary for the chiefs and warriors "to be present and deliberate on the propositions made to them." He therefore sent word to the villages that a messenger was coming with a speech from the Governor, and for them to gather in their town to receive him. Hamtramck expressed to Sargent his doubt that the Miami would be won over and added: "I think the best treaty would be a good flogging." Sargent Collection, Massachusetts Historical Society.
The Frenchman selected by Hamtramck to take the message was Pierre Gamelin, a member of a prominent Vincennes family. He went up the Wabash as far as the Vermilion River, where he received a friendly welcome, but no definite answer from the Indians there. He reported to Hamtramck that while there his life had been threatened by a personal enemy, one of the Vermilion Indians, and therefore he returned to Vincennes. Hamtramck then dispatched a second messenger, this time Antoine Gamelin, who went as far as the Miami town (site of Fort Wayne). He was well received by the tribes he visited- Wea, Shawnee, Potawatomi- along the way, but they were evasive in their answers to the message and referred him to the Miami for reply. The Miami were obviously under the influence of the English at Detroit and, on the whole, prospects of peace were not bright. It was Gamelin's report of his mission combined with continuing acts of hostility by the Indians on the Ohio and its tributaries, generally attributed to the Miami, that caused St. Clair to abandon hopes for peaceful negotiations with the Wabash and Miami Indians, and to return to Fort Washington from the Illinois country without stopping at Vincennes. Hamtramck to St. Clair, April 19, 1790, and St. Clair to the Secretary of War, May 1, 1790, in Smith (ed.), St. Clair Papers, II, 135, 136; same to same, August 23, 1790, in American State Papers, Indian Affairs, I, 92-93; Antoine Gamelin's journal of his mission, in ibid., I, 93-94. See also Hamtramck to Harmar, May 16, and Harmar to Hamtramck, July 15, below.