USA > Kentucky > A history of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 35
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17th. At mid-day we set out; traveling the first five miles through a fine thick wood. We traveled eighteen miles this day, and encamped in a large, beautiful, well watered meadow.
18th and 19th. We traveled through a prodigious large mea- dow, called the Pyankeshaw's Hunting Ground: here is no wood to be seen, and the country appears like an ocean: the ground is exceedingly rich, and partly overgrown with wild hemp; the land, well watered, and full of buffalo, deer, bears, and all kinds of wild game.
20th and 21st. We passed through some very large meadows, part of which belong to the Pyankeshaws on Vermilion River; the country and soil much the same as that we traveled over for these three days past, wild hemp grows here in abundance; the game very plenty: at any time, in half an hour we could kill as much as we wanted.
22d. We passed through part of the same meadow as men- tioned yesterday; then came to a high woodland, and arrived at Vermilion River, so called from a tine red earth found here by the Indians, with which they paint themselves. About half a mile from the place where we crossed this river, there is a village of Pyankeshaws, distinguished by the addition of the name of the river. We then traveled about three hours, through a clear high woody country, but a deep and rich soil; then came to a meadow, where we encamped.
23d Early in the morning we set out through a fine meadow, then some clear woods; in the afternoon came into a very large bottom on the Quabache, within six miles of Ouicatanon; here I met several chiefs of the Kicapoos and Musquattimes, who spoke to their young mon who had taken us, and reprimanded them severely for what they had done to me, after which they returned with us to their village, and delivered us all to their chiefs.
The distance from port Vincent to Quicatanon is two hundred and ten miles. This place is situated on the Quabache. About fourteen French families are living in the fort, which stands on the north side of the river. The Kicapoos and Mustwattimes, whose warriors had taken us, live migh the fort, on the same side of the river, where they have two villages; and the Ouicatanons have a village on the south side of the river. At our arrival at this post, several of the Wawcottonans, (or Ouicatonans) with whom I had been formerly acquainted, came to visit me, and seemed greatly concerned at what had happened. They went immediately to the Kicapoos and Musquattimes, and charged
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them to take the greatest care of us, till their chiefs should arrive from the Illinois, where they were gone to meet me some time ago, and who were entirely ignorant of this affair, and said the French had spirited up this party to go and strike us.
The French have a great influence over these Indians, and never fail in telling them many lies to the prejudice of his ma- jesty's interest, by making the English nation odions and hateful to them. I had the greatest difficulties in removing these preju- dices. As these Indians are a weak, foolish, and credulous peo- ple, they are easily imposed on by a designing people, who have led them hitherto as they pleased. The French told them that as the southern Indians had for two years past made war on them, it must have been at the instigation of the English, who are a bad people. However I have been fortunate enough to remove their prejudice, and, in a great measure, their suspicions against the English. The country hereabouts is exceedingly pleasant, being open and clear for many miles; the soil very rich and well wa- tered; all plants have a quick vegetation, and the climate very temperate through the winter. This post has always been a very considerable trading place. The great plenty of furs taken in this country, induced the French to establish this post, which was the first on the Ouabache, and by a very advantageous trade they have been richly recompensed for their labor.
On the south side of the Ouabache runs a big bank, in which are several fine coal mines, and behind this bank, is a very large meadow, clear for several miles. It is surprising what false infor- mation we have had respecting this country: some mention these spacious and beautiful meadows as large and barren savannahs. I apprehend it has been the artifice of the French to keep us igno- rant of the country. These meadows bear fine wild grass, and wild hemp ten or twelve feet high, which, if properly manufac- tured, would prove as good, and answer all the purposes of the hemp we cultivate.
July 25th. We set out from this place (after settling all mat- ters happily with the natives) for the Miames, and traveled the whole way through a fine rich bottom, overgrown with wild hemp, alongside the Ouahache, till we came to Eel River, where we arrived the 27th. About six miles up this river is a small village of the Twightwee, situated on a very delightful spot of ground on the bank of the river. The Eel River heads near St. Joseph's, and runs nearly parallel to the Miames, and at some few miles distance from it, through a fine, pleasant country, and after a course of about one hundred and eighty miles empties itself into the Quabache.
28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. We traveled still along side the Eel River, passing through bine clear woods, and some good mea- dows, though not so large as those we passed some days before. The country is more overgrown with woods, the soil is sufficiently rich, and well watered with springs.
August Ist. We arrived at the carrying place between the Ri- ver Miames and the Quabache, which is about nine miles long
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in dry seasons, but not above half that length in freshes. The head of the Quabache is about forty miles from this place, and after a course of about seven hundred and sixty miles from the head spring, through one of the finest countries in the world, it empties itself into the Ohio. The navigation from hence to Oui- catanon, is very difficult in low water, on account of many ra- pids and rifts; but in freshes, which generally happen in the spring and fall, batteaux or canoes will pass, without difficulty, from here to Quicatanon in three days, which is about two hun- dred and forty miles, and by land about two hundred and ten miles. From Ouicatanon to Port Vincent, and thence to the Ohio, batteaux and canoes may go at any season of the year. Through- out the whole course of the Quabache the banks are pretty high, and in the river are a great many islands. Many shrubs and trees are found here unknown to us.
Within a mile of the Twightwee village, I was met by the chiefs of that nation, who received us very kindly. The most part of these Indians knew me, and conducted me to their village, where they immediately hoisted an English flag that I had for- merly given them at Fort Pitt. The next day they held a coun- cil, after which they gave me up all the English prisoners they had, then made several speeches, in all which they expressed the great pleasure it gave them, to see the unhappy differences which embroiled the several nations in a war with their brethren, the English, were now so near a happy conclusion, and that peace was established in their country.
The Twightwee village is situated on both sides of a river, called St. Joseph. This river, where it falls into the Miame river, about a quarter of a mile from this place, is one hundred yards wide, on the east side of which stands a stockade fort, somewhat ruinous.
The Indian village consists of about forty or fifty cabins, be- sides nine or ten French houses, a runaway colony from Detroit, during the late Indian war; they were concerned in it, and being afraid of punishment, came to this post, where ever since they have spirited up the Indians against the English All the French residing here are a lazy, indolent people, fond of breeding mis- chief, and spiriting up the Indians against the English, and should by no means be suffered to remain here. The country is pleas- ant, the soil rich and well watered. After several conferences with these Indians, and their delivering me up all the English prisoners they had, ---
On the 6th of August we set out for Detroit, down the Miames river in a canoe. This river heads about ten miles from hence. The river is not navigable till you come to the place where the river St. Joseph joins it, and makes a considerably large stream. nevertheless we found a great deal of difficulty in getting our canoe over shoals, as the waters at this season were very low. The banks of the river are high, and the country overgrown with lofty timber of various kinds; the land is level, and the woods clear. About ninety miles from the Miames or Twigh-
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APPENDIX.
twee, we came to where a large river, that heads in a large lick, falls into the Miame river; this they call the Forks. The Ottawas claim this country, and hunt here, where game is very plenty. From hence we proceeded to the Ottawa village. This nation formerly lived at Detroit, but is now settled here, on accout of the richness of the country, where game is always to be found in plenty. Here we were obliged to get out of our canoes, and drag them eighteen miles, on account of the rifts which inter- rupt the navigation. At the end of these rifts, we came to a village of the Wyondotts, who received us very kindly and from thence we proceeded to the mouth of this river, where it falls into lake Erie. From the Miames to the lake is computed one hundred and eighty miles, and from the entrance of the river into the lake to Detroit, is sixty miles; that is, forty-two miles upon the lake, and eighteen miles up the Detroit river to the garrison of that name. The land on the lake side is low and flat. We passed several large rivers and bays, and on the 16th of August, in the afternoon, we arrived at Detroit river. The country here is much higher than on the lake side; the river is about nine hundred yards wide, and the current runs very strong. There are several fine and large islands in this ri- ver, one of which is nine miles long; its banks high, and the soil very good.
17th. In the morning we arrived at the fort, which is a large stockade, inclosing about eighty houses, it stands close on the north side of the river, on a high bank, commands a very plea- sant prospect for nine miles above, and nine miles below the fort; the country is thick settled with French, their plantations are generally laid out about three or four acres in breadth on the river, and eighty acres in depth; the soil is good, producing plenty of grain. All the people here are generally poor wretches, and consist of three or four hundred French families, a lazy, idle people, depending chiefly on the savages for their subsistence; though the land, with little labor, produces plenty of grain, they scarcely raise as much as will supply their wants, in imitation of the Indians, whose manners and customs they have entirely adopted, and cannot subsist without them. The men, women, and children speak the Indian tongue perfectly well. In the last Indian war the most part of the French were concerned in it, (although the whole settlement had taken the oath of alle- giance to his Britannic Majesty) they have, therefore, great rea- son to be thankful to the English clemency in not bringing them to deserved punishment. Before the late Indian war there resi- ded three nations of Indians at this place: the Putawatimes, whose village was on the west side of the river, about one nule below the fort; the Ottawas, on the east side, about three miles above the Fort; and the Wyondotts, whose village lays on the east side, about two miles below the fort. The former two na- tions have removed to a considerable distance, and the latter still remain where they were, and are remarkable for their good sense and hospitality. They have a particular attachment to the
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APPENDIX.
Roman Catholic religion, the French, by their priests, having ta- ken uncommon pains to instruct them.
During my stay here, I held frequent conferences with the dif- ferent nations of Indians assembled at this place, with whom I settled matters to their general satisfaction.
September 26th. Set out from Detroit for Niagara; passed Lake Erie along the north shore in a birch canoe, and arrived the 8th of October at Niagara. The navigation of the lake is dangerous for batteaux or canoes, by reason the lake is very shallow for a considerable distance from the shore. The bank, for several miles, high and steep, and affords a harbor for a single batteaux. The lands in general, between Detroit and Niagara, are high, and the soil good, with several fine rivers falling into the lake. The distance from Detroit to Niagara is computed three hundred miles.
A List of the different Nations and Tribes of Indians in the Northern District of North America, with the number of their fighting Men.
Names of the Trites. Nus.
Their Dwelling Ground.
| The'r Hunting Grounds.
Mohocks, a
160
Mohoch River.
Between thatand Lake George.
Oneidas, b
300
East side of Onedia Lake, & on In the country the head waters of the east where theylive. branch of Susquehannah. Between the Oneidas and Onan- dagoes.
Between Oneida Lake & Lake Ontario.
Onandagoes, b --
260
Near the Onandago Lake.
BetweenOnanda- go L. & mouth of Seneca Riv- er,nearOswego Where they re- side.
Cayugas, b
200
On two small Lakes, called the Cayugas, on the north branch of Susquehannah.
Senecas, b
1000
Seneca Country, on the waters of Susquehannab, the waters of Lake Ontario, and on the heads of Onio River.
Their chief hun- ting country thereabouts.
Aughquagas, c 150
East branch of Susquehannah River, and on Augnquaga. Utsanango, Cnaghinett, Oswe- go, and on the east branch of Susquehannah.
Where they live.
Nanticokes, c 100)
Do.
Mohickons, c 100
Conoys, c - 30
Monsays, c 150) Sapoones, 30%
At Diahogo, and other villages up the north branch of Sus- quehannah.
Do.
Delawares,
150)
Delawares, d 600
Between the Ohio & Lake Erie, on the brch's of Beaver Cr'k, Muskingum and Guyehugo. OnScioto &: brch of Muskingum. In Villages near Sandusky.
Do.
Shawnesse, d 300
Do
Mohickone, d 300
On the head banks of Scioto.
Coghnawages, d
a These are the oldest Tribe of the Confederacy of the Six Nations.
b Connected with New York, part of the Confederacy with New York.
c Connectedwith, and depending on the Five Nations.
d Dependent on the Six nations, and connected with Pennsylvania.
Tuscaroras, b
200
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APPENDIX.
Names of the Trides. Nos.
Their Thedling Ground.
They Hunting Grounds.
'T'wightwees, e
250
Wayoughtanies, f
300
Pyankeshas, f -
300
Shockays. f
200%
Huskhuskeys, g 300
Illinois, g
300$
Wayondotts, h
250
Otrawas, h
100
Putawatimes, h
150
Chipawas i
Ottawas,
200
Chippawas, j 400}
Ottawas, j 260
Chipawas,* k
400
Chepawas, k
Mynonamies, 1: 550
Shockeys, k
Putawatimes, k 150}
Ottawas, k 150$
Kicapoos, l
Outtagamies, ¿
Musquatans, l
1000
Miscotins, l
Outtamacks, l
Musquaykeys, l
Oswegatches, h
100
Connesedagoes, k } 300
Coghnewagoes, k 5
Orondocks, k
100
Settled near Trois Rivers.
Abonakies, k
150
Alagonkins, k
100!
La Suil, +
10,000|South-west of Lake Superior.
e Connected with Pennsylvania,
f Connected with the 'Twightwees.
g These two Nations the English had never any trade, or connection with.
h Connected formerly with the French.
¿ Connected with the Indians about Detroit, and dependent on the comman- ding officer.
j Always connected with the French.
k Connected with the French.
I Never connected in any trade or otherwise with the English.
* There are several villages of Chipawas settled along the bank of Lake Supe- rior, but as I have no knowledge of this country, cannot ascertain their numbers.
t These are a nation of Indians settled south-west of Lake Superior, called by the French La, Sue, who, by the best account that I could ever get from the French and Indians, are computed ten thousand fighting men. They spread over a large tract of country, and have forty odd vinages; in which country ate se- veral other tribes of Indians, who are tributaries to the La Sues, none of whom except a very few, have ever known the use of fire-arms : as yet but two villages. I suppose the French don't choose to risk a trade among such a powerful body of people, at so vast a distance.
Near the French settlements, in the Illinois Country.
About Lake Erie.
Year Fort Detroit.
On Saganna Creek, which emp-|Thereabouts. ties into Lake Huron. Near Michilimachinac.
On the north side of LakeHuron.
Near the entrance of Lake Su- Thereabouts. perior, and not far from Fort St. Mary's.
Near Fort Labay on the Lake Thereabouts. Michigan.
Near Fort St. Joseph's.
Thereabouts.
On lake Michigan and between it and the Mississippi.
Where they re- spectively re- side.
Settled at Swagatchy in Canada, Thereabouts. on the river St. Lawrence.
Near Montreal.
Miame River, near Fort Miame, On the ground where theylive. On the branches of Ouabache, near Fort Ouitanon. Between Outanon & the Miames.
378
APPENDIX.
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX.
It is due to the Hon. Richard M. Johnson, to acknowledge my obligations to his liberal spirit, (so constantly experienced by his fellow citizens,) in obtaining the following copy of this inte- resting treaty from the library of the Congress of the United States. No copy is believed to exist in the archives of any of the States, from the abortive enquiries of the Washington admi- nistration. It has therefore been thought best, to publish the treaty entire; and to prefix the preliminary matter, as explana- tory of its history.
It is the corner stone of the political relations between the citizens of the United States immediately south of the Ohio river, and the Indians. It has been objected to the cession made by this treaty, that the Six Nations who constitute one of the par- ties to the treaty, have, by it, ceded the hunting grounds of tribes quite removed from themselves. To this objection of a curious and able enquirer* into western history, in all its rela- tions, two answers are suggested to the mind of the author.
1. That some of the tribes conterminous to the ceded territory did appear at this treaty, which was so numerously attended by the Indians, and made no objection to its cessions. These were the Shawanees and Delawares; who are called in the treaty, "dependent tribes" of the Six Nations. The circumstance of no protest from these Indians, particularly from so distinguished a chief as Killbuck, gives strong confirmation to the claim of the Six Nations. 2. By the uniform tenor of the colonial autho- rities, both French and English, the dominion and paramount authority of the Six Nations is extended to the Mississippi and the Illinois. Such is the bearing of the authorities quoted in the text.
Still the subject is not without its difficulties. General Harri- son well remarks, how difficult, not to say impracticable, it was for the Six Nations to have stretched their authority over the numerous and ferocious tribes of the Miami confederacy. These, in recent times, covered the banks of the northwestern streams with their villages; nor could they have been overcome by the ordinary military means of hunting tribes, and still left in their native seats. Had they have been assailed succes- sively, as the Illinois tribes were by the Sauks or Saukies, they could have been either extirpated or removed. Neither con- dition was that of the Miamis; although one of their tribes, the Wyandots, was driven by the Senecas of the northern confede- racy to shelter themselves in the country of Lake Michigan.
Pastoral, or agricultural resources are alone competent to support such wide spread dominions, as those assigned to the Six Nations, by the colonial authorities. Nor is it perfectly cer- tain that the colonists may not have been deceived by the claims
. Dr. D. Drake, in a "Discourse before the Cincinnati Lyceum, December the 96th, 1832, being the forty fourth anniversary of the settlement of the town."
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APPENDIX.
of these tribes. Yet Sir William Johnson was a veteran Indian diplomatist, and Colonel Croghan, his deputy agent, who was present at the treaty, had descended the Ohio river, and had personal communications with the Miami and Illinois tribes, as early as 1765,* three years before the treaty in question. The course of the Ohio river, (though in a curious old mapt in the possession of General Harrison, that river is represented as run- ning into Lake Erie,) is with tolerable accuracy delineated in Colden's History of the Five Nations. Were these gentlemen likely to be imposed upon? Is not the silence of any protesting tribe, or individual, in so numerous, so public and amicable an assemblage of the natives, expressive evidence? Which, then, is the more probable hypothesis; that of our western philosophical critic, that both the Indians and the white people thought them- selves contending for their rights, while each was ignorant of the colorable title of the other! or, that the cession of the Six Nations was a valid cession in moral, as well as political law, and agree- able to the most solemn and ancient usages, which had imme- morially regulated the intercourse between the aborigines and the Europeans, with their descendants! The latter opinion strikes the author as the least refined, and most accordant with the probabilities of the circumstances. Still there are other treaty rights acquired by the British crown, and consequently transferred to the United States as its successors, which are mentioned in the text, independent of the treaties which have since been dictated, under the influence of the American arms. It must likewise be remarked, that at the treaty of 1785, at Fort M'Intosh, the Wyandots, Delawares, Chippewas and Ottawas were parties; and that at the treaty of Fort larmar, at the mouth of Muskingum, in 1789, the above tribes, and the Puttawatamies or Pottawatamies, and Sacs, were parties.# These tribes, all bordering on Kentucky, and some of them allies, and others members of the Miami or western confederacy, relinquished their territorial claims south of the Ohio river, and east, succes- sively, of the Big Miami, and of the Little Kentucky.
AUTHOR.
TREATY OF FORT STANWIX, 1768.
From the Virginia Gazelle, of December 1st, 1768.
.
"NEW YORK, November 27th, 1768.
"His Excellency, William Franklin, Esq., Governor of New Jersey, the Hon. Frederick Smyth, Esq., Chief Justice of New Jersey, Thomas Walker, Esq .. Commissioner from Virginia, and the Rev. Mr. Peters and James Tilghman, Esq., of the Council of Pennsylvania, with several other gentlemen, returned here a
* Soe first article in this Appendix.
[ Published by Corrington Bowles, St. Paul's Churchvard. London
¿ Land Laws of the United States, p. 118.
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APPENDIX.
few days ago from Fort Stanwix, where they have been atten- ding the Congress held by Sir William Johnson, Baronet, with the Six United Indians and their tributaries.
"We hear that about three thousand two hundred Indians from the different tribes of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagoes, Senecas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Coghnowagos, Onoghiguagos, Tutulos, Shawanese, Delawares, Mingoes of Ohio, Nantichokes, Conoys, Chughnuts, Schoras, and Orifcas, met Sir William at Fort Stanwix, on the very important business recommended by the King's ministers; and we have now the pleasure of assuring our readers that by his unwearied application, address, and extraordinary influence, (which never appeared more conspicu- ous than on this occasion,) the Six Nations and all their tributaries have granted a vast extent of country to his majesty, and to the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, and settled an advantageous boundary line between their hunting country and this, and the other colonies to the southward as far as the Cherokee river, for which they received the most valuable present in goods and dollars that was ever given at any conference since the settle- ment of America. An uncommon sobriety and good humor pre- vailed through all the numerous Indian camps for above seven weeks, and the sachems and warriors departed from the Congress in a very happy disposition of mind, from a firm persuasion that his majesty will gratify them in their just and reasonable expecta- tions. It is therefore earnestly to be hoped that this grand cession and boundary will be rightly improved, as they will undoubtedly secure the future tranquillity of these colonies, and be productive of lasting commercial advantages to them and Great Britain."
Extracts from "Plain Facts: (pp. 66 to 96;) being an Exami- nation into the Rights of the Indian Nations of America, to their respective Countries; and a Vindication of the Grant, from the Six United Nations of Indians, to the Proprietors of Indiana, against the Decision of the Legislature of Virginia; together with Authentic Documents, proving that the Territory, westward of the Allegany Mountain, never belonged to Virginia, &c. Phila- delphia, printed and sold by R. Aitken, 1781."
On the 19th of January, 1708, the Speaker of the Assembly. and the Committee of Correspondence of Pennsylvania wrote, by order of the House, to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, Esqs., Agents for the province. at the Court of Great Britain, "That the non-establishment of a boundary negotiated about three years ago, by his majesty's orders to Sir Win. Johnson, between these colonies and the Indian country, is the cause of Indian jealousy and dissatisfaction; the delay of the confirmation of the boundary, the natives have warmly complained of, and although they have received no consideration for the lands agreed to be ceded to the crown, on our side of the boundary. yet that its subjects are daily settling and occupying these very lands."
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