USA > Ohio > Ohio in the time of the Confederation > Part 12
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As Occurrences arise worthy your Excellency's attention, I shall embrace the earliest opportunity of communicating them. -
I have the honour to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant
Camp at the Intersection of the West bounds of Pennsylvania
Tho : Hutchins
with the River Ohio 13th Augt 1786-
[Indorsed: ] Letter 13 Aug. 1876 Thos Hutchins Read 11 Sept. 1786
XXXV
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1786) 79
I had the honour of writing to your Excellency from Pittsburg the 8th of July last, when I men-
79 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 257.
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tioned my having sent a Messenger to the Wyandott, Delaware and Shawanoe Nations requesting a chief from each of them to accompany the Surveyors dur- ing the Time of their being employed in the Western Territory. And on the 13th of August I transmitted a brief account of the Occurrences relative to the Geographers Department for your Excellencies perusal. - Since the last mentioned Period I have been indefatigably employed (even Sundays not ex- cepted) in measuring the East and West Line, and it is with pleasure I inform your Excellency that I am now engaged in the seventh Range, and am proceed- ing as rapidly as the nature of the Country admits of. I could here enumerate many embarrassments occasioned by mirey Swamps and the ruggedness of several parts of the Country, but as both my duty, and Inclination, leads me rather to surmount, than complain of, difficulties, I will detain your Excel- lency no longer on this disagreeable subject, but pro- ceed to inform you of the arrival of my Messenger from the Indian Towns, which was on the Evening of this Day. - The enclosed paper 80 signed by him- self contains the substance of his transactions with the Indians: from which it clearly appears to me, that my finishing the thirteen Ranges this season, will in a great measure, if not solely, depend on the protection which will be afforded by the Troops. - Colonel Harmer who upon all occasions where the service requires it, cheerfully furnishes every As- sistance in his power, has detached all the force he can consistently spare, about 196 Men, under the Command of Captain Hamtramck, a spirited, Active and good Officer who with his Detachment have been
80 Doc. xxxvii.
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for some time past, and still are detained at the In- tersection of the West bounds of Pennsylvania with the Ohio, for want of Provisions to enable him to March and Cover the Surveyors. - Captain Ham- tramcks Exertions to forward the service merits more praise than I have words to express : but Not- withstanding his best endeavours, the want of Pro- visions has put it out of his power to afford me a larger Escort than a Subaltern and thirty Men. - I am now advanced in the Wilderness more than thir- ty eight Miles, and all the Meat we get depends on the precarious supplies of a couple of hunters, whose success hitherto has been such that the detachment with me have been without Meat for more than five days together.81 -If circumspection and good Con- duct alone were sufficient to frustrate the designs of evil disposed Indians, Lieut. Kersey, who Commands the few Soldiers with me, would be ample protection : but I humbly conceive it may be presumed, that the smallness of his Party, would rather induce, than be able to repell, an attack, more especially, as they are every Day divided, one half remaining for the pro- tection of the Camp, while the other half cover me in my operations. - The above hints are only men- tioned to convey to your Excellency a faint Idea of my present situation: For be assured, that I am
81 The genial picture of novelists and novelist-historians portray- ing the western hunter or pioneer as revelling daily in the game secured by his "trusty rifle" is sadly upset by the few real records we have of real men. The Indians on the Ohio were often in a state of starvation (A. B. Hulbert, Washington's "Tour to the Ohio and Articles of The Mississippi Company," Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications, xvii, 481) and, in the present in- stance, we see soldiers well armed unable to supply the camp.
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determined to carry the Ordinance of Congress re- specting the Geographers Department into effect, unless prevented by superior force or the inclemency of the season .- As this Epistle was written in a hurry and at a late hour of the night, I hope your Excellency will be pleased to excuse any inaccura- cies in it.
I have the honour to be with every Sentiment of Esteem and Respect Your Excellencys
Camp on the East and most obedient and
West Line 38 Miles from most humble servant
the Ohio. 11 O'Clock at Night
Tho : Hutchins
13th September 1786-
[Addressed : ]
Publick Service
His Excellency The President of Congress New York
Letter 13 Sept 1786 Thos Hutchins read 3 Oct 1786
enclosing the report of Jacob Springer respecting the temper and conduct of the Indians -
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XXXVI SPRINGER TO HUTCHINS (1786) 82
38 Miles on the East and West Line
13th Sept 1786
Sir
Since my arrival at Lower Sandusky after the 15th of July from which place I had the honour of writing you on the 19th -I set out for Pipes Town distant 35 Miles, and the 23rd had the satisfaction of reach- ing it. The Indians at that place I found in such a state of Intoxication owing to spirituous Liquors as rendered them unfit for business of any kind. From thence I proceeded to the Wyandott Towns (imme- diately) at Upper Sandusky which is about 6 Miles further, here I stayed one day and was informed that the Indians together with Capt. Pipe 83 were sober which determined me the next day to go back to Pipes Town, on my arrival there, I produced the Instructions which the Geographer had charged me with, together with his address to the Indians; Upon which Captain Pipe replied, that, he thought Us in a great hurry to survey the Lands that as a prepara- tory to the business it was in his opinion We should drive off and exterpate if possible the Cherokees and Mingoes whom he said might be very troublesome to Us .- He finally told me that I must wait untill the Half King of the Wyandotts returned from hunt-
82 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 253.
83 Delaware chieftain uniformly hostile to the whites; he was a leader of the party which burned Crawford to the stake four years before; both had been parties to the treaty signed in 1778 at Fort Pitt between the Delawares and the United States.
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ing upon what ground he then was none of them knew, or I would have set out to him-On the 25th I returned to the Wyandott Towns at Upper San- dusky, and on the 28th of July I was seized with a Fever at that place where I remained ill and pre- vented my leaving it untill the 30th of August. dur- ing my detention there the Half King returned from his hunt and on the 2nd of Sept I had a Conference with him, and the Indian Speech accompanying this, together with a string of Wampum, will shew the Contents. - Had I not have fallen Sick I should have gone to the Shawanoes Towns-though strongly ad- vised against it by the Wyandotts and Delawares who said positively that there was danger of being killed from the Mingoes and Cherokees who fre- quently were in the Shawanoe Towns. When I re- covered, the season fast elapsing, and apprehensive of the Geographers uneasiness, I concluded immedi- ately to proceed to Fort McIntosh where I arrived the 10th of Sept" Escorted by three Indians and one I hired to look up my Horse, being too much weak- ened by sickness to do it myself. - It is my opinion that the Chiefs of the Wyandotts and Delawares will not consent to their young Men committing any hos- tilities upon the Surveyors without first desiring them to leave off surveying. - But what the Ban- ditti consisting of about 200 Men composed of dif- ferent Nations known by the names of the Chero- kees and Mingoes, may do, I cannot take upon me to say.
I am with respect
To M' Thomas Hutchins Jacob Springer
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The following is a Copy of a Speech of the Half King of the Wyandotts, delivered by the Half King, and agreed to by Captain Pipe who was present.
"My Friends and Brothers -
"We know what you all say, and Captain Pipe "knows the same-You always tell me to let you "know if the southern Indians & are for any Mis- "chief -Now I tell you for to take care of them - "Your people pass and repass through our Country "and we never molest them -
"My Friends ad Brothers
"Now I tell you my reason that the Chiefs can- "not comply with your request to come and deliver "Up the Land,* for We are trying to bring the back "Nations to terms (meaning the Ottawas Chepawas, "Poutawatamies and Miamies) as well as ourselves "' and we must hold a Council with them first before "we can speak any with you concerning the above "mentioned lands.
"My Brothers
"If you would call a Council with the back Na- "tions [Ottawas etc. ] it would be very much in your "favour and likewise in ours, for I am very much "afraid that all We can say will be to little purpose "with them -
"My Friends and Brothers
"I am now just between two fires for I am afraid "of you and likewise of the back Nations.
84 The Cherokees are meant by this allusion to "Southern" tribes. To this "banditti" is attributed the attack on the Ohio Company 's settlement at Big Bottom in 1791.
* The Messenger told the Interpreter to tell the Indians that the Lands were already given up, that he wanted them to send some of their Chiefs with the Geographer, they replied that it should remain as it was expressed and not a word be altered.
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"My Brothers
"If you have anything to say don't keep it in "your Hearts but let me know-You sent your "Friend here to me and I have heard all you had to "say, and now I send four of my people back with "him for fear of any accident might happen him on "the Way and then I should be to blame for it- "Now my Brothers I send my People to you I expect "you will take care of them and not let them be hurt. "Now my Friends and Brothers I take you by the hand.
"Gave a string of Black and White Wampum. '' 85
"Upper Sandusky 2nd Sept 1786 "To M' Thomas Hutchins at Fort Pitt."
XXXVII
FERGUSON ON INDIAN HOSTILITIES (1786) 86
Fort Pitt Sept 14th 1786 A man who for many reasons wishes his name not to be known makes the following Report
That he was made prisoner Six years ago by the British and Indians and has since generally resided in the Indian Country, that he left lower Sandusky the 5th Instant, that in the course of last Spring the Nations on the Waters of the South side of Lake
85 Belts of white wampum signified peace; those of black, war; the mixture used in this instance was significant of an undecided attitude.
86 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 279.
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Erie, on the Miamis and Wabash held frequent Councils amongst themselves, that afterwards some from each of the Nations went to the Northward to hold a Council with the six Nations, that a great number of Chiefs were in Council a considerable Time at a place to the North of Lake Ontario, that no Interpreter or Person who understood English or was not called to this Council was admitted, that the Wyandott Chiefs were there when M' Springer (a Messenger from Capt. Hutchins) arrived at the low- er Sandusky, and returned to lower Sandusky, the day, or the day before that M' Springer sett off from upper Sandusky to go back to Capt. Hutchins (Up- per Sandusky is distant from the lower thirty Miles) -That seventy Warriors of the six Nations were expected soon after who with the Chiefs of the Wyandotts Delawares &c were to go to the Shaw- anoes Towns where a large body of Indians were already collected with hostile Intentions, the reason of their being already assembled is their having re- ceived information that their country is to be sur- veyed which they are determined to oppose at all events-This is not only the sentiment of those al- ready assembled, but that of all the young Men of the Indian Nations, who say that they will put their old Men Women and Children behind them and will defend their Country to the last extremity, if they are beaten they will destroy what they cannot carry off and will remove to the setting of the Sun -They will give up all within the Pennsylvania Line, for that they have promised, but no more. They are determined that the Line now Cutting by Pennsyl- vania shall bound them to the Sun rising, and the
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Ohio shall be the boundary between them and the big Knives 87-They have frequently enquired if Captain Hutchins was out and say that the moment they hear of his beginning to survey five hundred Men will March from the Shawanoes Towns to cut him off-that this will be the case the informant verily believes, for they all seem greatly exasperated and they are more united and better prepared in all respects for War, than ever they were during the time of his residence among them-He adds that just before he left lower Sandusky he was informed that some of the young Men intended to kill Mr Springer who was then at Upper Sandusky. that he immediately dispatched a Man and Horse to bring him to where he was, but Springer was gone before the arrival of the Man at upper Sandusky -that he was told, that when the purport of Springers Mes- sage was known at the Shawanoes Towns the young Men were so angry at it, that they would not suffer their Chiefs to hold a Council, which is customary when they receive any News of consequence-he further says, that thirteen Scalps and four prisoners were brought into the Shawanoes towns that two of the Prisoners Women, were burned, they were Mother and Daughter of the name of Moore their Names were known by Papers found with them.
I do certify that the above is a true Copy of the Intelligence delivered by the above mentioned Per- son to me.
Signed Wm Ferguson Capt. of Artillery
87 The Virginians.
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XXXVIII
SURVEYORS TO HUTCHINS (1786) 88
Camp, near the Ohio, 5 miles below little beaver rivulet October 1 1786
Sir
We were honoured with your letter of this date with the several papers that accompanied it; upon mature deliberation and a particular reference to them, we conceive emminent danger in a prosecution of the business upon an extensive scale, we are fully perswaded of Major Hamtramck's vigilance in af- fording us that military protection, which with pain we observe is necessary from the present hostile in- tentions of the Indians- How far the operation of our opinions in submission to your request may ef- fect the political interest of the United States let the event decide -
With respect to our personal safety we conceive ourselves rather bound by the nature of our employ- ments (unless ordered otherwise) to view with re- gret, rather than caution against; We will, altho in- compatible with our interest, afford every assistance in completing surveys to the fifth range, or as far be- yond as the Geographer may deem prudent and nec- essary-
You remind us of the consequences that impend our operations, & on their success you particularly dwell, Most of us have felt for our country, and we have the confidence to reply that next to ourselves, we would disregard every other consideration; you remind us also of the imbecility of the Public Treas-
88 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 273.
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ury, we are sorry for it, & can assure you it does not stand as the only instance wherein most of us had reason to lament it-However, flattered with the confidence you have hitherto reposed in us, and as- sured of the purity of your intentions, we hope our reputations may be shielded from the poison of il- liberal reflection, being well aware of the delicacy that attends an opinion on matters so important as you have represented- We have the honour to be with
Great Respect Sir
your most obedient humble servis
To
Thomas Hutchins Esquire
Geographer to the United States
Benj Tupper
Wm. W. Morris
Absalom Martin
James Simpson
Sam1 Montgomery
Mich1. Duffy
Andw. Henderson
Charles Smith
[Indorsed:] Recª 1 Oct.
XXXIX
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1786) 89
Sir
The last Letter I had the honour of writing to your Excellency was dated the 13th of September, 11 o'clock at night 38 Miles on the East and West Line, when I transmitted the Occurrences of the
89 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 261.
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Geographers Department and of my situation at that Time. - I am now to inform your Excellency that in the afternoon of the 18th of the same Month, when I had progressed almost 43 Miles, as I was superin- tending survey in the eighth Range, I received from Major Hamtramck by Express, the Intelligence re- specting the hostile intentions of the Indians, con- tained in the enclosed papers Nº. 1 and 2; which I layed before the surveyors then with me who abso- lutely refused proceeding any further on the sur- veying business : and after advising me to inform the other surveyors with the Intelligence I had received, gave it as their opinion, that I ought immediately to retire to Major Hamtramcks detachment then at the Ohio, or untill I should meet him in case of his hav- ing Marched to Cover me. - The next morning af- ter I had written by Express to the surveyors on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Ranges, those of the 7th 8th and 9th being with me, and cautioned them, against discharging their Chain Carriers and hunters untill they should see me; to lose no time in following my example, I set out, and on the 21st about 2, o'clock P.M. met Major Hamtramck who had already ad- vanced with his whole Force 15 Miles for my protec- tion, the whole of his provisions amounting to two thousand weight of flour and Eight small Bullocks. - Here it was thought adviseable, as my hopes of completing the thirteen Ranges from the present complexion of affairs, were to my great mortifica- tion, rendered very doubtful, to wait the arrival of the surveyors who were hourly expected, and take their opinion relative to their proceeding to survey the aforementioned Ranges including the seventh
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Range, should they not be inclineable to survey any further. - I had in contemplation, rather than relin- quish the business, the contracting my operations to so small a Scale, that the troops might more ef- fectually Cover the surveyors .- On the 22nd finding the surveyors had not yet arrived, the Troops re- tired three Miles further to a strong piece of ground, with plenty of water, where they Encamped. - The morning of the 23rd. I desired the surveyors with me, would favour me with their sentiments, respecting their returning to business; who declined giving an answer, untill the arrival of the other Gentlemen; at the same time they recommended our retiring to the Ohio and there wait for them .- Agreeably to their recommendation, I applied to Major Hamtramck to put his Troops in motion, which he accordingly did, and in the afternoon reached the Ohio where we En- camped. - The 24th the Troops occupied a strong and commanding situation with the Ohio close in the Rear. the same day Captain Martin who had been employed surveying the second Range in stead of Captain Hoops, whose indisposition obliged him to decline the business for the present, arrived. - This morning in company with the Commanding Officer I viewed the ground for proper situations to erect three Redoubts on; and the whole detachment, ex- cepting the Guards, were immediately set to work; - About 11. o'clock A.M. I received a Letter from Mr. William McMahan a Magistrate for Ohio Coun- ty, Dated the 21st of September 1786, of which the following is a Copy.
[Paper No. 1]
"Sir, The difficulty of procuring hands, occasioned
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"by the late alarms, is beyond conception. - Sev- "eral have engaged and disappointed me. Weeling "is become a Garrison, the Inhabitants to a Man, as "high as Zeans's 90 are fled, except Tomlinson and "Shepherd, and a few about the Mingo bottom, who "are building Block-houses. - What is to be the con- "sequence I know not. however no pains shall be "wanting on my part .- The Block-house near Us "called Cox's Fort is about being erected by Cap- "tain Swearingham.91 I cannot conceive any dan- "ger as yet, however it is prudent to be guarded. - "The alarm came by a certain Mr. Newland who "came from the Indian Towns and made Oath, a "number of the Tribes had agreed to strike the sur- "veyors and Weeling settlement. - That he was un- "der promise not to inform, or spread the alarm, "except to tell Zeans and Shepherd to be on their "guard; the former of these (Zeanes) has made ev- "ery necessary preparation. The latter (Shepherd) "has made none; rests assured, they cannot spare "their Men in such numbers as Clarks Expedition "is now in their Country. - Newland says a number "of Indians from the West of Lake Erie had joined "the others."-
The 25th, continued building the Redoubts. - The 26th the Soldiers who had been guarding Major Ser- gent on the fifth Range, arrived and reported they left the Major about 12 Miles below Yellow Rivulet ; they expected him here in a day or two. - This af- ternoon the Redoubts being finished, the Troops En-
90 Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane made a settlement on the present site of Wheeling, W. Va., in 1769.
91 Probably Captain Thomas Swearingin, a famous Ohio Valley pioneer.
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camped in the rear of them. - About 7 o'Clock this Evening Lieut. Ford arrived in five days from Fort Harmer at the mouth of the Muskingum, and deliv- ered me a Letter from Colonel Harmer dated the 21st September 1786-The following is an Extract from it.
[Paper No. 2]
"I sincerely hope that you may meet with no inter- "ruption from the Indians, but I have received In- "telligence that a large body of them, are assembled "at the Shawanoe Towns with hostile Intentions, "which account I have transmitted to Capt". Ham- "tramck, that he may be upon his guard. - I have "not the least intention that this Intelligence should "operate so as to deter the surveyors from prosecut- "ing their business. - I have written to Captain "Hamtramck that I would rather sacrifice a Com- "pany than not persevere in supporting you." -
Lieut. Ford also brought Information that all the Inhabitants below Weeling had deserted their houses; and that a house near Grave Rivulet 12 Miles below Weeling had been lately attacked by In- dians : who killed a Woman and a Girl, and wound- ed a Boy whom they made Prisoner ; that they fired upon some White-Men and killed one of them, that the Men returned the fire, killed three of the Indians, defeated the rest, and released the wounded boy.
The 27th of September about 12 o'clock dispatched a third Express (the two former having miscarried) in search of Colonels Sproat and Sherman. - The 28th Major Sergent arrived, in consequence of his having received an answer dated the 21st of Septem- ber to a few lines he had written Major Hamtramck
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a day or two before. - My Express to him of the 18th having never come to hand. The 29th Captain Me- Curdy arrived from Fort McIntosh and reported that the day before his departure two white men Indian traders, and an Indian came there, who declared that near to where the East and West Line crossed the Tuscarawas Path 92 they came to an Indian Encamp- ment, where there were two or three Indian Boys, of whom the Indian with them asked several questions in different languages, but obtained no answer. that on looking round them they discovered twelve or fifteen small marks, upon which the Indian told them they must not stay there as the Indians of that Camp were for War. that they instantly left the Camp, when a Gun was fired by way of signal as they sup- posed, as immediately after they heard the yellings of Indians, who to the number of about a dozen pur- sued them upwards of six Miles, but being mounted on good horses lightly loaded they escaped safe to McIntosh.
This Morning Lieut. Bissell with a party was de- tached in search of the troops Escorting Colonels Sproat and Sherman on the 3rd and 4th Ranges, also to Reconnoitre to the End of the East and West Line to make discoveries. - The 30th an opportunity of- fering I transmitted Colonel Harmer the Occur- rences of my department to this Day .- Late this 92 The "Great Trail" from Pittsburgh across what is now Ohio. - A. B. Hulbert, Historic Highways of America, ii, 107. The records of the surveyors of the Seven Ranges will make possible a more ac- curate delineation of the Indian trails of eastern Ohio than has been attempted. Conditions in Washington at the present time make this research practically impossible. The editor hopes to present this data in an appendix to a succeeding volume of these Collections.
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