USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 9
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On the 26th of August, 1789, about 200 mounted volunteers, under the command of Colonel John Hardin, marched from the Falls of the Ohio to attack some of the Indian towns on the Wabash. This expe- dition returned to the Falls on the 28th of September, without the loss of a man-having killed six Indians, plundered and burnt one deserted village, and destroyed a considerable quantity of corn.
In a letter addressed to President Washington, bearing date Sep- tember 14, 1789, Governor St. Clair pointed out with great care the embarrassments which would surround an expedition against the Indians on the Wabash, and the danger of precipitating a frontier Indian war, and considerable correspondence on the subject passed between President Washington and Governor St. Clair, and it was determined to make an effort for the government and safety of the western settlements.
About the Ist of January, 1790, Governor St. Clair, with the judges of the supreme court, descended the Ohio, from Marietta to Fort Wash- ington, and on the 8th of January, 1790, the governor and Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the territory, arrived at Clarksville, whence they proceeded to the Illinois country, to organize the government in that quarter. Before the governor left Clarksville, he sent to Major Ham- tramck, the commanding officer of Post Vincennes, dispatches contain- ing speeches which were addressed to the Indian tribes on the Wabash. The latter officer, on the 15th of April, dispatched Antoine Gamelin with these speeches of St. Clair, which Gamelin delivered at all the vil- lages bordering this stream, and came as far east as Kekionga. The following is the journal of Gamelin, which will give the reader a fair notion of the spirit of the Miamis at that period:
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" The first village I arrived to, is called Kikapouguoi. The name of the chief of this village is called Les Jambes Croches. Him and his tribe have a good heart, and accepted the speech. The second village is at the river du Vermilion, called Piankeshaws. The first chief and all his warriors, were well pleased with the speeches concerning the peace: but they said they could not give presently a proper answer, before they consult the Miami nation, their eldest brethren. They desired me to proceed to the Miami town (Ke-ki-ong-gay), and, by coming back to let them know what reception I got from them. The said head chief told me that he thought the nations of the lake had a bad heart, and were ill disposed for the Americans: that the speeches would
* not be received, particularly by the Shawnees at Miamitown. *
The IIth of April, I reached a tribe of Kickapoos. The head chief and all the warriors being assembled, I gave them two branches of white wam- pum, with the speeches of his excellency Arthur St. Clair, and those of Major Hamtramck. It must be observed that the speeches have been in another hand before me. The messenger could not proceed further than the Vermilion, on account of some private wrangling between the the interpreter and some chief men of the tribe. Moreover, something in the speech displeased them very much, which is included in the third article, which says, 'I do now make you the offer of pcace : accept it, or reject it as you please.' These words appeared to displease all the tribes to whom the first messenger was sent. They told me they were men- acing; and finding that it might have a bad effect, I took upon myself to exclude them; and, after making some apology, they answered that he and his tribe were pleased with my speech, and that I could go up without danger, but they could not presently give me an answer, having some warriors absent, and without consulting the Ouiatenons, being the owners of their lands. They desired me to stop at Quitepiconnoe [Tippecanoe ], that they would have the chiefs and warriors of Ouiatenons and those of their nation assembled there, and would receive a proper answer. They said that they expected by me a draught of milk from the great chief, and the commanding officer of the post, for to put the old people in good humor; also some powder and ball for the young men for hunting, and to get some good broth for their women and children: that I should know a bearer of speeches should never be with empty hands. They promised me to keep their young men from stealing and to send speeches to their nations in the prairies for to do the same.
"The 14th April, the Ouiatenons and the Kickapoos were assem- bled. After my speech, one of the head chiefs got up and told me, ' You, Gamelin, my friend and son-in-law, we are pleased to see in our village, and to hear by your mouth, the good words of the great chief. We thought to receive a few words from the French people; but I see the contrary. None but the Big Knife is sending speeches to us. You know that we can terminate nothing without the consent of our brethren
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the Miamis. I invite you to proceed to their village and to speak to them. There is one thing in your speech I do not like; I will not tell of it; even was I drunk, I would perceive it; but our elder brethren will certainly take notice of it in your speech. You invite us to stop our young men. It is impossible to do it, being constantly encouraged by the British.' Another chief got up and said -' The Americans are ยท very flattering in their speeches; many times our nation went to their rendezvous. I was once myself. Some of our chiefs died on the route; and we always came back all naked; and you, Gamelin, you come with speech, with empty hands.' Another chief got up and said to his young men, ' If we are poor, and dressed in deer skins, it is our own fault. Our French traders are leaving us and our villages, because you plun- der them every day; and it is time for us to have another conduct.' An- other chief got up and said -' Know ye that the village of Ouiatenon is the sepulchre of all our ancestors. The chief of America invites us to go to him if we are for peace. He has not his leg broke, having been able to go as far as the Illinois. He might come here himself; we should be glad to see him at our village. We confess that we accepted the ax, but it is by the reproach we continually receive from the English, and other nations, which received the ax first, calling us women; at the present time they invite our young men to war. As to the old people, they are wishing for peace.' They could not give me an answer before they received advice from the Miamis, their elder brethren.
" The 18th April I arrived at the river a l'Anguille [Eel river ]. The chief of the village [ which was on the north side of Eel river, six miles above the confluence of that stream with the Wabash ], and those of war were not present. I explained the speeches to some of the tribe. They said they were well pleased; but they could not give me an an- swer, their chief men being absent. They desired me to stop at their village coming back; and they sent with me one of their men for to hear the answer of their eldest brethren.
" The 23d April I arrived at the Miami town. The next day I got the Miami nation, the Shawnees and Delawares all assembled. I gave to each nation two branches of wampum, and began the speeches, before the French and English traders, being invited by the chiefs to be present, having told them myself I would be glad to have them pres- ent, having nothing to say against any body. After the speech I showed them the treaty concluded at Muskingum [Fort Harmar ], between his excellency, Governor St. Clair, and sundry nations, which displeased them. I told them that the purpose of this present time was not to sub- mit them to any condition, but to offer them the peace, which made dis- appear their displeasure. The great chief told me that he was pleased with the speech; that he would soon give me an answer. In a private discourse with the great chief, he told me not to mind what the Shaw- nees would tell me, having a bad heart, and being the perturbators of all the nations. He said the Miamis had a bad name, on account of the
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mischief done on the river Ohio; but he told me, it was not occasioned by his young men, but by the Shawnees; his young men going out only for to hunt.
" The 25th of April, Blue Jacket, chief warrior of the Shawnees, invited me to go to his house, and told me-'My friend, by the name and consent of the Shawnees and Delawares, I will speak to you. We are all sensible of your speech, and pleased with it; but, after consulta- tion, we can not give an answer without hearing from our father at Detroit; and we are determined to give you back the two branches of wampum, and to send you to Detroit to see and hear the chief, or to stay here twenty nights for to receive his answer. From all quarters we receive speeches from the Americans, and not one is alike. We suppose that they intend to deceive us. Then take back your branches of wampum.'
" The 26th, five Pottawatomies arrived here with two negro men, which they sold to English traders. The next day I went to the great chief of the Miamis, called Le Gris. His chief warrior was present. I told him how I had been served by the Shawnees. He answered me that he had heard of it; that the said nations behaved contrary. to his intentions. He desired me not to mind those strangers, and that he would soon give me a positive answer.
" The 28th of April, the great chief desired me to call at the French trader's and receive his answer. 'Don't take bad,' said he, 'of what I am to tell you. You may go back when you please. We can not give you a positive answer. We must send your speeches to all our neigh- bors, and to the lake nations. We can not give a definite answer with- out consulting the commandant at Detroit.' And he desired me to render him the two branches of wampum refused by the Shawnees; also a copy of speeches in writing. He promised me that, in thirty nights, he would send an answer to Post Vincennes by a young man of each nation. He was well pleased with the speeches, and said to be worthy of attention, and should be communicated to all their confederates, having resolved among them not to do anything without a unanimous consent. I agreed to his requisitions, and rendered him the two branches of wampum and a copy of the speech. Afterward he told me that the Five Nations, so called, or Iroquois, were training something; that five of them, and three Wyandots, were in this village with branches of wampum. He could not tell me presently their purpose, but he said I would know of it very soon.
"The same day Blue Jacket, chief of the Shawnees, invited me to his house for supper; and, before the other chiefs, told me that after another deliberation, they thought necessary that I should go myself to Detroit for to see the commandant, who would get all his children as- sembled to hear my speech. I told them I would not answer them in the night; that I was not ashamed to speak before the sun.
" The 29th of April I got them all assembled. I told them that I was not to go to Detroit; that the speeches were directed to the nations of
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the river Wabash and the Miami; and that, for to prove the sincerity of the speech, and the heart of Gov. St. Clair, I have willingly given a copy of the speeches to be shown to the commandant at Detroit; and accord- ing to aletter wrote by the commandant of Detroit to the Miamis, Shaw- nees and Delawares, mentioning to you to be peaceable with the Americans, I would go to him very willingly, if it was in my directions, being sensible of his sentiments. I told them I had nothing to say to the commandant; neither him to me. You must immediately resolve if you intend to take me to Detroit, or else I am to go back as soon as possi- ble. Blue Jacket got up and told me, 'My friend, we are well pleased with what you say. Our intention is not to force you to go to Detroit. It is only a proposal, thinking it for the best. Our answer is the same as the Miamis. We will send in thirty nights, a full and positive answer by a young man of each nation by writing to Post Vincennes.' In the evening, Blue Jacket, chief of the Shawnees, having taken me to sup- per with him, told me in a private manner, that the Shawnee nation was in doubt of the sincerity of the Big Knives, so called, having been already deceived by them. That they had first destroyed their lands, put out their fire, and sent away their young men, being a hunting, with- out a mouthful of meat; also had taken away their women -wherefore many of them would, with a great deal of pain, forget these affronts. Moreover, that some other nations were apprehending that offers of peace would, may be, tend to take away by degrees, their lands, and would serve them as they did before: a certain proof that they intend to encroach on our lands, is their new settlement on the Ohio. If they don't keep this side [of the Ohio ] clear, it will never be a proper recon- cilement with the nations Shawnees, Iroquois, Wyandots and perhaps many others. Le Gris, chief of the Miamis, asked me in a private dis- course, what chiefs had made a treaty with the Americans at Musking- dum '[ Fort Harmar ]? I answered him that their names were mentioned in the treaty. He told me he had heard of it some time ago; but they are not chiefs, neither delegates who made that treaty-they are only young men who, without authority and instructions from their chiefs have concluded that treaty, which will not be approved. They went to the treaty clandestinely, and they intend to make mention of it in the next council to be held.
" The 2d of May I came back to the river a l'Anguille. One of the chief men of the tribe being witness of the council at Miami town, re- peated the whole to them; and whereas, the first chief was absent, they said they could not for the present time give answer, but they were willing to join their speech to those of their eldest brethren. 'To give you proof of an open heart, we let you know that one of our chiefs is gone to war on the Americans; but it was before we heard of you, for cer- tain they would not have been gone thither.' They also told me that a few days after I passed their village, seventy warriors, Chippewas and Ottawas, from Michillimackinac, arrived there. Some of them were Pottawatomies, who meeting in their route the Chippewas and Ottawas,
Shuly yours
, Standart
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joined them. ' We told them what we heard by you; that your speech is fair and true. We could not stop them from going to war. The Pottawatomies told us that, as the Chippewas and Ottawas were more numerous than them, they were forced to follow them.'
" The 3d of May I got to the Weas. They told me that they were waiting for an answer from their eldest brethren. 'We approve very much our brethren for not to give a definite answer, without informing of it all the lake nations; that Detroit was the place where the fire was lighted; then it ought first to be put out there; that the English com- mandant is their father, since he threw down our French father. They could do nothing without his approbation.' The 4th of May I arrived at the village of the Kickapoos. The chief, presenting me two branches of wampum, black and white, said: ' My son, we can not stop our young men from going to war. Every day some set off clandestinely for that. purpose. After such behaviour from our young men, we are ashamed to say to the great chief at the Illinois and of the Post Vincennes, that we are busy about some good affairs for the reconcilement; but be per- suaded that we will speak to them continually concerning the peace; and that, when our eldest brethren will have sent their answer, we, will join ours to it.' The 5th of May I arrived at Vermilion. I found nobody but two chiefs; all the rest were gone a-hunting. They told me they had nothing else to say but what I was told going up."
Gov. St. Clair being at Kaskaskia, early in June of this year, received from Major Hamtramck the following, bearing date Post Vincennes, May 22d, 1790: "I now inclose the proceedings of Mr. Gamelin, by which your excellency can have no great hopes of bringing the Indians to a peace with the United States. The 8th of May, Gamelin arrived, and on the IIth some merchants arrived and informed me that, as soon as Gamelin had passed their villages on his return, all the Indians had gone to war; that a large party of Indians from Michillimackinac, and some Pottawatomies, had gone to Kentucky; and that three days after Gamelin had left the Miami village, an American was brought there and burnt."
Harmar's Campaign .- Being induced to believe from the dispatches received from Hamtramck, that there was no possibility of forming a treaty of peace with the Miamis and other tribes banded with them, St. Clair quit Kaskaskia and reached Fort Washington on the 13th of July. Having consulted with General Harmar, and concluding to send a formidable force against the Indians about the head-waters of the Wabash, by authority of President Washington, on the 15th of July, he addressed circular letters to a number of lieutenants of the western counties of Virginia [Kentucky ] and Pennsylvania, for the purpose of raising 1,000 militia in the former, and 500 in the latter. The regular troops then in service in the west General Harmar estimated at about 400 efficient men, with whom the militia were to operate as follows: Of the Virginia militia, 300 were to rendezvous at Fort Steuben, and, with a garrison at that post, to proceed to Vincennes, to join Major Hamtramck, who had 6
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orders to call to his aid the militia of that place, and move up the Wa- bash, attacking such Indian villages along that river as his force might seem adequate to. The 1,200 militia remaining were to join the regu- lar troops, under General Harmar, at Fort Washington. That the British commandant at Detroit might know the true cause of the move- ment, on the 19th of September Gov. St. Clair addressed a letter to him, assuring the said commandant that the purposes of the United States were pacific in so far as their relations to Great Britain were concerned; that the expedition was to quell the vindictive and intolerable spirit of the Indians toward the settlements against which they had so long, so inhumanly and destructively carried on their savage warfare. That the English, toward Lake Erie, notwithstanding this spirit of candor and courtesy on the part of St. Clair, gave aid to the Indians in their efforts against the United States during 1790-91, the evidence is clear enough; but to what extent they did so, was not fully known. The following paragraphs from a certificate of one Thomas Rhea, taken in the early part of 1790, will give some indication of the encouragement given the Indians by the British.
" At this place, the Miami," said Rhea, in his account, " were Col- onels Brant and McKee, with his son Thomas; and Captains Bunbury and Silvie, of the British troops. These officers, &c., were all encamped on the south side of the Miami or Ottawa river, at the rapids above Lake Erie, about eighteen miles; they had clever houses, built chiefly by the Pottawatomies and other Indians; in these they had stores of goods, with arms, ammunition and provision, which they issued to the Indians in great abundance, viz .: corn, pork, peas, &c. The Indians came to this place in parties of one, two, three, four and five hundred at a time, from different quarters, and received from Mr. McKee and the Indian officers, clothing, arms, ammunition, provisions, &c., and set out immediately for the upper Miami towns, where they understood the forces of the United States were bending their course, and in order to supply the Indians from other quarters collected there, pirogues loaded with the above-mentioned articles were sent up the Miami [ Maumee ] river, wrought by French Canadians."
About the middle of September, the Virginia militia began to gather about the mouth of Licking river, opposite Cincinnati, for the most part badly armed and equipped; they were organized by General Harmar, and formed into three battalions, under Majors Hall, McMullen and Ray, with Trotter as lieutenant-colonel. About the 24th of September, came the militia of Pennsylvania, also badly prepared, and many of them sub- stitutes-" old, infirm men, and young boys." These were formed into one battalion, under Lieut .- Colonel Truby and Major Paul; while four battalions of militia, subject to General Harmar's command, were com- manded by Col. John Hardin. Majors John Plasgrave Wylles and John Doughty commanded the regular troops, in two small battalions. The artillery corps, with but three pieces of ordnance, was under the command of Captain William Ferguson; while under James Fontaine
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was placed a small battalion of light troops or mounted militia. The whole army contained about 1,453 regular and raw militia troops. The militia under Col. Hardin, on the 26th of September, advanced from Fort Washington into the country, for the double purpose of opening a road for the artillery and obtaining feed for their cattle. On the 30th of September, the regular troops marched, commanded by General Harmar, and on the 3d day of October joined the militia. A journal of the daily movements of the army was regularly kept by Captain John Armstrong, of the regulars, up to its arrival at the Miami village.
After an uninterrupted march of sixteen days, on the afternoon of the 15th of October, Colonel Hardin, with an advanced detachment, stole upon Kekionga, only to find it deserted by men, women and chil- dren. A few cows, some vegetables, about 20,000 bushels of corn in the ear, and empty wigwams, were all that greeted them; and the mili- tia, in much disorder, soon began to scatter in search of plunder. On the 17th, about one o'clock, the main body of the army came up and crossed the Maumee to the village. Major McMullen, having discov- ered the tracks of women and children leading to the northwest, so re- ported to General Harmar, and the latter on the morning of the 18th, detailed Col. Trotter and Majors Hall, Ray and McMullen, with 300 men, among whom were thirty regulars, forty light-horse, and 230 ac- tive riflemen. Furnished with three days' provision, they were ordered to reconnoiter the country around the village. About one mile from the encampment, an Indian on horseback was discovered, pursued and killed by a part of the detachment, under Trotter; and before returning to the main body another Indian was seen, "when the four field officers left their commands and pursued him, leaving the troops for the space of about half an hour without any direction whatever." Being inter- cepted by the light-horsemen, one of whom he had wounded, the Indian was at length despatched. Changing the route of his detachment, and moving in different directions, till night, Col. Trotter, contrary to instruc- tions, returned to the Miami village.
In consequence of the disorderly course of the militia on their ar- rival, General Harmar ordered cannon to be fired for the purpose of calling them to ranks, and also harangued the officers on the bad results liable to follow such indifference. On the 18th he issued the following general order:
"CAMP AT THE MIAMI VILLAGE, Oct. 18, 1790.
" The general is much mortified at the unsoldierlike behavior of many of the men in the army, who make it a practice to straggle from the camp in search of plunder. He, in the most positive terms, forbids this practice in future, and the guards will be answerable to prevent it. No party is allowed to go beyond the line of sentinels without a com- missioned officer, who, if of the militia, will apply to Col. Hardin for his orders. The regular troops will apply to the general. All the plunder that may be hereafter collected, will be equally distributed among the army. The kettles, and every other article already taken, are to be
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collected by the commanding officers of battalions, and to be delivered to-morrow morning to Mr. Belli, the quartermaster, that a fair distribu- tion may take place. The rolls are to be called at troop and retreat beating, and every man absent is to be reported. The general expects that these orders will be pointedly attended to; they are to be read to the troops this evening. The army is to march to-morrow morning early for their new encampment at Chillicothe, about two miles from hence. " JOSIAH HARMAR, Brigadier-General."
Col. Hardin having asked for the command of the troops returned to camp under Trotter, for the remaining two days, Gen. Harmar put that officer in command, and he on the next day led the detachment along an Indian trail to the northwest, in the direction of the Kickapoo villages. Coming to a point, near a morass, some five miles distant from the confluence of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph rivers, where on the preceding day there had been an Indian encampment, the detach- ment came to a halt, and was stationed in readiness for an attack should the enemy still be near. A half hour passed with no alarm. The or-
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