P-201(9), p. 3
|
Eleven months Since, a Wea chief murdered a Vermillion Kickapoo chief in this
place- Under my mediation an accommodation between the tribes was effected- but
as the Grand father of the Decd was a Sauk, that tribe, together
with the Prairie Kickapoos, have taken up the quarrel; and the Weas are under
just apprehensions of an attack from them-
The Wabash Indians are constantly complaining of the non arrival of their annuities- I have frequently informed them that there had not been time to procure and transport them to this place
There are strong reasons to believe that many of the Puttawatamies are hostile- and it is probable that two war parties of that nation are now on their march against the Wabash Settlements. Much of the information I receive may be incorrect, and the Indians may indulge in threats that they will never execute. Fearing however that an incursion may be attempted, I have advised the Miamis not to visit our Settlements, and employed a few Indian spies to detect the approach of any hostile party-
All the Chiefs who Signed the Treaty of Decr 1809 are dead, except Knoshania or the Otter-
All circumstances considered I thought it would be imprudent to permit the Weas and Vermillion Kickapoos to seperate under an idea that there was no prospect of effecting an amicable adjustment of the controversy- and that in affording an opportunity for that purpose, as little delay as possible should be incured- Whilst I therefore distinctly asserted the right of the U. States to the land in question, and that it would not be restored to them, I informed them I should refer the subject to a Grand Council of the Miamis, Kickapoos and Delewares, to be assembled at Fort Harrison on the 23d May- under a belief that when they came to consult with their friends they would be convinced of their error, and cheerfully acquiese in the justice of our claim
I would respectfully suggest the propriety of the appointment of a Special Commissioner to attend the Council I have invited
P-201(9), p. 4
|
Owing to the manner in which the mail is arranged, I understand there would be
some delay in your receiving this letter if conveyed through Governor Posey-
the urgency of the case will therefore I hope furnish an apology for addressing
myself directly to you
|
I have the Honor to be very
respectfully |
The Honble Secretary
of War-
Washington City
P-48(9), p. 1
|
|
Vincennes April 3d 1816 |
Sir,
From the hurry in which my letter of the 27th Ulto was written, some circumstances were omitted, which it may be proper to mention-
Knowing that Harris the Surveyor would not return, unless under the protection of a guard, I told the Indians I should forbid his resuming the survey until the event of the Council I should invite, was known- Harris informs me that there are not exceeding six Townships to survey- That they are situate at the Northern corner of the Tract opposite the mouth of Racoon creek- That the land is not desirable and if offerred for sale, very little, if any would be sold for several years- Permit me therefore respectfully to suggest, for the consideration of the President, the propriety of authorising the sale of the lands now surveyed- believing that the country as high as Fort Harrison, & from the Wabash to the Eastern branch of White River would be immediately occupied even under the difficulties & dangers incident to an Indian War- And the measure would demonstrate to the savages the unalterable determination of the Government to settle the Country, notwithstanding any cavil or opposition they might attempt- for sometime past the Indians who resorted to Fort Harrison appeared sullen and morose, and it was especially the case during the late Council. Stone Eater, a Wea Chief, arrived from a distant hunting ground, the second day of the Council, but he did not dissent from the outrageous pretensions advanced by the Indians- A Kickapoo War Chief, a particular friend of the 0tter, and who had been with him during the late winter, came in a few hours before the Council broke up; he was immediately gratified with an opportunity of consulting with the others, and acquiesced in what they had done- I doubt not they entered the council with views similar to those expressed by the Chiefs who first assembled, and that an extensive confederacy is forming, probably already formed, for the purpose of opposing the Government- Altho' I could not learn where the Otter was, I now have good reason to believe that he received my invitation, & purposely absented himself, to furnish an excuse for an attempt at procrastination, as mentioned in my last.
P-48(9), p. 2
|
After I had dismissed the Indians some of the Weas speaking of what had been
done, observed, that altho' in Council, they had yielded, with respect to the
lands last purchased to the East of the Wabash, they were still determined that
the Americans should not inhabit them-
On friday last, a sister of the late Winemack informed Major Morgan that a party of Eight Kickapoos had started for the Embarras settlements, a few miles N.W. of this place- to masacre white people- That as informant, she did not wish her name concealed- That it would generally be known in a few days, and that some of the Kickapoos who disaproved of the enterprise, would probably communicate the same fact- The character of this woman is as good as that of any of the savages- The Warrior said to be at the head of the hostile party, is of the Vermillion Band.
On the subject of the reports of contemplated hostility by different parties of Indians, one or two reflections may occur- Are these reports circulated to prevent the extension of our settlements? The plan is not beyond the depth of Indian policy- Or are the Indians stimulated to circulate these reports, by British Traders and others to prevent competition in trade? The Traders might suggest, and the Indians at their instance would not hesitate to pursue such a course- But in attempting to account for the change lately manifested, other circumstances may claim attention- The savages consider the people of the U.S. their natural enemies- The mischief and inconveniences resulting to them from the small pox- The use of whiskey and the diminution of game from the sale of their lands they attribute to them- These are causes always operating to the prejudice of the U. States- Since the Treaty at Detroit, the Indians have been repeatedly advised that England would make war against the U.S. this spring- The prophets party is select, strongly attached to the British, and active in endeavours to excite dissertions- The families and friends of those who were killed during the late war, are still restless and breathing revenge- The Tribes that have not yet treated of peace, are endeavouring to form a confederacy against the U.S. and have informed the Miamies, that they must drive the white people from the land on the Wabash, purchased in 1809- The Puttawatamies & Prarie Kickapoos will probably interpose a claim to the land
P-48(9), p. 3
|
between the Illinois & Mississippi- many of the surveyors marks, in that
Tract, have been defaced, and the likeness of Indian Warriors a Tomahawk in one
hand and a spear in the other, substituted- an intimation that cannot be
mistaken- The purchase of lands in 1809, and the consequent intrigues of the
prophet, united the Indians for war- The surveying and settlement of the same
lands, may now be used as a pretext for the same purpose- La frambois &
others are treading the steps of the prophet, Labossure &c in 1810 &
'11; and I doubt not that an hostile feeling actuates the Indians generally
from the Wabash to the Mississippi & the Lakes-
|
I have the Honor to be
&c very respectfully |
The Honble
Secretary at War
Washington City
M-439(9), p. 1
|
|
Fort Harrison 7th April 1816 |
Sir
Since the Counsel held at this place for the purpose of asscertaining the sentiments of the Indians respecting the interruption of the Surveyors. I have conversed with one or two chiefs again upon that subject; and my Opinion with respect to the views and dispositions of the Indians have under gone some change.
They declare it to be their sincere wish to preserve faithfully the relations of peace between the United States and themselves; and are desirous that the difference with respect to the land may be amicably adjusted.
If the Kikapoos can be satisfied that their chiefs signed the treaty of sale knowing its contents I am of opinion that they will acquiesce. This I presume may easily be done; as one of the chiefs who signed the treaty is yet alive, and the interpretor who acted on that occasion resides at Vincennes and may be had at the Counsel contemplated to be held.
The Miamis take a different ground. They alledge that the land did not belong to the Kikapoos- that it belonged to them, and that therefore, the Kikapoos had no right to sell it. If the Kikapoos acquiesce I can scarcely believe that the Miamis will persist in this objection.
I am, therefore, inclined to believe that this affair may be settled without having recourse to arms.
Many reports of the hostility of some of the Indians have been circulated in this quarter; and connected with the interruption of the Surveyors and the unexpected ground assumed by the Indians in Counsel have excited some alarm on the frontiers; but I feel satisfied that the Indians immediately around our borders do not mediate hostility against us. With respect to those at a distance I know not any thing with respect to their sentiments and feelings at present.
M-439(9), p. 2
|
The British have very lately sent the Kikapoos and Miamis a belt of wampum with
a speech- They advise them to remain at peace- not to kill any of the americans
or to steal any of their horses- that if they commenced war again with the
americans they would be certainly destroyed- that they were too week to contend
with the United States. They advise each of those tribes to assemble in
villages- the Kikapoos somewhere on the Wabash- and the Miamis on the Eel
River. This advice those tribes are preparing to persue; and the promptness
with which they do so shews the vast influence the British possess over the
Indians. They assign as a reason why they should be altogether in a village-
that the more distant tribes might do mischief which, if they were scattered
and dispersed, might be attributed to them. I am of opinion that the speach may
have a good effect; for before this some of the Indians seemed to entertain an
expectation that war between the United States and the English would recommence
again this Spring.
This Speech was reported to me by a Kikapoo Chief; and the two young Indians who brought it were at this post.
When the Surveyors were interrupted I thought it my duty to communicate it to you in order that a circumstance that appeared to me at that time of very little importance might not be magnified at the Department; and having got into the subject I have been drawn much further than I had anticipated or could wish. Correct information upon this subject- where the title to a large tract of Country has been called in question- cannot I presume but be important to the Government; and an officer residing upon the ground and daily in the habit of converseing with those who controvert that little may be supposed to be better able to give such information than those who reside at a distance. This is the motive for addressing you; together with a wish to qualify an expression of a former communication- that the display of a considerable military force might be necessary. Further reflection and the conversations I have alluded to induce me to believe that if the Govt persue a mild but a firm course the affair may be
M-439(9), p. 3
|
settled without a great deal of difficulty.
I had omitted to mention that the Kikapoo chief said he understood that a belt of Wampum with a similar speech had been sent to other tribes
|
I have the honor to be |
P-62(9), p. 1
|
|
Vincennes April 10, 1816 |
Sir
By the 3d article of the treaty of Fort Wayne (7th June 1803) it was stepulated that the tribes who were parties to it should annually receive a quantity of salt, not exceding one hundred & fifty bushels- The Weas & Vermillion Kickapoos have lately reminded me that they expected the salt to which they were intitled under that article.
No injury has yet been done on the frontiers and the little Ducks & others of the Vermillion Kickapoos vehemently deny any knowledge of the warriors of their tribe contemplating the perpetration of mischief.
Enclosed herewith are two Talks delivered on sunday last to Majr Morgan at Ft. Harrison- La frombois is a wea- and the Ducks a Vermillion Kickapoo- It appears that they are still indisposed to yield with respect to the disputed boundary. The Weas & Vermillion Kickapoos are too contemptable to admit of the supposition that this plan of opposition originated with them- The pretension has been advanced under an Idea that they would be countenancd & supported by the other Indians- To the British they appear to listen with complaisance & attention, and promptly acceede to the arrangement proposed by them- La frombois too has received a belt from the British, advising the Weas to be quiet and not injure the americans- These stories are intended to amuse- are but half told- & the balance may probably be ferreled out in a few days- Lafrombois insenuates that I acted improperly in selecting the Indians, I intended to invite to the council- I told them that I should send for all the Miamies, the Vermillion Kickapoos, & the Delawars- & as the little Otter of the Prairie, was a particular friend of the Vermillion band, frequently transacted business with them, & with their own chiefs signed their Treaties, that I should send for him also- but as to the other chiefs of the Prairie Kickapoos, I should not send for them.- The Vermillion Kickapoos are intruders; but they have for many years been in the quiet possession of the country they inhabit on the Wabash & Vermillion, & may now be considered as the rightfull occupants
Copy of a letter from Judge Parke
P.S. I believe the story of the Squaw- she is of a powerfull
P-62(9), p. 2
|
family- and disregards the Ducks & her squaw- A Kickapoo left the Ft
hastely just after she arrived, & I believe gave notice to the war party
that was approaching our settlements that they were discovered- I am of opinion
that no mischief will be done till the event of the Grand council is over.- I
have attended to your instructions, & have no knowledge of any intruders on
Indian lands in this Territory.
|
B. Parke |
Governor Posey
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