28 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
I immagin the Waters Sink tho there is no visible appearace [sic] of it
all1 the Lands on Scioto River as well as the Bottoms on the Ohio
are too rich for any thing but Flax Hemp and Indian Corn.
24th 25th and 26th Stayed at the Mouth of Scioto waiting for the Shawnesse and French Traders who arrived here on the Evening of the 26th in consequnce [sic] of the Message I sent them from Hachocken or Battle Creek.2
27th The Indians requested me to stay this Day which I could not refuss [sic].
28th We set of passing down the Ohio The Country on both sides the River level the Banks continue high this Day we came 60 Miles passed no Islands the River being wider and deeper we drove all Night.
29th We came to the Little Maim3 River having proceeded 60 Miles last Night.
30th We passed the great Maim River about 30 Miles from the Little River of that Name and in the Evening arrived at the Place where the Elephants Bones are found where we encamped intending to take a View of the Place Next Morning This Day we came about 70 Miles the Country on both sides level and rich Bottoms well wartered [sic].
31st Earley in the
Morning we went to the great Lick where these Bones only are found about 4
Miles from the River On the South East Side in our Way we passed thro' a fine
timbered clear Wood, we came into a large road which the Buffuloes have beaten
Spacious enough for two Waggons to go a Brest and leading straight into the
Lick4 It appears there are vast Quantities of these Bones Iying five
or six Feet under ground which we discoverd in the Bank at the Edge of the
Lick. We found here two Tusks about 6 Feet long we carried one with some Other
Bones to our Boat and sett off. This day we proceeded down the River about 80
Miles Thro a Country much the same as already described Since We passed the
Scioto, In this Days Journey we passed the Mouth of the River Kentucky
or Holstens River.
___________
1"In general" has been inserted before "all" in Thwaites's version.
2For more information about these days see the other version of the journal, post, 39.
3"Miame" is the name given in Thwaites's version.
4From " Earley " to " straight into the Lick " is italicized in Thwaites's edition.
|
CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, JUNE 6, 1765 |
29 |
June Ist we arrived within a Mile of the Falls of
the Ohio where we encamped after coming about 51 Miles this Day.
June 2nd Earley in the Morning we embarked and passed the Falls the River being very low we were oblidged to Lighten our Boats and pass on the North Side of a Little Island which Lays in the middle of the River in general what is called the Falls here is no more than rapids and in the Least Fresh a Batteau of any Size may come and go on each Side without any Risque This Day we proceeded 60 Miles in the Course of which we passed Pidgeon River the Country pretty High on each side the River Ohio.
3th[sic] in the fore part of This Days Course we passed high Lands: about midday we came to a fine flat and level Country called by the Indians low Lands no Hills to be seen we came about 80 Miles this Day and encamped.
4th we came to a place called the 5 Islands these Island are very long and Succeed on another in a Chain, the Country still flat and level the Soil exceedingly rich and well watered the high Lands are at least fifty Miles from the Banks of the Ohio In this Days course we proceeded2 about 90 Miles the Current being very strong.
5th Having passed the 5 Islands we came to a Place called the Civil3 River Came about 40 Miles this Day the Country the Same as of yesterday.
6th We arrived at
the Mouth of the Caubache4 where we found a Brest Work errected
supposed to be done by the Indians the mouth of this River is about 200
yards wide and in its Course runs thro one of the finest Countries in the World
the Lands being exceedingly rich and well watered here hemp might be
raised in immense Quantities: all the Bottoms and almost the Whole Country
abounds with great Plenty of red and White Mulberry Trees These Trees
are to be found in great plenty in all places betwen the Mouth of Scioto and
the Caubache The Soil of the Latter affords this Tree in plenty as far as
Cauntonan6 and Some few on the Miames River: Several Large fine
Islands lie in the Ohio opposite the Mouth of the Caubache the Banks
____________
1The distance is given correctly in Thwaites as fifty miles instead of five.
2"Passed" in Thwaites.
3Thwaites's version gives the name of the river as "Owl."
4Changed to the correct form, "Ouabache," in Thwaites.
5Given in Thwaites as "Ouicatonon."
30 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
of which are high and consequently free from Inundations hence we
proceeded down the River about 6 Miles to encamp as I Judged some Indians were
sent to way lay us and came to a place called the Old Shawnesse Village1
some of that Nation having formerly lived there in this Days proceeding we came
about 76 Miles The general Course of the Ohio from Scioto to this Place
is South West.
7th We Stayed here and dispatched two Indians to the Iillionois by land with Letters to Ld Frazer an English Officer who had been sent there from Fort Pitt & Monsr St Ange the French Commanding Officer at Fort Chartres and some speeches to the Indians there letting them know of my arrival here That Peace was made betwen us and the Six Nations Delawares and Shawness2 and of my having a Number of Deputies of those Nations along with me to conclude matters with them also on my arrivel there this Day one of my men went into the Woods and lost himselfe.
8thJune at Day
Break we were attacked by a Party of Indians consisting of Eighty Warriors of
the Kicapers3 and Musquatimes who Killed two of my men & three
Indians wounded myselfe and all the rest of my party Except two White Men and
one Indian then made myselfe and all the White men Prisoners plundering us of
every Thing we had A Deputy of the Shawnesse who was Shot thro the Thigh
having concealed him selfe in the Woods for a few Minuets [sic] after he
was Wounded not then Knowing but they were Southern Indians who are always at
war with the Northward Indians: after discovering what Nation they were he came
up to them and made a very bold speech telling them that the Whole Northward
Indians would join in taking Revenge for the Insult and murder of their People
this alarmed thoss [sic] Indians very much they began excusing
themselves saying their Fathers the French had spirited them up telling them
the Inglish4 were coming with a body of Southern Indians to take
their Country from them and inslave them that it was this that induced
them to commit this Outrage after having divided the plunder they left
great Part of the heaviest Effects Behind not being able to carry them they
sett of with us to their Village at
_____________
1This is the present site of Shawneetown.
2" Shawnesse "
3"Kiccapoos and Musquattimes." The latter are the Foxes.
4" Indians " is the reading in Thwaites.
|
CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, JUNE 15, 1765 |
31 |
Cautonan1 in a great Hurry being in dread of a Pursuit from a large
Party of Indians they suspected were coming after me: Our Course was thro a
thick Woody Country crossing a great many Swamps Morasses and Beaver Ponds
we traveled this Day about 42 Miles.
9th An Hour before Day we sett out on our March passed thro thick Woods some high lands and small Savannahs badly watered traveled this Day about 30 Miles.
10th We sett out very early in the Morning and marched thro a high Country extreamly well timbered for three hours. then came to a Branch of the Cuabache which we crossed. the remainder of this Day we traveled thro fine rich Bottoms over grown with Reeds which make the finest Pasture in the World. the Young reads being preferable to Sheaft Oats here is great plenty of Wild game of all Kinds. Came this Day about 28 or 30 Miles.
11th at Day Break we sett off making our way thro a thin Woodland intercepted2 with Savannahs: I Suffered extreamly by Reason of the excessive Heat of the Weather and Scarcity of Water the little Runs and springs being dried up Traveled this Day about 30 Miles.3
13th About an Hour before Day we set out traveling thro such Bottoms as of Yesterday and some large Meadowes where no Trees for several Miles4 are to bee seen: Buffuloes Deers and Bears are here in great Plenty we traveled about 26 Miles this Day.
14th The Country we traveled thro this Day appears the Same as described Yesterday excepting this afternoons Journey thro Woodlands to cut of a Bend of the River Came about 27 Miles this Day.
15th We set out
very Barley and about one o Clock came to the Caubache within 6 or 7 Miles of
Post5 Vincent on my arrival there I found a Village of about
80 or 90 French Families settled on the East Side of this River being one of
the finest Situations that can
____________
1"ouattonon "
2" Interspersed "
3 The following entry for the twelfth is given in the version in Thwaites: "12th.- We passed through some large savannahs, and clear woods; in the afternoon we came to the Ouabache; then marched along it through a prodigious rich bottom, overgrown with reeds and wild hemp, all this bottom is well watered, and an exceeding fine hunting ground. Came this day about thirty miles."
4"Together" is inserted here in the other version.
5"Port"
32 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
be found the Country is level and dear and the Soil very rich producing
Wheat and Tobacco I think the latter preferable to that of Maryland or
Virginia The French Inhabitants hereabouts are an idle lazy people a
parcel of Renegadoes from Canada and are much worse than Indians. They took a
secreet Pleasure at our Misfortunes and the moment we arrived they came to the
Indians exchanging Trifles for their valuable plunder: As the Savages took from
me a considerable Quantity of Gold and Silver in Specie the French Traders
extorted I0 halfe Johannes1 from them for one Pound of Vermillion
There is likewise an Indian Village of the Pyankeshaws who were very much
displeased with the Party that took me telling them our and your Chiefs are
gone to make peace and you have begun a War for which our Women and Children
will have Reason to Cry, From this post the Indians permitted me to
write to the Commander at Fort Charters2 but would not permit me to
write to any body else This I suppose3 was a preCaution of the
French least their Villany should be perceived too soon: altho the Indians had
given me permission to write to Sir Wm Johnson and Fort Pitt on our
March before I arrived at this Place but immediately after our arrival they had
a private Council with the French in which the Indians urged as they afterwards
informed me that as the French had engaged them in so bad an affair which was
likely to begin4 a New War on their Nation they now expected a Proof
of their Promise and Assistance then delivered the French a Scalp and
Part of the Plunder and wanted to deliver some presents to the Pyankeshaws but
they refused to accept of any and declared they would not be concerned in the
affair. This last information I got from the Pyankeshaws as I had been Well
acquainted with them several years before this Time, Post Vincent is a place of
great consequence for Trade being a fine hunting Country all along the Cuabache
and too far for the Indians which reside hereabouts to go either to the
Iillionois or elsewere to fetch their Necessaries.
16th June We were
oblidged to stay here to get some little apparel made up for us and to buy some
Horses for our journey to Caua
___________
1 A Spanish coin worth nearly nine dollars.
2"Chartres"
3"Apprehend"
4"Bring a war"
|
CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, JUNE 23, 1765 |
33 |
tonan1 promissing Payment at De Ttroit for we could not procure
Horses from the French for Hire tho we were greatly fatigued and our spirits
much exhausted in our late March they would lend us no assistance.
I7th about Midday we set out travelling the first five Miles thro a fine clear wood. we traveled I8 Miles this Day and encamped in a large beautiful well watered meadow.
I8th & I9th we traveled thro a prodigious large Meadow called the Pyankeshas hunting ground here is no wood to be seen and the Country appears like an Ocean the ground is exceedingly rich and partly over grown with wild Hemp: The Land well watered and full of Buffuloes Deer Bears and all Kind of Wild Game.
20th & 2Ist We passed thro some very large Meadows part of which belong to the Pyankeshaws on Vermillion River the Country and Soil much the same as that we travelled over for these three Days' past wild Hemp grows here in Abundance the Game very plenty at any Time in Halfe an Hour we could Kill as much as we wanted.
22nd We passed thro' a part of the same Meadows as mentioned yesterday then came to a High Woodland and arrived at Vermillion River so called from a Fine red Earth found here by the Indians with which they paint themselves. About halfe a Mile from the place where we crossed this this [sic] River there is a Village of Pyankeshaws distinguished by the Addition of the name of the River: We travelled then about three Hours thro a fine clear high woody Country but a deep and rich soil then came to a large Meadow where we encamped.
23d Earley in the
Morning we sett out thro a fine Meadow then some clear Woods in the afternoon
came into a very large Bottom on the Cuabache2 within about 6 Miles
of Ouiatanon. here I met several Chiefs to the Kicapoos and Musquatimes who
spoke to their Young Men that had taken us and reprimanded them severely for
What they had done to me after Which they returned to their Village and
delivered us all to their Chiefs the Distance from Post Vincent to
Ouaitonan is 2I0 Miles this Place is situated on the Cuabache; about I4 French
Families are living in the Fort which Stands on the North Side of the River:
The Kicapoos & Musquatimes whose Warriors had
______________
1" Ouicatonon "
2Spelled as before.
34 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
taken us live nigh the Fort on the Same Side of the River where they have two
Villages and the Cauatanons have a Village on the South Side of the River; At
our Arrival at this Post several of the Wawcottanans1 (or
Cuiatanons) with whome I Had been formerly acquainted came to Visit me and
seemed greatly concerned at what had happened they went immediately to the
Kicapoos and Musquatimes and Charged them to take the greatest Care of us till
their Chiefs should arrive from the Illionois where they were gone to meet me
some time ago and who were intirely ignorant of this affair and said the French
had spirited up this Party to go and Strike us: The French have a very great
Influence over these Indians and seldom2 fail of telling them many
lies to the Prejudice of His Majestys Interest by making the English Nation
odious and hateful to them I had the greatest Difficulties in removing
these Prejudices as these Indians are a weak foolish and credulous
People they are easily imposed on by a desining People who have led them
hitherto as they pleased. The French told them that as the Southern Indians had
for two Years past made war upon them it must have been at the Instigation of
the English who are a bad People. However I have been fortunate enough to
remove their Prejudice and in a great Measure their suspicions against the
English: The Country hereabouts is exceedingly Pleasant being open and clear
for many Miles the Soil very rich and well watered all Plants have a
quick vegetation and the Climate very temperate thro' the Winter: This Post has
always been a very conciderable Trading place the Great Plinto3
of T [sic] taken in this Country induced the French to establish this
Post which was the First on the Cuabache and by a very advantageous Trade they
have been richly recompensed for their Labour.
On the South Side of the Cuabache runs a High
Bank in which are Several fine Coal Mines and behind this Bank is a very Fine
Meadow clear for several Miles. It is surprising what False information we have4
respecting this Country some mention this Spacious and Beautiful Meadows
as large and Barren Savannahs I apprehend it has been the Artifice of
the French to Keep us ignorant of the Country
____________
1"Wawcattonans" and "Ouicatonans"
2"Never" in the other version.
3The Thwaites edition has "plenty of furs."
4"have had"
|
CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, AUGUST 1, 1765 |
35 |
These Meadows bear fine Wild Grass and wild Hemp IO or I2 Feet High which if
properly Manufactured would prove as good and answer the Same1
purposes of the Hemp we cultivate.
July 25th We sett out from this Place (after settling all Matters happily with the Natives) for the Miames and travelled the Whole way thro a fine rich Bottom over grown with Wild Hemp along side the Cuabache till we came to the Eel River where we arrived the 27. about 6 Miles up this River is a Small Village of the Twighteves2 Situated on a very delightful Spot of Ground on the Bank of the River. The Eel River Heads near St Josephs and runs nearly parralel to The Miames and at some few Miles distant from it thro a fine pleasant Country and after a Course of about I80 Miles empties itselfe into the Cuabache.
28th, 29th, 30th & 31st We traveled still along side the Eel River passing thro fine clear Woods and some good Meadows tho not so large as those we passed some Days before. The Country is more overgrown with Woods the soil is sufficiently rich and well watered with Springs.
August Ist We
Arrived at the Carrying Place betwen the River Maimes3 & the
Cuabache which is about nine Miles long in dry seasons but not above halfe that
Length in Freshes.4 The Head of the Cuabache is about forty Miles
from this Place and after a Course of about 760 Miles from its head Spring thro
one of the Finest Countrys in the World it empties itselfe into the Ohio. The
Navagation from hence to Ouiatanon is very dificult in low water on account of the
many rapids and rifts, but in Freshes which generally happen [in] Spring and
Fall Batteaux or Cannoes will pass without dificulty from here to Ouiatanon in
three Days which is about 240 Miles and by land about 2I0 Miles. From Ouiatanon
to Post Vincent and then to the Ohio Batteaux and Cannoes may go at any Season
of the Year: throughout the Whole Course of the Pubache5 [sic]
the Banks are pretty:6 and in the River are a great many Islands:
many Shrubs and Trees are found here not Known to us: within a Mile of the
Twigtwee
______________
1"all the "
2" Twightwee "
3"Miames''
4 One of the most used portages to the Ohio Valley.
5" Ouabache "
6" high " is inserted.
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