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.
When the Miami Was
Called the Tawa
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
Bauman, Robert F. in: Northwest
Ohio Quarterly, Vol. XXVIII,
1955-56, pp. 60-87.
|
pp. |
|
|
|
|
|
(page 69) of the same year he wrote: "I had taken measures to obtain more satisfactory intelligence of what had passed at the meeting of the Indians on the Miami or Tawa River last fall..."29 This last statement, obviously, shows that St. Clair was referring to the Maumee River, and not to a minor near-by watercourse. On July 13, 1788 St. Clair notified the Secretary of War that: "I have sent a speech to the chiefs of all the nations that are now in council at the Detroit or at the Tawa River. I am not certain of the places..."30 This speech contained a strong protest to the Indians because of a recent attack by a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians upon the guard which was protecting the provisions situated on the Muskingum River, and which were to be made use of at an Indian council and treaty being arranged by St. Clair. Referring to this episode, General Josiah Hamar wrote:
The Governor [St. Clair] has sent a spirited message to the different nations who are assembled and counciling at the Tawa or Omi River, demanding satisfaction for the gross insult offered to the United States.31
The speech sent by St. Clair and referred to by Harmar was addressed: "TO THE CHIEFS OF ALL THE NATIONS ASSEMBLED AT THE TAWA RIVER OR AT THE MOUTH OF THE DETROIT RIVER."32 Thus, it may be seen that the Governor of the Northwest Territory preferred the "Tawa" terminology to the traditional "Miami" appellation during these years.
In June of 1791 Thomas Rhea arrived at Pittsburgh after having been a prisoner of the Indians in the Maumee country. Rhea gave a narrative of his captivity and told of his movements in the Indian territory. In this narrative he mentioned that the British officers were "all encamped on the south side of the Miami, or Ottawa river, at the rapids above Lake Erie, about eighteen miles ... ; " made reference to the great crossing place "of the Miami or Ottawa river, called Roche-de-boo....," and, stated that "while I was at the Miami, or Ottawa river, as they call it, I had mentioned to Col. McKee and the other officers, that I had seen Col. Procter, on his way to Fort Franklin..."33 Again, from the (page 70) Rhea statements, as from those made by David Zeisberger, it is manifest that the "Tawa" terminology had come into general use in that country, and that it was being applied to that river because the Ottawas were the dominant occupants of its banks.
Another American of this era who seemed to favor the "Tawa" appellation for the Maumee River was Rufus Putnam. In a letter to Henry Knox, Secretary of War, written on March 8, 1791, Putnam noted that the Indians of Sandusky and of the "Tawa River" were being excited to hostilities by English among them.34 In 1792 Putnam sent a speech to the Western tribes which was addressed: "To all the Sachems and Warriours of the tribes inhabiting the Miami or Tawa river, and the waters of the Wabash River."35 Information given to Putnam by General James Wilkinson, and which Putnam forwarded to Henry Knox in a letter of July 5, 1792, was to the effect that a hostile party of Indians had come from and returned in the direction of "the lower part, or rapids of the Tawa River."36 Three days after this communication Putnam wrote to Knox concerning general conditions on the Maumee River, and applied such terms as "Tawa River, " "Tawa or Miami River, " "the Tawa Rapids," and "the mouth of the Tawa."37 In subsequent letters to Knox, Wayne, Washington, and Wilkinson during the same period Putnam made frequent reference to the "Tawa river," the "Oma, or Tawa River," the "Tawa or Omee river," and to the "Tawa or Omee River bands of Savages."38 Rufus Putnam, as had done John Doughty, applied the "Ome" variations along with the appelation "Tawa. " It cannot be said that the term "Tawa" was being applied during this era merely for the sake of brevity, since the river was most frequently referred to as the "Oma, or Tawa River," "Tawa or Omi River," or as the "Miami, or Ottawa River," which combinations certainly are no shorter than "Miami of the Lake. "
On October 11, 1792 William May made a statement at Pittsburgh concerning his experiences in the Maumee Valley country, and gave information he had gained about the actual sentiments of the hostile Indians in that region. In his narrative May referred to the Maumee River as the (page 71) "Tawa," and at one point in his report he made the following reference: "At this place the river Glaize forms a junction with the Tawa, and is the principle town, or Indian head-quarters, where there were 3,600 warriors."39 It is indisputable that May was here referring to the river presently known as the Maumee.
From this survey of "Tawa" river terminology it may be appreciated that by the time Anthony Wayne was preparing for his advance into the Indian country the "Ottawa-Tawa" designation for the Maumee River had come into general use. The "Miami" appellation continued in use but, of course, to a far lesser extent. In addition, as has been shown, variations of the term "Ome" had emerged and had received considerable favor. As a result of this, the years of Wayne's advance into the Indian country represent a period during which "Miami," "Ottawa and Tawa," "Ome" and finally even "Maumi," "Maumie," and"Maumee" were applied as designations for that watercourse. A selection of a few leading references from among the many documents of this period will fully demonstrate this development.
4. WAYNE CAMPAIGN JOURNALS AND
PAPERS: TAWA-MIAMI-
OME-MAUMI RIVER TERMINOLOGY.
A development occurring during the years of the Wayne campaign was the general restriction of the "Tawa" appellation to the northern half of the Maumee River, while the "Miami" terminology remained in general use for the southern portion. Information sent to General Anthony Wayne by James Wilkinson in 1793 permits no room to doubt that the "Tawa" referred to during this era was that stretch of the Maumee River between Lake Erie and the Auglaize River. Wilkinson wrote that "the implacable Tribes, reside generally at the confluence of the Maumee & Glaize Rivers, & from thence down the Tawa River, to the Lake..." In addition he informed Wayne that the greatest portion of the Indians had dispersed, and only about five hundred warriors remained: "If by some prompt, energetic Effort, & by a devious Route, Your Excellence could Enterprize against this Banditti, strike 'le glaize', destroy their corn, captivate their wives & children, and break up (page 72) the settlements to the mouth of the Tawa River, you would terminate the war in a single stroke..."40 Although Wilkinson made use of the term "Maumee" it is clear that he looked upon that portion of the river north of the Auglaize as the "Tawa." Daniel Bradley likewise designated the lower half of the Maumee as the "Tauway" river during this time.41
An extremely fascinating group of names applied to the Maumee River during 1794 are to be found in the several journals of the Wayne campaign of that year. One of these was kept by a Kentucky volunteer who served in Wayne's army. He generally applied the "Maumi" or "Maumie" terminology to the river, yet at one point in his journal he included the following highly significant observation:
Tuesday 12 fair weather Genl. Wayne ordered 200 Volunteers to Snake Town about 8 or 10 miles down the River by some Cald. the Tawa, Miami of Lake & Grand Au Glaze, about 5 miles met Capt. Wells and McCleland that was sent to Reaus Debeau [Roche de Boeuf]..."42
It appears that this Kentuckian preferred the "Tawa" appellation at least for that portion of the river north of its junction with the Auglaize River. On August 15, 1794, three days after the above reference, he wrote that the army marched 1/2 after 5 Down the Tawa River ..." When back in the region of present-day Defiance, the volunteer reverted to the "Maume" appellation for the Maumee River, leading to the conclusion that he was naming the two segments, one north and the other south of Defiance, "Tawa" and "Maumee" respectively. This would seem to be excellent source since the Kentuckian was obviously not familiar with the Maumee Valley country, as had been other journalists in the army, and was obviously applying the name to the watercourse which appeared to him to be the most in use and the most accurately descriptive. He evidenced his deep concern for gaining good information about the rivers of the country when he wrote: "this Country being so little Known that it is very hard to get a perfect Knowledge of the watter Courses."43
There exist several very excellent journals of Wayne's campaign down the Maumee River in 1794. Among these is a highly informative account kept by an unknown author, but nonetheless providing a great amount of extremely valuable information about this outstanding event in the history of Ohio and the Old Northwest. In an entry for August 6, 1794,the journalist wrote: "If the C in C advanced beyond the confluence of the Glaize and Tawa Rivers, before he brought up a supply of provision, he would be compelled to retire from the enemy and would be ruined..."44 On the following day an entry was made which shows that this writer likewise favored designating the north portion of the Maumee River as the "Tawa" river, and the south portion as the "Miami" river. The entry read:
...he proposed sending this night a Detachment of volunteers to strike a town about 15 miles from the confluence of the Glaize and Miamis Rivers upon the north side of the Tawa ...45
Happily, the author of the journal did not make it necessary to rely upon speculation in determining what he had in mind when he made use of the "Tawa" appellation, as will be appreciated by the following excerpt from the journal:
August 8th 1794 --....Our march was over heights and rich low lands in high cultivation, with Indian Villages interspersed -- the Crops of Corn, pulse & vins are extensive and luxuriant -- these Crops and Villages are extended about six miles on each side of the River from its confluence with the Miami -- The confluence of these Rivers forms the Tawa & furnishes a handsome Site -- they are about 150 yards wide, the Miami being rather the widest tho the Au Glaize at the point and for an half mile is the deepest -- the Tawa runs a course about N. by E. and we look down about a mile to the head of an Island -- It is about 200 yards wide -- ....46
The above description is so complete that there can remain no doubt that the "Tawa "appellation was meant to represent the Maumee River after it joined the Auglaize, and (page 74) from that Point to Lake Erie. This is clear both from the express description and by the fact that the journalist designated the "Miami" and the "Au Glaize" Rivers as being 150 yards wide, whereas he represented the "Tawa" as being 200 yards wide.
General James Wilkinson provided a narrative of the Fallen Timbers campaign by the army under Wayne in 1794. He likewise referred to both the "Miami" and the "Tawa" rivers. The following excerpt from that narrative would justify the conclusion that Wilkinson was referring to the Lake Erie half of the Maumee River as the "Tawa:"
Camp at the confluence of the Auglaize & Miami Rivers...Such was the disposition of the Mounted Volunteers that not more than Three hundred of Todds Brigade got into the action, these behaved well. I had the Tawa River & a prairee on my right in which the Enemy made a shew of fighting.... the army however, leaving the wounded on the ground in a great degree unprovided & unprotected, advanced to the Bank of the Miamis (so called by the British) at the head of the back water of the Lake....47
Captain John Cooke, in his journal of the Wayne campaign, made reference to the Grand Glaise (Auglaize), the Miami (upper portion of the Maumee), and the Tawway (lower portion of the Maumee). The following references from the Cooke journal shows this application of river terminologies listed above:
8th [August], Marched at 5, proceeded but 2 miles until we struck the upper end of the Grand Glaise; proceeded down G. G. through said towns 4 miles to the confluence of the G. G. and Miami which Is an elegant situation and commands a beautiful prospect down and around the Tawway. It appears from the smoking houses and the quantity of things found, that the enemy must have recently evacuated this place... 15th, Army marched at 5. P. M. proceeded down the Tawway, nine miles to a town called Snakes town....
Following the battle with the confederated tribes the army returned to the site of Defiance, and subsequently to Fort Wayne. When speaking of the Maumee River between these two places, Cooke once again applied the "Miami" designation.48
As may be appreciated from this analysis of the river terminology for the Maumee during this era, some observers favored the "Ome" or the "Maumee" appellations. In his journal of the campaign, Captain John Armstrong was one favoring the"Omi" term, although he used the term"Maumee" in the same journal.49 Lieutenant John Boyer's journal of the battle referred to the Maumee in the traditional way by utilizing the "Miami of the Lake " terminology.50 Thomas Taylor Underwood utilized the "Maumie" designation on his account of the campaign. He wrote on August 17:
On both sides of each river as far as your eyes could see, the fork of the Oglaze & Maumie Rivers, he calls it Fort Defiance.... We left Fort Defiance and got to the Rappeds of the Maumie 18th Aug. 1794... 21 August 1794 Camp Deposit is right opposite to the falls of the Maumie of the Lake.... Brittish Fort 7 or 8 miles below our camp, its called Fort Maumee and commanded by Col. Campbell.
In speaking of the Indian village in the vicinity of present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana, Underwood called it the "Old Maumie Village."51
One additional journal will suffice to complete this analysis of river terminology utilized during the Wayne campaign. In this journal, which was signed "Randolph," the "Maumee" appellation was applied. A few excerpts from the journal will demonstrate the emergence of the term which eventually became the permanent name for the river. For August 8th, 1794, the journalist wrote:
We continue our Route thro' those Fields 4 Miles, to where the Grand Glaize and Maumi Rivers form a Junction; and halting here, encamp, the Whole of the Legion on the West Side of the Grand Glaize and on the Point between that and the Maumi, (page 76) except the right Flankers, who encamp on the East Side of the Grand Glaize; the Volunteers of Kentucky, under Command of Major General Scott, encamp on the North Side of the Maumi ....52
This Journalist also stated that "the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's interjecting [sic] form the Maumi leaving no doubt of the river to which he was making reference. Furthermore, he called the British Fort Miamis "Fort Maumi," which would justify the conclusion that he looked upon the entire length of the Maumee as the "Maumi" river.53
It should be mentioned once again that the "Miami" and "Ome" appellations were still being applied to designate the watercourse, although to a much lesser extent than before the Wayne campaign. For example, in a letter written by Anthony Wayne on January 18, 1794, and sent to Henry Knox, Wayne stated that the Grand Glaize was " situate at the confluence of Au Glaize, with the Miami of the Lake..."54 On the other hand, Henry Knox, in a letter written to Wayne on May 16, 1794, suggested that Wayne should plan not only to establish posts in the Indian country, "but to chase at least to the westward of the Omi of the lake, all the hostile Indians ...."55 During this period Knox generally applied the "Omie River of Lake Erie" appellation in his correspondence relating to the Maumee Valley country.56
In this survey of sources pertaining to the Maumee River nomenclature during the last quarter of the eighteenth century, only those sources which provide references which are not ambiguous have been used. Naturally some of the sources leave & confused and uncertain impression. An example of this class of references is the statement made by Christopher Miller to Anthony Wayne in 1795, which is as follows:
That Lorimie's store and Harmar's trace is on a branch of the Miamie of the Ohio at the south end of the portage -that from thence to the Old Tawa town on the Au Glaize at the north end of the portage is twenty miles.... That the place called Girty's or Kettle town is on the St. Mary's.... That there is a (page 77) direct road from the Old Tawa town on the Au glaize to the foot of the Rapids, that the distance is not more than from that place to Grand Glaize, say forty miles -- that the Old Tawa town - situated on the tawa river which empties into the Au Glaize fifteen miles above its confluence with the Miami of the Lake, is 20 miles from the north end of the Carrying place -- or half way to the foot of the rapids....57
Miller was obviously not referring to the same "Tawa" river as was referred to in the other sources cited to this point. He may have been referring to the Blanchard's Fork of the Auglaize River, or perhaps to the upper portion of the Auglaize itself. There were Ottawa settlements situated along these watercourses during that period, as is evidenced by the map of the Northwest Territory by Samuel Lewis in 1796, and by a statement of Israel Ludlow made to Rufus Putnam in 1799.58
Subsequent to the Treaty of Greenville, 1795,there appears to have been a rapid decline in the application of the "Ottawa -Tawa" river terminology; a revival of the "Miami " appellation, although to a lesser degree than prior to the "Tawa" era; and, a decided increase in the utilization of variations of the "Maumee" terminology until the name completely replaced the former appellations. In 1797 the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant called the Maumee River the "Otowa" in a communication to William Claus.59 Isolated examples such as this may be found until the turn of the century, but apparently after that time the "Ottawa-Tawa" terminology had been abandoned completely as a designation for the Maumee River.
5. THE "MIAMI-MAUMEE" ERA: 1800-1830.
The first quarter of the nineteenth century proved to be a period during which the appellations "Miami" and"Maumee " were in a contest for acceptance as the permanent name for the Maumee River. It is not deemed necessary for the purpose of this article to determine, if such would be at all possible, exactly when the term "Maumee" finally replaced (page 78) "Miami" as the name for the watercourse. A cursory examination of the documents and maps during the early decades of the nineteenth century does justify the conclusion that a particular day, month, or year could not be determined upon as the one representing the nomenclature transformation from "Miami" to "Maumee." Rather, the two names continued being applied interchangeably until sometime during the 1830's when the "Miami" terminology completely gave way to the name "Maumee."
Throughout the first three decades of the eighteenth century references to the Maumee River in documents pertaining to Indian affairs generally adhered to the traditional "Miami of Lake Erie" terminology.60 During the 1830's however even references to the Ottawas of that river valley commenced to apply the name "Maumee" in preference to "Miami." In his diary for 1829-1830 while among the Ottawas of the Maumee River region, Cutting Marsh, the Indian Missionary, referred to the river as the "Maumee," and made the following reference: "At the Ft. [Fort Wayne] the St. Mary's and the St. Josephs rivers unite and form the Maumee of the Lake."61 This reference to the "Maumee of the Lake" would seem to evidence the actual transformation from "Miami of the Lake" taking place by that date.
In 1828 the Ottawas themselves, in a memorial to the Canadian authorities, referred to the river as the "Miami of the Lake."62 On the other hand, according to John Johnston, the Shawnees of Ohio referred to the Maumee River as "Ot, to, wa sepe, "which means "Ottawa River."63 However, in a petition written in 1830 by a group of prominent citizens of the Maumee River settlement on the site of present-day Toledo, and sent to Lewis Cass, reference was made to "the Ottaway tribe of Indians ... of the mouth of the Maumee River.... "64 John Johnston, in 1831, made reference to the "Ottawas on the Miami of the Lake,"65 while Governor George B. Porter, L. T. Lloyd, Lewis Cass, and others during the 1830's spoke of the Ottawas of the "Maumee" River.66 In much this way did the struggle continue for some years, although it appears that during the 1830's the"Maumee" terminology had definitely become the favorite name. It
Return to
TOC, p. 11
Continue
to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 20
November 2000
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University