USA > Ohio > History of the state of Ohio > Part 32
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11) Craig's Olden Time, vol. ii, p. 431.
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distinguished himself in the war of the Revolution, enjoyed in a high degree the confidence of Washington, and sealed his devotion to the country, by the sacrifice of his life on the bloody field of St. Clair's defeat. Having borne a part in the negotiations which resulted in the treaties of Forts Stan- wix and McIntosh, he left his residence in Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, on the 9th of September, 1785, on a service in all respects more arduous and uncertain. General Butler was accompanied until the 11th of October, and as far as Lime- stone, now Maysville, on the Ohio River, by Colonel James Monroc, then a member of Congress from Virginia, and after- wards President of the United States.
On the 27th of September, Butler caused three boats to be loaded with goods for the treaty, and one large scow with provisions for the troops that were to join him at Fort McIn- tosh, and started for the mouth of Beaver-the site of that post-where he arrived next day. Here he found the de- tachment in readiness (its strength is not mentioned), and before again embarking, prepared and left a paper with Col. Harmar, the commandant, in which the opinion was expressed that the " mouth of the Muskingum would be a proper place for a post to cover the frontier inhabitants, prevent intruding settlers on the lands of the United States, and secure the surveyors." At the west line of Pennsylvania, then being run by David Rittenhouse and his assistants, the party met Thomas Hutchins, the geographer of the United States, and a corps of surveyors. " They had made a beginning," says Butler, "at right angles on the Pennsylvania line at the post set up by Mr. Rittenhouse, and had gone on westward six miles, the breadth of one range of townships, on which Capt. Martain begins to-morrow (October 1,) having won it by lots : the other gentlemen will follow in rotation, and some
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are very anxious to get to business. The gentlemen were very polite and seemed happy to see us. Capt. Hutchins had a very good dinner ready, which we partook of with great pleasure, as it was with a set of gentlemen who are the first at work on a fund which will eventually, and I think in a short time, extinguish the debt of the United States, and fix a permanent prosperity on legal right, for millions of people."
There was some discord among the gentlemen of this sur- veying party, as afterwards transpired in their private inter- views with Butler, which the latter labored to assuage. He also found Captain Hutchins apprehensive of the safety of his company, unless the Indian chiefs should personally assure him of their good will.
From Yellow Creek to Cross Creeks-the present front of Jefferson county on the Ohio River-Butler was often ashore to warn off settlers upon the right bank of the Ohio. He notified them that " Congress was determined to put all the people off the lands, and that none would be allowed to settle but the legal purchasers, and that these, and these only, would be protected : that troops would be down next week, who had orders to destroy every house and improvement on the north side of the river, and that garrisons would be placed at Mus- kingum and other places, and that if any person or persons attempted to oppose Government, they might depend on being treated with the greatest rigor." Certainly a short method with squatters.
Wheeling, in 1785, is thus noticed : "This is a fine set- tlement, and belongs to one Zane; an Island which is oppo- site the mouth of Wheeling Creek, containing about 400 acres of most excellent land, and is a situation not only of great profit, but real beauty. He says he sells to amount of £300 per annum of the produce of his farm for cash, exclusive of
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the other advantages by traffic. He is an intelligent man, but seems either timid through real doubt or affects it through design."
General Butler visited and describes the antiquities at Grave Creek. "The Grave is an extraordinary pile of human bones covered with earth. It is about sixty feet perpendicular high, and about one hundred eighty feet in diameter at the base ; a conical figure, with large trees on its sides and top, where is one of three feet in diameter. Supposing the annual growth one-tenth of an inch, it is one hundred and eighty years old ; how long its sides were naked may be supposed fifty years, as these kinds of mounds do not produce trees so soon as the land which is on a level with the country round. There are two small forts, which, with the Grave, form a triangle. Near one of these forts are three large holes, which appear to have been places of deposit for provis- ions. About one-fourth of a mile from these, forming an angle of about twenty-five degrees, is a large fort which the owner of the land has begun to plow up, where they find pieces of earthen kettles, arrow points and stone tomahawks, all marks of savage antiquity."
From Muskingum (where a letter, recommending the site of the fort at a point on the Ohio side, was " left fixed to a locust trec") to the mouth of the Great Kenawha, the jour- nal, beyond the ordinary incidents of a voyage, dwells upon the beauty and fertility of the bottoms, and the abundance of wild game, pouncing occasionally upon a luckless squatter. On reaching the Great Kenawha, Gen. Butler digresses into a town-lot speculation. It was a common impression then, that by the James River or Potomac, and the Kenawha, the Muskingum or the Cuyahoga, the great commercial avenue between the lakes and tidewater would be established, and
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the confluence of the Kenawha and Ohio, seemed clearly in- dicated as the site of a flourishing city. Here Butler met " young Col. Lewis, a most sensible young gentleman, very interesting and communicative." They dined together-Col. Lewis being " treated with attention, who received it very politely. I inquired," Butler continues, "if they did not intend to lay out a town at the point [Point Pleasant, proba- bly] : he told me it was laid out and the lots generally sold, but if I wanted a lot, or more, I might still be supplied, as many of the lots were forfeited. I told him I would pur- chase, on which we went to look over the ground ; and he took me up the Ohio bank to a fine dry lot which fronts the street on the river Ohio, a street that runs at right angles from the river and the main street, or first parallel street with the Ohio, which gives it three fronts, being west, north, and east. This I agreed for." Butler also purchased a lot fronting on the Kenawha. The prices were " ten pounds for front lots on each river, five pounds the first back lots, and four pounds the further back."
As the voyage continued, the enthusiasm of the journalist becomes irrepressible. "This delightful country," he writes on the 13th of October, "involuntarily draws from my pen praises : it is fine, it is rich, and only wants the cultivating hand of man to render it the joyous seat of happy thousands. Here are the wild animals provided for the assistance of the first settlers. Here are the finest and most excellent sites for farms, cities and towns. This seems provided as a reward for the adventurous and industrious, by the Divine hand, whose good providence appears in all his works. Here we have nothing to do but spring from our boats among flocks of turkeys, kill as we please, for sport or gust; the bear growls in your hearing, and the deer, timid by nature,
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bounds along before your eye; in short, there is no end to the beauty and plenty. I have just stepped from my boat and killed, at one shot, two fine turkeys ; and our whole party feasts on fine venison, bear meat, turkeys and cat-fish, procured by themselves, at pleasure."
Passing a river below Guyandot, which is the most south- erly point between Fort Pitt and sixty miles below the Great Miami, Butler called it South River, and then adds : "Near the mouth of Big Sandy, Mr. Zane (Isaac Zane, who had accompanied the party from Wheeling) killed a fine buffalo."
The following description evidently refers to the vicinity of Ironton, Lawrence county : " About ten miles below Big Sandy Creek, is a hill on the north side with fine trees on it : there also a body of rocks appears with a southeast front, below which, about five miles, opposite to a large sand bar on the south side of the river, is an old Indian town and grave, where we encamped. It is a body of as fine land as I have seen, and well worthy attention ; indeed, there are on both sides of the river fine lands : here Mr. Zane killed three buffalo, one of which seems to be a real curiosity for size. Several of the gentlemen went to see it, viz : Lieut. Smith, Lieut. Doyle and Mr. Peebles ; they brought with them the head and one of the shoulders, with the whole leg to it. The head weighed one hundred and twenty-nine pounds, and the tongue six-total, one hundred and thirty-five pounds. The head was cut off as close as possible, or at the large joint, so that the neck was but a small addition to the weight. The leg and shoulder, when set upright, was as high as my head, which is five feet eight and a half inches : this, when on the body, including that extraordinary protuberance called the hump, Mr. Zane assured me, is higher than his head, which is six feet (eighteen hands) : and it was agreed by all who
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saw this amazing wild animal, that it weighed at least fifteen hundred pounds. Part of the beef of these fine animals was delivered to the troops, and part salted for future use.
"I cannot help here describing the amazing plenty and variety of this night's supper. We had fine roast buffalo beef, soup of buffalo beef and turkeys, fried turkeys, fried cat-fish, fresh caught, roast ducks, good punch, madeira, claret, grog and toddy, and the troops supplied in the most abundant manner. They are all cheerful, and generally in perfect health, and enjoying the bounties of heaven, the land and the water. The industry and judgment of one man could certainly supply many families. Mr. Zane killed this day, on the lowest computation, three thousand weight of as fine beef as need be used, all in about four hours' hunting."
There is special mention of " that sweet and delightful little river Sciota, whose charming banks are not only beau- tiful to a wonder, but the richest and most luxuriant soil." Here he was "alarmed by a prodigious gust of wind, which caused a great and extraordinary fog, that smelt of sulphur."
Next morning, Oct. 17, they passed the mouth of Scioto, and twenty-four miles below, reached Buffalo Lick Creek, where the indefatigable Zane was soon in successful pursuit of a drove of buffaloes, killing a fine one.
Limestone, or Maysville, is described as containing " about fifteen good cabins for families, kitchens, &c., included, and about twenty-five houses, with a good wagon road to Lexing- ton and other places." Here information was received that Gen. Clark, one of the commissioners, was at the Miami with a number of troops, and that some of the messengers had arrived, accompanied by a few Indians.
The allusions to the vicinity of Cincinnati, are dimly pro- phetic : "About three o'clock (Oct. 21), passed the mouth
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of the Little Miamis. About two miles below is a piece of high ground, which, I think, will be the site of a town.
Pushed on to the mouth of Licking Creek, which is a pretty stream : at the mouth, both above and below, are very fine bottoms. The bottom below the mouth seems highest and most fit to build a town on; it is extensive, and whoever owns the bottoms should own the hill also. Passed this at five o'clock, and encamped two miles below on the north side."
General Butler arrived at the Great Miami on the 22d of October, and found General Clark at a station, (defined as " a few families collected for mutual safety to one place, and a little fort erected,") a short distance below, on the Ken- tucky side ; but it was not until the 13th of November that their colleague, General Parsons, arrived. Fully two months elapsed before the Shawanese could be induced to attend the council. Meanwhile, " four block houses and quadrangular work" were constructed under the superintendence of Major W. Finney, (by whose name they were designated,) on the Ohio, above the mouth of Miami. Excursions were made by the leaders of the party to Big Bone Lick and the falls of the Ohio; and at Louisville, Butler found the people engaged "in selling and buying lots in the back streets, but not liking the situation, bought none."
There was no considerable arrival of Indians until the 18th of November, when fifty Wyandots, ten Delawares and ten Shawanese approached the fort. The Wyandot camp was on the banks of the Miami, about three miles north of Fort Finney. Thenceforth, private interviews, accompanied by presents, frequently occurred with the Half King and Crane of the Wyandots ; with Wingenum, Pipe, White Eyes, (a son of the celebrated Indian so called,) old Abraham, (probably
19*
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Kuhn,) who were Delawares, and John Harris and Micanim- sica, Shawanese. It transpired that Simon Girty and one Robert Suphlet, (cousin to the well-known British agent, Alexander McKee,) were then in the Shawanese towns, using every persuasion to prevent an attendance at the con- ference. Their labors proved so far successful, that another month elapsed without any further arrival of Shawanese, except "the Grenadier Squaw's daughter, Fanny, (Corn- stalk's niece) and her brother Morgan, with one other Shaw- nee man and woman." At length, on the 27th of December, Captain Wingenum, (chronicled by Butler as "old, experi- enced and sensible ") was sent to the nations with a final mes- sage of invitation. This embassy seems to have been effective, for, on the 14th of January, one hundred and fifty Shawanese men, and eighty women, were received with due ceremony by the commissioners and the garrison. The formal recep- tion of this " proud little nation " is thus described. "The oldest chief leads, and carries a small drum, on which he beats time and sings ; two young warriors, who dance well, carry each the stem of a pipe painted and decorated with feathers of the bald eagle and wampum ; these are joined in the dance by several other young men, who dance and keep time to the drum-the whole of the party painted and dressed in the most elegant manner, in their way, which is truly fantastic, but elegant though savage. The chief who headed this party is called Melonthe. These were followed by the chief warrior, Aweecauny, and last, the warriors armed; then came the headwoman, called Ca-we-chile, in front of all the women and children. When they came near the council house, Aweecauny got on a stump and ordered the whole to halt. They then sung for some time, when he gave a signal and the song ceased. He then ordered the
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armed men to make ready, which they did; then to fire, which was performed in the Indian style of a running fire. This was repeated three times, on which our troops returned the salute with three vollies from a platoon, well performed, the drum beating an American march. We then entered the council house and took our seats ; they then arrived, and after dancing a short time at the door, by way of salute, they entered at the west door, the chiefs on our left, the warriors on our right and round on the east end till they joined the chiefs-the old chief beating the drum, and the young men dancing and waving the feathers over us, whilst the others were seated. This done, the women entered at the east door, and took their seats on the east end with great form. This over, the chief inquired who were the commis- sioners, which the young warrior, John Harris, told them, and pointed us out. After a short song, the chiefs called on Ke-kewepellethe, a Wagatommochie man, who immediately rose to address us. His speech was short, but pathetic and sensible. He said, that in consequence of our invitation they had come to our council fire-that they had also brought their women and children-that they had shut their cars against all that advised them not to come, and now stood before us. They hoped, on our part, we would also shut our ears against evil stories, and banish from our memory every evil impression ; that they cleared our ears, wiped our eyes, and with the strings of wampum removed all sorrow from our hearts. They hoped, therefore, we would be strong, pity their women and children, and go on with the good work of peace, and suffer no evil reports to prevent our carrying it into effect."
The commissioners replied complaisantly, and the affair ended with a dinner and an allowance of " grog and tobacco."
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It was noticed that the Sachems only shook the hands of the commissioners, but the warriors and women ("the strength of the nation") postponed that ceremony " until peace was certain." Another usage of the Shawanese, was subse- quently found to be, to transact business relating to peace before noon, the day afterwards being the time for the busi- ness of war.
An interview, on the 20th of January, between Bockenge- helas and George Rogers Clark, has been the subject of much literary embellishment. Butler's simple narrative is as fol- lows : " This morning early, (Friday, January 20,) the Pipe, a chief of the Delawares, came in and informed us that the strange chief Pacanchichiles, or Iskittapiecica, in Shawanese, with others, were at hand, and would salute us, on which we ordered the usual salute of three platoons to return it. When they advanced, this piece of ceremony was performed, and our messengers showed them into the council house, on which the flag of the United States is kept displayed. When they were all seated, the commissioners were notified, and went to the council house with the officers. After being seated, Packanchichiles rose and spoke. His first address was to the Great Spirit, returning thanks for the preservation of his own and General Clark's life through the war, and for putting it once more in their power to see each other, adding that he felt very happy at the prospect which now opened to his view, and thanked God for giving us this great day to meet and declare the pleasure he felt. That now he felt the advan- tages his nation may experience by the good work his kings have been transacting with the commissioners of the United States; that he is determined to support it with all his endeavor, and recommended to General Clark, as a warrior, to assist on our part, with much more to the same purport.
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General Clark told him he was glad to see him, and advised him to be strong and sincere in his determination."12
On this occasion, " the old chief called Tetapaxicca," spoke to the same purport, and the Big Cat, who had been employed as a messenger to the western tribes, reported that a depu- tation of the Twightwees, and other Wabash and Miami Indi- ans, had reached the Shawanese towns, "where they received such advice and accounts from Detroit as put them back." He also charged the Shawanese with giving the tomahawk to a town of Mohicans on the White River. The statements of Big Cat were afterwards denied very stoutly by the Shaw- anese.
On the 30th of January, the main business of the confer- ence proceeded. The commissioners addressed the Indians so nearly in the spirit and terms employed at the treaty of Fort Stanwix, as to render a transcript unnecessary. They closed with a recital of the terms of a treaty which they should impose upon the Shawanese. Immediately ensued a scene of great excitement. The younger warriors of the nation, as Butler admits under date of January 17th, "who had grown up through the course of the war," had been " trained like young hounds to blood, and were greatly under British influence. When the latter were informed of the stringent terms dictated to them-especially the surrender of hostages for the delivery of prisoners-intense dissatisfac- tion prevailed. The chief from Wakatomaka, Kekewepel- lethy, became the organ of this indignant feeling, and ad- dressed the commissioners as follows :
" Brothers, by what you said to us yesterday, we expected everything past would be forgotten ; that our proposals for
12) For a more detailed sketch of Bockengehelas, the distinguished Dela- warc chief, see Appendix No. XI.
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collecting the prisoners were satisfactory, and that we would have been placed on the same footing as before the war. To-day you demand hostages till your prisoners are returned. You next say you will divide the lands. I now tell you it is not the custom of the Shawnese to give hostages; our words are to be believed ; when we say a thing, we stand to it ; we are Shawnese! As to the lands, God gave us this country ; we do not understand measuring out the lands ; it is all ours. You say you have goods for our women and children ; you may keep your goods, and give them to the other nations ; we will have none of them. Brothers, you seem to grow proud because you have thrown down the king of England ; and as we feel sorry for our past faults, you rise in your de- mands on us. This we think hard. You need not doubt our words-what we have promised we will perform. We told you we had appointed three good men of our nation to go to the towns and collect your flesh and blood ; they shall be brought in. We have never given hostages, and we will not comply with this demand." A string of black wampum was likewise delivered.
After a short consultation, the commissioners determined not to recede from any of the articles, and General Butler thus addressed the turbulent assemblage :
" SHAWNEES : You have addressed us with great warmth. We think the answer unwise and ungrateful ; and, in return for just and generous proposals, you have not only given us improper language, but asserted the greatest falsehoods. You say you cannot give hostages for the performance of your promises, as it is contrary to your usages, and that you never break your word. Have you forgotten your breach of treaties in the beginning of the late war with Britain, between the United States and your chiefs, in "75 and '76 ? Do you
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think us ignorant of those treaties ? Do you think we have forgotten the burning of our towns, the murder and captivity of our people in consequence of your perfidy, or have you forgotten them ? Don't you remember when Col. Bouquet came up to Tuscarawas, that you there gave hostages ? Do you forget that you gave hostages to Lord Dunmore ? Do you forget that when he had agreed to send people to collect the prisoners, that they had like to have been murdered in your towns ? Recollect, and you might know that these are truths. You gave to both of these great men hostages for the performance of your promises ; and, even under that engagement, you paid so little regard to your faith, which you had pledged, that it was with difficulty our people got from amongst you ; and although you had promised to do the business yourselves, you did not even attempt to protect these men who went to assist you. We know these things to be truths, with much more we could relate equally aggravating. You cannot, therefore, expect we will believe you ; I tell you we cannot believe you, or rely on your words ; are the burn- ing the houses of our people, and barbarously ravaging our frontier, besides the repeated violations of treaties of the most sacred nature-are your barbarous murders, and the cruelty shown our prisoners, marks of your fidelity, or proofs of your pacific disposition, or a desire of enjoying the bles- sings of peace in common with us? I say, they are not. These are the gifts of heaven, and they cannot be enjoyed under such circumstances. You joined the British king against us, and followed his fortunes; we have overcome him, he has cast you off, and given us your country ; and Congress, in bounty and mercy, offers you country and peace. We have told you the terms on which you shall have it. These terms we will not alter; they are liberal, they are just,
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and we will not depart from them. We now tell you, if you have been so unfortunate and unwise as to determine and adhere to what you have said, and to refuse the terms we have offered to give to your nation peace, friendship and pro- tection, you may depart in peace ; you shall have provisions to take you to your towns, and no man shall touch you for eight days after this day ; but after that time is expired, be assured that we shall consider ourselves freed from all the ties of protection to you, and you may depend the United States will take the most effectual measures to protect their citizens and to distress your obstinate nation. It rests now with you. The destruction of your women and children, or their future happiness, depends on your present choice. Peace or war is in your power ; make your choice like men, and judge for yourselves. We shall only add this : had you judged as it is your interest to do, you would have considered us as your friends, and followed our counsel; but if you choose to follow the opinion which you have expressed, you are guided either by evil counsel or rashness, or are blinded. We plainly tell you that this country belongs to the United States-their blood hath defended it and will forever protect it. Their proposals are liberal and just; and you, instead of acting as you have done, and instead of persisting in your folly, should be thankful for the forgiveness and offers of kindness of the United States, instead of the sentiments which this string imports, and the manner in which you have de- livered it. [I then took it up and dashed it on the table.] We therefore leave you to consider of what hath been said, and to determine as you please."
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