7/6/1805, p. 1 |
Sir,
In pursuance of the instructions we recieved from your Excellency, we proceeded to the Indian Towns on the Wabash river, on our road we passed the Town of the Eel river Indians, at the river of La Rabellaire, they were all drunk , Excepting one of their Chiefs named Sam, we told him we wished to speak to him, and the other Chiefs, he replied that they were all drunk. But as they intended going to Fort Wayne in a few days to recieve their annuity, they would, at that place, hear what we had to say to them. We then proceeded to the Town of Massasinewa on the Wabash river where we saw The Five Medals, a Chief of the Potawatamies, we informed him of the Nature of our Mission, in the words, as delivered to the Council at Fort Wayne; he then informed us he intended going to detroit in a few days, but that an other Chief of his tribe would go to Vincennes, agreably to your request. At this place we saw the Pakaun and Hibou or the Owl Two of the Chiefs of the Miamies and heads of this Village, the latter of whom was very sick, we informed them we were sent by you and wished to Speak to them; they informed us one of their Chiefs Pussewa or Richardville was gone to Fort Wayne, and as they intended going to that place in a few days, they would at that place hear what we had to say to them.
At this place I parted from Colo Vigo and proceeded to the Delaware towns on White river. previous to my arrival there I heard of the Death of the Great Chief and Warrior Bokongehalas, I informed Telabuxika the other Chief of the Delawares that I was sent by you, and that I had a Message to deliver to them from you and requested them to send for the other Chiefs. The next day the Chiefs assembled, except Neehlawhemund or William Anderson whose wife Being dead prevented his Coming. when I addressed them and informed them that you were very sorry to hear that they the Delawares had denied that they had sold any Lands to the United States last Summer and that you (with my assistance) had defrauded and cheated them I then repeated every transaction that took place at the Treaty, and told them, that they had in the most fair and Solemn Manner sold the Lands last Summer to the United States, and that the Treaty had been ratified by the President and Senate of the United States and that their denying it was of no Effect, and woud only make them appear in a ridiculous Light in the Eyes of all the Nations, and woud lessen them very much in the great Esteem and respect the United States had for them. I also told them White Eyes one of the Chiefs who had signed the Treaty, had told their
7/6/1805, p. 2 |
young men that they the Chiefs had sold the Lands to the United States and the
Chiefs were afraid to own it. I then asked them for the Copy of the Treaty
which was given to them at Vincennes last Summer. They informed me that they
had left it in the hands of Mr. Wells at Fort Wayne, and they said they woud
Council together and Speak to me. Soon after they sent for me, when Telabuxika
delivered this Answer, We did not sell any lands to the United States last
Summer at Vincennes, the Goods we recieved there were a Condolance present, and
pay for horses, which your people stole from us, he Trembled and appeared very
much agitated and Confused whilst speaking. he said they were going to Fort
Wayne in a few days to recieve their Annuity, and that on their return they
woud pay you a Visit. I then Spoke to them again and told them that I was sorry
to find they had denied the Truth, that they had known me many Years, and I
never decieved them and that as several of their People understood English very
well, it was impossible for me as Interpreter to decieve them. I told them the
Bounds of the Lands was first pointed out to them by me on paper, viz. the road
leading from Vincennes to Clarksville. The White river, the Ohio, and the
Wabash rivers, and repeatedly explained by me to them, and that the Governor
had in the presence of the Witnesses who signed the Treaty Explained it to
them. I then told them I woud goe to Fort Wayne as they had left the Treaty
there, and woud speak to them again at that place after the Council, a Number
of their principal Warriors and Youngmen Came to me, they said that they were
Sorry that their Chiefs had behaved so foolishly as to deny the Truth, and that
they were Convinced they had sold the Land and were afraid to own it, that
White Eyes had told them so, and they also said that the Little Turtle and
Wells, had said the sum specified in the Treaty was a mere nothing and that
they were Cheated and Imposed on- I then set of For Fort Wayne, on the road I
was Joined by Hockingpomskan one of the Chiefs who signed the Treaty, in
Conversation he told me that they had sold them Land, that he intended going to
Vincennes to settle every thing with the Governor-
7/6/1805, p. 3 |
I joined Colo Vigo at Fort Wayne, after the Indians arrived we held
a Council with them the Minutes of which are Marked (a). previous to the
Council I Called on Mr Wells, and asked him for the Copy of the
Treaty, I then spoke to the Delawares who were present, shewed them the Treaty,
pointed out the Bounds of the Land they had sold, and I told them that when the
Council met I intended to mention it to them. The Delawares requested me not to
mention it in Council as everything woud be setled when they Came to Vincennes.
Pakaun and Richardville two of the Miami Chiefs came to Colo Vigo
and me and Informed us that as soon as Richardville returned from detroit,
which woud be in twenty five days, that they woud set out for Vincennes- The
Little Turtle came to us and informed us that since he saw us in Council they
had agreed to set of for Vincennes in 25 days, he went over the river the same
night to Mr Wells, in the Morning he returned and demanded our
Instructions. I told him mine were verbal from you, that I was an officer of
the Government, which he well knew and that Colo Vigo and myself
woud not dare to say anything unless we had been sent by you. Shortly after I
reced the Letter Marked (73) from Mr Wells. The Miamies
mentioned in the letter had set of early in the Morning and we Believe knew
nothing of the Letter, and we think the same was fabricated by the Little
Turtle and Wells- at the Time I Explained the Treaty to the Delawares at Fort
Wayne Mr Wells was present, he spoke to the Delawares and told them
that they need Not be afraid to own that they had sold the Land, as they the Delawares
had only sold their right, and that it coud not affect the Claim of the other
Indians. I then asked Mr Wells whether he recollected Bokongehalas
in the presence of the Potawatamie Chiefs, 2 years agoe, having informed you
that the Pakaun, the Owl, Chiefs of the Miamies, and the Chiefs of the Eel
river Indians had confirmed the Claim of the Delawares to the Lands which was
given to them by the Piankshaws, and that he shewed the Wampum delivered on the
occasion. Mr Wells replied he did not recollet it, on Colo
Vigo's arrival at Fort Wayne he went to see Lieut Bronson the
Commanding officer. Mr Wells came in, and he Colo Vigo
mentioned he was sorry for the death of Bokongehalas the Delaware Chief, as he
was a great Man and that he woud be much Missed by his Nation, at the same time
he said it was a pity he had tarnished his Character by telling a Lye in
denying his having Sold the Lands to the United States. Mr Wells
replied and said, he
7/6/1805, p. 4 |
dare say the Lands were fairly sold and that if he Bokongehalas had told a Lie
it was a Lie of Necessity. Shortly after Lieut. Bronson remarked in
Conversation that Mr Wells had altered his tone very much, that he
Lieut. Bronson had heard Wells repeatedly say the Indians were very much
Imposed on at the Late treaty at Vincennes. Monsieur Richardville in
Conversation informed Colo Vigo that when they were receiving their
annuity Mr Wells addressed the Miamies and advised them to stick
together and keep their right, that he Wells if he was a Miamie woud do so; afterwards
Richardville in Conversation told Colo Vigo that he was much
Supprised to hear an officer who had taken an Oath to Support the Government of
the United States express himself in the Manner Wells had done- Mr Johnson
the Factor of the United States at Fort Wayne informed us that Mr
Wells had repeatedly said that the Indians woud never approved of the Treaty of
last Summer, and he Mr Johnson, as well as every other Gentleman
with whom we conversed with at that place, were of the opinion, that there
never woud have been any noise about the Treaty, had it not been occasioned by
the Little Turtle and Wells. On our Meeting the Five Medals at Massasinawa, we
asked him if He had come from his Village, he replied that he came from Fort
Wayne with a cag of Whiskey, which he got from Mr Wells the
Indians all got drunk at that Village, on our seeing Richardville at Fort
Wayne, we mentioned it to him, he said he was much Supprised that Wells woud
give Liquor to other Indians to make his people drunk, when he Wells woud not
even suffer him to take a single Bottle for his own use, and had seized Liquor
Belonging to the Owl, which he was Bringing from detroit. The Indian Chiefs
will certainly Come at the Time they promised unless they are prevented by the
Little Turtle and Wells, whom we Believe will do every thing in their power to
prevent their Coming. We Beg further to add as our own opinion that no Noise or
Clamour respecting the Treaty last summer with Delawares at this place would
have been made had it not been occasioned by the Little Turtle and Wells, the
Latter of whom seems more Attached to the Indians than to the people of the
United States. In the Several Towns which we passed thro, the Indians although
drunk, in almost every one of them, Behaved in the most friendly Manner to us,
and Never once mentioned the Treaty, or any thing respecting it.- Richardville
also informed us that the Little Turtle in the presence of Wells, produced a
paper and requested Richardville to sign it, Being a Remonstrance to the
president of the United States in favour of Mr Wells, he
Richardville refused to sign it saying that if Mr Wells had Behaved
well, there was no occasion for to write to the president in his favour, that
he did not wish to interfer in Matters which Belonged intirely to the White
7/6/1805, p. 5 |
people, and that he the Little Turtle had frequently wrote letters to the
president, without their Being Consulted or asked to sign them-
We have the Honour to be very respectfully your Excellency's most obedient, and Very humble Servants
|
Jno Gibson |
Vincennes July 6th 1805.
In passing thro several of the Indian Towns, we heard of a Speech or Talk which was said to be sent to the Indians by the British the purpose of which was in addressing them,
My Children
I promised that when ever I heard any thing relating to you I woud inform you, I have been traveling thro a great many nations, I see a great Storm rising in the South which may affect you My Children,
I desire you not to be alarmed, plant your Corn and do not quit your Towns, But keep your Guns ready in your hands./ Mr Wells shewed us a speech which he said was sent to the Indians by Capt McKee at Malden, but of this we heard no thing of amongst the Indians, and we are Inclined to think it was fabricated by himself-
|
Jno Gibson |
His Excellency
Governor Harrison
8/10/1805, p. 1 |
|
Vincennes 10th August 1805. |
Sir,
I am now surrounded by the chiefs of the Delaware Miami & Eel River Tribes. A part of the Putawotimies have also arrived and others are every moment expected
The Delawares have explicitly acknowledged the Treaty they made here the last year in the presence of a number of respectable characters whom I assembled for the purpose and will do so in the General Council that will take place upon the arrival of the Putawotimies
Captn Wells and the Turtle are both here and I have received from each a positive assurance of a friendly disposition as well towards the Government as myself individually- With Captn Wells I have had an explanation and have agreed to a general indemnity & act of oblivion for the past- I hope that this treaty will be ratified by you- I am convinced that both him & the Turtle will exert themselves to bring the present conference to a happy issue-
|
The Honble |
|
5/18/1807, p. 1 |
|
Vincennes 18th May 1807 |
Sir,
The United States having guaranteed to the Kaskaskias Tribe of Indians a protection against every Indian Tribe or Foreign power equal to what is enjoyed by their own Citizens and as it appears that there is a design formed by some of the Neighbouring Tribes to cut them off, it becomes necessary that measures should be immediately taken to prevent a Catastrophe so horrible in itself- & which would justly subject our Govt to the reproach of having violated its most solemn engagements.
You are therefore hereby directed to take immediate measures to have the Militia of the Town of Kaskaskia & its Vicinity in readiness to repel any attack that may be made upon them & in order that your protection should be as effectual as possible I have directed the Cheif to put himself & his Tribe under your Orders & not to suffer them to leave the Town, without your permission- this permission should not be given (unless you should think proper to employ them as Scouts) until it is ascertained that they can go out in safety- I have requested Michael Jones Esqr to supply them with provisions & ammunition, and with this Gentleman to whom I have hitherto entrusted the Management of the Indian business in the Illinois Country you will please to consult on the measures to be adopted to carry the Orders contained in this letter into effect. It will be necessary that every party of Indians who may come into your Vicinity should be watched & that they should be informed of the directions you have received to protect the Kaskaskians and this I hope will be sufficient to prevent their attempting to do them any further mischeif--
I have sent a message to the Cheifs of the Illoinois Kickapoos through the Cheif of that nation who resides on the Vermilion & a duplicate of the same to Mr Jones who will convey it to them by some intelligent person who understands their language- You will please to communicate to me as soon as possible any information you may possess relative to the late Murder of the Kaskaskian Indian which will lead
5/18/1807, p. 2 |
to a discovery of the Perpretrators & whether it proceeded from an
accidental recounter or a determination upon the part of the Tribe to which
they belonged to make War upon the Kaskaskians
|
|
I am very respecfully
your |
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Dft. Ex. 153.
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