Piankashaw Locations (ca. 1783-ca. 1795), pp. 156- 166
/pg. 156/
Putnam arrived at Fort Washington on July 2, 1792 and began to put his instructions into action. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-318)[see footnote 45] The possibility of establishing peace with the northwestern Indians began to appear doubtful to Putnam after he heard of the rumored murder of several envoys and other attacks on Americans in the west by the Indians. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 238 see also ibid., Dft. Ex. A-317; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-319; Wilkinson, Dft. Ex. A-345) On July 3 several persons from Vincennes arrived at the Fort with various Indians, including one Wea chief, whose relatives had been taken prisoner the year before in Scott's and Wilkinson's raids. Putnam agreed with the opinion of Hamtramck and other inhabitants of Vincennes that the chief motivation of the Indians was to regain their relatives. He considered, nonetheless, that a peace treaty should be made with them, and that, because of their strong objections to going to Philadelphia or even as far as Fort Washington, the proposed treaty should be held at Fort Knox as was stipulated in Hamtramck's provisional agreement with them in March and April. Putnam proposed that the boundaries of the lands of the various Indian groups be defined at the treaty and that some goods be given to the Indians, but that no attempt be made to acquire any lands. Putnam thought that any of the chiefs who desired or could be persuaded to do so, should visit the President at Philadelphia. By this means he hoped to firmly ally the "Wabash Indians" with the United States and to use them as an example to in influence other western and northern Indians, and which would serve either to prevent their joining
/pg. 157/
or to detach them from hostile Indian groups. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 238; see also Wilkinson, Dft. Ex. A-346)
Putnam's letter of July 8 reiterated his confidence in this approach and in anticipation of its approval he made arrangements to forward some goods to Vincennes along with the prisoners to be released. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-12; see also ibid., Dft. Ex. A-323) In response to Putnam's letters the Secretary of War gave Putnam permission to make peace with the Wabash tribes, by going to Vincennes it necessary, and to do what he thought was needed to make peace with as many western tribes as possible. (Knox, Dft. Ex. A-7, pp. 237-238; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 313-316)
On July 16, while Putnam was still waiting for certain news for the American peace envoys and for orders from the 'central' government, Jean Krouch, an important Wea chief who had come to Fort Washington to visit his captive relatives, died. On the 19th one of the other Weas spoke on behalf of the other captives and their families requesting that they be sent to Vincennes as soon as possible. The Indians were afraid that they would all die if they remained at Fort Washington much longer. In addition, the Wea expressed the opinion that very few chiefs would come to Fort Washington while many would be willing to meet with Putnam at Vincennes. (Wea Indian, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 239) Putnam sympathized with the Indians and said that he was making arrangements to take them to Vincennes and would be ready to set out with them "in thirty days." (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 239; see also ibid., Dft. Ex. A-323; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-324)
/pg. 158/
Putnam reported to the Secretary of War that since he could expect few important Indians at Fort Washington and probably could meet with a large number of them at Vincennes he deemed it wise to hold a treaty there about September 20, before they scattered for hunting. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 239; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 299-300) Several days later he wrote to Hamtramck informing him of his intentions to visit Vincennes to treat with the western Indians, gave him a sample of the invitation he wanted sent to the Indians, (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 240; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, p 305-307) and asked Hamtramck to transmit similar ones to
all the tribes of the Wabash and Illinois Country, or as many of them as time will permit or you in your discretion Shall judge best. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 306; see also ibid.; Dft. Ex. A-7, pp. 238-239)
Hamtramck reported his progress to Putnam on August 9. He had already sent the message to two Wabash groups who had been pleased to receive it and also to a group of Potawatomis, some of whom had been at Vincennes when the message arrived. He had not yet sent the invitation to the Indians of the Illinois area but planned to do so soon. Hamtramck estimated that about seven or eight hundred Indians would be present. (Hamtramck, Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 320)[see footnote 46]
On August 16 the treaty goods and prisoners were sent on their way from Fort Washington to Vincennes; Putnam planned to follow them the next day. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 240; Harris, Dft. Ex. A-227; /pg. 159/Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-325) On September 13, the day after their arrival at Vincennes, Putnam returned the Eel River and Wea captives to their families, expressed sympathy to the Weas for the death of their Chief at Fort Washington, and told them that he expected them to retire to their village "up the river" and that he would notify them to return for the general meeting when the chiefs of the other tribes arrived(Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 333-334; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-331)
. . Representatives from the Eel River, Wea, Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, Mascouten, and Kaskaskia Indians met at Vincennes with Putnam on September 24, 1792. 686 Indians attended the treaty, of which 206 were designated as Piankashaws (79 men, 127 women and children). (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-310) The most numerous group present was the Weas with 286 persons (75 men, 211 women and children). One group of Indians (12 men, 20 women and children) was identified merely by being called "Indians of the Town;" it is probable that some of these were also Piankashaws. Other Indians present were: 12 Kickapoo men, 11 Potawatomi men, 18 Kaskaskia men, with 1 Kaskaskia woman, and 40 Eel River men with 80 Eel River women and children. It was also thought that there might be 20-30 more men and a much larger number of women and children of the Eel River, Wea, and Piankashaw groups who had not come to the treaty. (Idem)
No Piankashaw spoke formally until the end of the second day of the meeting, when a chief rose and agreed with all that had been said by the other Indian chiefs. He stated that he was glad to be meeting
/pg. 160/
at Vincennes to arrange for peace, that he would like some goods for his women and children, and that he felt the Whites should remain on "the other [i. e., south] side of the Ohio [River]." (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 350) Putnam questioned the Indians on this last point on the following day (September 26). He reminded them that they had given the French some lands to use and asked if they wanted all the Whites to leave their established settlements, telling them that their access to trade goods might be lessened by such a move. He informed the Indians that the Americans also would feel bound to protect the French rights in the area and asked the Indians to clarify their statements. In the afternoon session the Indians stated that what they wanted was a promise that no new White settlements would be made north of the Ohio. The Indians wanted to live in peace with the Americans, and felt that nothing would hinder this but the taking of their lands by the Whites. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 353-356) The business of the treaty council was now largely finished except for the delimiting of the lands given the French. In response to Putnam's query, a Piankashaw chief described what he thought were the boundaries of the lands given the French by the Piankashaws with the following words:
...I am positive my brother the Tobacco and the other Chiefs have long since given a quantity of Land to the French.--We have given to the French the land between Cutpoint above the Post and white River below the Post, with as much on each side the Wabash as there is between those two marks. We have not only given this land to them for themselves only, but also for them, their children and children's children forever.
/pg. 161/
My older Brother,
We know nothing of your measures, but depend we are not-come to play, and be laughed at.--We have had this writing and signed it.--And it is to these writings we refer for the truth.--I speak the sentiments of all of us present.--(Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 358-359)
The lands described are on the Wabash and center on the area of Vincennes. A second Piankashaw chief affirmed that their ancestors had given some lands to the French, that it had been put in writing, and that the Piankashaws felt the cessions should be honored. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 359-360; see also ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 378-379) The deed referred to (unless it is the 1775 land sale document discussed previously) has not been found; nor has mention of another document been found before Putnam's query. It should be noted that in 1765 when Croghan asked the Indians about grants to the French the Indians denied having made any, saying that they had only allowed the French to use the lands. Neither was recourse had to such a "deed" by the inhabitants of Vincennes who, when the British challenged their right to be there in 1770-1774, traced their claims to lands in the Vincennes area to grants by French officials, not to grants by Indians. (Gage, Dft. Ex. A-14, pp. 309-312, 317-325, 347-349, 351-352; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-15, pp. 136-139, 145, 156-157; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-31, pp. 86-88; Inhabitants of Vincennes, Dft.-Ex. A-59, pp. 205-212, Various, Dft. Ex. A-52, pp. 421-434). The actual existence of an early deed is, thus, open to question.
Putnam then brought the articles of his treaty out to be signed;
/pg. 162/
this was done by five "Eel Creek," eight Wea, three Potawatomi, two Mascouten, one Ottawa, three Kickapoo, five Piankashaw, two Kaskaskia, and two Peoria chiefs. The Piankashaw chiefs who signed the treaty were M'sekaniah ("the three Hips"), Wawpanlakinqua ('White Eye"), Wapachquinkileah ("White hair"), Nundockshinkah ("he who falls brutally"), and Ahjahhoweah ("the little lefthanded man"). (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 360-361; Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-313) The treaty was to establish peace and friendship between the Indians of the Wabash and Illinois area and the United States, and (Article 4) to confirm the Indians in their right to "all the lands to which they have a just claim," specifying that their lands would never be taken from them "but by a fair purchase, and to their satisfaction," and that the United States would protect them in their right "to sell" their lands or "to refuse to sell" them. (Ibid., DM. Ex. A-7, p. 338) (The treaty was not ratified by Congress because this article did not limit the right to buy the Indian lands to the United States Government.) "Washington and Knox, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 470; U. S. Senate, Dft. Ex. A-107, pp. 128, 134, 135, 146; Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 378-379; Knox, Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 377) After the signing Putnam told the Indians he had brought them some clothing and ammunition, fired off a piece of artillery, and gave them bread, meat, and whisky to make a feast. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 362)[see footnote 47]
/pg. 163
Two days later Putnam spoke to the Indians again, asking them to send a speech to the
Miamis, Dellawares, Shawanos and other tribes, who have hitherto stopped their Ears, and refused to Speak with the United States about Peace; altho many Speeches have been sent to them for that purpose-(Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 366)[see footnote 48]
He also invited the Indians to send "one or two Chieffs from each Tribe" to visit President Washington. (Ibid., Dft.'Ex. A-12, p. 367) On September 30 Putnam was attacked by a fever and could not attend to public business for a while. In consequence Hamtramck reported to the Secretary of War that he was sending forward to Philadelphia copies of the treaty and "a number of chiefs on a visit to the President of the United States" who were to have accompanied Putnam but who he felt would probably have become impatient waiting for Putnam's recovery. Two interpreters accompanied the Indians, the whole being escorted by the officer Abner Prior. (Hamtramck, Dft. Ex. A-225; see also Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 371-374; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-329; ibid., Dft. Ex. A-330; Wayne, Dft.' Ex. A-339.)' Prior reported his safe arrival at Louisville, Kentucky on October 16 with 16 chiefs and three squaws. (Prior, Dft . Ex. A-309; see also Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 319) By December 8 the group had arrived at Pittsburgh and expected to set off for Philadelphia in a short time. (Craig, Dft. Ex. A-166) In full the tribal composition of this group of Indians is not known.
/pg. 164/
Unfortunately nine of these "principal chiefs of the Wabash Indians" died of small pox during the course of their visit. (Knox, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 470; Knox, Dft. Ex. A-71, p. 233)
The Wabash and Illinois Indian delegation met President Washington and made speeches to him on the 1st and 4th of February 1793. "Three-Legs" (M'sekaniah, "the three hips," who signed Putnam's treaty?), a Piankashaw war chief, took part in these ceremonies and joined the Piankashaws with the other chiefs, especially the Weas and Eel Rivers, in welcoming peace, asking for protection from the Americans in the west, and asking for Prior to be appointed to take care of them. Three-Legs spoke for a younger Piankashaw village chief who had died during their sojourn in Philadelphia. (DeCoigne and others, Dft. Ex. A-72, pp. 377-389) Included in Three-Legs' speech on February 4 was the statement
We live on the river on one side, and shall be happy to see Captain Prior on the other, and to have a lasting peace. Here is our father Putnam. He heard me speak at Au Porte [i.e., Au Poste or Vincennes]. If I am false it him say so.
By land is but small. If any more be taken from us, I will come again to you and complain, for we shall not be able to live. Have pity on us, father. You have many red children there, and they have little whereon to live. Leave them land enough to labor, to hunt, and to live on, and the lands which we have given to the French, let them be to them forever. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-72, p. 387)
What Three-Legs meant by saying that they (presumably Piankashaws) lived on one side of the river is not certain.
/pg. 165/
Despite his instructions to investigate such matters, Putnam had not learned the village locations or hunting areas of the Indians he made his treaty with. He informed the Secretary of War, however, that he understood
The Eastern boundary claimed by the said Wabash Indians, would be described by a line drawn from the Miami village near the present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana] to a creek, a few miles above the Falls of the Ohio. (Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-7, p. 341)[see footnote 49]
This would assign to the Wabash Indians (including Piankashaws) the land of most of the present state of Indiana.
Peace was not yet guaranteed between most of the Indians of the northwest and the United States, and though the Indians of the Wabash and Illinois area seemed peacefully inclined, even they were not trusted by western officials. Wayne, for example, in appointing Captain Thomas Pasteur "Commandant of Fort Knox [at Vincennes] & its dependencies," and relieving Hamtramck and his troops there, warned Pasteur "to use every possible precaution" against surprise attacks by the Indians, that "it would be imprudent to trust them [the Indians of the Wabash] too far," and to ''be guarded against every insidious attempt." (Wayne, Dft.Ex, A-340)
Another effort was made by the United States to arrange a general peace with the Indians of the northwest in the summer of l793.[see footnote 50]
Footnote 45: For the goods given the Indian prisoners see Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-3213 ibid., Dft. Ex. A-320; Anonymous, Dft. Ex. A-122.[return to text]
Footnote 46: By August 31 Hamtramck had contacted the other tribes (Hamtramck, Dft. Ex. 224).[return to text]
Footnote 47 : The presents apparently were delivered on September 28 and 29. For Putnam's expenses on his treaty-making tour of duty in the west, see the United States (Indian Department); Dft. Ex. A-337; [Putnam], Dft. Ex. A-312; Putnam; Dft. Ex. A-315, Putnam Dft. Ex. A-316. [Putnam?], Dft. Ex. A-314; [Putnam], Dft. Ex. A-125; Anonymous, Dft. Ex. A-123; Anonymous, Dft. Ex. A-122; Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-327; Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-328; Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-311; Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-331.[return to text]
Footnote 48: Two Eel River Indians, one of whom was named Piankashaws, carried the message and were accompanied by William Wells who wee an interpreter at the treaty and was an adopted member of the Eel River group. (Putnam: Dft. Ex. A-12, p. 366) See also lbid., Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 368-370, and Ibid,, Dft. Ex. A-7, pp. 378-379.)[return to text]
Footnote 49: The Miami proper had not attended Putnam's treaty and it is almost certain that he had no first-hand knowledge of the extent of their lands. See also Putnam, Dft. Ex. A-12, pp. 378-379.[return to text]
Footnote 50: For pertinent materials on this see e.g., Dft. Ex. 7, pp. 340- 361; and Dft. Ex. A-16, pp. 435, 436, 437, 438-479, 440-451, 444-445, 446-449 (fn. 44, on p. 448 gives references to numerous other materials relative to these negotiations), 452, 454-455, 455-456. The British had made an obviously outdated (as it relates to Piankashaws) estimate of 250 Piankashaw warriors on the Wabash at this time representing, according to their method of figuring, 1998 Piankashaws there. (Lindley, Dft. Ex. A-80, pp. 586-568) Nothing was accomplished at the attempted 1793 treaty[return to text]
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