American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
152 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1792. |
adoration to the Supreme Spirit, as knowing it hath a form, but not a
substance. This day we were compelled to swim our horses three times over the
Genesee river; and at one of the crossings, Captain Houdin's horse took down
the current with him, and could not steer him to the intended shore, having
crossed the reins of his bridle at mounting, and were it not that he had left
the horse to his own management, (by our entreaties) and our Indian guide
rushing into the water to his assistance, and the horse turning for him, the
Captain must have certainly drowned in the current, which was excessively rapid
a little lower down.
April 4th.- This morning we again swam our horses over the same river, and had the assistance of a canoe, for which I paid 3s. 9d., and crossed it again 10 miles higher up, near the emptying of a small lake. Here, likewise, we had the assistance of a canoe to carry over our saddles, &c. Paid for the same 3s. 9d. At this village resides a Mr. James Latta, a trader, from whom I purchased bread and sugar, the latter to answer the end of meat, as likewise some spirits, for which I paid him 16s. 11d. From this place we had scarcely the trace of a path, and took up our encampment for the night at an old Indian encampment, where the covering of their wigwams served to shelter us from the inclemency of the weather.
April 5th.- We gained an Indian settlement called Ohhisheu, situate on the waters of Oil creek, the emptying of which, into the Alleghany, about two hundred yards below the huts, in crossing the Oil creek at a very steep shelving place, my horse fell backwards into the water. I happily disengaged myself from falling under him, but got wet through all my clothes. We then entered the cabin of an old Seneca chief, who called himself Captain Joseph Hays. I knew him well, thirty-two years before, at fort Pitt, and he professed some small recollection of me. He spoke English well, and finding him to be conversant, I gave him to understand the business I was on to the Six Nations, and of the assistance I expected to receive from them as friends to the Thirteen Fires. He seemed very cheerful upon the occasion, and assured me that I should see him at Buffalo as soon as the council fire should be lighted by O'Beel. From him I bought two hams of fresh venison, and Indian bread without any salt, for we had none in our possession, not dreaming of it being so scarce and precious an article in this country. We encamped this night at the great bend of the Alleghany, (so called) on a tract of fine level land, covered with plum trees in abundance. At this place we discovered the ruins of a number of Indian huts, forming regularly with each other like a streetway. This place was formerly called by the Indians Dunewangua.
April 6th.- This morning, having advanced about 4 miles, we met two Indian runners going with belts and speeches from the Cornplanter, alias O'Beel, to the Indians resident in the upper towns, at the head waters of the Alleghany, to inform them that several of the Delaware Indians were killed by the white people, said to be a recruiting party of Virginians, near fort Pitt. The said Indians informed us, that the Indians who escaped the catastrophe that their brothers had fallen into, turned their resentment for the injury their nation had received on the white inhabitants who resided on the Alleghany, some miles above Pittsburg, and killed and scalped 17 in number; that several of the bodies were partly destroyed by fire; that at the same time this mischief happened, Captain O'Beel, the New Arrow chief, and several other chiefs of the Senecas, were overtaken by a party of militia, who threatened them with instant death, which was happily prevented, but forcibly carried back the garrison boat and canoes, with all the property purchased by Cornplanter for his nation.
Having at this time no path to go by, and having to keep by the meanders of the Alleghany, made the way lengthy and disagreeable. I therefore desired my interpreter to request that one of them would return with me to O'Beel's town, and as they would by that means be separated, I would give to each one dollar, as a consideration for their trouble. They having acceded to my desires, I paid them 15s., and our guide conducted us in safety, at about 10 o'clock at night, to O'Beel's town, called, in the Indian language, Tenachshegouchtongee, or the burnt house. This town is pleasantly situated on the north side of the river, and contains about 28 tolerable well built houses; and the one which they had selected for me and my followers to reside in, was commodiously fitted up, with births to sleep in, and uncommonly clean, and provided us for the night with plenty of provisions, such as boiled venison and dumplings. Matters were no sooner arranged than I desired my interpreter to have the chiefs collected where I could speak to them. Upon which we found that all the chiefs and warriors of the town had gone to Venango, hearing that their head warrior, O'Beel, and their sachem, the New Arrow, were forced to take sanctuary in fort Franklin, (one of our garrisons) for the protection of their lives; that none remained in the town on this account, but three very old men, the women, and children.
That, such were their fears, as we were approaching this town, of which they had information, that they all assembled at their place of worship, believing it was near the hour of their dissolution, and they had called on their God to help them. But being happily informed by our guide of the good intentions we were come upon, they came to make us welcome. I then desired that they would furnish me with a canoe and a guide, to conduct me to the place where I could meet with O'Beel and his people, being desirous of going forward immediately; and that I should, without doubt, be the instrument of bringing their chiefs and warriors to them in a few days. Upon which, they sent five miles to procure me a canoe, and by day light, two young Indians attended me, with whom my interpreter and Captain Baldwin went for French creek, distant about one hundred and thirty miles, and arrived on the 8th day of April, about four in the afternoon, as we worked our canoe by turns all night. Cash paid at New Arrow town, corn for horses, fifteen shillings; hire of a canoe and Indians to carry me to French creek, thirty-seven shillings and six pence; provisions, &c. thirteen shillings and one penny.
I no sooner arrived at the garrison on French creek, than I received a visit from Cornplanter, and those Indians who accompanied him at Philadelphia, who professed the greatest happiness to see me, being under the greatest anxiety of mind for the safety of the New Arrow, who was carried in the garrison boat to Pittsburg, in the forcible manner before related; saying, at the same time, that the whole of their goods were taken from them, which they never expected to recover; that, in this distressed situation, they had not a second shirt to put on. I, hereupon, used every argument I was master of, to appease the fears they entertained on account of the absence of the New Arrow, as I could not believe that the inhabitants of Pittsburg would offend, or suffer him to be ill treated; and should any, or the whole of their goods be squandered, by the unwarranted conduct of the militia, that I should make it my duty to present the same to the Secretary of War, who would cause most ample justice to be done them; that, on the morrow, I would write to the commanding officer at Pittsburg, to have their sachem, the New Arrow, conducted in safety to this place, as, also, their goods, as I could not possess a belief that any waste would be committed upon them. I therefore desired him, without loss of time, to bring with him into the garrison all the head-men of the nations then present, so that I might inform them of the message I was charged with, from his Excellency the Secretary of War to the Six Nations; by which means they would be the better able to understand what I had to say to them, before my meeting them in general council to-morrow. Upon this Captain O'Beel left me, and soon after summoned the chiefs present, eleven in number, who met me in the garrison by permission of Lieutenant Jeffers, and, in the fullest manner, I gave them the necessary information. After some time spent on this business, I adjourned, and proposed meeting them again in their encampment over French creek, early in the forenoon, and of which I desired that they might inform their people, so that none might be absent.
April 9th.- I crossed French creek to their encampment, about eleven o'clock, where I found them prepared to receive me, about seventy-five in number, exclusive of women, children, and youth; in the whole, one hundred and eighty. I read first the message to the Seneca nation, from the Secretary of War, and, after explaining the principles upon which it was founded, I read to them the messages from Governor St. Clair to the Wyandot and Delaware tribes, who were deemed and observed to be friends to the United States. Here I thought it my duty to explain to them the force of my message to the Indians; who were carrying on their wanton depredations and cruelties on the defenceless inhabitants resident near the Ohio; assuring them that it was the last solemn warning, should they refuse to accept the terms of peace now proffered to them, that they could lay hold of, until done by a decisive stroke of a superior army, just ready to go forward to conquest, and be rooted out of a country which they might otherwise possess and enjoy in undisturbed tranquillity.
That, with this present council, it rests to save those misguided people on the Miamies and Wabash from the destruction that is just ready to fall upon and crush them; and the better to effect so laudable an undertaking,
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1792.] |
153 |
let there be selected, from amongst you, any number of your chiefs and
warriors, not more than fifteen, nor less than five, to guide and accompany me
to the Miamies; as, by our going from hence, we shall save the distance of four
hundred miles, if not compelled to go to Buffalo creek; and, by this act, you
will fully complete the end of my message to the Seneca nations, and for your
services you shall receive ample rewards from the United States, and due honor
to your nation.
Hereupon they requested of me to retire from them, and those white persons who attended me, so that what I had said might be more fully digested by them. We left them for about one hour and a half, when a chief came to inform me that they were desirous of seeing me again at their fire. I accordingly attended, and Captain O'Beel was appointed to acquaint me with the determination of their council; which briefly was, that they could not agree to my request of going directly to the Miamies, as they must determine on that business in full council of the Six Nations, at Buffalo creek. Seeing, therefore, that I had no other alternative, but by going to Buffalo, I requested, then, that they would prepare themselves to leave this place, and proceed for Buffalo on to-morrow, which they readily complied with; and for Cornplanter's address to me, upon this occasion, see subsequent page.
I immediately from hence retired to the garrison, to prepare a letter for his Excellency Governor St. Clair, through which I gave, in detail a circumspect account of every material transaction since my arrival in the Indian country; enclosing to him the speeches of Little Beard and Cornplanter, thereby to enable him to judge of the obstructions that had fallen in my way, which, with others that I might probably have to encounter, would be a means of exceeding the time limited by the Secretary of War for my meeting him at fort Washington, on the Ohio, after passing through the country of the Miamies and Wabash Indians, to which nations my mission was principally intended, to the restoration of peace between them and the United States.
During the time I remained at fort Franklin, I received every mark of attention and respect from the commandant, Lieutenant John Jeffers, of the Connecticut line; and I think it but proper to name it in this place. A few days previous to my arrival at this fort, the inhabitants, resident at Conneyat, and on French creek, were driven into the garrison, as also those at Cassawaga, and obliged to leave behind them their habitations and effects, possessed of every requisite for the comforts of life. David Mead, Esq. formerly of Wyoming settlement, with three of his brothers, and their families, were of the number of these unfortunate people. At Venango I was called upon by a white prisoner, named Nicholas Deamhoat, to give him a blanket, as he wanted one much. I did so, and paid for the same, 18s. 9d. He was dressed in the Indian garb, and, what I was grieved to see, his ears were cut round, and each hung with a considerable weight of lead, designed to stretch them to a proper length. He acquainted me that his friends lived in Schenectady; his father lately dying, left him a considerable sum of money. I urged him to go round with me on my tour, and, on our arrival in Philadelphia, I would give him decent apparel, and subsistence, while going to his relatives; but he declined it, saying, that he could not live so agreeable with the white people as with the Indians. Contingent expenses, mending my sword, two pair moccasons, washing bill, &c. 34s. 4d. hire of two Indians, from hence to O'Beel's town, 45s.
April 10th.- Agreeably to the arrangement made by me at the general council yesterday, we set out from French creek, to go up the Alleghany river, with thirty canoes, leaving, at the same time, with Lieutenant Jeffers, for the defence of the garrison, fifteen Indians, to act as scouts for the garrison, as occasion should require- the garrison being very weakly manned at this time, only for the addition made to it by the inhabitants, neither had they any flour, on account of the detention of the garrison boat, before spoken of, but what was supplied by David Mead, Esq. who had brought from his mills at Conneyatta a sufficient quantity, as, likewise, some hundred gallons of whiskey, which he dealt out to the garrison and inhabitants, as they required it. Halted this night at Oil creek, about eight miles from the garrison. Lieutenant Jeffers came to us at this place, about twelve o'clock at night, and brought with him certain letters that he had received from Pittsburg that evening, with verbal messages he had received through the express, by which means the Indians were informed, that some of their canoes were plundered of what they contained, but that the garrison boat was returning with their chief, the New Arrow, &c. under the escort of Major Hart, with a proper guard. The news of the canoes being plundered, gave rise to apparent disgust in most of the countenances of the Indians, saving that of Cornplanter's, who received it with that composure that he was usually wont to do. Upon the whole it gave me to fear, that this rude piece of conduct of our militia had damped the zeal of those whom I yesterday conceived were engaged to serve agreeable to my desires. I, however, undertook to give them assurances, that, even should their goods have been plundered, as verbal report gave it, I would use every possible means to have every article replaced; and that, therefore, I earnestly entreated them to dispel those fears for a few days, having, in their presence, enjoined Lieutenant Jeffers to forward an express to me, at the castle of O'Beel, and to write me, fully, every matter that took place; and to obtain another letter from Major Hart, with whom they were well acquainted, to authenticate the same; and that, whatsoever the result should prove, I would faithfully communicate the contents to them. Upon this promise, about ten o'clock in the forenoon of Monday, the 11th of April, we silently began to load our canoes, and, shortly after, took up the line of march, O'Beel taking the lead. I held it proper to take my place next to his canoe, to stimulate him to press forward on his journey. Ere we could reach Buffalo creek, we arrived this evening at an old Indian settlement, called Hog's town; we had much rain this night, and very cold.
April 12th.- I was invited this morning to breakfast with Captain O'Beel, his squaw, &c. Our repast, boiled chesnuts, parched meal, sweetened; his daughter made us some tea, also, which she put into an open kettle, when the water was cold, and being boiled in that manner, without any cover to the kettle, it became very dirty, and disagreeable to the taste; but, of the chesnuts, I partook sufficiently. Finding, this morning, by an Indian who had lately left the garrison, that several canoes loaded had deserted our little fleet, the Indians, being under much intoxication, had returned there again; in consequence whereof, I wrote the commanding officer, by an express, requesting him to cause the Indians, who were designed to go forward with O'Beel, to quit the garrison and proceed. To express, 11s 3d. This day, about one o'clock, we arrived at the Munsee settlement, where all the canoes came to at, in order to rest, and prepare our dinners. Immediately after we had landed, and what appeared very strange to me, several Indian women came forward with kettles full of boiled corn and bear's meat, and placed it before Captain O'Beel, whom they had heard was approaching with his people. This being done, each family of a canoe, (as in each were women and children) approached with their kettles, without any signal being made, to receive their stipend; and, to do which, an old squaw was appointed to act as an issuing commissary, who dealt it out in proportions so justly, that each went away fully satisfied. Captain O'Beel requested of my interpreter to inform me, it was expected that I would partake of what was prepared; I did so accordingly, to prevent displeasure, but with the weakest appetite. Expenses at this place for eatables, 22s. 6d.; one gallon of whiskey for O'Beel, and his people who accompanied me, 15s. After the whole had refreshed themselves, O'Beel informing the Delawares the business I was on, I was invited to their council fire, of which council Captain Snake was the principal; about thirty of the Delawares were present. I spoke a few words to them, introductory to my reading Governor St. Clair's message to their nation, residing on the waters near Lake Erie; the same message being directed to Captain Pipe, as the principal chief of that tribe. Shortly after this discourse was ended, Captain Snake spoke through his interpreter to mine, as the person I had could not speak the Delaware tongue, and its contents are as follows:
"BROTHER: We are thankful to God for the safe arrival of our brother amongst us; and we are glad to see him with such good intentions, and of the good news he brings. It makes us feel warm in our hearts, and easy in our minds, that such confidence is placed in our nation. But the request he makes of us, to go with him to Buffalo, we cannot give an immediate answer too, as all our head-men are not present; moreover, we want to talk with him and them together; and now we give him the kind invitation of your staying with us all night; and it is likely we shall then help him to the council fire, where he now asks us to go to, and our chiefs shall be sent for." Here O'Beel spoke, and aided my proposition; and, as I was fully sensible of his friendship, I took his counsel, before I should determine on staying in this town. And, finally, judging of it to be a sure means of securing them, to go to Buffalo with us, I consented; and of which they being informed, they sent off runner for their chiefs and warriors, while we still remained in the council-house.
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