119 |
. . . . .
I arrived at Pittsburgh the 2d of June & on the 5th I Sent a Speech to the hostile tribes, by two Munsee Indians who had ben taken prisoners & whome I released for the purpose -- the object of this Speech was to notify them of the object of my Mission -- "to request them to open a path to Fort Jefferson where I expected to arrive in about 20 days, and that they should Send Some of there young men with Capt Hendrick to conduct me with a few frinds to the place they Should fix on for our meeting." however I did not arrive at Fort Washington until the 2d of July, where I Learned that the very day I had Sent word to the Indians that I proposed to be at Fort Jefferson about 100 Indians with new, or white Shirts & there Chief with a Scarlet coate, fell on a party makeing hay in the neighbourhood of the Fort & killed & carried off 16 men. from the extraordinary dress of these Indians there was reason to suspect that they were Sent out (or at Least furnished with there new Shirts by the British agent) for the purpose of takeing me off and this suspition was further confirmed Soon after by information of the certain Murder of Colo Hardy & Major Truman as well as Some others who had not Long Sence ben Sent to them with Flaggs ---
From information which could be depended on I
begin page 120
was Soon convinced that the Indians who met at the Great Council were ditermined for war and that it was in vain to make any further attempts to bring them to treat of peace at present -- But from information from Major Hamtramck the commanding officer at post Vincent there was reason to believe Something might be don with the wabash & other more western Indians
____________________
1. June 5, 1792, sent from Pittsburgh.
120 |
accordingly on the 24th of July I Sent a Speech to all the Western
tribes, inviting them to meet me in council at post vincent the 20th
of September, assuring them that I Should bring there frinds & relations
with me (meaning the Indian prisoners at Fort Washington--)
august 16th I left fort Washington with the Indian prisoners &c and arrived at post Vincent on the 13th of September & the Same day restored the prisoners about 60 in Number to there frinds -- with a short speech.
The Council assembled on the 25th & continued by adjournments to the 27th when the treaty was Signed
A Journal of the proceedings in the Council held with the Indians on this ocation, with other papers preserved on file will give a full account in what maner I executed the Mission I was Sent upon --
how far my conduct met the approbation of the President of the United States the following Letter will Show ---
|
"War
Department |
Sir
"your Letter of yesterday has ben submited to the President of the United States. while he accepts your resignation he regrets that your ill health,
begin page 121
compells you to Leave the army as he had anticipated much good to the troops from your experience as an officer.
He has commanded me to tender you his thanks for the zeal and judgment manifested in your Negotiation with the Wabash Indians, and your further endevor toward a general pacification
|
|
I am Sir with great esteme |
121 |
N B the tribes of Indians represented at this treaty were the Eel
Creeks, Weaughtenoes -- Potewatemis -- Mascoutins, Kikapoos of the Wabash &
Peankashaws --- Kaskaskies & Piorians. and the Number of Chiefs who Signed
the treaty was 31 -- the whole number present -- 247 Men 439 women &
Children -- Total 686
In compliance with my request in a Speech made to the Indians on the 29th of September, a number of the Chiefs, I believe ten Set out for Philadelphia, conducted by Lt Prior -- at the time of there departure I was incapable of any business & left the perticuler arrangment to Major Hamtramck and Mr John Heckewelder, the Later of whome was to go with them to Marietta & there wate my arrivel ----
251 |
Sir
I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 27th of January last.1 Soon after the affair at the Big Bottom Several Wyndot & Delleware men & women at different times came in to trade at this place. we treeted them with a little more caution, but in the Same frindly way as heretofore none of them, as they Said, had Seen the party who did the misschif, except one who Said he met the party going in to Sandusky. that they consisted of about thirty; were mostly Mingos & had 5 prisoners -- a few days after these people left us a Soldier was taken within a few rods of Fort Harmar but had the good fortune to make his escape the first night and the next day to git into Belleprie the following night prehaps the Same Indians Visited a number of Deserted houses in that Settlement and killed a Sheep & two hogs for Major Goodale about ten days ago one man was killed & another wounded on the Virginnia Side about 60 mile down the ohio all the Indians who have ben into trade told us that there was a great many
1Page 249.
252 |
Indians going to War and that in a Short time we might expect a large body of
them to attack this place but they would not own that the Wyndots and
Dellawares had taken up the Hatchet: however this matter is now assertained --
on Saturday last John Miller arrived at our post up the Muskingum from Sandusky he is an Indian lad who came to this place with Genl Varnum, and a very honest fellow. he went into the Indian Country last September or October with Doctor Burns or Burnell (as he called him self while here) and Indian who has it Seems recived an Education in England or Scotland. the Substance of Millers account is this. that he found Burns to be a great Rogue that he had ben useing every means in his power to excite the Indians about Sandusky and the Tawa River to war and was now gon westward for the Same purpus that a number of Small partys were gon out already that a grate many Warriours from different tribes ware collected at Sandusky, that the Wyndots & Dellewars were going [?] for war and gave out that as Soon as the Water fell and Grass grew for their horses they would go against the yankeys with two or three thousand men. that in ordor to Save his life and facilitate his escape he Joyned a War party of fourteen (formerly our perticuler acquaintanc) bound to the Muskingum Settlements that three days before he came in to our post being verry lame he was left to take care of their hevy lugage, that finding the way Clear he made a raft and came down the Muskingum -- by this fortunate escape & information of honest John I think all uncertainty with respect the intentions of the Wyndots & Dellawares as well as the General views of the Savages is removed -- our Inhabitants are nearly all Forted in which State we expect to remain till we are
begin page 253
dislodged by the Enimy -- wich god forbid Should be the case or releved by the Troops of government which I pray god may be as Soon as posiable
Buell, comp., The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam
Knox, Henry
Letter to Putnam,
March 24, 1791.
pp. 254-255.
254-255 |
|
WAR DEPARTMENT March 24, 1791 |
Sir
I have just received your esteemed favor of the 8h instant.1
The information contained in your letter strongly indicates the hostile disposition of the western Indians, and the intrigues of bad men may make the war general.
The recent murder of some friendly Indians at the block house on Beaver Creek, is a circumstance which merits rigid enquiry. Such actions tend to involve all things into confusion and leaves nothing to be expected but a general Indian War - Major General St Clair who is charged with the cheif command upon the frontiers sat out from this City yesterday for Fort Pitt. But the roads being bad may prevent his arrival before this post -
He will inform you of the extensive arrangements directed for the operations of the Campaign, and it is devoutly to be hoped they will be effectual and produce the desired effect peace
|
I am Sir
|
RUFUS PUTNAM
one of the Judges of the territory of the U S North West of the Ohio -
1Page 251.
Buell, comp., The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam
Putnam, Rufus
Letter to Knox, August 22, 1791.
p. 256.
256 |
|
MARIETTA August 22d 1791 |
Dear Sir
I embrace the present oppertunity to thank you for your letters of the 24th of March & 7th of April last;1 & I also thank God that notwithstanding we have had no assistance but from our own people till the midle of July, and the Indians in Small parties continually harrassing of us, yet Sence the death of Capt Rogers we have lost but one man killed & one taken prisoner - we have lost a number of horses and upwards of fifty head of Cattle. on our part we have killed one Indian whose body we recovered and have reason to beleve Some others were Killed or Wounded - we have collected most of our English grain without loss & have a prospect of a Sufficient Crop of Corn for the Support of the inhabitants the coming year-
|
I have the Honour
to |
Genl KNOX
1 Pages 254, 255.
257 |
Sir,
As you have at the request of the President of the United States, agreed to attempt to be present at the General Council of the hostile Indians about to be held on the Miami River of Lake Erie, in order to convince the said Indians of the humane dispositions of the United States, and thereby to make a truce or peace with them-- it is proper, that you should receive all due information, and instructions, relatively to your mission--
258 |
You have herewith delivered to you,
First. A Copy of the treaty of Fort
Stanwiz made on the twenty second day of October 1784.
Secondly. A Copy of the treaty with the Shawnese, made the 21. January
1785.
Thirdly. A Copy of the treaty with the Shawnese, made at the Miami, in
January 1786--
Fourthly. And of the treaties with the Six Nations, and with the Wyandots
&c. concluded at Fort Harmar on the 9th of January 1789--
These last mentioned treaties confirm nearly the bounds of the treaties made at Fort Stanwix in 1784, and Fort McIntosh in 1785.
And that there should be no mistake as to the boundaries claimed by the United States, by virtue of the said several treaties, you have herewith delivered to you a map, whereon the boundaries are clearly marked-- You will observe, that there are several reservations to the United States, marked within the Indian lands-- Information has been received, that the Indians consider those reservations with great uneasiness-- If upon your bringing this subject to view at the Council, it should appear to be the case you may express your opinion, that upon an ultimate adjustment of differences, the said reservations may be relinquished by the United States, excepting for those parts about the Fort at Detroit, which will be necessary for the Garrison.
The Chiefs of the five Nations of Indians, who were so long in this City, lately, were astonished at the moderation of our claim of land; it being very different from what they have been taught by designing people to believe--
It would seem that the Indians have been misled with respect to our claims, by a certain map pub-
259 |
lished in Connecticut, whereon are laid out ten new states, agreeably to a
report of a Committee of Congress.
The United States are desirous in any treaty which shall be formed in future, to avoid all causes of War relatively to Boundaries, by fixing the same in such a manner as not to be mistaken by the meanest capacity-- As the basis therefore of your negociation, you will, in the strongest and most explicit terms, renounce on the part of the United States, all claims to any Indian land which shall not have been ceded by fair treaties, made with the Indian Nations.
That we conceive the treaty of Fort Harmar to have been formed by the tribes having a just right to make the same, and that it was done with their full understanding, and free consent.
That if however the said tribes should judge the compensations to have been inadequate to the object, or that any other tribes have a just claim, in both cases they shall receive a liberal allowance on their finally settling all disputes upon the subject.
That with respect to the lands ceded or retained by the treaty with the Shawanese of the Miami of the Ohio, doubts are entertained of any rights possessed by the said Shawanese, excepting those of sufferance by the tribes who justly claim the same-- But, if the rights to the Shawanese should be conceded by the other neighbouring tribes who should think proper to confirm the boundaries marked for the said Shawanese, the United States will abide thereby.
As the United States have never made any treaties with the Wabash Indians, although the said Indians have been repeatedly invited thereto, their Claims to the lands East and South of the said Wabash, have not been defined.
260 |
This circumstance will be a subject of your inquiry with the assembled Indian
tribes, and you may assure the parties concerned that an equitable boundary
shall be arranged with them.
You will make it clearly understood that we want not a foot of their land, and that it is theirs, and theirs only- That they have the right to sell, and the right to refuse to sell, and that the United States will guarantee to them their said just rights.
That all we require of the Indians is a peaceable demeanor, that they neither plunder the frontiers of their horses, or murder the Inhabitants. That the United States are bound to protect the Inhabitants, at the risque of every inconvenience of Men and Money.
You will represent to them, that a new state of things has taken place in the United States- that formerly we were an association of several separate states, like their several separate tribes, and that there was no portion of Union and Strength sufficient to regulate the several parts, as belonging to the same machine.
But, that now we have a general goverment embracing all parts of the Union, as it respects foreign Nations and Indian tribes.
That General Washington is placed at the head of this Government, and that he or some person immediately authorized by him, must make all treaties with the Indian tribes.
That, therefore, in future, all the Indian Nations may rest with great confidence upon the justice, the humanity, and the liberality, of the United States.
That it is not only the sincere desire of the United States to be at peace with all the neighbouring Indian tribes, but to protect them in their just rights against lawless, violent, white people: if such should commit any injury on the persons or properties of a peaceable
261 |
Indian, they will be regarded equally as the Enemies of the General Government,
as the Indians, and will be punished accordingly.
Let the Indians at the said Council know fully, That the United States are friends with the Creeks to whom we give fifteen hundred dollars annually- With the Cherokees (excepting a few Outcasts who have been leagued with the Shawanese) to whom we also give fifteen hundred dollars annually- That we have treaties of peace with the Choctaws and Chickasaws- to whom we shall probably assign an annual allowance as they have proved themselves our friends-
That we also have lately allowed the five Nations, to wit, the Senekas, Cayugas, Oneidas including the Stockbridge tribe- Onondagas, and Tuscororas, the Sum of Fifteen hundred dollars annually.
That the United States are highly desirous of imparting to all the Indian tribes, the blessings of civilization, as the only means of perpetuating them on the earth.
That we are willing to be at the expence of teaching them to read and write, to plough and to sow, in order to raise their own bread and meat with certainty, as the white people do.
In short, that the United States willing to believe that the conduct of the hostile Indians hitherto, has been more the effect of misrepresentation of bad people, than any hardened malignity of the human heart, are desirous of forgetting and burying deep forever, all the evils which have past, and to administer such good things to the said Indians, as will make them rejoice for ever, at the annual return of the day on which they may conclude a treaty with the United States.
You will inform the hostile Indians, that these sentiments are not the offspring of the defeat of the
262 |
fourth of November last, but that they arise from the purest desire to avoid
the further effusion of blood.
That our dispositions for peace are not the consequence of any apprehensions of the issue of the War may be made apparent to the Indians by a comparison of the strength and resources of the United States and the Indians.
That we entertained these dispositions for peace early in the last year and attempted to send various messengers accordingly but who were prevented by unforeseen circumstances.
The Senekas who Colonel Procter persuaded to accompany him to the Miami Village will be a good Witness to the truth of this as will be Captain Hendrick the Chief of the Stockbridge Indians who also made considerable progress in his journey but was stopped at the Grand River North of Lake Erie.
Two persons were engaged in January last to repair to the Miami Village, and actually proceeded as far as Niagara where they were stopped their business not being known.
February the tenth General Wilkinson was directed as you will particularly observe by the extract of my letter herewith delivered to intimate by himself and Major Hamtramck our desire for peace.1
Doctor Brown was chosen to repair to the Miami Village for this purpose, and it is probably that he is on his mission accordingly
1Lieutenant-Colonel James Wilkinson, commandant at Fort Washington
(Cincinnati), and Major John Hamtramck, commandant at Fort Knox (Vincennes),
were ordered to send Indian and French messengers to the hostile Indians to
impress upon them that the desire of the United States was not for their lands,
but for peace. The Indians were urged to send representatives to a council at Fort
Washington as proof of their friendly disposition, and were threatened with
force if they should fail to comply. Similar messages were sent by way of the
Lakes.
263 |
Major Hamtramck in his letter of the 31. March a copy of which you have
delivered you, states that besides making peace with the Wea and Eel River
Indians he has dispatched Agents to most of the hostile Indians West of the
Wabash and Omie Rivers1
You have also herewith delivered you copies of the instructions to Major Trueman and the speech with which he was charged to the hostile Indians dated the 3d of April.2 Every thing which can be effected by an ardent zeal may be expected from the Majors Mission, and you will please to confide in and employ him in your business agreeably to my letter to him herewith delivered to you-- The Chiefs of the five nations, who were lately in this City, have agreed to repair to the General Council about being held-- they departed this City apparently well impressed with the justice and humanity of the United States and stipulated to use their highest exertions to effect a peace--
Colonel Louis of the Cagnawagnas also came here to inform the Government that the seven castles so called in Canada had been invited to the Council to be held at the Miami River of Lake Erie-- He being also convince of the justice of the United States promised to use his influence towards a peace.
Captain Hendrick Aupaumut chief of the Stock-
1In March, before receiving his instructions to send out peace
messengers, Major Hamtramck had formally agreed with the Eel River and Wea
Chiefs that as they desired peace, a treaty should be held at Vincennes; that
their lands should be confirmed to them by the United States and that on their
part they should cease all depredations, and share their knowledge of any
hostile designs of other Indians against the United States.
2In April, Captain Alexander Trueman was sent via Pittsburgh and Fort Washington to carry a speech from the President to the Miami Village, at the head of the Omie (Maumee) River. In this speech the Indians were urged to cease hostilities, and to send some of their principal chiefs to a peace conference at Philadelphia.
264 |
bridge Indians and his Brother have also gone specially charged to prepare the
way for your reception and to meet you at Fort Jefferson;1 his
instructions you have also delivered to you.
The recital of these several measures are made, in order to show you that the business is in a considerable degree matured.
I have written to Mr. John Heckewelder of Bethlehem to accompany you, which he has promised to do; but he cannot set out from Bethlehem until the 25th instant, but he will probably overtake you at Pittsburg or Marietta. This person superintended one of the Moravian Towns in the Muskingum, and has a general acquaintance with and influence over the Wyandots and Delawares.
Much good may be expected from the agreement made by Major Hamtramck with the Wabash Indians-- It is hoped that it will be an happy introduction to a general peace-- their influence and agency may be expected with the other Indians and you may obtain from them escorts and messengers to the hostile Indians.
You have herewith delivered to you an invoice of Indian Goods at Fort Washington and an order for the same. These goods or part thereof may be presented to the Wabash Indians who have agreed with Major Hamtramck provided it should be the joint judgment of Brigr Genl Wilkinson and yourself but under such restrictions as to preclude all abuses.
Besides these goods you have delivered to you, twenty setts of silver ornaments for such of the principal chiefs as shall come to a pacific agreement, and also nose and ear jewels.
Besides the above a further provision of Goods
1Fort Jefferson was about sixty-seven miles north of Fort
Washington, on St. Clair's route to the Miami village. Buell,
comp., The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam
Knox, Henry
Instructions to Brigadier General Rufus Putnam,
War Office, May 2, 1792.
pp. 257-267.
265 |
will be made immediately and forwarded to Fort Pitt to a considerable amount
the disposition of which will be hereafter directed.
Your first great object upon meeting the Indians will be to convince them that the United States require none of their lands.
The Second. That we shall guarantee all that remains and take the Indians under our protection.
Thirdly. They must agree to a truce and immediately call in all their War parties-- it will be in vain to be negociating with them while they shall be murdering the frontier citizens.
Having happily effected a truce founded on the above assurances, it will be then your primary endeavour to obtain from each of the hostile and neighbouring tribes, two of the most respectable Chiefs to repair to the seat of the Government and there conclude a treaty with the President of the United States in which all causes of difference should be buried forever.
You will give the chiefs every assurance of personal protection while on their journey to Philadelphia, and should they insist upon it Hostages of Officers for the safe return of the chiefs, and in case of their compliance you will take every precaution by the troops for their protection of the said chiefs which the nature of the case may require.
But if after having used your utmost exertions the chiefs should decline the journey to Philadelphia, then you will agree with them on a place for a general treaty.
In considering upon this place-- perhaps Pittsburgh or its vicinity would be as proper a place as could be decided upon-- Provisions could be procured in abundance and it would be the point to which the goods could be easily transported.
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