Return to
top of Def. Ex. 96, Part 4.
Return
to page 131.
Return
to page 132.
Return
to page 133.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
134 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
1791.] |
each other, and all bearing east of north; my guides were urgent for me to
follow these paths, which betrayed their ignorance of the country, and
convinced me I had to depend on my own judgment only. In the afternoon of that
day I was obliged to cross a deep bog, which injured several of my horses
exceedingly, and a few miles beyond, I struck a path bearing north by west,
marked by the recent footsteps of five or six savages. My guides renewed their
application to me to follow this path, but I pursued my course, which had been
north 60 west, since 2 o'clock. I had not got clear of my encampment next
morning, before my advance reported an impassable bog in my front, extending
several miles on either hand, and the guides asserted that the whole country,
to the Wabash, was cut by such bogs, and that it would be impossible for me to
proceed, unless I followed the Indian paths, which avoided these bogs, or led
through them at places where they were least difficult. Although I paid little
regard to this information, as delay was dangerous, and every thing depended on
the preservation of my horses, I determined to turn to the right, and fall into
the path I had passed the evening before, which varied in its course from north
by west to northeast. The country had now become pondy in every direction; I
therefore resolved to pursue this path until noon, in the hope that it would
conduct me to better ground, or to some devious trace, which might lead to the
object sought. At seven o'clock I crossed an east branch of Calumet river,
about 40 yards wide, and about noon my advanced guard fired on a small party of
warriors, and took a prisoner; the rest ran off to the eastward. I halted about
a mile beyond the spot where this affair happened, and on examining the
prisoner, found him to be a Delaware, living near the site of the late Miami
village, which he informed me was about 30 miles distant; I immediately
retrograded four miles, and filed off by the right over some rising ground,
which I had observed between the east branch of Calumet river, and a creek four
or five miles advance of it, taking my course north 60 west. This measure
fortunately extricated me from the bogs and ponds, and soon placed me on firm
ground; later in the afternoon, I crossed one path running from north to south,
and shortly after fell into another, varying from northwest to north by west; I
pursued this about two miles, when I encamped; but finding it still inclined
northward, I determined to abandon it in the morning. I resumed my march on the
6th, at 4 o'clock, the Calumet being to the westward of me; I was fearful I
should strike the Wabash too high up, and perhaps fall in with the small town
which you mentioned to me, at the mouth of the former river; I therefore
steered a due west course, and at 6 o'clock A. M. crossed a road much used,
both by horse and foot, bearing due north. I now knew that I was near a
Shawanese village, generally supposed to be on the waters of White river, but
actually on those of the Calumet, and was sensible that every thing depended on
the celerity and silence of my movements, as my real object had become
manifest. I therefore pushed my march vigorously, leaving an officer and 20 men
in ambush, to watch the road, in order to intercept or beat off any party of
the enemy which might be casually passing that way, and thereby prevent, as
long as possible, the discovery of my real intentions. At eight o'clock I
recrossed Calumet river, now eighty yards wide, and running down N. N. W. and
pursuing my course, I crossed one path near the western bank of the river,
taking the same course, and at six miles distance another, bearing to the
northeast. I was now sensible, from my reckoning, compared with my own
observations during the late expedition under General Scott, and the information
received from your Excellency and others, that I could not be very distant from
à l'Anguille. The party left at the road soon fell in with four warriors
encamped half a mile from the right of my line of march; killed one, and drove
the others to the northward. My situation had now become extremely critical,
the whole country to the north being in alarm, which made me greatly anxious to
continue my march during the night; but I had no path to direct me, and it was
impossible to keep my course, or for horsemen to march through a thick swampy
country in utter darkness. I quitted my camp on the 7th, as soon as I could see
my way, crossed one path at three miles distance, bearing northeast, and at
seven miles I fell into another, very much used, bearing northwest by north,
which I at once adopted, as the direct route to my object, and pushed forward
with the utmost despatch; I halted at twelve o'clock to refresh the horses, and
examine the men's arms and ammunition, marched again at half after one, and at
fifteen minutes before five I struck the Wabash, about one and a half leagues
above the mouth of the Eel river, being the very spot for which I had aimed
from the commencement of my march. I crossed the river, and following the path
a north by east course, at the distance of two and a half miles, my
reconnoitering party announced Eel river in front, and the town on the opposite
bank. I dismounted, ran forward, and examined the situation of the town as far
as was practicable, without exposing myself; but the whole face of the country,
from the Wabash to the margin of the Eel river, being a continued thicket of
brambles, black jacks, weeds and shrubs of different kinds, it was imposible
for me to get a satisfactory view, without endangering a discovery. I immediately
determined to post two companies on the bank of the river, opposite to the
town, and above the ground I then occupied, to make a detour with Major
Caldwell and the second battalion, until I fell into the Miami trace, and by
that route to cross the river above, and gain the rear of the town, and to
leave directions with major McDowell, who commanded the first battalion, to lie
perdue until I commenced the attack, then to dash through the river with his
corps and the advanced guard, and assault the houses in front, and upon the
left. In the moment I was about to put this arrangement into execution, word
was brought me that the enemy had taken the alarm, and were flying; I instantly
ordered a general charge, which was obeyed with alacrity; the men, forcing their
way over every obstacle, plunged through the river with vast intrepidity. The
enemy was unable to make the smallest resistance. Six warriors, (and in the
hurry and confusion of the charge) two squaws, and a child, were killed,
thirty-four prisoners were taken, and an unfortunate captive released, with the
loss of two men killed and one wounded. I found this town scattered along Eel
river for full three miles, on an uneven, scrubby oak barren, intersected
alternately by bogs almost impassable, and impervious thickets of plum, hazle,
and black jacks; notwithstanding these difficulties, if I may credit the report
of the prisoners, very few who were in town escaped. Expecting a second
expedition, their goods were generally packed up and buried. Sixty warriors had
crossed the Wabash, to watch the paths leading from the Ohio. The head chief,
with all the prisoners and a number of families, was out digging a root which
they substitute in the place of the potato; and about one hour before my
arrival, all the warriors, except eight, had mounted their horses, and rode up
the river, to a French store, to purchase ammunition; this ammunition had
arrived from the Miami village that very day, and the squaws informed me was
stored about two miles from the town. I detached Major Caldwell in quest of it,
but he failed that night, and the next morning I cut up the corn, scarcely in
the milk, burnt the cabins, mounted my young warriors, squaw, and children, in
the best manner in my power, and leaving two infirm squaws and a child, with a
short talk (a copy of which I have the honor to enclose you) I commenced my
march for the Kickapoo town in the prairie. I felt my prisoners a vast
incumbrance, but I was not in force to justify a detachment, having barely 523
rank and file, and being then in the bosom of the Ouiatanon country, one
hundred and eighty miles removed from succor, and not more than one and a half
day's march from the Pattawatamies, Shawanese, and Delawares.
Not being able to discover any path in the direct course to the Kickapoo town, I marched by the road leading to Tippecanoe, in the hope of finding some diverging trace which might favor my design. I encamped, that evening, about six miles from Kenapacomaqua, the Indian name of the town I had destroyed, and marched next morning at 4 o'clock; my course continued west, till nine o'clock, when I turned to the northwest, on a small hunting path, and, at a short distance, I launched into the boundless prairies of the West, with the intention to pursue that course until I could strike a road, which leads from the Pattawatamies of lake Michigan, immediately to the town I sought; with this view I pushed forward, through bog after bog, to the saddle skirts, in mud and water; and after persevering, for eight hours, I found myself environed, on all sides, with morasses, which forbade my advancing, and, at the same time, rendered it difficult for me to extricate my little army. The way by which we had entered was so much beat and softened by the horses, that it was almost impossible to return by that route, and my guides pronounced the morass, in front, impassable. A chain of thin groves, extending in the direction of the Wabash, at this time presented itself to my left; it was necessary I should gain these groves, and for this purpose, I dismounted, went forward, and leading my horse through a bog, to the arm-pits in mud and water, with great difficulty and fatigue I accomplished my object; and, changing my course to south by west, I regained the Tippecanoe road at 5 o'clock, and encamped on it at 7 o'clock, after a march of 30 miles, which broke down several of my horses. I am the more minute, in detailing the occurrences of this day, because they produced the most unfavorable effects. I was in motion at 4 o'clock next morning, and at 8 o'clock my advanced guard made some
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1791.] |
THE CHEROKEES. |
135 |
discoveries, which induced me to believe we were near an Indian village. I
immediately pushed that body forward in a trot, and followed with Major
Caldwell and the 2d battalion, leaving Major McDowell to take the charge of the
prisoners. I reached Tippecanoe at 12 o'clock, which had been occupied by the
enemy, who watched my motions and abandoned the place that morning. After the
destruction of this town, in June last, the enemy had returned, and cultivated
their corn and pulse, which I found in high perfection, and in much greater
quantity than at l'Anguille. To refresh my horses, and give time to cut down
the corn, I determined to halt till the next morning, and then to resume my
march to the Kickapoo town, on the prairie, by the road which leads from
Ouiatanon to that place. In the course of the day, I had discovered some murmurings
and discontent amongst the men, which I found, on inquiry, to proceed from
their reluctance to advance farther into the enemy's country; this induced me
to call for a state of the horses and provisions, when, to my great
mortification, 270 horses were returned lame and tired, with barely five days'
provisions for the men. Under these circumstances, I was compelled to abandon
my designs upon the Kickapoos of the prairies, and, with a degree of anguish
not to be comprehended but by those who have experienced similar
disappointment, I marched forward to a town of the same nation, situate about
three leagues west of Ouiatanon; as I advanced to that town, the enemy made
some show of fighting me, but vanished at my approach. I destroyed this town,
consisting of thirty houses, with a considerable quantity of corn in the milk,
and the same day I moved on to Ouiatanon, where I forded the Wabash, and
proceeded to the site of the villages, on the margin of the prairie, where I
encamped, at 7 o'clock. At this town, and the villages destroyed by General
Scott, in June, we found the corn had been replanted, and was now in high
cultivation, several field being well ploughed, all which was destroyed. On the
12th I resumed my march, and, falling, into General Scott's return trace, I
arrived, without any material incident, at the rapids of the Ohio, on the 21st
instant, after a march, by accurate computation, of 451 miles from fort
Washington.
The volunteers of Kentucky have on this occasion acquitted themselves with their usual good conduct; but, as no opportunity offered for individual distinction, it would be unjust to give to one the plaudits to which all have an equal title. I cannot, however, in propriety, forebear to express my warm approbation of the good conduct of my Majors, McDowell and Caldwell; and of Colonel Russel, who, in the character of a volunteer, without commission, led my advance; and I feel myself under obligations to Major Adair and Captain Parker, who acted immediately about my person, for the services they rendered me, by the most prompt, active, and energetic exertions.
The services which I have been able to render, fall short of my wishes, my intention, and my expectation; but, sir, when you reflect on the causes which checked my career and blasted my designs, I flatter myself you will believe every thing has been done which could be done in my circumstances. I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiatanon nation, and made prisoners of the sons and sisters of the king. I have burnt a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down at least 430 acres of corn, chiefly in the milk. The Ouiatanons, left without houses, home, or provision, must cease to war, and will find active employ to subsist their squaws and children during the impending winter. Should these services secure to the country which I immediately represented, and the corps which I had the honor to command, the favorable consideration of Government, I shall infer the approbation of my own conduct, which, added to a consciousness of having done my duty, will constitute the richest reward I can enjoy.
Mr. Charles Vancouver will have the honor to deliver this letter to your Excellency, who attended me as quartermaster to the expedition, and rendered me important services. He is able to give you a satisfactory idea of the situation of the country over which I passed, and can ascertain with precision the course and distance to any point of my route. I recommend him to you as a gentleman of worth.
With the warmest and most perfect respect, I have the honor to be, your Excellency's obliged, obedient, and most faithful servant,
|
JAS. WILKINSON. |
His Exc'y Maj. Gen. ST. CLAIR, Fort Washington.
______
To the Indian nations living on the river Wabash, and its waters:
The arms of the United States are again exerted against you, and again your towns are in flames, and your wives and children made captives; again you are cautioned to listen to the voice of reason, to sue for peace, and submit to the protection of the United States, who are willing to become your friends and fathers, but, at the same time, are determined to punish you for every injury you may offer to their children. Regard not those evil counsellors who, to secure to themselves the benefits of your trade, advise you to measures which involve you, your women and children, in trouble and distress. The United States wish to give you peace, because it is good in the eyes of the Great Spirit that all his children should unite and live like brothers; but, if you foolishly prefer war, their warriors are ready to meet you in battle, and will not be the first to lay down the hatchet. You may find your squaws and your children under the protection of our great chief and warrior General St. Clair, at fort Washington. To him you will make all applications for an exchange of prisoners or for peace.
|
Given under my hand and seal, at Kenapacomaqua, the
9th day of August,
1791.
|
____________________
|
2d CONGRESS.] |
No. 21. |
[1st SESSION. |
THE CHEROKEES.
COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, NOVEMBER 9, 1791.
Mr. HAWKINS, from the committee to whom was
referred the message of the President of the United States, of
the 26th of October last, transmitting a treaty recently made
with the Cherokee Indians, reported:
That they have examined the said treaty, and find it strictly conformable to the instructions given by the President of the United States;
That these instructions were founded on the advice and consent of the Senate, of the 11th of August, 1790;
That the stipulations in the 14th articles are similar to those gratuitously promised to the Creeks; and, although they form an excess to the sum limited in the resolution aforesaid, yet, from the beneficial effects likely to be produced thereby, cannot be objectionable.
That a new boundary has been arranged, which embraces the people settled to the south of French Broad, and between the same and the ridge which divides the waters running into Little river, and from those running into the Tennessee. That the boundary, in other respects, is nearly the same as that established at Hopewell.
The committee are therefore of opinion, that the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of said treaty.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1791.] |
THE CHEROKEES. |
137 |
take none along with them. I received a letter from Mr. Hodgdon by express;
thirteen thousand pounds of flour will arrive on the 27th.
26th.-- A party of militia, sent to reconnoitre, fell in with five Indians, and suffered them to slip through their fingers; in their camp, articles to the value of twenty-five dollars were found and divided. The Virginia battalion is melting down very fast, notwithstanding the promises of the men to the officers; thirteen have been discharged by Colonel Dark to-day.
27th.-- Gave orders for enlisting the levies, with the condition of serving out their time in their present corps. Piomingo arrived in camp with his warriors; I was so unwell, I could only see him and bid him welcome, but entered on no business; considerable dissatisfaction among the levies about their enlistments.
28th.-- Some clothing sent for to fort Washington, for the recruits, arrived; was begun to be distributed, and will have a good effect; but the enlisting the levies does not meet with the encouragement that might have been expected. It is not openly complained of by the officers, but it is certainly, privately, by some of high rank, and the measure of tempting them with warm clothing condemned. Mr. Hodgdon writes me that he is sending forward a quantity of woollen overalls and socks, by General Butler's orders. I have ordered them to be deposited at fort Jefferson. Some few Indians about us, probably those the militia fell in with a day or two ago. Two of the levies were fired upon about three miles off: one killed, two of the militia likewise, one of them got in, the other missing, supposed to be taken.
29th.-- Piomingo and his people, accompanied by Captain Scott and four good riflemen, gone on a scout; they do not propose to return under ten days, unless they sooner succeed in taking prisoners and scalps.
30th.-- The army moved about nine o'clock, and, with much difficulty, made seven miles, having left a considerable part of the tents by the way; the provision made by the quartermaster for that purpose was not adequate; three days' flour issued to the men, to add the horses that carried it to his arrangements; the Indian road still with us, the course this day north 25o west.
31st.-- This morning about sixty of the militia deserted; it was at first reported that one half of them had gone off, and that their design was to plunder the convoys which were upon the roads; detached the first regiment in pursuit of them, with order to Major Hamtramck to send a sufficient guard back with Benham, whenever he met with him, and follow them about twenty-five miles below fort Jefferson, or until he met the second convoy, and then return and join the army.
Benham arrived last night, and to-day, November 1st, the army is halted to give the road-cutters an opportunity of getting some distance ahead, and that I might write to you. I am this day considerably recovered, and hope that it will turn out what I at first expected it would be, a friendly fit of the gout, come to relieve me from every other complaint.
Yesterday I was favored with yours of the 28th and 29th September. I have enclosed my communications with the old and new contractors, and their answers. My orders for the posts to them are not yet definite, but they will be very soon; in the mean time, I expect they are both at work.
|
With great respect, I have the honor to be,
&c.
|
The Hon. Major General Knox, Secretary of War.
Your letters for General Wilkinson and General Scott, Mr. Innes and Mr. Brown, are sent back, and the public thanks, in the name of the President, presented to General Wilkinson, agreeably to your directions.
_______
Copy of a letter from Major General St. Clair to the Secretary for the Department of War.
|
FORT WASHINGTON, November 9th, 1791. |
SIR:
Yesterday afternoon, the remains of the army under my command got back to this place, and I have now the painful task to give you an account of as warm and as unfortunate an action as almost any that has been fought, in which every corps was engaged and worsted, except the first regiment. That had been detached upon a service I had the honor to inform you of in my last despatch, and had not joined me.
On the 3d instant, the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the southward of west, which I believe to have been the river St. Mary, that empties itself into the Miami of the lake at Miami village, about four o'clock in the afternoon, having marched near nine miles, and were immediately encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground, in two lines, having the above mentioned creek in front. The right wing, composed of Butler's, Clarke's, and Paterson's battalions, commanded by Major General Butler, formed the first line, and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger's and Gaither's battalions, and the second regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Dark, formed the second line, with an interval between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow. The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek; a steep bank, and Faulkner's corps, some of the cavalry, and their picquets, covered the left flank. The militia were thrown over the creek, and advanced about one quarter of a mile, and encamped in the same order. There were a few Indians who appeared on the opposite side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipitation, on the advance of the militia. At this place, which I judged to be about fifteen miles from the Miami village, I had determined to throw a slight work, the plan of which was concerted that evening with Major Ferguson, wherein to have deposited the men's knapsacks, and every thing else that was not of absolute necessity, and to have moved on to attack the enemy as soon as the first regiment was come up. But they did not permit me to execute either: for, on the fourth, about half an hour before sun-rise, and when the men had been just dismissed from the parade, (for it was a constant practice to have them all under arms a considerable time before day-light) an attack was made upon the militia. Those gave way in a very little time, and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion, which, together with part of Clark's, they threw into considerable disorder, and which, notwithstanding the exertions of both those officers, was never altogether remedied, the Indians following close at their heels. The fire, however, of the front line, checked them, but almost instantly a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second likewise. The great weight of it was directed against the centre of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from our fire, and confusion beginning to spread from the great number of men who were falling in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done by the bayonet. Lieutenant Colonel Dark was accordingly ordered to make a charge with part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy. This was executed with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back three or four hundred yards; but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to pursue this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops that were posted there. Another charge was made here by the second regiment, Butler's and Clarke's battalions, with equal effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with success; but in all of them, many men were lost, and particularly the officers, which, with so raw troops, was a loss altogether irremediable. In that I just spoke of, made by the second regiment and Butler's battalion, Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the second regiment fell except three, one of which, Mr. Greaton, was shot through the body. Our artillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed except Captain Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half of the army fallen, being cut off from the road, it became necessary to attempt the regaining it, and to make a retreat, if possible. To this purpose, the remains of the army was formed as well as circumstances would admit, towards the right of the encampment, from which, by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but in fact, to gain the road. This was effected, and as soon as it was open, the militia took along it, followed by the troops; Major Clarke, with his battalion, covering the rear. The retreat, in those circumstances, was, you may be sure, a very precipitate one. It was, in fact, a flight. The camp and the artillery were abandoned; but that was
Continue to
next page
Continue
to Dft. Ex. 97
Return
to Docket 317 Table of Contents
Return to Ohio Valley -
Great Lakes Ethnohistory Archive Menu
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home
Last updated: 26
September 2000
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1997, Glen Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University.