THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Thomas Hutchins to
Gen. Haldimand
(Fort Chartres, Nov. 15, 1768)
Hutchins, Thomas in: Dunn, Jacob
Piatt,
ed., Documents relating to the French
Settlements on the Wabash, Indiana
Historical Society Publications,
vol. 2, 1894, pp. 403-442.
22d Regiment, they may think that they may always expect to commit the same Hostilitie with impunity. I think Sir it would not be improper to signify to them that must expect to be all cut off shou'd they for the future give reason to suspect their good intentions- nor do I think it would be wrong to punish them accordingly. The Chicasaws are the Proper Instruments for this duty.
|
ALR FRASER. |
________
THOMAS HUTCHINS TO GEN. HALDIMAND.
|
FORT CHARTRES
15th Novr 1768. |
SIR- Please to allow me to observe that your Exalted Station like many other high places in life, is not I presume free from some degree of care and trouble, at least so much as to deprive me of the smallest hopes of the Honour of your correspondence, however abstracted from the great obligation a letter from you would lay me under. I shall beg leave to intrude so much upon your time as may be necessary for the perusal of the enclosed it is a short description of the Country near (and River of) the Ohio from Fort Pitt to its junction with the Mississippe. You have it in the form of a journal wrote in haste. I flatter myself it may notwithstanding serve to assist in passing a few of your leisure minutes.
I would trouble you with the Occurrences of this place, but am apprehensive that a detail of them would swell this letter to a tedious length, you will be pleased therefore to excuse the liberty I have taken in referring you to Mr Hutchinson to whom I have wrote a particulars of them.
The Fever and Augue since our arrival has raged with such uncommon violence as to put it out of our power to do scarce anything more than to bury some of our Officers and Men who were carried off by those disorders.
We expect next Spring if the Health of the Garrison permit to take possession of Post St Vincent on the Ouabache, if I should be furnished with any Occurrences worth your notice during my stay there, I shall do myself the pleasure to acquaint you with them.
Colonel Wilkins who is quite recovered from his illness has desired me to present you with his most respectful compliments.
It will always afford me pleasure to be favoured with your commands.
I am with the Greatest Respect Sir, your most obedient Humble Servant
|
THO: HUTCHINS |
N. B. I must pray you will not
permit any Person to take a copy
of the enclosed.
To Brigadier General Haldimand.
________
JOURNAL FROM FORT PITT TO THE MOUTH
OF THE OHIO.
|
IN THE YEAR 1768. |
The country for 71 miles below the Fort to an Indian Village situate on the north bank is broken with very high ridges, the valleys narrow and the course of the River plunged from many high grounds which compose its banks.
90 miles lower down is the Muskingum on the same side, in latitude 39o 19'. The Muskingum is a large River 250 yards wide at its confluence with the Ohio, it is said to be navigable 150 miles upwards with Battoes, and runs through a pleasant country as that near its junction appeared to be- on this River and its branches most of the Delaware Indians reside.
366 miles from Fort Pitt in Latitude 38o 22' is the Sioto River on the North Side. The River Ohio 50 miles above Muskingum to Sioto is most beautiful a number of Islands are to be seen of different sizes, but all covered with the (page 419) Tallest of Timber. The long reaches among which is one of 16 miles, and a 1/2 inclosed with the finest Trees of different kinds, of various verdures and leaves of the largest soils, afford a noble and enchanting prospect. The stillness of the current and a calm sunshine put a Trace on the Water, from which was reflected the most beautiful objects of simple nature, that I ever beheld. This glorious Vista was terminated by two Sugar Loaf Hills, or easy asscent, from which can be discovered all this magnificent variety. The Rivers Hockhocking & Canawha fall into the Ohio in this space, besides others of a smaller size, up the big Canawha the Northern Indians penetrate into the Chorakee Nations, and is a large fine stream by report navigable 100 miles towards the Southward.
The Country is everywhere pleasant, in the bends of the River course are large levell spotts of the Richest Land, it is by the account of Traders remarkably Healthy.
On the Sioto the principal part of the Shawanoe Nation have their Villages 560 miles below Fort Pitt, 5 miles south of the River is the Licks in which Elephants bones are found, the principal Lick is of a circular form, composed of a species of Quick Sand and Black Mud which is of a very Miry Quality. From whence these animals came, and the cause of their Extinction may be a subject for an able Penn to discuss. It however seems not improbable, but that the whole which were in this Country (by what means soever they were brought) kept constantly in one Herd and that arriving at the Licks in a wet season, and entering to satisfy their natural thirst for the salt water which arrises from them, some of them might by their great weight have sunk so deep as not to be able to rise out & the others out of sympathy, or some other cause, not being willing to leave their companions in distress, have shared the same fate. The pasturage near the Licks seems to be one of the finest kind, mixed with grass and Herbage, and well watered.
The Ohio continues to be narrow the whole Distance from Fort Pitt to within 100 miles of the Falls. Its breadth seldom exceeds 500 yards and is confined by rising grounds, which causes many windings, altho the reaches are sometimes from 2 to 4 miles long. The River 100 miles above the Falls widens to 7000 yards in many places, a number of Islands appear. The grounds diminish generally into Height, and the country is not so much broken- the height of the Banks permits their being every where inhabited, nor do they seem subjected to crumble much away. The Little and Big Mineamies Rivers fall into below the Sioto on the North side, and the Licking Creek and Kentuckee on the South. There are many good Encampments on the Islands.
The Falls is 682 miles below Fort Pitt in Latitude 38o 8'. This place ought rather to be called a Rapid, as the streams has no sudden pitch, but only Runs with inconceivable rapidity over the Ledge of flatt Limestone Rock, which keeps up the waters of the higher Ohio, and to be the cause of that beautiful stillness of the Rivers course above.
317 miles below the Falls is the Wabash in Latitude 37o 41'. From the Falls to about half this distance the country is very Hilly, the course of the River very winding and narrow and the Hills are mostly strong and steep.
837 miles below Fort Pitt the Ridgy ground disappears, the country grows flat and the River whose Bed widens is often divided by Islands. The River Wabash at its confluence is 300 yds. wide and Issues in with a considerable quantity of water of a muddy kind, it is navigable between 3 & 400 miles upwards. Post St Vincent a French Village is situate 60 leagues up it and nearly the same distance further up stands the Village of Ouiatanon. The Following Indian Nations reside on this River, Vizt. Ouiatanons Kickapoos Pyankashaws, and Musquetons.
The country between the course of this River and that of the Mississipi is general Flatt, open and of a rich luxurient soil, and that on the Banks of the Ohio is level, and in many places overflowed here abouts.
120 miles below the mouth of the Wabash and 11 below that of the Cherokee River is the remains of the Fort Massiac, formerly a French Post.
The country 25 miles from the Wabash begins again to be mountainous being the N. W. end of the Apalachian Mountains which entirely terminate a small distance from the River Northernly.
45 miles below Massiac and 1164 from Fort Pitt is the mouth of the Ohio in Latitude 36o 43'. The gentle Ohio is pushed back by the impetuous stream of the Mississipi whose muddy white water is to be seen 200 yards up the Former. The ground for some miles within the Fork is an aggregation of mud and sand interspersed with marsh and some ponds of water, and ins in high times of the Mississipi over flowed which is the case with the other sides of both rivers.
|
THO. HUTCHINS. |
________
STE. MARIE'S LETTER TO GENERAL HALDIMAND.
MONSIEUR- je suis trop remplie de respect pour tout ce qui porte l'emprinte de l'otorit pour avoir manque a faire reponse a celle que votre Excelence marque m'avoir ecrite apres le depart de Monsieur le general Gage. Voicy la seulle que Monsr Maisonville m a remize; a laquelle je repond avec tout le respect possible.
Pour fair une plus juste reponse a celle que Monsiuer le general Gage nous honora et a la proclamation qu'il nous envoya en date du 8me Avril 1773, je ne pui me dispenser de faire le voyage des Illinois avec Mr. Perthuit qui fui deput pour cette affaire parcequne partie des titres de
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