Piankashaw Locations (ca. 1776- ca. 1783) (pp. 120-125 )
/pg. 120/
From this it would seem that Piankashaw Indians were still generally favoring the American side. By September of 1781, however, Clark was near despair from constant British-inspired Indian attacks by northern Indians, lack of sufficient support, and American military reverses, and prophesied that the United States would lose everything in the west. He reviewed his efforts to safeguard the west and then told the Kentucky county Commissioners
Your situation is truly desperate: The Evacuation of Fort Jefferson [located on the east bank of the Mississippi River 12 miles below the mouth of the Ohio] has already happened; That of St Vincents will shortly take place--It being out of our power to keep them any longer. Of course the Indians in those Countries must to a man embrace the British Interest, and you will have several Thousand Warriors more to Contend with than formerly but a small distance from you: in Short not half the distance from those valuable back Countries in Virginia as is generally Supposed. It was our Interest on the Ouabache that has preserved your Settlements. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 597-598)
He expressed the same sentiments in a letter to the Governor of Virginia dated October 1, 1781.
You have been already advertised of the evacuation of Fort Jefferson for the want of supplies, and our few troops drawn from the Illinois, except St. Vincennes, where we still support a garrison of about sixty men to remain, if possible, until I receive answers from your Excellency. If no army moves early in the spring from this place or Pittsburg, those troops must be withdrawn, or totally lost, with all the Illinois, and the Indians to a man, except the Kaskaskias, will set on us with inveteracy. Two thirds of those formerly in our interest, have already taken the hatchet this fall--the others wishing
/pg. 121/
to suspend the time as long as possible, anxious for us to march an army through their country, as they have been led to believe would be the case, the English reduced, & peace restored. The principal Chiefs and warriors from Wabash came to me on their hearing of my arrival at this post [Fort Nelson, located at the Falls of the Ohio], in hopes of our marching against the English, offering nine hundred men. Their disappointment was great when they Found the speeches given them to be vague, and not informed of our real design. They concluded we were making preparations for what they wished, and apparently returned well satisfied, with plenty of powder, resolved to wait with patience. But necessity will oblige the whole of them to take up the hatchet in a short time to clothe themselves.
The Kentuckey, without succours, with the addition of two or three thousand warriors let loose on them, with all the assistance that can be given by the English, must inevitably fall a sacrifice, except strongly fortified, and the distance and inconveniency of travelling from those nations to any part of the frontiers of Virginia or Pittsburg, altho' difficult in the ideas of people in general, are in fact but trifling, and easy to be accomplished. If the mischief was to center here, the consequences might not be so alarming, but the other part of our country will feel the effects. The English having full sway in those countries would vigorously prosecute the war. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-42, pp. 606-607)
These "principal Chiefs and Warriors" mentioned by Clark in this letter, according to a British report, amounted to
about thirty of the Wabash Indians who went there [to see Clark at Fort Nelson at the Falls of the 0hio] to ask for Supplies--he gave them Six Kegs of Powder and a promise of cloathing next year and sent an officer and Fifteen Men to Post Vincent. (McKee, Dft. Ex. A-77, p. 536)
In February of 1782 some Kickapoo and Mascouten Indians came to De Peyster at Detroit asking for supplies and informing
/pg. 122/
him that the "Rebels" had "deserted Post Vincennes." (Schieffelin, Dft. Ex. A-77, p. 550) In April of 1782 De Peyster rewarded a chief from "the Ouiat" who brought him two prisoners and who had attacked a Frenchman and a Piankashaw Indian on their way between Vincennes and the Falls of the Ohio, although all the other people of his village had gone off to talk to the Americans. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-77, pp. 567-569) On June 13 De Peyster wrote
I have been all this day in Council with a large band of Miamis, Ouiattonons, Piankashaws, Meskonties and Peorias. they promise well but seem to come more on account of trading than otherwise. If however any can be moved to join you [Alexander McKee] they shall follow. (De Peyster, Dft. Ex. A-77, p. 586)
Obviously De Peyster thought these Indians came more for supplies than from loyalty to the British and did not hope for much active support from them. On the next day De Peyster held another session with the same Indians and some Kickapoos. At this meeting, following similar speeches by the other Indian groups, an unidentified Piankashaw chief spoke to De Peyster in favor of the British in the following manner:
Father! Our Chiefs and Warriours desires you will accept of this Tobaccoe Pipe which you may keep as a proof of our friendship and alliance to Great Britain, We have no other thought but yours and we shall no longer listen to the rebels as they were the cause that we, our wives and children are miserable
Father! We give you the strongest assurances that we shall execute your desires and we hope that you will fulfil ours as we now stand in need of assistance, we are the youngest of the nations present therefore want your advice to direct us--
/pg. 123/
Father! We pray of you to allow us to trade with your people as we have Packs for that purpose--
Father! Our Chief is greatly enraged against the Rebels for having deceived him he has lost some of his people in their services and they had not wherewith to cover them excepting the leaves of the Forest, so great is their poverty. (Schieffelin, Dft. Ex. A-77, p. 590)
Despite his private doubts De Peyster welcomed the speeches and protestations of loyalty from the different Indian groups and invited them all to demonstrate their intentions by embarking on the vessel about to go to Sandusky to join in a venture against the Americans. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-77, pp. 590-591) In a letter to General Haldimand he commented on the conference saying
I this day held a Talk with a band of Cherokees from Schote and yesterday with a large Band of Miamis, Wyachtenous, Piankshaws Mascontins and Pioryas, who are come here to trade, whilst I am privately informed that their Brothers who remained, are called to a talk by the invitation of one Boisseron at Post Vincents, to hear what he has to say to them in behalf of their French father. (De Peyster, Dft. Ex. A-77, pp. 591-592)
This seems to explain, in part, his cynical view of the conference, despite his statement that 63 "Wabash'' Indians actually did embark to take part on a British campaign. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-77, p. 595)[see Footnote 38] Several months later De Peyster gave a second version of this event saying that 30 warriors had gone
/pg. 124/
on this service.
I some time ago had the honor to inform His Excellency the Commander in Chief, that a large band of Kickapoes, Piankeshaws and other Wabash Indians were here upon a friendly visit; doubting the sincerity of their protestations, I obliged them to give a proof of their attachment by sending thirty of their warriors to join Capt Caldwell, I also fixed that they should bring me early and good intelligence from Post Vincent as well as guard that pass:--in compliance with my request, they have stationed proper guards upon the Wabash and have brought in the commandant of Post Vincent whose commissions & Papers I forward. Mr Dalton, (Capt. V. T.) was taken in bed, and hurried on to the Ouia Village, at which place he prevailed upon the Indians to send some of their people back to fetch his wife & family; he declares himself tired of the Rebel service (in which I believe him to be sincere) & is desirous to settle in this country. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-82, pp. 54-55),/BLOCKQUOTE>
That some Piankashaw Indians, apparently of the vicinity of Vincennes, were still supporting the American side in November of 1782 may be indicated by a rumor that some Piankashaws were going to accompany Lt. Col. J. M. P. LeGras, one of the prominent citizens of Vincennes, on his way to the Falls of the Ohio. (Fleming, Dft. Ex. A-41, p. 314) At about the same time, however, an American, Capt. John Williams, reported that
On my way to this Place [Kaskaskia] at the mouth of Salt River four leigus below the waubash I unfortunately met with a party of Peankeshaws from the Vermillion who plundered me of Everey thing [that] I had just to the Shoes of my feet and after a Council of four hours to kill me the let me go without a Gun or aney thing to Eat (Williams, Dft. Ex. A-347)
Williams added that he had sent several threats to the chiefs that there would be bad consequences for them if they did not give him satisfaction,
/pg. 125/
but had received no answer as yet. (Idem) These contrasting statements about Piankashaws again serve to reinforce earlier indications that the Piankashaws were living in several independently acting groups, and that those of the Vermilion River were more inclined to act against the Americans than were those of the Vincennes area.
Footnote38: Which groups of the "Wabash Indians" were represented among these "volunteers"' is not indicated by De Peyster.[return to text]
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