A FRAGMENT OF HISTORY
WITH
THE JOURNAL OF GEORGE McCULLY
(HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED)
AND VARIOUS LETTERS OF THE PERIOD.
BY
CLARENCE M. BURTON
___________
NEW YORK
WILLIAM ABBATT
1910
(Being Extra No. 10 of THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY WITH NOTES AND QUERIES.)
Burton, Clarence M.
Ephraim Douglass and His Times
(269)
|
EPHRAIM DOUGLASS AND HIS TIMES |
55 |
riors in Command, he could not consent that any thing should be said to the
Indians relative to the boundary of the United States; for though he knew from
the King's Proclamation that the war with America was at an end, he had had no
official information to justify his supposing the States extended to this
place, and therefore could not consent to the Indians' being told so;
especially as he had uniformly declared to them, that he did not know these
Posts were to be evacuated by the English. He had no objection, he said, to my
communicating the friendly offers of the United States;- and would chearfully
make known to them the substance of you Letter to him.
In the morning of the 5th, I received an intimation from Colonel De Peyster, through Captain McKee, that it was his wish I would go on to Niagara, so soon as I had recovered from the fatigue of my journey.
In consequence of this I waited on him in the afternoon, and pressed with greater warmth than yesterday, the necessity of my speaking to the Indians and receiving an answer from them. I pressed him to suffer me to proceed on my business without his interference, and offered him my word that I would say nothing to them respecting the limits of the States, but confine myself to the offer of Peace or choice of War, and the Invitation to Treaty. He would not retract his resolution without further orders from the Commander in Chief, and I was obliged to submit however unwillingly. But must do him the justice to acknowledge that he made every offer of civility and service, except that which he considered inconsistent with his Duty.
On the 6th I attended the Council which Colonel DePeyster held with the Indians, to which he had yesterday invited me. After delivering his business of calling them together, he published to them you Letter and pressed them to continue in the strictest amity with the Subjects of the United States, - represented to
Burton, Clarence M.
Ephraim Douglass and His Times
(270)
56 |
EPHRAIM DOUGLASS AND HIS TIMES |
them the folly of continuing hostilities, and assured them that he could by no
means give them any future assistance against the people of America.
At this meeting were the Chiefs of eleven Indian Nations, comprehending all the Tribes as far South as the Wabash. They were Chipewas, Otawas, Wyandots or Hurons, Shawneze, Delawares, Kickaboos, Oweochtanoos, Miamis, Pootawotamies and Pienkishas with a part of the Senecas; most of whom gave evident marks of their Satisfaction at seeing a subject of the United States in that Country. They carried their civilities so far that my lodging was all day surrounded with crowds of them when at home, and the Streets lined with them to attend my going abroad; that they might have an opportunity of seeing and saluting me, which they did not fail to do in their best manner, with every demonstration of joy.
On the morning of the 7th I took my leave of Colonel DePeyster, after having received more civilities from him than the limits of this report will suffer me to enumerate; but not 'till I had the honor of writing to you by my Guide, whom I directed to return to Fort Pitt so soon as the Pipe should be ready to return to Sandusky, on whom I depended for his safe conduct thither, and to provide one to accompany him to Fort Pitt.
I arrived at Niagara on the 11th, was introduced to General MacLean who was prepared for my coming, delivered him Colonel DePeyster's Letter and was received with every mark of attention but he declined entering upon any business this Day.
In the morning I waited for the General at his request. He asked for my Instructions which I produced, and afterwards, at his request, the Resolve of Congress alluded to. He expressed an earnest desire that the Indians should live in peace with the United States, declared that he had most effectually put a stop to
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