American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1790.] |
THE NORTHWESTERN INDIANS. |
87 |
Governor St. Clair to the Secretary of War.
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CAHOKIA, 1st May, 1790. |
The Major (Hamtramck) understanding that there was some private difference between the Indian and the person who served as interpreter to the messenger, did, on the first of April, send forward another messenger, and he has enclosed to me a letter from him from Quitepicomuais, fifteen miles above Ouisconsin, of the 15th of that month, a translation of which is sent with this. By that letter you will observe that every thing is referred to the Miamies, which does not indicate a peaceable issue. The confidence these have in their situation, the vicinity of many other nations, either much under their influence, or hostilely disposed towards the United States, and pernicious counsels of the British traders, joined to the immense booties obtained by their depredations on the Ohio, will most probably prevent them from listening to any reasonable terms of accommodation, so that it is much to be feared that the United States must prepare effectually to chastise them; and the consequence of not doing it, may very probably be the defection of those who are now at peace, and would remain so, with the entire alienation of the affections at least of the people of the frontiers.
N.B. Gamelin's information being unimportant, is not copied.
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Representation from the Field Officers of Harrison county.
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VIRGINIA, HARRISON COUNTY, February 2d, 1790. |
SIR:
The alarming predicament in which this country now stands, as touching the state of Indian affairs, and the small prospect of protection from his Excellency Arthur St. Clair, hath moved us the subscribers to meet this day in council, in order to concert measures as, far as in our power, to calm the minds of our exposed frontiers, who expect early in the Spring to be again harassed by the savages.
It appears to us, by the address of the General Assembly of Virginia, dated the 30th of October, 1789, that official information has been given to your Excellency of the Indians' wanton barbarity on the frontiers of this State. We also have the strongest assurance that the members of the General Assembly from the western district did apply, by a subsequent address, separate and apart from the said address sent by the General Assembly, which we trusted would have fell into your hands before Governor St. Clair left New York, which now appears to us not to be the case; therefore, the frontiers are left defenceless; the people, who lay exposed, are complaining that they are neglected; that the interior parts of the United States have enjoyed peace since the year 1782; that Government has got thoughtless about the lives of their citizens, &c.
We would undertake to give a full detail of the various incursions made on the frontiers of this country, but expect our county lieutenant will hand this petition to your Excellency, who, we believe, will better satisfy your inquiries than our detail.
We presume the aforesaid address of our legislative body, and the separate address sent by the members of this western district, fully take in our wishes as touching the mode of present and future relief.
Therefore, in the name and behalf of our suffering fellow-citizens, over whom we preside as field officers of the militia, pray that your Excellency would take our distressed situation under your parental care, and grant us such relief as you in your wisdom shall think proper, and we, in duty bound, will pray, &c.
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BENJAMIN WILSON, Colonel, |
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Extract of a letter from the Lieutenants of
the counties of Fayette, Woodford, and Mercer, to the Secretary of
War, dated 14th April, 1790.
We almost every day receive accounts of their horrid murders on our defenceless frontiers, (which entirely surround us) and the taking of horses and other property, to the ruin of a number of families. It is painful to repeat particulars, but some recent acts of the savages demand our representation.
Several boats have, within a few weeks past, been attacked and taken on the Ohio river, and one in Salt river, by strong parties of Indians, and their unhappy crews murdered or carried into captivity.
We have reason to believe that there is a combination of several tribes, and their numbers pretty numerous.
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Major Hamtramck to Governor St. Clair
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POST VINCENNES, May 22, 1790. |
I now enclose the proceedings of Mr. Gamelin, by which your Excellency can have no great hopes of bringing the Indians to a peace with the United States. The 8th of May Gamelin arrived, and on the 11th some merchants arrived, and informed me, that, as soon as Gamelin had passed their villages, on his return, all the Indians had gone to war; that, a large party of Indians from Michilimackinack and some Pattawatimies had gone to Kentucky; and that, three days after Gamelin had left the Miami, an American was brought there and burnt.
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Deposition of Charles Johnson, taken before the Secretary of War, July 29, 1790.
On the 20th of March, 1790, going down the river Ohio, in company with John May, Esq. of Virginia, with four other persons in our boat, (two of whom were women) we were attacked by a party of fifty-four Indians, consisting chiefly of Shawanese and Cherokees. In this attack, Mr. May and one of the women were killed, the rest of us made prisoners.
The day following, a canoe coming up the river, with six men in it, were fired upon and all killed.
In a few hours afterwards, two boats (the owners of which had abandoned them and got on board a third boat that was in company) were taken by the savages, with goods and other property in them, which, in my opinion, must have amounted to several thousand pounds value.
Two days afterwards the Indians divided themselves into several parties, when they set off to this town, and arrived in about five or six weeks at Sandusky, where the nation of Wyandot or Huron Indians live.
Whilst in the Indian country, I was informed that one of our party, whose name was William Flin, and whom, on a division, had fallen to the Cherokees, was carried to the nation of Miamies, there tied to a stake, and, in the most inhuman manner, was roasted alive.
I further understood that there are a number of Americans who have been made prisoners by the Indians, and are now in the Shawanese and Miami nations, languishing under slavery and all its bitter appendages.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
88 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1790. |
Col. Robert Rankins to Col. Thomas Lewis.
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APRIL 3, 1790. |
As I presume you have not heard of the late mischief, I shall just beg leave to inform you, that, about six weeks ago, two men were taken off Cabin Creek, who have been made use of to decoy boats ashore, by which means six men in a canoe, going up the river, attempting to escape, after they found themselves ensnared, were murdered; Mr. May's boat taken, himself and one other killed, the rest of the crew made prisoners; two boats, in which was a considerable amount of property, belonging to Col. John Edwards, of Bourbon, Capt. Thomas Marshall, and a number of other gentlemen taken; the gentlemen themselves forced to crowd into Col. George Thompson's boat, and row or life, the Indians having pursued them in Mr. May's boat, armed for that purpose, with unparalleled avidity.
Two men were also killed and seven more, one woman, and five children, taken prisoners, about six weeks ago, in Kennaday's Bottom, on the Ohio, 20 miles above Limestone, where they were engaged in erecting a new settlement. All this mischief has been done by the same party of Indians, who are still on the river, and, from information, about the same place where the boats and canoe were taken, six or seven miles above the mouth of Scioto. And we are informed, by the two men above mentioned, who have escaped and come in, that they have sent the plunder to their town by a party, and expect a reinforcement. A party of men was raised in this settlement on the first intelligence of the disturbance, but a dispute arising among them respecting the object in view, they split, and returned without doing of any service, except bringing away a boat which the Indians fitted up for their offensive operations. However, such generally is the consequence of expeditions where the officers who conduct them have only power to advise and persuade; and it is much to be lamented that the Government under which we live wants power, or they who are at the helm a disposition, to protect its citizens.
I have this moment received further intelligence of the depredations of those cursed devils. A boat from Greenbriar, in which was Colonel Ward, Mr. R. Madison, and three or four other boats from Monongahela, were yesterday afternoon attacked, at or near the place mentioned above; a Mr. Richards was killed, and the Monongahela people were oblige to abandon one of their boats, with about one hundred gallons of whiskey, some other property, besides several horses and cattle: a number of horses were killed and wounded in the other boats.
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Judge Innes to the Secretary of War.
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DANVILLE, May 13th, 1790. |
That you may have an idea of our unhappy situation, I beg leave to refer you to a letter I wrote on the 20th ultimo, to the Hon. John Brown; since which the Indians have killed two white men and two negroes in Jefferson county; in Nelson two girls, scalped one woman, and made one other woman prisoner.
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Judge Innes to the Secretary of War.
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DANVILLE, July 7th, 1790. |
I have been intimately acquainted with this district from November, 1783; I can with truth say, that in this period of time, the Indians have always been the aggressors; that any incursions made into their country have been from reiterated injuries committed by them; that the depredatory mode of war and plundering carried on by them, renders it difficult, and almost impossible, to discriminate what tribes are the offenders; that, since my first visit to this district, which was the time above named, I can venture to say, that above 1500 souls have been killed and taken in the district, and migrating to it; that upwards of 20,000 horses have been taken and carried off, and other property, such as money, merchandise, household goods, and wearing apparel, have been carried off and destroyed by these barbarians, to at least £15,000.
Repeated informations have been given of these injuries, which continue to be daily perpetrated, and yet we have no satisfactory account of the intention of Government for our relief; the consequences to the district are of a serious and important nature; by them do we see the population of our country decreased, by the murders committed on the emigrants and actual settlers, and by them do we find people intimidated from migrating to our country, which lessens our rising strength; by them is the wealth of our citizens diminished, and the value of our lands decreased. What will be the result?
Volunteer expeditions will be carried on into the Indian countries, upon the principle of revenge, protection, and self-preservation, and Government will not be able to counteract them; the consequences will be, that the volunteers who may thus embody will not discriminate between the Indians who are hostile and those who have treated; they will consider all as enemies that come in their way, and the supposed amicable Indians will no longer have any faith in Government; it will not only prevent the intended views of Government, but undo what hath been done.
I will, sir, be candid on this subject, not only as inhabitant of Kentucky, but as a friend to society, who wishes to see order and regularity preserved in the Government under which I live. The people say they have long groaned under their misfortunes, they see no prospect of relief, they are the strength and wealth of the Western country; all measures which have been attempted, are placed (for execution) in the hands of strangers, who have no interest among them: they are the general sufferers, and yet have no voice in the business; they are accused as the aggressors, and have no representative to justify. These are the general sentiments of the people, and they begin to want faith in the Government, and appear determined to revenge themselves: for this purpose a meeting was lately held in this place, by a number of respectable characters, to determine on the propriety of carrying on three expeditions this fall. From a more general representation of the district, the business was postponed until the meeting of our convention, which is about the 26th instant, at which time there will be a very general meeting of influential characters of the district; and unless some information is received before that time, that will be satisfactory, I fully expect one or more expeditions will be determined on.
Impressed with the idea that the foregoing observations will not be unacceptable to you as an officer of Government, through whose Department it may be properly communicated to the President; if worthy your attention, I shall make no apology for the length of my letter.
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From the same to the same.- July 8th.
I have, this day, received a letter from Governor St. Clair, dated the 5th inst. "at the Rapids of Ohio;" he says, "that the expectations of peace which I much wished, cannot be realized with the people on the Wabash, and in consequence I have come here sooner than I should otherwise have done, to prepare for operating against them." He has requested me to apprize the field officers of the district, that he shall call for the proportions of the militia they are to furnish, in consequence of the orders he has received from the President.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1790.] |
THE NORTHWESTERN INDIANS. |
89 |
Alexander S. Ballit, Lieut. Jefferson County, to Judge Innes.
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May 24th, 1790. |
I now embrace the first opportunity which offers, of informing you, that a man was wounded near Mr. Joseph Hite's plantation, about a fortnight ago. I mention this instance as the last of several which have appeared this spring, of mischief done by the Indians in this country.
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Certificate of Robert Lemen, Jacob Steulan, and William Price.
We, the under writers, inhabitants of Jefferson county, on the waters of Brashear's creek, do certify, that, in the latter end of March last, the Indians took a negro woman prisoner, the property of Anderson Long, two young men at work at the said Long's, in his field, on Clear creek and branch of Brashear's creek.
That, on Tick creek, a branch of Brashear's creek, in April, the Indians killed two men at work in their field.
That, in May, two boys were made prisoners from Loudon's station, on the head of Drennon's Lick creek.
That, on the 23d instant, a party of Indians fired on a company of people, on Clear creek, as they were returning from meeting, killed one man on the spot, and took a young woman prisoner, who they carried about ten miles, and then tomahawked and scalped her.
That, on the 25th instant, as a company were bringing home the corpses of the man and woman, they were alarmed by their dogs, and sent a party out to reconnoitre, who discovered the trail of some Indians.
Given under our hands, this 28th day of May, 1790.
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ROBT. LEMON, |
There was no magistrate, to be conveniently found, when this certificate was given, or I would have had an affidavit made of the facts.
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HARRY INNES. |
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John Caldwell to Judge Innes.
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NELSON COUNTY, May 12th, 1790. |
On Tuesday morning, about eleven Indians attacked the house of Miles Heart, on Valley Creek, a fork of Nolelin, and killed Heart and one of his children; and his wife and two more, which includes the whole family, were made prisoners.
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Deposition of Samuel Winter, taken before Christopher Greenup, 21st May, 1790.
MERCER, 88.
Samuel Winter came before me, a justice for the said county, and being sworn, saith: That he is an inhabitant of Nelson county, and resides on Nolelin creek, that a certain Miles Heart, who lived on Valley creek, about six miles from the deponent, was murdered in his house, on Tuesday, the 11th instant, and that the wife and two children of the said Heart were taken prisoners; that two of Heart's horses are missing, which are supposed to be carried off by the Indians, who did the mischief.
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Christopher Greenup to Judge Innes.
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MERCER COUNTY, 24th May, 1790. |
About four days ago, the Indians stole four horses from Mr. Meaux, a considerable distance within the inhabitants; this might have been prevented had there been scouts.
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John Caldwell to Judge Innes.
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June 4th,1790. |
About the seventh of March last, the Indians came to the Rolling fork, and stole a number of horses, to the amount of sixteen; they were pursued by Captain Wilson, and a small party, who came up with them, in about forty miles; but, being overpowered, they were obliged to retreat; Capt. Wilson was killed upon the spot.
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Robert Johnson to Judge Innes.
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May 13th,1790. |
I send you two depositions, containing an account of some mischief done lately by the savages in this county, to wit: the killing McBride and McConnel, in April last, and also taking a son of Mr. Tanner's (on the Ohio) a prisoner, &c. I also inform you, that, last fall, two men were killed by the savages, one of the name of Brown, whose wife and children live now in Lexington, as I was with the men who brought the corpse into the neighborhood I live in; besides this, there hath been another party, last winter, who stole a number of horses from the neighborhood I live in, and carried them off.
Deposition of John Garnett, taken before Robt. Johnson, M. for W. C. May 12th, 1790.
WOODFORD COUNTY, 88.
John Garnett, of full age, being duly sworn, saith: That he was at Mr. John Tanner's station, on the Ohio, in said county, about five miles below the mouth of the Big Miami, and that said Tanner informed him, that, about the last of April, or first of May, five Indians came and lay in ambush, a little over one hundred yards from his house, between the house and his field, and took a son of said Tanner's, about nine years old, and carried him off, across the Ohio; and further saith, that Indians have been, since, within about two miles of said station, and this deponent further saith not.
Deposition of Samuel Stephenson, taken before Robert Johnson, M. for W. C'ty, May 12, 1790.
WOODFORD COUNTY, 88.
Samuel Stephenson, of full age, being duly sworn, saith: That, about the 12th of April, 1790, being called on to go out to bring James McBride and _____ McConnel, who were killed by the Indians on the road or path from the mouth of Licking, to the settlement on Elkhorn; and this deponent further saith, that he assisted to bring two men which were both scalped; one was much cut with a tomahawk, and the other was shot through the hips, and he believes them to be said McBride and McConnell; and the deponent further saith not.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
90 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1790. |
John Edwards to Judge Innes.
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BOURBON COUNTY, May 12,1790. |
This morning was killed, within six or seven miles of this place, by the Indians, a certain Lewis Parker, who was at his work. It will be unnecessary for me to say any thing more with respect to the murder, as I have enclosed you an affidavit; and, as to the murder of two more men, I am satisfied of its certainty, but have had no opportunity of finding the man, who was with them when they were killed, nor those who have since buried them; the names of the men were McBride and McConnell.
Deposition of David Rankin and James Hays, taken before Benjamin Harrison, 1790.
BOURBON, 88.
This day came before me, one of the commonwealth's justices for said county, the subscribers, and made oath, that, on the 12th of May, inst. they saw Lewis Parker lying dead; he had received several wounds, with balls, tomahawks, and knives; (he was scalped) that they found him, the said Parker, about one hour after he was killed, and that they verily believe he was thus murdered by Indians, and further say not.
Certificate of Benjamin Harrison.
Although I did not see the Indians kill
Parker, I do verily believe they did do it; I saw his body about two hours
after he was killed; it happened at Michael Hogg's, not quite three miles from
my house, and I followed the trails of those who committed the murder, near ten
miles; their direction
was towards the
Big-bone Lick. The Indians have stole two horses from Mr. Coleman, lately.
There is no person, in this quarter, that knows any thing of McBride and
McConnell's being killed, only from hear-say; but it is a matter of fact.
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John Edwards, Lt. Bourbon County, to Judge Innes.
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BOURBON, May 12th,1790. |
I am sorry to inform you, since my last letter, that a man was killed, by a party of Indians, in his cornfield, about seven miles from my house, on Thursday last; also a boat was taken, about eight or ten miles above Limestone, where five persons were found killed on the shore. I think we need no greater proof of the intentions of those savage barbarians, to distress us.
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Henry Lee, Lieutenant Mason County, to Judge Innes.
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MASON COUNTY, May 16th, 1790. |
On the night of the 11th instant, four boats (one of which contained an officer and eight men of the United States' troops) landed about nine miles above Limestone, and about 12 o'clock was fired on by a party of Indians, supposed to be fifteen or twenty in number; three boats made their escape without damage, the other, containing sixteen souls, fell into possession of the enemy; five of those persons were killed and most horridly massacred; three made their escape, one of which was wounded, the balance taken prisoners; and from every discovery I have been able to make, they have not yet re-crossed the river. On the 15th instant, a trail of a party of Indians, supposed to be about fifteen, was discovered crossing the Ohio within the bounds of our lower settlements, and directed their course towards the Blue Licks; this notice has put the neighborhood in that quarter, on their guard; I have had no further intelligence, but am under apprehensions every hour of the fatal consequences; our surveyors and hunters have all retired from the woods, the frequent signs of Indians render it unsafe for them to pursue their business.
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John Logan to Judge Innes.
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LINCOLN, May 17th, 1790. |
Friday morning the 14th instant, a company was defeated on the other side Ingle's station; six of said company are missing, supposed to be killed. About ten or fifteen Indians took possession of all their horses and good already packed up to start.
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James Barnett to Judge Innes.
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MADISON, Mount Holley, 23d May, 1790. |
I can assure you, sir, that the frontier of this county (which is about forty miles) have considered themselves in imminent danger all the last spring; but their fears are much increased, since the last hostilities committed on the wilderness road, and Indian signs discovered very lately upon Station Camp.
The mischief above referred to was in Madison county, about forty miles from the inhabitants; four killed, two wounded, 10 or 12 horses, with valuable property.
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H. INNES. |
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Deposition of Joseph Barnett, taken before Michael Campbell, June 8th, 1790.
NELSON COUNTY, 88.
This day came Joseph Barnett, Esq. before me, a justice of the peace for the said county, and made oath, on the holy evangelists of Almighty God, that on the eighteenth of April last past, (being Lord's day) about the hour of five in the evening, a party of Indians fell upon a few defenceless people, who were returning from Hartford town, on Rough creek, to a station at the house of this deponent, being two miles distant, killed a girl of twelve years old, and a boy of eight years old, cutting them in a cruel manner, with tomahawks supposed; cut an ancient lady of both respectable family and character, in her right arm, head and back, in a cruel manner, with a scimitar, and after having scalped her alive, left her, and his scimitar with her, and carried off the daughter of this deponent, a girl near eleven years old, into captivity. They were pursued by a party till night, which gave them an opportunity of escaping. The above mentioned boy lived till Tuesday morning following, having his scull split with a tomahawk, and a great part of his brains on the outside of his wounded scalped scull; and the old lady is yet alive, notwithstanding all the misery she has endured; further this deponent saith not.
Observe that the above persons were returning from sermon.
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