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A PETITION, JUNE 15, 1776 |
15 |
given to the inhabitants; and on the poll
being closed, Captn John Gabriel Jones and Captain George Rogers
Clark having the majority, were chosen; and not doubting the acceptance of them
as our representatives by the Honorable the Convention, to serve in that
capacity, as we conceive the precedent established in West Augusta will justify
our proceedings. And we cannot but observe how impolitic it would be to suffer
such a respectable body of prime riflemen to remain even in a state of
neutrality, when at this time a certain set of men from North Carolina, stiling
themselves Proprietors, & claiming an absolute right to these very lands,
taking upon themselves the Legislative authority, commissioning officers both
civil and military, having also opened a Land Office, Surveyors General &
deputies appointed and act, conveyances made, and land sold at an exhorbitant
price, with many other unconstitutional practices, tending to disturb the minds
of those who are well-disposed to the wholesome Government of Virginia, and
creating factions and divisions amongst ourselves, as we have not hitherto been
represented in Convention. And as at this time of general danger, we cannot
take too much precaution to prevent the inroads of the savages, & prevent
the effusion of innocent blood, we, the Committee, after receiving a message
from the chiefs of the Delawares who are now settled near the mouth of the
Waubash, informing us that a treaty was to be held at O'Post1 by the
English and Kickapoo Indians, and that they would attend to know the purport of
the same, and if their brothers, the Long Knives would send a man they could
rely on, they would, on their return, inform him of the same, as they were
apprehensive the Kickapoos would strike their brothers, the Long Knives.
Therefore, we thought it most prudent, and shall send immediately a certain
James Harrod and Garret Pendergrass to converse with them on the same. And as
it is the request of the inhabitants that we should point out a number of men
capable and most acquainted with the laws of this Colony to act as civil
Magistrates, a list of the same we have enclosed; and for other matters
relative to this country, we conceive that Captain Jones and Captain Clark, our
delegates, will
_____________
1O'Post, commonly written Opost, was the "poste du Ouabache" of the French. For the first time, in 1752, it was called Post Vincennes. The settlement was begun about 1727 by a French officer named Vincennes. Dunn, Indiana, passim.
16 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
l'honneur de vous representer que cest la d'ou depend la seureté de cette
Colonie quoiqu'il en soit je ne negligerai rien pour faire harceler nos ennemis
ou du moins les empêcher de faire de plus grands progrets sur l'Esprit de nos
Nations tant que la guerre durera45v et pour cela je vais tacher
d'envoier a M de Bertet le plus de munitions de guerre et de marchandises qu'il
me sera possible si Mr Le Normant1 veut S'y preter autrement que
l'année derniere.
Mr le Marquis de Beauharnois duquel je n'ai reçû aucunes nouvelles par cette derniere occasion touchant les arrangemens que Je lui avois proposés et dont j'ai eu, Monseigneur, lhonneur de vous rendre compte les années denieres lui marque aussi d'engager ces chaoüanons a faire des courses sur les anglois et de ne rien négliger pour faire harceler ceux qui ont etablis des magasins sur nos Rivieres, de mon coté Je n'epargnerai46 rien
[Translation
to you that it is on that that the safety of our colony depends. However it may
be I shall neglect nothing to have our enemies harried, or at least to prevent
them from attaining greater influence over the minds of our tribes while the
war shall last. To that end I am going to try o send to M. de Bertet as much in
munitions and goods as I possibly can if M. le Normant1 is disposed
to assist in other fashion than he did last year.
M. le Marquis de Beauharnois, from whom I have
received no news by this last opportunity concerning the arrangements which I
had proposed to him and of which I had, Monseigneur, the honor to give you an
account in former years, also directs M. de Bertet to induce the Shawnee to
make raids on the English; he bids him neglect nothing in order to have those
of them raided who have established warehouses on our rivers. On my side I
shall spare no pains to attain that end. The English for
___________
1Sébastien François Ange le Normant de Mézy. Born in 1702. Served in various administrative posts in Canada, San Domingo, and Louisiana, where, 1744-1748, he was ordonnateur. He later served in France as intendant-general of marine and colonies. Shortt, Canadian Currency. . . . during the French Period, 2:889 n.
72 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
|
My Compliments to the Gentn Officers, Includeing Mr Camron |
|
I am Dr Sr your most Obd friend & hble Sar |
|
JOs BOWMAN |
[Addressed:] G. R. Clark Colo Commander in Chief of the
Islenois Country Kuskuskia pr Captn Wintston.
[Endorsed:] Majr. Bowman Oct 30th 1778
GOVERNOR HENRY TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS,
November 16, 1778.1
[Draper MSS., 14S128.--Copy.]
|
WMSBURG, NOVr 16th 1778. |
GENTLEMEN:
The Executive power of this State having been impressed with a strong apprehension of incursions on their frontier settlements from the savages situated about the Illinois, and supposing the danger would be greatly obviated by an enterprise against the English posts and possessions in that country, which were well known to inspire the savages with their bloody purposes against us sent a detachment of militia, consisting of one hundred and seventy or eighty men, commanded by Col. George Rogers Clark on that service some time last spring. By dispatches which I have just received from Col. Clark it appears that his success has equaled the most sanguine expectations.2 He has not only reduced Fort Chartres and its dependencies, but has struck such a terror into the Indian tribes between that settlement & the Lakes that no less than five of them, viz: the Puans, Sacks, Renards, Powtowautanies, & Miamies, who had received the hatchet from the English emissaries, have submitted to our arms all their English presents, and bound themselves by treaties and promises to be peaceable in future.
The Great Blackbird, a Chippewa Chief, has
also sent a belt of peace to Col. Clark, influenced, he supposes, by the dread
of Detroit's being reduced by the American arms. This latter place
____________
1Printed also in English,Conquest of the Northwest, I., 245 et seq.
2It has not been possible to locate the originals of these letters but it seems evident that Governor Henry followed the contents in this report to Congress.
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ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
on being informed that he had not arrived; that all his Men had been stopt by
the incessant labours of the populace, except part of a Compy that
had arrived under Command of one Capt Delland Some on their March
being threatened to be put in Prison if they did not return; this information
made me as Desperate as I was before Determined.
Reflecting on the Information that I had of some of my greatest opponents censureing the Governour for his Conduct, as they thought, ordering me for the Protection of Kentucky only; that and some other secret impulses Occationed me in spite of all Council to Risque the Expedition to convince them of their error until that moment, secret to the Principal Officers I hadÑI was sensible of the impression it would have on many, to be taken near a thousand [miles] from the Body of their Country to attack a People five times their number, and merciless Tribes of Indians their Allies and determined Enemies to us.
I knew that my case was desperate, but the more I reflected on my weakness the more I was pleased with the Enterprise; Joined by a few of the Kentuckyans, under Colo Montgomery to stop the desertion I knew would ensue on Troops knowing their Destination I had encamped on a small Island in the middle of the Falls, kept strict Guards on the Boats, but Lieutenant Hutchings of Dillards Compy contrived to make his escape with his party after being refused leave to return, luckely a few of his Men was taken the next day by a party sent after them; on this Island I first began to discipline my little Army knowing that to be the most essential point towards success. most of them determined to follow me, the rest seeing no probability of making their escape I soon got that subordination as I could wish for; about twenty families that had followed me much against my Inclination I found now to be of service to me in guarding a Block house that I had erected on the Island to secure my Provisions; I got every thing in Readiness on the 26th of June, set off from the Falls, double Man'd our Oars and proceeded day and Night until we run into the mouth of the Tenesse River the fourth day landed on an Island to prepare Ourselves for a March by Land, a few hours after we took a Boat of Hunters but eight days from Kaskaskias; before I would suffer them to answer any Person a question after their taking the oath of
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CLARK TO MASON, NOVEMBER 19, 1779 |
125 |
People and flourished fast-The King then wrote to his Gouvernour & Officers
that we had got Rich and numerous enough, that it was time to make us pay
tribute, that he did not care how much they took, so as they left us enough to
eat, and that he had sent them a great many Soldiers to make the Americans pay
if they refused, that when they had made the Americans do as they pleased, they
would then make the Indians pay likewise; But for fear the Indians should find
it out by the Big Knives that the English intended to make them also pay, &
Should get mad with the English for their treatment to their neighbours the Big
Knives, that they, his Governours should make us Quarrel &c-We bore their
Taxes for many Years, at last they were so hard that if we killed a Deer they
would take the Skin away and leave us only the Meat, and made us buy Blankets
with Corn to feed their Soldiers with. By such usage we got Poor and was
obliged to go naked; And at last we complained-The King got mad and made his
Soldiers Kill some of our People and Burn some of our Villages. The Old Men
then held a great Council and made the Tomahawk very sharp and put it into the
hand of the young Men, told them to be strong & Strike the English as long
as they could find one on this Island. They immediately struck and Killed a
great many of the English. The French King hearing of it sent to the Americans
and told them to be strong and fight the English like Men, that if they wanted
help or Tomahawks he would furnish them &c. &c.
This Speech had a greater effect than I could have imagined, and did more service than a Regiment of Men cou'd have done.
It was with astonishment that viewed the
Amazeing number of Savages that soon flocked into the Town of Cohos to treat
for peace, and to hear what the Big Knives had to say many of them 500 miles
distant Chipoways, Ottoways, Petawatomies, Missesogies1 Puans,
Sacks, Foxes, Sayges, Tauways, Mawmies and a number of other Nations all living
east of the Messicippa,2 and many of them then at War against us. I
must confess that I was under some apprehention among such a number of Devils,
and it proved
______________
1Originally: "Missesogies and a number of Puans", but the words "and a number of" are stricken out.
2Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Missisauga, Winnebago, Sauk, Fox, Osage, Iowa, Miami.
146 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
Victory; Detroit lost for want of a few Men; knowing that they would
immediately make greater Preparations expecting me- The Galley had taken upon
her passage the Express from Williamsburg with letters from his
Excellency-Having at once all the intiligence I could wish for from both sides.
I was better able to fix my future Plans of operation against Du Troit. By his
Excellencies Letter I might expect to have a Compleat Batallian in a few
months, the Militia of the Illinois I knew would turn out, did not doubt of
getting two or three hundred Men from Kentucky Consequently put the matter out
of doubt.
I contented myself on that Presumption having almost as many Prisoners as I had Men-Seeing the necessity of geting rid of many of the Prisoners, not being able to guard them; not doubting but my good treatment of the Volunteers Inhabitants of Detroit would Promote my Interest there I discharged the greatest Part of them that had been with Indian Parties, on their taking the Oath of Neutrality. They went off huzzaing for the Congress and declared though they could not fight against the Americans they would for them. (As I after this had Spies constant to and from Detroit I learnt they answered every purpose that I could have wished for, by prejudiceing their friends in favour of America. So certain was the Inhabitants of that Post, of my Marching immediately against it, that they made Provision for me in defiance of the Garrison Many of them has paid dear for it since.
I dispatched off Capt Williams and Compy with Governour Hamilton, his principal Officers and a few Soldiers to the Falls of Ohio, to be sent to Williamsburg, and in a few days sent my letters to the Govourr Having matters a little setled, the Indian Department became the next Object. I knew that Mr Hamilton had endeavoured to make them believe that we intinded at last to take all their Lands from them and that in case of Success we should shew no greater Mercy for those that did not Join him than those that did. I indeavoured to make myself acquainted [with] the Arguments he used: And calling together the Neighbouring Nations, Peankeshaws, Kickepoes, & others that would not listen to him Indeavoured to undeceive them; I made a very long Speach to them in the Indian manner, Extol'd them to the Skies for their Manly behaviour and fedility;
|
CLARK TO MASON, NOVEMBER 19, 1779 |
147 |
told them that we were so far from having any design on their Lands, that I
looked upon it that we were on their Land where the Fort stood, that we claimed
no Land in their Country; that the first Man that offered to take their Lands
by Violence must strike the tomhk in my head; that it was only
necessary that I should be in their Country during the War and keep a Fort in
it to drive off the English, who had a design against all People; after that I
might go to some place where I could get Land to support Me: The Treaty was
concluded to the satisfaction of both parties; they were much pleased at what
they hear'd and begged me to favour them the next day with my Compy
at a Council of theirs I accordingly Attended: greatest part of the time spent
in Ceremony; They at last told me they had been meditating on what I had said
the day before: that all the Nations would be rejoiced to have me always in
their Country as their great Father and Protector: And as I had said I would
claim no Land in their Country, they were determin'd that they would not loose
me on that Account: and Resolved to give me a piece, but larger than they had
given to all the French at that Village, and laying, down what they would wish
me to do &cÑI was well pleased at their offer as I had then an opportunity
to deny the exceptance, & farther convince them that we did not want their
Land; they appear'd dejected at my Refusial; I waved the discourse upon other
Subjects: Recommended a frolick to them that night as the Sky was clearer than
ever; gave them a qunty of Taffy1 and Provisions to make
merry on and left them. In a few days some Chipoways and others who had been
with Mr Hamilton, came in and begged me to excuse their blindness
and take them into favour; after the warmest Silicitations for Mercy, I told
them that the Big Knives was merciful which Proved them to be Warriers; that I
should send Belts and a Speech to all the Nations: that they after hearing of
it might do as they pleased but must blame themselves for future misfortunes
and dispatched them. Nothing destroys Your Interest among the Savages so soon
as wavering sentiments or speeches that shew the least fear. I consequently had
observed one steady line of conduct among them: Mr Hamilton
____________
1Tafia was a cheap rum which was in general use throughout the West.
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CLARK TO MASON, NOVEMBER 19, 1779 |
151 |
being Idle (having sufficient reason to be convinced, that they were in no
danger from the Dept of Pitsburg always suspicious of my Attacking
them, sensible of my growing Interest among the Savages.-In order to give
themselves more time to fortify by making some divirtion on the Illinois)
engaged a considerable number of their Savages to make an Attempt on StVincents;
those Indians that had declared for the American Interest; in order to shew
their Zeal sent word to them that if they had a mind to fight the Bostonians at
St Vincents; they must first cut their way through them, as they
were Big Knives too. This effectually stopt their operation; knowing that the
Expedition depended intirely on the Kentuckians turning out, I began to be
suspicious of a disappointment on hearing of their Marching against the Shownee
Towns which proved too true for on my arrival at St Vincents the
first of July, instead of two or three hundred Men that I was promised; I found
only about thirty Volunteers, meeting with a Repulse from the Shawnees got
discouraged Consequently not in the power of the Comd to March them
as Militia, being for some time, (as I hinted before) suspitious of a
disappointment, I had conducted matters so as to make no Ill impression on the
minds of the Savages in case I should not proceed as the whole had suspected
that my design was against Detroit. Several Nations silicited me to go and
suffer them to Join me. Various was the conjectures respecting the Propriety of
the Attempt with the Troops we had (about three hundd & fifty)
at a Council of War held for the purpose there was only two casting voices against
it and I pretend it was on account of Genl Sullivants Marching
against Niagary, which we had Just heard that stopt us that there was no doubt
of his success Detroit would fall of course; and consequently was not worth our
while Marching against it: although I knew at [the] same time that Detroit
would not fall with Niagary, as they had an easy communication with Montreal
through another Channel by way of the Grand River. A number of Indians visited
me at this time renewing the Chain of friendship &c. To all of whom I gave
Genl satisfaction, except that of my refutial of a Tract of Land
that their Chief had formerly offered me; I inquired of several Gentlemen
acquainted with them, why they were Silicitus about it; their oppinions was
that the Indians being exceedingly Jealous of their
152 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
Lands being taken without their Consent, being told by the English that I had a
design on their Country, by my excepting a Tract from them as a preasant, would
prove sufficiently to them that what they had been told was false, being
satisfyed in this they also had a desire of my Remaining In their Country as
their Chief and Guardian and that my refusial had given them suspicion; in
order to Remove it I made a suitable Speech to them which gave Genl
satisfaction and in a few days they with a great deal of Ceremony presented me
the following Deed of gift-
By the Tobacos Son Grand Chief of all the Peankeshaw Nations & of all the Tribes. Grand Dore to the Ouabache as ordered by the master of Life, holding the Tomahawk in one hand and peace in the other. Judging the Nations giving entrance for those that are for Peace, and making them a Clear Road &c.
DECLARATI0N.
Whereas for many years past, this once peaceable Land hath been put in confusion by the English encouraging all People to Raise the Tommahawk Against the Big Knives, saying that they were a bad people, Rebellious, and ought to be put from under Sun and their names to be no more.
But as the Sky at our Councils was always Misty and never Clear we was still at a loss to know what to do, hoping that the Master of Life would one Day or other make the Sky Clear and put us in the right Road. He taking Pitty on us sent a father among us (Colo George Rogers Clark) that has cleared our eyes and made our Paths straight defending our Lands &c-So that we now enjoy Peace from the Rising to the Seting of Sun; and the Nations even to the heads of the great River (meaning the Messicippi) are happy and will no more listen to Bad Birds; but abide by the Councils of their great father, A Chief of the Big Knives that is now among us-
And whereas it is our desire that he should long remain among us, that we may take his Council and be happy; it also being our desire to give him Lands to reside on in our Country that we may at all times speak to him. After many Silicitations to him to make choice of a Tract he chusing the Lands adjoining the falls of Ohio on the west side of said River-
|
CLARK TO MASON, NOVEMBER 19, 1779 |
153 |
I do hereby in the names of all the Great Chiefs and Warriers of the Ouabash
and their Allies, Declare that so much Lands at the falls of Ohio contained in
the following bounds, to wit, Beginning opposite the middle of the first Island
below the falls, Bounded upwards by the west bank Bank [sic
|
(Sign'd) |
Francis son of Tobacco. |
Which Deed, I excepted, and Indeavoured to convince them how much I Prised so
liberal a gift &c as I had no idea of haveing Property in the Lands myself,
knowing the Laws of my Country Justly against it; I chose it at the falls of
Ohio suspecting that I might hereafter find it necessary to fortify that Place
for conveniency of free Intercourse Having a Number of supernumerary Officers I
sent them Into the Settlement Recruiting finding the Interest of the Department
required me to spend a few months at the Falls of Ohio being also Induced with
the hopes of giving the Shawneess a Drubing in case a sufficient force Could be
again raised at Kentucky; After giving proper Instructions for the discretion
of the Comds of the different posts I set out for the falls where I
Arrived safe on the 20 day of August I Received an Express from his Excellency
much to my Satisfaction having fresh
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