LIFE
OF
INCLUDING
THE BORDER WARS
OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION,
AND
SKETCHES
OF THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERALS
HARMAR, ST. CLAIR, AND WAYNE,
AND OTHER MATTERS
CONNECTED WITH THE INDIANS RELATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES
AND GREAT BRITAIN, FROM THE PEACE OF 1788 TO
THE INDIAN PEACE OF 1795.
BY WILLIAM L. STONE.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NEW-YORK:
ALEXANDER V. BLAKE, 38 GOLD STREET.
1838.
Life of Joseph Brant-Thayendanegea
Stone, William
Vol. 2.
264 |
LIFE OF BRANT. |
[1786. |
quent on the banks of the Ohio and on the Kentucky border; and in both of those years larger parties had repeatedly attacked the crews of boats descending the river. It was likewise certain that two years only had elapsed after the close of the war before a hostile combination of the great north-western nations was supposed to have been formed; and documentary proof has been adduced in the preceding pages that a powerful and influential messenger, in the person of Captain Brant, had been instructed by those nations to ascertain prospectively the measure of assistance they might, in the event of hostilities, expect to receive from Great Britain. It is true that Lord Sidney, in his reply to the message of Thayendanegea, had avoided committing himself either way upon this point. But the message of the Mohawk chief, and the reply of the minister, were alike unknown to the public at that day. Still, it was to the detention of the posts on the lakes that the hostile temper manifested by the Indians, and their frequent outrages on the frontier, were ascribed; with more justice, as will hereafter appear, than Great Britain would be willing to allow.
The conduct of Captain Brant, moreover, when illustrated by his private correspondence as well as his public actions, will presently appear very mysterious, if not equivocal. By retiring with his own nation into Canada, the Mohawks had not withdrawn from the Confederacy of the Six Nations, nor had Thayendanegea relinquished his official rank as the principal or superior chief of the whole, though five of them remained within the United States. The differences which thus early sprang up between the United States and the Indians, arose upon a question of boundary; the latter maintaining that the Ohio river was not to be crossed by the people of the former. Captain Brant espoused the cause of the Indians at large upon this question, and had early and strenuously exerted himself to compass a grand confederation of all the north-western tribes and nations, of which, it is believed, he intended to be the head. The incipient steps to the formation of such a confederacy, the reader has already seen, had been taken in 1785, previous to his departure for England. On his return in the following year, his efforts for that object were renewed.* In December, 1786, a
*Letter of General Knox, Secretary of War- 11th May, 1791.
Life of Joseph Brant-Thayendanegea
Stone, William
Vol. 2.
|
1786.] |
LIFE OF BRANT. |
265 |
grand confederate council of the Indians
north-west of the Ohio, including the Six Nations, was held at Huron Village,
near the mouth of the Detroit River. This council was attended by the Six
Nations, and the Hurons, Ottawas, Twitchtwees, [Miamis,] Shawanese, Chippewas,
Cherokees, Delawares, Pottawattamies, and the Wabash Confederates. On the 18th
of that month, an address to the Congress of the United States was agreed upon,
the tone of which was pacific- provided the United States made no encroachments
upon their lands beyond the Ohio. After a declaration of their surprise that
they were not included in the treaty of peace, they observed that they had
nevertheless received a message from the King, advising them to remains quiet.
They had likewise received two very agreeable messages from the thirteen
States, from the tenor of which they had anticipated a period of repose. But
while they were devising the best measures to secure this result and form a
lasting reconciliation- while they had "the best thoughts in their minds,
mischief had happened." Still, they were anxious to prevent farther
trouble, as a principal means of which they recommended that no treaties should
be formed by the United States with separate Indian tribes or nations; but that
all treaties for lands should be negotiated openly and above board, in the most
public manner, and by the united voice of the Confederacy. They attributed the
"mischief and confusion" that had arisen, to the fact that the United
States would have every thing their own way- that they would "kindle the
council-fires wherever they thought proper, without consulting the
Indians." At the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784, they had urged a
different policy; and they believed that, had the course then recommended, of
treating only in a general conference of the nations, been pursued, all would
have continued peace and concord between them. Notwithstanding the mischiefs
that had happened, the council professed their strong desire of peace.
"This," they said, "is the determination of all the chiefs of
the Confederacy, now assembled, notwithstanding that several Indian chiefs were
killed in our villages, even when in council, and when absolutely engaged in
promoting peace with you, the thirteen United States." In order to ensure
this desirable result, they proposed a grand confederate council, to be holden
at some half-way place in the ensuing spring- recommending to the United
States, in the mean
VOL. II.
34
Life of Joseph Brant-Thayendanegea
Stone, William
Vol. 2.
|
1794.] |
CAMPAIGN OF GENERAL WAYNE. |
387 |
Shawanese, Chippewas, Ottawas, and a portion of the Senecas. All the Chiefs of the Wyandots engaged in the battle, being nine in number, were killed." Great slaughter was made by the legionary cavalry in the pursuit, so many of the savages being cut down with the sabre, that the title of "Long Knives," years before given to the Americans, was brought again into general use among the Indians.+ It was believed by many that the Indians would not have incurred this signal disaster had the advice of the Little Turtle been heeded. He was opposed to the policy of a general engagement at that time, and it has even been asserted that he was rather inclined to peace. During the night preceding the engagement, the Chiefs of the several tribes were in council, and a proposition was submitted to make a night attack upon the Americans in their encampment. The proposal was overruled, and a general engagement on the following morning was determined upon. Little Turtle alone was opposed to the plan, while Blue Jacket, a Shawanese warrior of high character and influence, strenuously supported the course adopted by the council. Colonel M'Kee was in the council, and is believed to have urged the Indians to fight. Little Turtle was inspired with a presentiment that they could not successfully encounter the Black Snake. "We have beaten the enemy," said the Turtle, "twice, under separate commanders. We cannot expect the same good fortune always to attend us. The Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps. The night and the day are alike to him: and during all the time that he has been marching upon our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. Think well of it. There is something whispers me it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace." For holding language like this, he was reproached by some of the Chiefs with cowardice, and that ended the conference. Stung to the quick by an imputation which he was conscious he had never merited, he would have laid the reviler dead at his feet; but his was not the bravery on an assassin. Suppressing his resentment, he took part in the battle, and performed his duty with his wonted bravery. The event proved that he had not formed an erroneous estimate of the
*Drake's Book of the Indians. +Thatcher's Lives of the Indian Chiefs.
Life of Joseph Brant-Thayendanegea
Stone, William
Vol. 2.
388 |
LIFE OF BRANT. |
[1794. |
character of Wayne; and that his rival, Blue Jacket, though equally brave, was less of a prophet than himself."
Excepting the militia and refugees gathered about Detroit, the British or Canadian authorities took no part in the battle; but the direction in which ran their sympathies could not be mistaken, from the tone of a somewhat tart correspondence occurring after the battle, between General Wyane and Major Campbell, commanding the British garrison. On the day after the engagement, Major Campbell addressed a note to General Wayne, expressing his surprise at the appearance of an American force at a point almost within reach of his guns, and asking in what light he was to view such near approaches to the garrison which he had the honor to command. General Wayne, without questioning the propriety of the interrogatory, replied, that even were the Major entitled to an answer, "the most full and satisfactory one was announced the day before from the _____(illeg. photocopy) of his small arms, in an action with a horde of savages in the vicinity of the fort, and which ____(illeg. terminated?) gloriously to the American arms." But, added the General, "had it continued until the Indians were driven under the influence of the fort and guns mentioned, they would not have much impeded the progress of the victorious army under my command, as no such post was established at the commencement of the present war between the Indians and the United States." Major Campbell rejoined, complaining that men, with arms in their hands, were approaching within pistol shot of his works, where his Majesty's flag was flying, and threatened hostilities should such insults to that flag be continued. Upon the receipt of this letter, General Wayne caused the fort to be slowly reconnoitered in every direction. It was found to be a strong and regular work, with two bastions upon the rear and most accessible base of it, mounting eight pieces of artillery upon that side and four upon the front facing the river. This duty having been discharged, General Wayne addressed a letter to the British commander, disclaiming, of course, as Major Campbell had previously done, any desire to resort to harsh measures; but denouncing the erection of the fortress as the highest act of aggression toward the United States, and requiring him to depart
*Schoolcraft's T--(illeg. photocopy). Thatcher. Drake.
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