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LETTERS AND SPEECHES OF NINIAN EDWARDS. |
315 |
Whiteside, under my order, mustered into service seventy-two men on the 3d of
March, enlisted for three months. These continued until the 14th ult., when I
received your letter and directed the organization of the company conformably
thereto.
It is impossible for the rangers to supply themselves with rations and be as serviceable as they otherwise might be. I have already had to become responsible for a deposit for them at their station on the Mississippi, which they agree shall be deducted out of their pay- a measure they at all times prefer. I most sincerely hope those men called out by my order may be paid; without which, either they or myself must be greatly injured; and I believe Gov. Howard and his rangers are in precisely the same situation.
Capt. Whiteside accepts his commission, and I think will do honor to it.
I recommended William Savage as First and Isaac Hill as Second Lieutenants. They were chosen by the company, and I have since become acquainted with them and approve the choice. Mr. Greene, whom I mentioned in my last letter, was chosen Ensign. He is a very brave man, but I cannot recommend him as an officer. For Ensign I recommend Craven Peyton, who was one of the first men who joined the company, has already distinguished himself, and, in my opinion, will make a first rate officer. Should a commission come for Greene, I shall not deliver it till I receive an answer to this letter, hoping that Peyton's will not be delayed for the return of Greene's.
I have a relation living with me, whom I have been educating- the son of a man who spent his best days and his whole fortune in the American Revolution. This youth is between seventeen and eighteen years of age. His name is Benjamin Sanford Edwards. I am very desirous of getting him into the military school, and will thank you to inform me whether my wishes in this particular can be gratified.
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I have the honor, etc.,
etc.,
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To HON. WM. EUSTIS, Secretary of War.
P. S.- Two rangers of Louisiana a few days ago attacked and killed two Indians, on the east of the Mississippi, without receiving any injury. The Indians are said to be Winnebagoes.- N. E.
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ELVIRADE, RANDOLPH COUNTY, |
Sir:
The Pottawottamies of the Illinois River are divided into three bands, viz: That of Gome, the principal Chief, consisting of about one hundred and fifty men, who now reside on the Peoria Lake, seven leagues above Peoria. Pepper's band, at Sand River, about two leagues below the Quin-que-que, consisting of about two hundred men, of different nations- Pottawottamies, Chippeways and Ottaways. Little Chief was, last year, head of this band. He is now dead, and Pepper has succeeded him. Letourney and Mettetat, brothers, both Ottaways, are war chiefs of this band, under Pepper. Their village is fifty leagues above Peoria and twenty below Lake Michigan.
316 |
LETTERS AND SPEECHES OF NINIAN EDWARDS. |
Main-pock's band, consisting of fifty men, residing seven leagues up the
Quin-que-que. This chief is reputed brave and desperate, although his number of
men is less than either Pepper's or Gome's. He is said to have more influence,
in collecting followers for an enterprise of any kind, than both the others.
His influence is very considerable with some of the bands on the south and east
of Lake Michigan.
At Little Makina, a river on the south side of Illinois, five leagues below Peoria, is a band, consisting of Kickapoos, Chippeways, Ottaways and Pottowottamies. They are called warriors, and their head man is Lebourse of Sulky. Their number is sixty men, all desperate fellows and great plunderers.
On Fox River, which empties into the Illinois River at the Charbonierè, or Coal-pit, about thirty-five leagues above Peoria, there is another band, consisting of Pottawottamies, Chippeways and Ottaways. Wa-bee-sous is their leader. Their number is not less than thirty. The river on which they reside takes its source from Mil-waa-kee. The principal part of the other Pottawottamies reside on the River St. Joseph, that empties into Lake Michigan, and they have on that river three or four villages.
The Kickapoos in the Illinois Territory are divided into three bands. Pam-a-wa-tam is the principal chief. His band consists of one hundred and fifty men. They have left their old village, and are now building a village on Peoria Lake, three leagues from Peoria.
Little Deer has also left the great village, and is now building one opposite Gome's village. His band consists of one hundred and twenty.
The other Kickapoos are those above described, who live at Little Makina below Peoria. From these three bands of Kickapoos there are now with the Prophet about one hundred men.
At Mil-waa-kee, thirty leagues from Chicago, just on the west of Lake Michigan, there are several villages of Pottawottamies and Fulsowines.
At Sauk River, on the same side of the lake, is a village of Ottaways and Chippeways. At Sha-boi-ee-gan is another village of Ottaways and Chippeways. From this river to Green Bay it is twelve leagues. At Two Rivers there is another village of Ottaways. Between Two Rivers and Little Detroit there are two villages of Ottaways. At the Little Detroit there is another village of Ottaways. This is fifty leagues from Michillimacinac. At Manisteé, thirty leagues from Michillimacinac, is another village.
The Winnebago village of Rock River is between thirty and forty leagues above the mouth of the river; it is about two days' march from Peoria. The country is prairie, or very fine, open woodland.
From the village of Rock River to the old Winnebago village on Lake App-quay, or the Fox River of Green Bay, it is one day's journey; and to Mil-waa-kee, can be traveled in one day and a half.
From Peoria to the villages of the Sacs and Foxes, it can be traveled in three days at most. The Sacs have eight hundred and the Foxes six hundred warriors.
From Peoria to the Prophet's town, it is about four days' journey, over fine, high, dry country.
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LETTERS AND SPEECHES OF NINIAN EDWARDS. |
317 |
At the carrying place at Chicago, three leagues from the fort, is a village of
Pottawottamies and Ottaways, of three hundred men.
Five leagues from Chicago, on the south side of Lake Michigan, is a river called the Little Calamick, on which there is a village, consisting of about one hundred men, of Pottawottamies, Chippeways and Ottaways. Old Cam-pig-nam was their chief last year. One of his hands has been greatly injured by a burn, and his nose has been broken or cut to pieces. It was reported that he was killed this spring in going from Detroit to Niagara. Nan-non-quy was the second chief, and, probably, will be the first.
Thirty leagues from Chicago is the river St. Joseph. Ten leagues up that river is a village of about ten Pottawottamies; no particular chief to lead them.
At the Terrecoupé is a village of about one hundred Pottawottamies. This village is ten leagues, by land, to the lake. It is also about thirty leagues to Chicago, over fine, open country and good traveling.
On the St. Joseph, about forty leagues from its mouth, is another small village of Pottawottamies, at the mouth of a small river called the Riviere Pivellee (or Speckled River.) The chief is called Nan-neak-quai-boe (?).
On Stag-heart River, ten leagues from its mouth, is another small village of Pottawottamies. Their chief is Nan-quai-sai. Stag-heart River empties into the St. Joseph. The most of those Indians described as being on the south of Lake Michigan and on the St. Joseph or its waters, are now with the Prophet, on the Wabash.
At the mouth of the River Kick-kaa-la-maa-zo, which empties into the lake fifteen leagues beyond St. Joseph, is a village of seven or eight men. About twenty-five leagues up the river is a village of Pottawottamies and Ottaways, of sixty or seventy men.
On Grand River, which empties into the lake ten leagues beyond the Kick-kaa-la-maa-zo, there are four villages of Ottaways, altogether containing about two hundred men. The first village is about three leagues from the mouth, the second about fifteen, the third about twenty-five, and the fourth about forty leagues. This last is on a small river called Riviere des Plains. Grande Riviere goes near Detroit.
On Mush-kee-gom River, which is four leagues beyond Grande Riviere, there are two villages of Ottaways. The first, about fifteen leagues from the mouth, numbers about ten men. Peck-keoo-nal (or The Snake) is their chief. The others are about fifteen leagues up, and number about twenty-five men. Wampum is their chief.
On the bluffs, one league beyond White River, which itself is four leagues beyond the Mush-kee-gom, is a village of Ottaways, called the Bluff Village; number of men about seventy or eighty. On Pierre Marquette River, which is twelve leagues beyond White River, is another small village of Ottaways; number of men about ten.
318 |
LETTERS AND SPEECHES OF NINIAN EDWARDS. |
The total number of the Indians of the Illinois, including those of the portage
of Chicago, is, therefore, 790 men, viz:
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At the Portage |
30 men. |
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Those Indians, in the late council I held with them, told me they were about to settle themselves together in a large town at or near Peoria.
The facility with which those about the lake and St. Joseph's can join them is obvious, as they can transport themselves in canoes all the way, are constantly in the habit of passing in that manner, and most decidedly prefer it to any other mode of travel.
The proximity of the Indians between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi to Peoria, would enable all those bands to unit their forces in a very few days. If the Prophet should be driven from his present ground, or the Illinois Indians become decidedly hostile, he will rally all his forces on the Illinois River, from which he can do more injury to our people, with less danger to himself and his followers, than from his present station.
These notes already show that this is the most vulnerable frontier that belongs to the United States. But I will add further ones in regard to the Illinois River and its waters.
Names of the rivers emptying into the Illinois; River Fouchai is the first on the south side, and two leagues above the mouth of the latter; River Makapinn two leagues above Fouchai, south side; River Lenois four leagues from Mee ka-pinn, south side; River A'la Pomme two leagues from Lenois, south side; River Cha-bot two leagues above A'la Pomme, north side, (from here to the mouth of Salt River, on the Mississippi, the Indians can go and come in a day on foot); Mouse River four leagues above Cha-bot, south side, (one day's march, on foot, to the Mississippi- fine, open country); Blue River two and a half leagues above Mouse River, north side; Arrowstone River two leagues above Blue River, south side; Mauvaisterre River one and a half leagues above Negro River, north side, (from here near ten days' march to the Mississippi- fine, open country); Le Ballanson four leagues above Mauvaisterre, south side; Mine River, two leagues above Le Ballanson, north side, one and a half days' march to the Mississippi.
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N. EDWARDS. |
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