Piankashaw Locations (ca. 1776- ca. 1783) (pp. 100-109)
/pg.100/
Hamilton soon learned from Hay that he had
secured the arms, ammunition, & Spirituous liquors, as soon as the inhabitants laid down their arms, & the officer who commanded in the Fort (Captain Helm) being deserted by the officers and men who to the number of 70 had formed his garrison, and were in pay of the Congress surrender'd his wretched fort on the very day of our arrival. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-76, pp. 494-495; see also ibid. Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 147-149, Helm, Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 89-90, and Hamilton, Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 90-91)
Helm of course had been aware of the British advance, but with no way of defending his post had to surrender it. Hamilton's first concern was to secure the fort and make the French inhabitants take an oath of allegiance to the British. Then, on December 20, he held a council in the Fort of "all the War and Village chiefs" at which "The Old Tobacco and his son were present." (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 152) Apparently these two were the only Piankashaw chiefs present who supported the American interests, since Hamilton said in his address that he "saw but two strange faces," that is, Indians whom he had not reconciled to the British. He reproached them for their conduct against the British and for their sale of lands. (Idem)
The Indian chiefs who had come with Hamilton also advised the Piankashaws to mend their ways, and "The young Tobacco" replied that he was "but a young man" and had been alarmed and without anyone to help him when the Rebels came. What he had done he had done from weakness, but now he was "glad to join" the British. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 153) He then showed Hamilton
/pg. 101/
some cirtificates of different dates, of his good behaviour to the white people, signed by English French and Spanish commanders at different posts. (Idem)
Among these must have been an undated one by Captain Hugh Lord who commanded a British detachment in the Illinois Country at Kaskaskia. from some time in 1772 until he was ordered to Detroit in 1775. (Gage, Dft. Ex. A-14, pp. 343, 415) This letter (probably written in 1775, to judge from its content) certified that
the Tobacco, Chief of the Piankashaw nation of Indians resident at Post Vincennes did with his Son & brother & a party of his nation accompany me thro the different' nations of the Wabash and was highly instrumental in procuring for his Majesty's troops the good reception they met with from said nation & being desirous on account of his Son who is to succeed him as Chief, to perpetuate his attachment to the English-I do further certify [Illegible here] Behavior and spirited conduct at the different Talks we had with said nations meet the highest approbation, and should entitle him the Protection of Government.... (Lord, Dft. Ex. A-252)[see footnote 33]
Hamilton accepted Tobacco's professions of sincerity and loyalty. Hamilton then got busy trying to unite the
Southern Indians with the Shawanese and other Northern Nations and to concert a general invasion of the Frontiers. (Hamilton, Dft. Ex. A-76, pp. 497-498)
Scouting parties were sent out and messengers. In short, Hamilton did all he could to secure the post and to prepare for a spring attack on the Americans in the Illinois Country. (Idemand ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 153-158)
/pg. 102/
The "deaf man a Peankashaa chief" with some of his people came in to make peace with Hamilton on December 27 and asked him for supplies [that is, clothing, gun powder, food, and so on). (Ibid., D M . Ex. A-9, p. 157) On the 30th
The Grande Coete (great Queue) principal Chief of the Peankashaas arrived with 35 followers on horseback, (Ibid., Dft. Ex. p. 159)
probably for the same reasons.
Despite this, at least in retrospect, Hamilton began to feel uneasy about the loyalty of the Indians and French. From this time on, too, various of his own men and the Indian groups who had come with him down the Wabash began to find reasons to leave Vincennes. (See, e. g., ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 158, 159, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-39, pp. 392-393; and ibid., Dft. Ex. A-76, p. 497) At the same time various small Indian groups did go off on expeditions to satisfy Hamilton's desire for activity against the enemy. (See, e.g. ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 161, 162, 165, 166, 167; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-76, pp. 497-498)
Hamilton continued to be visited by different Indian groups among whom were Piankashaws. The Grande Coete, e.g., visited him on January 5, 1779 and impressed Hamilton favorably. The Indian explained that although he had been well treated in Detroit by the British, he had heard rumors that Detroit was in American hands and that he had to depend on the Americans for ammunition. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 162) On the 17th Young Tobacco came to take leave of Hamilton. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 165) On the 20th Old Tobacco visited Hamilton and told him that
/pg. 103/
in the course of this moon, the Chaktaas, Chickasaas, Cherakees, and Alibamas would come, part to St. Vincennes to take the Ouabache Indians by the hand
some to go against the Rebels at the Illinois, and some to assist the Shawanese upon the frontier --(ibid.) Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 165-166).
Hamilton also was told by Old Tobacco that the Piankashaws of the Vincennes area had not always lived in that region. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 166)
Hamilton's fears of treachery by the French and by the Piankashaw Indians of Vincennes were not unfounded. By the end of January 1779 Clark had learned from some of Hamilton's deserters about the British capture of Vincennes, Hamilton's efforts to unite the Indians, the lack of whole-hearted French support of Hamilton, and the weakness of his position there. Clark, knowing he could expect no help from Virginia, resolved to gamble on an attack of Vincennes in the dead of winter rather than to wait until British reinforcements from Detroit made Hamilton stronger. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-76, p. 497; Clark, Dft. Ex. A-42,' pp. 97-100, 138)
About this same time Helm and Clark signed a testimonial letter from Vincennes dated January 25, 1779 certifying that
the Tobaco the head Chief of the Peankeshaw Nation has all ways Shewd Diligunt Reguard to the Americans and Imbibd Principles in all the rest of his Nation He has been at Considerable Expence to Convince other Nations of their Mistaken notion of the War.., I am convincd of his Integrity both before and after the surrender of the Garrison [of Vincennes] also that he never Joind the British Troops (Helm and Clark, Dft. Ex. A-242)
/pg. 104/
Young Tobacco called on Hamilton again on January 25 saying he had tried to unite the Indians "in one interest," (ostensibly the British) and showed Hamilton the "belt" which Hamilton had sent him from Detroit. Hamilton said that as long as Tobacco kept his word on the belt he would be treated as well as other chiefs, but commented in his Journal that the Indian had given up the belt to Helm and had gotten it back from him only after the British took possession of Vincennes. (Hamilton, Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 167-168)
On January 26 the Chiefs of the Shawnees, Delawares, Hurons, Ottawas, Chippewas, Miamis, Weas, Kickapoos, and Piankashaws who were at Vincennes assembled for a council. Some Shawnees who had Just returned from the South said the Creeks wanted to Join with the Weas and "Lake Indians" in their enmity against the Americans, that they wanted to establish friendly relations with the Northern Indians, and that the Southern Indians were well supplied by the British. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 169-170)
On the 29th "little face," a Wea, expressed in council his satisfaction with the message sent by the Creeks. At the same meeting
The Grande Coete [a Piankashaw chief] then took me [Hamilton] by the hand, saying that in so doing he took all his brethren the Indians by the hand, as they were now all united and had but one Father to look up to [i.e., the British] (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 171)
The Grande Coete then presented wampum, dried meat, and a
pipe of peace, in which all present smoaked the Creek Tobacco, he said he was well pleased at finding a road was now opened between them [i.e., the Creeks] and the Ouiattanons, that he should promote to the best of his power a firm alliance
/pg. 105/
between the two nations, and act in concert with them--(Idem)
Hamilton in his letter, written on January 30, to General Haldimand, his superior, remarked on this action of the Grande Coete.
Yesterday the principal Chief of the Peankashaas gave me a string in presence of the other nations assembled purporting that his nation had entered heartily into the views of their brethren and would act with their example, (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-39, p. 400) [see footnote 34]
and further remarked that some of them set off on a war party to the Falls of the Ohio. (Idem)
Actually very few Piankashaws either of Vincennes or the Vermilion River area seem to have taken active part in raids against the Americans. They were noted as taking part in only three of the many war parties sent out while Hamilton was at Vincennes--the one setting out on January 29, mentioned just above, (Idem) the capture of a prisoner by a Piankashaw messenger on January 9, (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 162-163) and their participation in a mixed scouting party of two Delawares, a Shawnee, and four Piankashwws on the 28th of January. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 171)
On February 5 the chief Indian supporters of Hamilton informed
/pg. 106/
him they were sending messengers to various Indian groups to remind them of Hamilton's need for them. Included among the recipients of these messengers was a Vermilion River Piankashaw chief, ''the grande Coete," which seems to indicate his lack of positive active participation on the British side. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 173)
On the 10th of February Hamilton noted that two canoes of Piankashaws had come down from their "wintering ground" to Vincennes. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, p. 174) On the 11th "Leepahkia and Napikiteeta otherways the red Chief (Peankashaes),'' apparently the leaders of the two canoes that had arrived the previous day, paid their respects to Hamilton and, in defense of their past actions, reminded him that the French had also played a part in the repudiated land sale of 1775. (Idem)
The most prominent item in Hamilton's journal from February 7 -February 21 was comment on the continuing rise of the rivers and the flooding of the lowlands. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 174-175) Clark, in the meantime, knowing the probability of the flooding of the Wabash, made preparations for his attack; on February 3 he issued orders for an armed boat to go from Kaskaskia with orders to ascend the Wabash as far as White River and to wait for further orders there. (Clark, Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 100) The boat left on the 4th, and Clark started with his men on the overland march from Kaskaskia to recapture Vincennes on February 5. (Bowman, Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 156; Clark, Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 268-269)
On February 21 the Ottawas, Hurons, Delawares, Miamis, Weas, and Piankashaws again assembled at the fort at Vincennes and Young Tobacco made a strong declaration of alliance with the British, saying he was quite sincere in his statements. (Hamilton, Dft . Ex. A-9, p. 176)
/pg. 107/
On the 22nd Hamilton assembled the chiefs again and informed them of news that they probably had already heard--that Great Britain and France might be at war and that France had become allied to the Americans. He told them that it should not affect British, Indian, and French relationships in North America. (Ibid., Dft. Ex'. A-9, pp. 176-177) This news could not help but further weaken the loyalty of the French to their British captors. On this same evening Clark attacked; the fort was surrendered by Hamilton on the 24th and was received by Clark on the 25th. Clark's success was due in part to his audacity in marching and attacking at this unexpected time of year, to the lack of support given Hamilton by the French and the Indians of Vincennes and their active and passive support of Clark and his men, by the leaving and desertion of numbers of Hamilton's men, by the scattering of most of his Indian allies, and the general lack of defensibility of the fort itself. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-9, pp. 177-189; Clark, Dft. Ex. A-52, pp. 13 & 145, 266-289. Bowman, Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 156-162)
The Tobacco's Son offered Clark his active services with a hundred warriors to help him capture Vincennes, an offer which Clark politely declined since there might be some disastrous confusion in the fight between the friendly Indians and Hamilton's Indians. (Clark, Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 281 ) Whether his statement of fidelity to the British made to the assembled Indians and British just prior to Clark's attack was a dissembling tactic or mere vacillation is not certain. It is clear that the Indians of the Vincennes area did not help Hamilton and were sympathetic to the Americans at this time. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 281-295)
/pg. 108/
Clark quickly set up the civil government again at Vincennes. He called no council of the Indians until this was done, but then turned his attention to the "Indian Department." Clark at this time distinguished between
the Piankeshaws being of the Tribe of Tobaccos son [who] was alway familiar with us. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 295)
and the other Indians who were not friendly to the Americans. He tried to counteract the arguments that the British had used to win them,
And calling together the neighboring Nations, Peankeshaws, Kickepoes, and others that would not listen to him [i.e., Hamilton] Indeavoured to undeceive them. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 146)
Clark praised these Indians for their fidelity to the Americans, told them that the Americans had no designs on their land, and said that in his opinion even the fort at Vincennes was on their property and that he would protect them in their rights to their lands; the Indians, according to Clark, were pleased at his declarations and the treaty he concluded with them was mutually satisfactory. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 146-147)[see footnote 35]
Major Joseph Bowman, one of Clark's officers, recorded in his journal of the re-conquest of Vincennes by the Virginians that on March 15, 1779
/pg. 109/
A Party of Piankishaws, Peaurians and Miami Indians wait on Col. Clark and Assure him of fidelity &c. to the Americans and beg their Protoction. (Bowman, Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 163)
Clark 'a memoir of the expedition concerning this event noted that on March 15
a party of upper Piankeshaws Petawatmees and Miami Cheifs made their appearance. Making great protestations of their attachment to the Americans. (Clark, Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 295)
and asking for American friendship for themselves and neighboring nations. This seems to indicate that Clark distinguished between northern (probably Vermilion River area) Piankashaws and the southern Piankashaws who were mainly those belonging to the band of Tobacco and his son located near Vincennes.
In a more general account of his activities Clark wrote that within a few days of his victory many of the Indians who had been with Hamilton or who had supported British interests came to Vincennes to make their peace with the Americans. Clark warned them that they could choose for themselves what to do, but that they should expect no pity from the Americans if they chose to side against them. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 147-149)
After the conference with the Indians Clark returned to the Illinois Country and Leonard Helm was left in charge of Vincennes again for civil matters and as superintendent of Indian affairs, and a Mr. Moses Henry was appointed Indian Agent. (Ibid., Dft. Ex.-A-42, p. 295; Bowman, Dft. Ex. A-42, p. 164)
Footnote 33: Brackets and bracketed comments are in the source. [return to text]
Footnote 34 : It is interesting to note that during this period of the Jockeying for position between the English and the Americans along the Wabash area that the Americans called the Old Tobacco and his son (sometimes indistinguishably), whose people lived near Vincennes, the principal Chief of the Piankashaws; at the same time the British generally called the Grande Coete, who was associated with the Vermilion River area, the principal chief of the Piankashaws.[return to text]
Footnote 35: No copy of this "treaty" has been found.[return to text]
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