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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02290 8245
Gc 977 SL50 Slocum, Charles Elihu, 1841- 1915. The Ohio country between the Vers 1783 and 1815
The Ohio Country
Between the Years 1783 and 1815
Including Military Operations that Twice Saved to the United States the Country West of the Alleghany Mountains after the Revolutionary War
By Charles Elihu Slocum M.D., Ph.D., LL.D. Member of Local, Ohio State, and American Historical Associations
The War of 1775-1783 between the United Colo- nies and Great Britain, was Revolutionary ; The War of 1812-1814 between the United States and Great Britain, was the War of Independence
G. P. Putnam's Sons New York and London The knickerbocker press 1910
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
COPYRIGHT, 1910 BY CHARLES ELIHU SLOCUM
The Knickerbocker Press, new York
To The MEMORY OF THE PIONEERS OF THE OHIO COUNTRY THE OLD NORTHWESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
PREFACE
T "HE early and most trying times in the history of the Old Northwestern Territory, and of its great neighbor, the Southwestern Territory, divided only in a physical sense by the Ohio River, is a subject that should ever be of interest, and of value to everyone, of every land, especially as a study in patriotic endurance.
The story presents people strong in brain and in brawn, descendants of Anglo-Saxon and of Celtic stocks, the ancestors of most of whom had been several generations in America, having origi- nally settled here one hundred and fifty years be- fore; a people who loved their new homes in the forest country as well as the homes of their nativ- ity in the Colonies along the Atlantic shore, now separated from their early habitat by several hun- dred miles, and by mountains hard to traverse.
This isolated people were often made to feel that they and their new country were forgotten by the legislators and others in authority in the
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regions whence they came; and during many years their struggles were not alone for subsistence, but for the protection of themselves and their chil- dren from prowling Savages, who were seeking their scalps and lives, or to drive them from their adopted country.
In preparing this book the writer has had in mind the general reader who wants a direct ac- count of the subject about which he desires to read, with enough of detail for supplementation, when such detail is obtainable.
Such readers have generally noticed that his- tories of the United States, even the largest ones, when mentioning this extensive and invaluable region at all, give a very scant account of the dangers which would have attended its loss to the American Union, or of the military operations that twice, at least, saved it to, and maintained it in, the Union.
In writing it is easier, for several reasons, to generalize than to focus one's attention on the detail that shows the animating principle, or want of principle, that influenced the lives, thoughts, acts, and accomplishments of the people. This statement may explain how it is that many write so much and yet impart so little of practical information.
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The character of the sufferings of Americans, before the Revolutionary War and for thirty years after, in this trans-Allegheny region particu- larly, exacts strong language even in its mildest portrayal.
The tragic story here written has, however, a very pleasant conclusion for Americans. At its beginning, naught but dark clouds of selfishness and savagery hung low in the horizon, frequently bursting out into storms that caused great suf- fering and disaster, and that would have over- fatigued and driven from the country, never to return, the survivors, had they possessed less strong and self-reliant characters.
Disagreements among the Eastern Colonies, and later among the States into which these Colonies were transformed, occasionally foreboded evil to the union of the Ohio Country with the East and, at times, even foreboded disruption of the Union among the States themselves.
However, the War of 1812-1814 came, and ended, as a blessing to both the East and the West, in that it consolidated, and cemented, the States and Territories into a nation with not only valuable experiences, but with heightened and reciprocated regard for one another in- stilled into the component parts, and with
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greater forbearance, improved ideals and powers among all.
True civilization receives impetus from the les- sons of the past. History should be truthfully and fully written, even though its pages record horrible deeds.
The habitual use of intoxicating beverages was a strong factor in much of the savagery recorded in the following pages, as well as being the cause of the inefficiency of several Americans in author- ity during this time, of the older military com- manders particularly.
By reading, and keeping in mind, an authentic account of the trials and sufferings of the early settlers in gaining and maintaining liberty from oppression and savagery, people are more likely to appreciate liberty gained in this way, and to remain more intent upon its preservation.
CHARLES E. SLOCUM.
TOLEDO, OHIO.
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
I
The Settling of the British and French in America -Their Inebriation of the Aborigines-Made them Savages Indeed-Habitual Contention for Ascendancy-Success of the British with the Savages, and against the French-Use of Sav- ages against Colonists during Revolutionary War by the British the same as against the French in Previous Years.
CHAPTER II
BRITISH DIRECT NON-OBSERVANCE OF TREATY OF PARIS, AND THEN SIGN THE TREATY
I8
The First Years Following the Revolutionary War -The First Northwestern Boundary Line-The Aborigines Willing to be Friends of the United States-Causes of their Alliance with the British-The British Continue to Hold Military Posts in Opposition to Treaty-Large Amount of American Property Purloined by the British.
CHAPTER III
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEST CHECKED BY BRITISH INFLUENCES.
33
Aborigine Claims to Land Based on Conquest, which Claims the Savages and the British were
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01777
Jane 8, 1910
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Contents
PAGE
Not Willing to Accede to the United States, their Conqueror-Treaties with Aborigines- Reservations-Cession to United States of Western Claims by States-Civil Organizations -Surveys for Settlements-Ohio Land Com- panies-Fort Finney Built-Continued Control of Aborigines by British-Expeditions against Savage Marauders-Desire in the West for Independence from the United States-Unau- thorized Retaliations on Spaniards Allayed.
CHAPTER IV
CONTINUED NEFARIOUS WORK WITH THE SAVAGES
42
Activities of the British against the United States-Their Main Fort in American Territory Strengthened-Benedict Arnold with them- Organization of the Territory Northwest of the Ohio River-Increase in Population-Other Civil Organizations-More Systematic Efforts to Check British Influence with American Aborigines-Forts Built-Reports of the exten- sive Savage Work Done by the Aborigines- Cannibalism.
CHAPTER V
FURTHER CULMINATION OF THE INEFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS .
Statement of the Conditions by Jurist from Per- sonal Observations-Necessity for Relieving the Long-continued and Severe Sufferings- Kentucky Territory Organized-Other Civil Organizations-General Harmar's Expedition against Hostile Savages at Head of Maumee River-His Army Twice Defeated by them- Their Celebration of Victory at Detroit with
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PAGE
their British Allies-Panic along Frontier-The Weak, Inefficient American Conduct of Affairs Reviewed.
CHAPTER VI
OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE ENEMY 62
More Troops Gathered for Defence-Messenger Sent to the Senecas for Peace Agents-British Opposition-Expedition against Hostile Sav- ages Successful-Army Gathered for Decisive Blow to the Marauding Savages-Commanded by General, and Governor, St. Clair, it Meets Overwhelming Defeat-Women with the Army.
CHAPTER VII
FURTHER NEFARIOUS WORK CULMINATING 78
Great Efforts of British Allies-Distress of Frontier Settlements-British Fear Loss of Fur Trade- Advance of Civil Jurisdiction-General Wayne Chosen to Lead Another Army against the Hostiles-Further Treaties with the Aborigines -Secret Efforts to Learn Status of the British- Largest Council of Savages for British Confed- eration-Kentucky Admitted as a State-Forts Built by Americans-Commissioners Appointed to Attend the Great Council-Their Object Defeated by the British-Specific Charges of Fraud and Force by British Presented to the British Minister.
CHAPTER VIII
RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE MARCHES ON AGAINST GREAT OPPOSITION . 95
Advance of General Wayne's Army-Opposed by the Enemy-Builds Forts Greenville and
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Recovery-Cause of British Aggressiveness yet More Apparent-Other Enemies of the United States-Separation of the Ohio Country from the United States again Suggested-British Build Two Additional Forts within United States Territory-Protests of the United States of No Avail-British and their Savage Allies Attack Fort Recovery and Are Repulsed- Further Account of Great Britain's Guiding Hand.
CHAPTER IX
WAYNE'S ARMY DEFEATS A HYDRA OF CON- SPIRACIES
Further Advance of Wayne's Army-A Most Momentous Campaign-Builds Forts Adams and Defiance-The Enemy Flees-Wayne's Last Overture for Peace-The Army Nears the Enemy-Builds Fort Deposit, and Advances to Complete Victory-Buildings and Crops of British and their Allies Destroyed-Wayne's Emphatic Letters to the Commandant of Fort Miami-The Casualties-Army Returns and Strengthens Fort Defiance-The Red Savages -British Strengthen their Forts in United States Territory.
CHAPTER X
THE TAMING OF THE BROKEN SAVAGE SPIRIT . I2I
Wayne Marches his Army to the Site of the Miami Villages-There Builds Fort Wayne-Receives and Makes Valuable Friends of Deserters from the British-Disaffection of Kentucky Volun- teers-They are Sent Home-Savage Scouts Active at Fort Defiance-Wayne's Suggestion of General Council with Aborigines Meets Favor.
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CHAPTER XI
PAGE
THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL TREATIES WITH THE SAVAGES
I3I
Discipline in the Army-Wayne's Diplomacy in Winning the Savages to Peace-His Agents in the Work-Exchange of Prisoners-The Treaty of Greenville, August 3, 1795-Number of Tribes in the Agreement.
CHAPTER XII
THE WEST GAINS POSSESSION OF PART OF ITS RIGHTS
I44
Treaty with Spain Favorable to the West-Aban- donment of Forts-British again Endeavor to Seduce the Aborigines of the United States- The Jay Treaty Favorable to the West-British Surrender American Forts-Death of Gene- ral Wayne-Wayne County Organized-More French and Spanish Plots-Separation of the West from the East again Suggested-British Threaten Spanish Possessions in the South.
CHAPTER XIII
ADVANCEMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, AND EX- TENSION OF THE WEST
Mississippi Territory Organized-General Wash- ington again at the Head of the Federal Army -Spanish Surrender their Forts in United States Territory-First Legislature of North- western Territory Convenes-Indiana Territory Organized-Public Lands-Connecticut Cedes her Claims to the United States-Religious Missionaries- Population-Continued British Usurpations-Evidences of the Rising Power of the United States-Treaty with France-
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PAGE
Louisiana Territory Purchased-Development of Communication-Military Posts-Ohio Ad- mitted as a State-The Aborigines-Additional Treaties with them-Fort Industry Built- Michigan Territory Organized-Aaron Burr's Last Scheme.
CHAPTER XIV
CONSPIRACY OF THE BRITISH, TECUMSEH, AND THE PROPHET
167
Further Treaties with, and Payments to, the Aborigines-The British Continue Meddlesome -Reservations-United States Settlers by the Lower Maumee River-Land for Highways Treated for-Illinois Territory Organized- Another British-Savage Trouble Gathering- Trading Posts for the Aborigines Established- Reports of Gathering Trouble from United States Military Posts-The British Continue to Trade Intoxicating Liquors to American Abo- rigines in Opposition to Law.
CHAPTER XV
RESULTS OF FURTHER REMISSNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT
18c
Regarding Trading Posts or Agencies-Conspir- acy of the British and Tecumseh Deepens- Reports from Military Posts-Battle of Tippe- canoe-Continued Organization and Depreda- tions by the Allied Enemies of the United States-Missouri Territory Organized-More Cannibalism by the Savages.
CHAPTER XVI
SAD BEGINNING OF THE WAR FOR INDEPEN-
DENCE
·
·
·
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Tardy Action of Congress-Declaration of War against Great Britain-This War of 1812 the
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Real War for Independence-The Army of the Northwest the First in the Field-Forts Mc- Arthur, Necessity, Findlay, and Miami Built- Sad Inefficiency of General Hull-He Orders the Abandonment of Fort Dearborn-Massacre and Cannibalism by British Allies-Hull Surren- ders Fort at Detroit without Effort for Defence -Brave and Patriotic Work by Captain Brush.
PAGE
CHAPTER XVII
SLOW PROGRESS IN PREPARING TO MEET THE ENEMY . · 204
Efforts to Repair Hull's Loss-General Harrison Appointed Commander-in-Chief-Siege of Fort Wayne Relieved-General Winchester Ap- pointed to Succeed Harrison without Cause.
CHAPTER XVIII
EXTREME SUFFERINGS OF KENTUCKY SOLDIERS General Winchester Assumes Command of the Army-Harrison Directs Clearing of Roads and Building of Forts Barbee, Jennings, and Amanda -Winchester Marches Army from Fort Wayne to Defiance-British Force Checked on their Way to Fort Wayne-Harrison Reappointed Chief in Command of Northwestern Army- Visits Winchester at Defiance and Settles Dis- cord-Plans Fort Winchester, which Was Built at Defiance-Extreme Sufferings of Winches- ter's Left Wing of the Army-Battle of Mis- sissinewa River.
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CHAPTER XIX
THE SECOND GREAT DISASTER OF THE WAR OF 1812 ·
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Advance of General Winchester's Army from De- fiance-Safe Arrival at Presque Isle below
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Roche de Bout-There Builds Fort Deposit- Unwise Advance of Army to the Raisin-Defeat and Massacre-Harrison Gathers a New Army and Takes Command-Fort Deposit Aban- doned-Fort Winchester again the Frontier Post-Fort Meigs Built-Efforts to Strike the Enemy Unavailing.
CHAPTER XX
A THIRD GREAT DISASTER IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR ·
233
The Northwestern Army Neglected by the General Government-General Harrison not Distracted by Unwise Advisers-Investment and Siege of Fort Meigs-Reinforcements for the Fort Diso- bey Orders-They Are Surrounded and Captured -Further Massacre and Cannibalism by British Allies-The Enemy Raises Siege and Retreats.
CHAPTER XXI
SECOND GREAT EFFORT OF THE ENEMY UNA- VAILING ·
244
The British Gather More Savage Allies-More Preparations by Americans for Advancing upon the Enemy-Celebration of Fourth of July by Soldiers in the Forest-The Enemy Becom- ing More Active-Fort Seneca Built to Retain Friendship of Aged Aborigines-Second Invest- ment of Fort Meigs by Increased Force-Scheme for its Capture Unavailing-Second Retreat of Enemy from Fort Meigs.
CHAPTER XXII
ANOTHER SIGNAL REPULSE OF THE ALLIED ENEMY · 256 .
British Surround and Attack Fort Stephenson- They are Brilliantly Repulsed by Captain Cro- ghan-They again Retreat to Fort Malden.
Contents
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PAGE
CHAPTER XXIII
THE ENTIRE FORCE OF THE BRITISH ON LAKE ERIE CAPTURED
262
Renewed Efforts for Squadron of Armed Vessels Successful-Oliver H. Perry Builder and Com- mander-His Difficulties-He Sails for the Ene- my-Communicates with Harrison-Meets and Captures All of the British Squadron-Perry's Despatches after the Battle-The Killed and Wounded-Description of Squadrons.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE AMERICANS SEEK THE BRITISH AT FORT MALDEN
275
Definite Preparations for the Invasion of Canada- Observance of the Day of Fasting and Prayer- A Sham Battle-Enthusiastic Enlisting in Ken- tucky for the Invasion-Aged Aborigine War- riors Join the Ranks-The Crossing of Lake Erie-Arrival at Fort Malden-Found De- serted and Fired by the Enemy.
CHAPTER XXV
THE BRITISH PURSUED AND CAPTURED AT THE THAMES
Pursuit of the British through Canada-Detroit Recovered by Americans, who Hasten to Com- plete Victory at the Thames-Aborigines Desert their Allies and Flock to the Americans-Gen- eral Cass Appointed Military and Civil Governor of Michigan Territory-Name of Detroit's Fort Changed to that of Shelby-Kentucky Troops Return Home by Way of the Raisin.
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PAGE
CHAPTER XXVI
THE OHIO COUNTRY FREE FROM THE SAVAGE ALLIANCE
Proctor's Request and Harrison's Reply-Harrison Goes to Reinforce Army of the Centre-Period of Quiet in the Ohio Country-General Harrison Resigns-Renewed Efforts for Defence and Ad- vance-Scarcity of Food and Money-Further Neglect by Eastern Authorities-Expeditions through Canada-Unfortunate Expedition to the North.
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CHAPTER XXVII
SUCCESS OF THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE ASSURED . . . 303
The Treaty of Ghent Closing the War of 1812-14 -Further Confirmation of American Claim of Notorious Methods by the British.
INDEX .
·
3II
The Ohio Country Between the Years 1783 and 1815
BASRACHUSETTS
The Ohio Country -
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The Settling of the British and French in America-Their Inebriation of the Aborigines-Made them Savages In- deed-Habitual Contention for Ascendancy-Success of the British with the Savages, and against the French- Use of Savages against Colonists during Revolutionary War by the British the Same as against the French in Previous Years.
P RENCHMEN, early in the seventeenth cen- tury, were the first Europeans to explore the American country about the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi River. The course of their travel at first, and for many years after, was up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, thence up the Ottawa River to Mattawa, thence along the out- let and through the Lakes Talon and Trout, thence by portage to Lake Nipissing, through it
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The Ohio Country
and down its outlet the French River into Georg- ian Bay, and thence southward and westward.
The British1 ranged along the Atlantic coast south of the St. Lawrence Gulf. They did not abandon their quarrels with the French on leaving England; in fact they added to the old, a new grievance against the French because of the lat- ter's settlement in the new country which the British claimed by "the right of discovery," though this discovery was only a part of the Atlantic shore line.
During the one hundred and fifty years following the coming of the French, quarrels and wars raged in America and elsewhere between these two peo- ples. Here the French had the advantage for sev- eral generations, owing to their early explorations, their maps, and their early free association with and amiable treatment of the Aborigines. Their first, and principal, association was with the Al- gonquins and the Huron (Wyandot) tribe, both of whom were often at war with the Iroquois of New York. The latter controlled the country south of the course of the French, and southward from Lake Erie and thence westward even to the
1 The term British is here used to designate the combined force of English, Irish, Scotch, and other Europeans who, at different times, acted with them.
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Introduction
Mississippi River. For a long time this condition had much to do with keeping the French to the northward.
The skins of fur-bearing animals were the prin- cipal gain derived by the French, first the coureurs des bois particularly; and they gratified in addi- tion their love of adventure and of free life among the Aborigines, which life the roaming French sought later to make free also from the taxes of the Church and the government. Instead of en- deavoring to elevate the Aborigines to their degree of civilization, many of them descended to the level of the Aborigines.
As for the Aborigines, the Frenchmen's brandy was to them a revelation. At first merely a pleas- ing and exhilarating beverage, this soon became a necessity in increasing quantity; a drink which, with them as with countless multitudes before and since, civilized according to their times and associations, was in their more sober moments considered the bane of their lives. It was a drink which held them in abject slavery and was ob- tained at any cost; for its use had developed in them a thirst for it that outvalued and overbal- anced every other consideration. The French- men in trading had also given them knives of steel to replace the clumsy, flint knives of native
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The Ohio Country
workmanship; also metal tomahawks, and, later, flint-lock muskets; with which weapons, when elated with the brandy, they felt more than equal to the French themselves. These weapons, with the brandy, made them Savages indeed; the fierc- est and most dangerous known to history.
The British, also, became strong competitors of the French; the government for the taxes and the traders for their profits in the fur trade among the Aborigines. At first they dealt with the Al- gonquins of New England and the Iroquois of New York. Then the Algonquins and the Huron (Wyandot) tribe of the West were invited, by agents, who distributed among them strong drink and gaudy presents, to visit the chief executive in New York. Nothing pleased the Aborigine chiefs more, while resting from war, than to jour- ney hundreds of miles for such a visit, as they were sure of being fed to satiety, and fully loaded with presents for the return; and the new bidder, there- fore, was given the preference in their estimation, for there was always a prospect of better terms with him than those received from the former dealer.
The impassive manners and "heavier drinks" of the Englishmen did not, in the estimation of the Aborigines, displace the more affable French-
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Introduction
men with their brandy until, by degrees, the British general government showed its power and its attractions, by its armies, by the new pro- ducts of its looms, and by the larger number and the improved versatility of its traders among the larger tribes. Not until the year 1760 did the British succeed the French government in America.
During all these many generations of intrigue and war between the British and French, the Aborigines and their descendants (all of whom will continue to be here designated Aborigines or Savages, the term "Indian " being an ancient mis- nomer that should not be perpetuated) were tu- tored in intrigue and savagery; and they were apt pupils in everything seen among their tutors that was worse than that to which they had been addicted.
For an untold number of generations the Sav- ages had been reared to war with other tribes, and it was inculcated in them that their highest am- bition should be to inflict the greatest injury pos- sible upon every individual and tribe they might think worth exploiting for any cause, or for no cause. The intoxicating beverages and modern weapons received from their new tutors made them good allies in the eyes of these tutors. The
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The Ohio Country
British and the French vied with each other in bidding intoxicating beverages, weapons, and other things desired by them, each for the purpose of winning the trade and the warrior support of the Savages against the other.
The French sent missionaries and traders among the Iroquois; but with great effort the British succeeded in retaining most of the trade of these "Six Nations" and their good will. Had the French succeeded in their efforts with this strong confederacy, the final result of their contention with the British would have been delayed, if not altogether different.
In the year 1747, the British succeeded in caus- ing a conspiracy of Chief Nicholas and the Hurons (Wyandots) against the French; but the latter soon regained the friendship of this strong tribe.
Scalps of both British and French, taken by the Savages, were purchased by both respectively; a most inhuman bidding for the lives of each other that reacted disastrously upon both. For a time the Savages could get scalps either way they roamed; and at times neither purchaser could feel sure he was not buying scalps taken from his own countrymen.
The Savages, themselves as low in the scale of humanity as it seemed possible to descend, were
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Introduction
often cloyed, wearied to satiety, by the unceasing intrigue and bloodshed between the Europeans, which had been going on in America for fully five generations.
But the British have ever been noted for their persistency as well as for their aggressiveness, and the final victory over the French in America was theirs in the year 1760, in which year the French forts at Detroit and elsewhere were peacefully surrendered to them.
The troubles of the British with the western tribes of Savages, however, did not end with the acquisition of the fort at Detroit, and the fort at the head of the Maumee River; which forts had been the centres of many merry entertainments of the Savages, and had witnessed the equipping of war parties by the French against the British. The Savages had not yet witnessed enough of the power and resources of the British to fully understand why they should not continue with the French, or set up war against the British themselves.
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