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 6
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BOUQUET'S EXPEDITION.
any exception ; and you are to furnish them with clothing, provisions and horses, to carry them to Fort Pitt."
The firm manner in which the Colonel addressed them, with the sight of the army that had so severely defeated them at Bushy Run the preceding year, now advanced into the heart of their country, had a powerful effect in subdu- ing the spirits of these haughty savages. The two Dela- ware chiefs, at the close of their speech on the 17th, delivered up eighteen white prisoners, and eighty-three small sticks, expressing the number of other prisoners which they had in their possession, and promised to bring in as soon as possible. None of the Shawanese kings appeared at the Congress, and Ke-issi-nautcht-ha, their deputy, declined speaking until the Colonel had answered the Delawares, and then, with a dejected sullenness, he promised in behalf of his nation that they would submit to the terms prescribed to the other tribes.
The Colonel, however, determined to march further into their country, knowing that the presence of his army would be the best security for the performance of their promises, and required some of each nation to attend him in his march.
Thursday, October 25th. They marched six miles, one half, and sixteen perches, to camp No. 16, situated within a mile of the forks of Muskingum. This place was fixed upon in- stead of Wakatomeke, as the most central and convenient place to receive the prisoners; for the principal Indian towns now lay around them, at the distance of seven to twenty miles, except only the lower Shawanese town, situ- ated on Scioto river, which was about eighty miles ; so that from this place the army had it in their power to destroy their towns, if they failed to fulfill their promises. Four redoubts were built here, opposite to the four angles of the camp. The ground in front was cleared; a store house for the provisions erected, and likewise a house to receive and treat of peace with the Indians, when they should return.
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BOUQUET'S EXPEDITION.
Three houses, with separate apartments, were also built for the reception of the captives of the respective colonies, and proper officers appointed to take charge of them, with a matron to attend the women and children. So that, with the officer's mess houses, ovens, &c., this camp had the ap- pearance of a little town, in which the greatest order and regularity prevailed.
Soon after these preparations were made, viz, on Satur- day, October 27, Custaloga sent a messenger that he was coming with his prisoners. The next day "Peter," the Caughnewauga chief, and twenty Indians arrived, of that nation, from Sandusky, with a letter from Colonel Bradstreet. The Caughnewaugas reported that the Indians on the lakes had delivered but few of their prisoners. That the Ottawas had killed a great part of theirs ; and the other nations had either done the same, or else kept them. Colonel Bouquet kept so steadfastly to this article of having every prisoner delivered, that when the Delaware kings, Beaver and Cus- taloga, had brought in all theirs except twelve, which they promised to bring in a few days, he refused to shake hands, or have the least talk with them, while a single captive re- mained among them. By the 9th of November, most of the prisoners were arrived that could be expected this season, amounting to two hundred and six in the whole, besides about one hundred more in possession of the Shawanese, which they promised to deliver the following spring. The prisoners were from the following colonies : Virginia, thirty- two men and fifty-eight women and children ; Pennsylvania, forty-nine men and sixty-seven women and children. The same day the Colonel, attended by most of the principal officers, went to the council house. The Senecas and Dela- wares were first treated with. Keyashuta and ten warriors represented the former ; Custaloga and twenty warriors the latter.
Keyashuta said: "With this string of wampum, we
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wipe the tears from your eyes; we deliver you these three prisoners, which are the last of your flesh and blood that remained among the Senecas and Custalogas tribe of Dela- wares. We gather together and bury with this belt all the bones of the people that have been killed during this un- happy war, which the evil spirit occasioned among us. We cover the bones that have been buried that they may be never more remembered. We again cover their places with leaves that it may be no more seen. As we have been long astray, and the path between you and us stopped, we ex- tend this belt, that it may be again cleared, and we may travel in peace to see our brethren, as our ancestors for- merly did. While you hold it fast by one end, and we by the other, we shall always be able to discover any thing that may disturb our friendship."
In reply, Colonel Bouquet said : " The peace you ask for you shall have, and much more, he added; among which, that as all the prisoners could not be delivered there, he would have two hostages put into his hands by the Sene- cas, and two for Custaloga's tribe, as security for the return of the rest of the captives, to be kept at Fort Pitt."
The Colonel, after promising to deliver back two of their people, Captain Pipe and Captain John, whom he had de- tained at Fort Pitt, took the chiefs by the hand for the first time, which gave them great joy.
November 10th. They had another conference with the Turkey and Turtle tribes of Delawares ; king Beaver, their chief, and thirty warriors, represented the former, and Ke- lappama, brother to their chief, with twenty-five warriors, the latter. (NOTE-The chief of the Turtle tribe, for some reason, chose to absent himself.)
November 11th. King Beaver presented five hostages to remain with Colonel Bouquet, and five deputies to treat with Sir William Johnson. This day he acquainted the chiefs present, that as he had great reason to be dissatisfied with
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Nettowhatways, chief of the Turtle tribe, who had not ap- peared, he therefore deposed him, and that tribe were to choose and present another for his approbation. This they did a few days afterwards. Their submitting to this indig- nity clearly shows to what a degree of humiliation they were reduced. The 12th of November was appointed for the conference with them. The Shawanese were repre- sented by seven chiefs and forty warriors. The Caughne- waugas, Seneca and Delaware chiefs, and sixty warriors, were also present. The "Red Hawk was their speaker, and delivered himself with a strange mixture of fierce pride and humble submission ;" but, as the events of the campaign are the principal things to be preserved for history, his speech is not copied. Red Hawk promised for his people, that they should in the spring bring their prisoners to Fort Pitt. That they could not before, as they had gone to a great distance to hunt, and would not return until then. He then produced the copy of a treaty held with the gov- ernment of Pennsylvania in 1701, and three messages or letters from the same, of different dates, and concluded thus : "Now, brothers, I beg we who are warriors may forget our disputes, and renew the friendship which appears by these papers to have subsisted between our fathers."
The writer then describes the interesting scene of the delivery of the prisoners, and their meeting with their friends and relatives :
" It is impossible to paint the various scenes of joy, and sorrow, horror and disappointment, and all the most tender passions, which appeared on this occasion. Fathers and mothers recognizing their once lost infants - husbands hanging round the necks of their newly found wives -sis- ters and brothers unexpectedly meeting together, after a long separation, scarce able to speak the same language, or for some time to be sure that they were children of the same parents - others flying from place to place, in eager
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BOUQUET'S EXPEDITION.
inquiries after relations not found, and trembling to receive an answer to their questions! distracted with doubts, hopes and fears on obtaining no account of those they sought! or stiffened with horror on learning their unhappy fate. The Indians, too, as if wholly forgetting their usual savageness, bore a capital part in heightening these most affecting scenes. They delivered up their beloved captives with the utmost reluctance, shed torrents of tears over them, recom- mending them to the care and protection of the command- ing officer, and continuing their regard to them all the time they remained in camp. They visited them from day to day, brought them what corn, skins, horses and other mat- ters they had bestowed on them while in their families; accompanied with other presents, and all the marks of the most sincere and tender affection. Nay they did not stop here, but when the army marched, some of the Indians soli- cited and obtained leave to accompany their former cap- tives all the way to Fort Pitt, and employed themselves in hunting and bringing provisions for them on the road. A young Mingo went still further, and gave an instance of love, which would make a figure even in romance. He had taken so great a liking to a Virginian young woman, who was among the captives, as to call her his wife. Against all remonstrances of the imminent danger to which he exposed himself by approaching the frontiers, he per- sisted in following her at the risk of being killed by the surviving relations of many unfortunate persons, who had been captivated or scalped by those of this nation ! Among the children who had been carried off young, and had long lived with the Indians, it is not to be ex- pected that any marks of joy would appear on being re- stored to their parents or relations. Having been accus- tomed to look upon the Indians as the only connexion they had ; having been tenderly treated by them and speaking their language, it is no wonder that they considered their new state in the light of captivity, and parted from the
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INDIAN SPEECH.
savages with tears. But it must not be denied that there were even some grown persons who showed an unwilling- ness to return. The Shawanese were obliged to bind several of their prisoners, and force them along to the camp; and some. women who had been delivered up after- wards found means to escape, and run back to the Indian towns. Some who could not make their escape clung to their savage acquaintances at parting, and continued in bitter lamentations, even refusing sustenance."*
" The following extract from the speech of the Shawanese chief, Lawaughqua, on delivering his prisoners, is a strong proof of what is above observed concerning their tender- ness and affection for the captives whom they had pre- served :"
"Father, says he to the English, we have brought your flesh and blood to you. They have been all united to us by adoption ; and although we now deliver them, we will ยท always look upon them as our relations, whenever the great spirit is pleased that we may visit them. We have taken as much care of them as if they were our own flesh and blood. They are now become unacquainted with your customs and manners, and therefore we request you to use them tenderly and kindly, which will induce them to live contentedly with you."
The above speech was made at Fort Pitt, the 9th of May, 1765, following the campaign, when they delivered over the rest of their prisoners in accordance with their agreement. On this occasion ten of the Shawanese chiefs, with fifty warriors, attended with many of their women and children ; a large number of the Delawares, Senecas, Sandusky, and
* Bouquet left the camp near the forts of Muskingum, the 18th November, and reached Fort Pitt on the 28th. Here ended the expedition, in which it is remarkable that the troops never suffered for necessaries, continuing healthy during the whole campaign, in which no life was lost, except the man who was killed at Muskingum. The Colonel received the thanks of the legislative councils of the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania.
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TREATTY AT FORT PITT - 1765.
other Indians, were also present. George Croghan, Esq., deputy agent of Sir William Johnson, was appointed to re- ceive them from the hands of the savages. Here they brightened the chain of friendship, and gave every assu- rance of their intention to preserve the peace inviolable. Many interesting speeches were made on this occasion, which we believe have never been published, and were found in manuscript, among the papers of Colonel George Morgan, who acted as Indian agent for several years, dur- ing the war of the revolution, at Fort Pitt.
At this time it was remarked that the Indians called the English fathers, instead of brothers, as formerly. Several pages of the manuscript, containing the opening of the treaty, and the proceedings of the first day, are lost and torn. The sound part commences with the close of a speech by Lawaughqua, a Shawanese chief:
" Father-We will now comply with every thing you have asked of us, and assure you that we are sincere in every thing we have said. Here is a belt, with the figure of our father, the king of Great Britain, at one end, and the chief of our nation at the other. This represents them holding the chain of friendship, and we hope that neither side will slip their hands from it, so long as the sun and moon give light." [A belt of seven rows.]
" Custaloga, speaker for the Delawares :
" Brethren-Yesterday you put us in mind of our engage- ments to Col. Bouquet ; we now assure you we are ready to perform every part which we have not yet complied with." [A string.]
" Brother-You desire we may again leave hostages at this place, and send other deputies to Sir William Johnson ; this we will likewise do." [A string.]
" He then addressed himself to the six nations :
" Uncles-Yesterday you desired us to be strong in com_ plying with what our brethren the English might require of us. This we are determined to do, and hope you will also do
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TREATY AT FORT PITT-1765.
every thing on your parts to forward a good peace." [A belt.]
" Brother-(Addressing himself to Col. Croghan,) as you told us you were ordered to visit the western nations, I now wipe your eyes and open your ears that you may see and hear those nations with pleasure when they speak to you. I likewise clear the way that you may have a safe passage to the place you are going." [A belt.]
" Brother-Don't imagine that what I have said comes from my lips only ; I assure you it proceeds from the bottom of our hearts ; and now by this belt I remove every evil thing from your heart, and make it like those of our ancestors when they thought of nothing but peace; and I also wipe the outside of your body clean, that not the least remains of any thing which might give you trouble may ever again appear ; and by this belt we take fast hold of you our breth- ren in peace."
[Delivered a friendship belt of twenty rows, with the figure of two men, representing the English and themselves.]
" Keyashuta then spoke to the Delawares :
"Nephews-You told us, your uncles, the six nations, that you were determined to do every thing that was requested of you by us, and our brethren the English. We are glad to hear you are come to such a resolution, and we desire you to be strong and do so." [A string.]
"Keyashuta, addressing himself to us : -
" Brethren, -I am going now to speak to you in behalf of all the nations present, and those to the sun-setting. You told us yesterday, that the General and Sir William Johnson ordered you to assure all the nations to the sun- setting, that if they performed their engagements, we should enjoy a free trade and intercourse. I hope this comes from your heart, as you see your brethren the Delawares, and your children, the Shawanese, are willing to comply with every thing you required of them. Now do not act as you have done for a year or two before these late troubles, when
-
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TREATY AT FORT PITT-1765.
you prohibited the sale of powder, lead and rum. This con- duct gave all the nations in this country a suspicion that you had designs against them; and was contrary to your first promises when you come here to settle and build this fort on our ground. You make rum and have taught us to drink it. You are fond of it yourselves, therefore don't . deprive us of it, or the liberty of purchasing goods. Open the trade and let us sell our skins, which we have brought here for that purpose, otherwise we must think you speak from your lips and not from your hearts." [A belt.]
" Brethren - When you first came to drive the French from this place, the governor of Pennsylvania sent us a message, that we should withdraw from the French, and that when the English were settled here, we should want for nothing. It's true you did supply us very well, but it was only when the war was doubtful ; and as soon as you con- quered the French, you did not care how you treated us, as you then did not think us worth your notice. We request you may not again treat us in the same manner, but now open the trade ; and do not put us off by telling us you must first hear from your great man before it can be done. If you have but little goods, let us have them for our skins ; and let us have some of your rum, or we cannot trust on what you tell us for the future." [A large belt.]
" He then added that he did not speak for himself, but was appointed by all the nations present, and that what he said was the sentiments of the whole."
"Keyashuta spoke to the Delawares, on behalf of the English and six nations, giving them an invitation to return to their old settlements, at the same time desiring them to hold fast by the chain of friendship subsisting between the English and six nations." [A belt.]
" Then Ogista, an old Seneca Indian, spoke to the Shaw- anese, and invited them to return to their old settlements, where they would be near their father, the English, and their brethren, the six nations." [A belt.]
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TREATY AT FORT PITT-1765.
At a meeting with the same Indians, Fort Pitt, May 11th, 1765 :
Present-Captain William Murray, and several officers of the garrison.
Brethren, of the Six Nations, Shawanees, Delawares, and Sandusky Indians - You yesterday answered the sev- eral speeches I delivered you the day before, from his Ex- cellency, General Gage; and you have agreed to comply with every thing he desired of you. Brethren, you have done right, in complying with the General's requests, and you may be assured, I will represent your readiness on this occasion to Sir William Johnson in a proper manner.
"Brethren - When first your brethren, the English, settled here, they kindled a council fire for all the nations of In- dians to the sun-setting; but for two years past this fire has been neglected, and was near going out. Now breth- ren, I put some good dry wood on your council fire, that it may blaze up to the sky, so that all nations may see it, and come here to smoke with their brethren, the English, in peace.
" Brethren -Now I have kindled your council fire, and made it burn clear, I again with this belt disperse all the dark clouds that have been hanging over your heads for some time past, that you may see the sun clear.
" Brethren - You have now appointed a deputation to go to Sir William Johnson, of your several nations, to confirm a lasting peace, as you promised Colonel Bouquet, last fall. You have made a good choice. I am well acquainted with your tribes, and I know those to be chiefs and men of con- sequence in your nation, and approve of them; therefore, brethren, I now make the road smooth and easy to their feet, and remove any logs that may have fallen across it, that you may travel safe to Sir William Johnson.
" Brethren, the Shawanees - You yesterday delivered to Captain Murray and me a number of our own people, agreeable to your promises, and say the few remaining, 5
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TREATY AT FORT PITT-1765.
which were out a-hunting, should be brought here as soon as possible. Your conduct in this is very agreeable, and convinces us of your sincerity ; and you may be assured I will represent it properly to the General and Sir William Johnson ; and I desire you will as soon as possible bring in those you left behind.
" Brethren - Yesterday you made two speeches concern- ing our past conduct in trade. I must observe to you, that had we a mind to recapitulate injuries, we could convince you that we have much more reason to complain of your conduct, than you have of ours ; but we have thrown away from our remembrance every thing that gave us any trou- ble, and I hope your future conduct will give us no reason to repeat past offences. And to convince you of our sin- cerity, the commanding officer here, although he has no or- ders for it, will take upon himself to open the trade and suffer you to purchase such necessaries as are here, which is but little, owing to your own backwardness in not coming here earlier in the spring, as you promised ; but as soon as the General is made acquainted with your conduct at this meeting, he will order out traders to supply you with all the necessaries you may want.
" Brethren - You desire that rum may be sold to you. The traders here have none ; but as soon as you have sold your peltry and are setting out for your own country, Cap- tain Murray will make you a present of some.
" Brethren - I have now finished every thing I had to say to you, only to acquaint you that the General, willing to convince you of the sincerity he has towards you, has ordered Captain Murray and me, on your complying with what he ordered me to require of you, to make you a pre- sent of goods to clothe your women and children, which we now deliver to your several tribes."
After the presents were delivered, Keyashuta spoke to the Delawares and Shawanees --
" Nephews, the Delawares, and younger brother, the
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TREATY AT FORT PITT-1765.
Shawanees - You have now heard every thing your father, the English, had to say to you, and as you have answered them, that you will comply with every thing, be strong. We have appointed deputies to go to Sir William Johnson, and men to attend George Croghan on his journey. Here is one of our chiefs who is to stay here with his family to as- sist our brethren, the English, in council.
Then he addressed himself to Captain Murray and me, and appointed the chief, saying this is the man appointed to stay here until our return.
Then Custaloga spoke to the Six Nations in behalf of the Delawares.
" Uncles - You yesterday desired us to return to our old settlements and live in peace with our fathers, the English. This I assure you we will do; and you shall see us kindle our fires again at our old places." [Gave a belt.]
Then addressing himself to the English -
" Fathers -I must now call you. It's your desire that we appoint deputies. This is done, and we send such men as are best acquainted with the affairs of our nation."
Here end the transactions at this treaty, and immedi- ately after commences the journal of Colonel George Cro- ghan, kept during his journey to the western tribes, and his interview with the governor or commandant at Detroit. As this was the first visit of the kind since the country came into the possession of the English, it is well worth preserving, not only as a matter of history, but also to show the strong attachment of all the western tribes to their old favorites, the French.
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JOURNAL OF COLONEL CROGHAN -1765.
CHAPTER IV.
Journal of George Croghan, deputy Indian agent, while on a friendly visit to the western tribes .- Leaves Fort Pitt .- Arrives at the mouth of the Scioto .- Shawanees deliver up seven French traders .- Arrives at the mouth of the Ouabache .- Encamps seven miles below, and is attacked in the night by the Kickapoo Indians .- Arrives at Post Vincent .- Reaches the Kickapoo town. -Meets an assembly of the western tribes, with the chief, Pondiac, at Weo- tonan .- Proceeds to Detroit .- The Ottowas and Tawightwi Indians give up English prisoners .- A treaty held with the Indians at Detroit, and speeches made .- Intrigues of the French with the Indians .- Fort Chartres occupied by Captain Sterling, with part of the 42d regiment .- The Indians of the St. Joseph river make speeches to Croghan and Campbell .- Close of the jour- nal .- Croghan arrives at Fort Stanwix .- His letter to Sir William Johnson, with his views of the policy towards the Indians, best to be pursued by the English.
" MAY 15. Set off from Fort Pitt and encamped at Scher- tree's Island. (Probably Chartier.)
"May 16th. Being joined by the several deputies that were to accompany me, we set off at seven o'clock in the morning.
" May 19th. I sent a message to the Shawanees, by land, for some of them to bring to me the French traders that yet remained in their country, to the mouth of the Scioto, that I might take them with me to their own country, as they were not suffered to trade there, until they had obtained permission from his excellency General Gage and Sir Wil- liam Johnson.
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