USA > Ohio > Pioneer history : being an account of the first examinations of the Ohio valley, and the early settlement of the Northwest territory ; chiefly from original manuscripts > Part 11
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120
LETTER TO GOVERNOR HENRY.
the strict line of our duty) presumed to hint at, would not only tend greatly to the happiness of this country, but to the interest of the whole state ; more especially if care be taken to treat the different nations in all respects with justice, hu- manity and hospitality; for which purpose, and to punish robberies and murders committed on any of our allies, some wholesome orders or acts of government may possibly be ne- cessary ; for parties have been formed to massacre some who have come to visit us in a friendly manner, and others who have been hunting on their own lands, the known friends to the commonwealth. These steps, if continued, will deprive us of all our Indian allies, and multiply our enemies. Even the spies who have been employed by the county lieutenants of Monongahela and Ohio, seem to have gone on this plan, with a premeditated design to involve us in a general Indian war; for, on the 15th of March, at day-break, five or six of these spies fired on three Delaware Indians, at their hunt- ing camp, which they afterwards plundered of peltries to a considerable amount, and brought them off. This was com- mitted about twenty miles on this side the Delaware town, between that and Wheeling, and out of the country or track of our enemies. Luckily all the Indians escaped, only one of whom was wounded, and that slightly in the wrist.
" We enclose to your excellency the copy of a speech or message, found near the body of a dead man who had been killed and scalped two days before, near the Kittaning, on the north-western frontier of Pennsylvania, where another man was taken prisoner. We suppose the party of Indians, who left this message and perpetrated the murder, to have been hired for that purpose by the British officer at Niagara, in order to promote an open rupture between the Six Na- tions and the United States, as we had intelligence of such a party being out and having come from there. In conse- quence whereof, and on considering the present situation of this country, a council of field officers and captains met
121
LETTER TO GOVERNOR HENRY.
here, and gave their opinion on certain matters, of which your excellency is doubtless, ere now, fully informed.
" Among other things, Colonel Crawford was requested to make a return of the stores requisite to be sent here, and an estimate of the expense of repairs to make the fort de- fensible against any body of troops which may be brought against us, by the way of Presque Isle and the Alleghany ; that being the route by which this fort will be attacked, if ever an expedition should be formed against it from Can- ada, and not, as has been intimated to your excellency, from Detroit and Sandusky ; there being no post at the latter place, and as we are informed, but sixty-six soldiers at Detroit, from whence by land to Fort Pitt is near three hundred miles, impassable for artillery ; and all that country we are told could not furnish, to an army of one thousand men, sufficient provisions or horses for such an expedition.
" Your excellency cannot but be already informed that many persons among ourselves wish to promote a war with the savages, not considering the distress of our country on the sea coast. This disposition, with the conduct of a ban- ditti, consisting of sixty or eighty savages, at the heads of the Scioto, may possibly create a general quarrel ; yet we flatter ourselves that, by prudent measures, it is possible to avoid it. But if, as seems the inclination of some, all In- dians without distinction, who may be found, are to be mas- sacred, and even when visiting us as friends, a general war cannot be avoided, and we fear the consequences would be fatal at this critical time. But should it please God to bless us with victory to overcome our British enemies on the sea coast, we shall have it in our power to take ample satisfaction of our Indian enemy. In the interim, we are humbly of opinion, that the most pacific measures, with li- beral presents, if in our power to make them, will be atten- ded with much happier consequences with the savages, than an armed force can produce.
" Nevertheless, we beg leave again to assure your excel-
122
SPEECH OF CAPTAIN PIPE.
lency, that nothing in our power shall be wanting to pro- mote and insure success to the expedition now ordered to be executed. But as it will be impossible to have the men raised and armed before the 1st day of June next, we shall have sufficient time to receive your excellency's further in- structions on that head ; and we shall in the interim take every possible precaution to prevent intelligence reaching the enemy, so as to defeat the wise intentions of govern- ment.
We are, &c. &c., " GEORGE MORGAN, " JOHN NEVILL.
" P. S. By Lieutenant Holliback, who left the Kenawha last month, all is quiet there, and no murders or Indian in- cursions have been made into the inhabitants, that we have heard of, since last December, when one man was killed on the Indian side of Ohio, opposite to the fort at Wheeling, and one taken prisoner. They were out as spies."
Captain Pipe, one of the principal chiefs of the Dela- wares, arrived at Fort Pitt on the 5th of April, and after a long speech to Colonel Morgan, relating to the affairs of the nation, he closes, by saying : " But I wish you had goods to send to our towns to trade and supply us with, for our skins. Great stress is laid on your inability to supply our wants, and we are ridiculed by our enemies for being attached to you, who cannot even furnish us with a pair of stockings or a blanket; this obliges us to be dependent in a great measure on them. But what convinces me that I ought to listen to the United States is, that their advice is agreeable to my own reason; and when they recommend to me to love peace, and to treat all white people kindly, it proves to me your hearts are good, and I am resolved to follow your advice." [Four strings white wampum.]
By Captain Pipe he sent very friendly speeches to the Munsies and Delawares, with belts, &c .; also, a speech to the Indians who killed the man, and left the letter at Kit-
123
LETTERS OF COLONEL MORGAN.
taning. After Captain Pipe returned home, the Delaware tribe was assembled, and speeches sent to the Wyandots, Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottewatemies, which are written and preserved in the record of the agency; also to their grand-children, the Shawanees, in which they strongly urge upon them the propriety of keeping at peace with the Uni- ted States ; and there can be no doubt that their advice had a powerful effect in keeping them quiet.
On the 10th of April he wrote to Colonel William Craw- ford: " Last Monday a messenger arrived from the Dela- ware town, and informed that a party of eighteen Mingoes were out, and it was supposed would divide themselves into two parties, and strike nearly at the same time be- tween Yellow creek and this place. Yesterday afternoon an express arrived from Captain Steel, by which we learn that the first mentioned party had divided as supposed, and killed one man just below Raccoon creek, and burned two cabins, viz, Muchmore's and Arnot's ; the body of the latter was found- his wife and four children are supposed to be burned in the cabin, or carried off prisoners." "This day an express arrived from Weeling, with an account that one Roger McBride was killed and scalped, about ten miles up that creek, and alarms had arrived from several other quar- ters. I do think, sir, that you will find it necessary to take some measures, in consequence of these murders, and that your presence here is requisite."
The 10th of April he wrote to two of the contractors, Joshua Wright and Gabriel Cox : "Gentlemen - The gov- ernor and council of Virginia having directed Colonel Shep- herd to call on me for ammunition and provisions, neces- sary for a secret expedition, against the enemies of this country, I must beg that you will exert yourselves to pro- cure and send to this place, at as reasonable a price as you can, all the well dried bacon you can procure, without delay. I must also beg you will complete the quantity of flour I formerly ordered, with all possible dispatch. I hope
124
PRICE OF PROVISIONS.
no friend of his country will continue to hold back what he can spare, or complain of the price, of one ninth of a dollar a pound, delivered here ; but that every one will exert him- self to promote the service, or the country will undoubtedly suffer. Had I not ordered provisions from over the moun- tains, the garrisons at Kenawha and this place must have deserted the forts, for they have not now an ounce of flour but what I have supplied from thence; all owing to the backwardness of the inhabitants in bringing in their pro- duce. If they continue to do so, I fear they will see their error when it is too late. For their own sakes, and for the safety and protection of their women and children, I exhort them to be expeditious in sending to the public magazine here, for the support of the troops, and carrying on expedi- tions against our enemy, all the salted provisions and flour they can spare."
From April, 1777, to January, 1778, the journal is miss- ing; the book in which the entries were made is lost. There is no account of an invasion from other sources into the Indian country, as contemplated by Patrick Henry, the governor of Virginia. But in September, of this year, 1777, the Indians, in great force, made an attack on Wheeling- killing no less than twenty-three men of the garrison, who were out to reconnoitre. They also killed nearly all the cattle and hogs; but were not able to get possession of the fort. A full detail of this affair is given in the " Border Warfare." After this failure, no serious attack was made on any of the frontier posts by the Indians during the year.
In January, 1778, provisions became scarce in the region about Fort Pitt, and flour rose to sixty shillings a hundred weight, Pennsylvania currency, or sixteen dollars a barrel.
In March, 1778, Daniel Sullivan, who had been employed by the state of Virginia, under the direction of Colonel Mor- gan, to act as a spy in the Indian country and at Detroit, in the spring of 1777, returned and made a statement of his discoveries. It seems that he had been taken prisoner, when
:
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125
ADVENTURES OF SULLIVAN.
a boy, by the Delawares, and lived among them nine years, but was released about the year 1773. His attachment, however, to the ways and manners of the Indians induced him to return and live with them again. He was directed by Colonel Morgan to attach himself to one of the Indian traders, who sold goods at Cuyahoga, and, in the capacity of a servant, go with him to Detroit. This he succeeded in doing. At that period, it took a batteau eight days to coast from Cuyahoga to Detroit.
He wore the Indian dress, and was questioned by Governor Hamilton as to his business there. He also inquired of him the strength of the garrison at Fort Pitt. He gave him liberty to stay as long as he pleased, and to walk about the place. A white man, named Tucker, one of Governor Hamilton's interpreters, took him home to his house and treated him well. His wife, it seems, was a Virginia wo- man, who had been a prisoner with the Indians, and knew Sullivan's family. This woman told Sullivan that Governor Hamilton used all his influence with the Indians to induce them to massacre the white inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania-paying them very high prices for all the scalps they would bring. That he also paid for prisoners ; but would not redeem them, so long as the war continued.
One day, as he was walking round the town, looking at the defences and strength of the place, he was recognized by a son of the notorious banditti chief, Pluggy. He imme- diately applied to Governor Hamilton to have him arrested, on account of his killing his brother-in-law, at the Kenawha, in the fall of 1776. John Montour also testified to the same thing. He was arrested and put in irons, and sent down to Montreal and Quebec. From here, as a white man, he was sent round, with other prisoners, to New York, and set at liberty on parole.
His testimony only confirms that of many others as to the fact of Governor Hamilton paying the Indians for all the
126
MURDER OF CORNSTALK.
scalps of the Americans which they could bring. This policy was, no doubt, the cause of the death of many poor women and children, whom the Indian clemency might have spared but for this odious bounty.
The unfortunate murder of the celebrated Shawanese chief, Cornstalk, in the autumn of 1777, at Fort Randolph, by some of the incensed soldiers of that station, came near involving the country in a general Indian war. Every suitable concession was made to that tribe, by Congress and by Colonel Morgan, to allay their anger. New com- missioners were appointed, and they were invited to a treaty, to be held at Fort Pitt. The commissioners also sent them a speech and invitation by James Girty, a brother of the notorious renegado, Simon Girty; with suitable presents.
In March, Colonel Morgan received a communication from Captain White Eyes and John Killbuck, Delaware chiefs, in relation to their affairs. In this, he gives an account of a visit he made to the governor of Detroit, last December, at the request of Colonel Morgan. He relates the speeches that passed between them, and concludes that the forces at that post are too few to cause any uneasiness as to their attacking Fort Pitt.
White Eyes also gives notice of a party of thirty war- riors of the Wyandots, who had passed his village on their way to the settlements about Red Stone. He says he had spoken to the Shawanees, as to the matter of killing of their chief, Cornstalk, and that the portion of the tribe to which he belonged would still continue friendly to the United States. He also adds, " A man from Detroit, his name Ed- ward Hazle, came here with some writings from the gover- nor of Detroit, and desired us to send some Indians with him, to bring them into the inhabitatants of the white peo- ple ; but we declined it, and told him we would not meddle with such affairs. Writings of the same kind were also sent to the Shawanees, to leave them where they should
-
127
LETTER OF GOVERNOR HAMILTON.
kill any white people, which they delivered to me. Both I send to you, and you will see the contents thereof.
The following is a copy of the writings:
" DETROIT, January 5th, 1778.
"Notwithstanding all endeavors to apprize his majesty's faithful and loyal subjects, dispersed over the colonies, of his gracious intentions towards them, signified to them at different times, it is to be feared the mistaken zeal of the deluded multitude, acted upon by the artful and wicked designs of rebellious counsellors, has prevented many from profiting of his majesty's clemency. This is to acquaint all whom it may concern, that nothing can give greater satisfaction to those persons who command for his majesty at the different posts, than to save from ruin those innocent people who are unhappily involved in distresses they have no ways merited. The moderation shown by the Indians who have gone to war from this place, is a speaking proof of the truth; and the injunctions constantly laid upon them on their setting out, having been to spare the defenceless and aged of both sexes, show that compassion for the un- happy is blended with the severity necessary to be exercised in the obstinate and perverse enemies of his majesty's crown and dignity.
" The persons undernamed are living witnesses of the moderation and even gentleness of savages shown to them, their wives and children ; which may, it is hoped, induce others to exchange the hardships experienced under their present masters, for security and freedom under their law- ful sovereign.
" The bearer hereof, Edward Hazle, has my orders to make known to all persons whom it may concern, that the Indians are encouraged to show the same mildness to all who shall embrace the offer of safety and protection, here- by held out to them; and he is further to make known, as far as lies in his power, that if a number of people can
128
LETTER OF GOVERNOR HAMILTON.
agree upon a place of rendezvous, and a proper time for coming to this post the Miamis, Sandusky, or post Vincen- nes, the properest methods will be taken for their security, and a safeguard of white people, with an officer, and inter- preter, sent to conduct them.
"Given under my hand and seal at Detroit.
"Signed, HENRY HAMILTON, (Seal.)
" Lieutenant Governor and Superintendent. " God save the King."
" We who have undersigned our names, do voluntarily declare that we have been conducted from the several places mentioned opposite our names to Detroit, by Indians accompanied with white people ; that we have neither been cruelly treated or in any way ill used by them; and further that on our arrival we have been treated with the greatest humanity, and our wants supplied in the best manner pos- sible.
" George Baker, for himself wife and five children - now here, from five miles below Logstown.
" James Butterworth, from Big Kenawha.
his
" Thomas & Shoers, from Harrodstown, Kentucky. mark
" Jacob Pugh, from six miles below the fort at Wheeling. "Jonathan Muchmore, from Fort Pitt.
" James Whitaker, from Detroit, taken at Fish Creek. his
"John ₦ Bridges, from Detroit, taken at Fish Creek." mark
Notwithstanding the efforts of Governor Hamilton, by his proclamations, and other means, to seduce the frontier in- habitants from their allegiance to the United States, and to come over and join his Brittanic majesty ; it does not appear that any other than those named in the above list took advantage of his offers.
No portion of the United States furnished more trusty
129
STRENGTH OF THE WESTERN TRIBES.
hearts in the cause of freedom, than the inhabitants of the western frontiers. Very few, if any, tories were to be found among them, and almost every man, and woman too, en- tered with their whole energies into the cause of their coun- try and of liberty, turning out more soldiers, according to their numbers, than any of the old settlements on the At- lantic board.
The following list of the number of warriors in the dif- ferent tribes, who could at any time within a few weeks be assembled to fall upon the frontiers, will show how impor- tant it was for the United States to keep on friendly terms with them. It was made by Colonel Morgan, and is prob- ably a very accurate estimate of their strength :
The Six Nations consist of,
Mohawks, - -
-
-
- 100
Oneidas and Tuscarawas, - - 400
Cuyahogas, -
-
- 220
Onondagas,
- 230
Senecas, -
- 650
1600
Delawares and Munsies, - - -
600
Shawanees of Scioto, 400
Wyandots, of Sandusky and Detroit, 300
Ottawas, of Detroit and Lake Michigan, 600
Chippewas, of all the lakes, said to be, - 5000
Pottewatemies, of Detroit and Lake Michigan, 400
Pyankeshas, Kickapoos, Muscoutans, Vermillions, Weotonans, &c., on the Ouabache, - 800
Miamis, or Picts, - - 300
Mingoes, of Pluggystown, - - 600
Total, 10,060
The notorious renegado, Simon Girty, who had acted as interpreter for the United States, in all their treaties with the Six Nations, at Pittsburgh, fled from that place, in com- pany with some others, on the 28th of March, 1778. Ever 9
130
LETTER TO GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA.
after this period, he attached himself to the Indians, and became one of the most cruel and inveterate foes to the whites. Through his instigation, it is well known that many prisoners were burnt at the stake, who otherwise might have been adopted into some Indian family, and their lives saved. His brother, James Girty, who was at that time employed by the commissioners, on a message to the Shawanees, was also induced to desert the cause of his country, and attach himself to the interests of Simon.
In March, the commissioners for Indian affairs ordered six large boats to be built for the defence of the navigation between the military posts on the Ohio. Each boat was to carry a four pound cannon, and to be so constructed as to be formidable either in defence or attack.
In April, Colonel Morgan addressed a letter to Don Ber- nardo De Galvez, Governor General of Louisiana. In it, he says, " On the 24th of February, I had the honor to re- ceive your letter, dated the 9th of August last. Not having the happiness to understand the Spanish language, I imme- diately transmitted your letter, by express, to Congress ; but unfortunately not a member of that body understands it, nor has any person been yet found, capable and worthy of trust, to translate it. Wherefore, his Excellency, the President, has directed me to present his compliments to you. He laments this disappointment, and will do himself the honor to write to you the moment he can procure a translation of your Excellency's letter."
In the above incident there are two things which strike us as very singular. One is, the great length of time it took at that day to transmit intelligence between New Orleans and Pittsburgh. The other is, that no member of Congress should be familiar with the Spanish language. It shows the simple hearts and domestic manners of the people of that day ; how little intercourse they had with any foreign nation, except the mother country, their trade being almost if not entirely prohibited, while colonies, with any other
131
PREPARATIONS FOR AN INVASION.
kingdom. The French language must have been much more familiar to many of the officers and soldiers of the last war, as numbers of them had been prisoners in Canada.
Colonel Morgan proceeds in his letter to give a detail of the principal events of the war during the past year, and especially the surrender of General Burgoyne. It is full of patriotic zeal, and bespeaks a mind ardently attached to the cause of his country.
The projected invasion into the enemy's territory, in the year 1777, having been abandoned, the plan was again re- newed on a much larger scale, early in the spring of 1778. As it would take several months to collect the provisions, pack-horses, and boats necessary for an army of three thou- sand men, preparations were commenced in April, by pur- chasing cattle, flour, &c. The state of Virginia was to furnish nearly all the men. Twenty-seven hundred came from the counties east of the mountains, and three hundred from those on the west side. Fifteen hundred were to march through Green Brier, down the Big Kenawha to Fort Randolph, and as many more were to assemble at Fort Pitt, and descend the Ohio to that post. From this point the assembled forces were to invade the Indian country, and destroy their towns and crops. Colonel Morgan was di- rected to make an estimate of the quantity of provision necessary for the support of three thousand men for three months ; the number of pack horses, beef cattle, &c. The amount is so great, that we are led to look with wonder and admiration at the courage and patriotism of the brave men of that day, whose heroism led them to make such sacrifices on the altar of their country's liberties. The stock to be laid in, amounted to six hundred and ten thou- sand pounds of flour, and seven hundred and thirty-two thousand pounds of beef, requiring three thousand eight hundred and twelve horses for the transport of the flour, and two thousand four hundred and forty head of cattle, which were to be driven on foot, and slaughtered as needed.
132
PRICES OF PROVISIONS.
It also required one hundred and thirty-six horses to trans- port the single article of salt. The food for the horses and cattle was to be chiefly furnished by the native growths of grass, vines, &c., found in abundance at that day, during the summer months, on the rich lands of the west. The whole expense of this expedition was estimated at six hun- dred nine thousand five hundred and thirty-eight dollars. The cattle cost at that time ten pounds, or thirty-three dol- lars and thirty-three cents a head; the horses cost twenty- five pounds, or eighty-three dollars and twenty-five cents each. Flour was fifty shillings a hundred, or six pence a pound, equal to sixteen dollars a barrel. The price of a common woodman's axe was thirty shillings, or five dollars, and the price of a pack saddle was the same. Salt was six pounds a bushel, or twenty dollars. It was all brought from the sea coast, and imported; none of any consequence being made in the country. Provisions of all kinds were at this time extremely scarce and dear. These prices are not estimated in a depreciated paper currency, but in silver dollars, or something equivalent. Who at this day could be made to believe, that culinary salt, which is abundant at the low price of thirty cents a bushel, could ever have commanded the exorbitant rate of twenty dollars ? and yet there is no doubt of the fact. So enormous and great were the privations and sufferings of our worthy ancestors, who toiled and bled for the freedom of the land, which we, their descendants, now enjoy in peace and quietness ! We never have, and probably never shall, fully appreciate their worth; or the value of the inheritance they so nobly won.
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