USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 42
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"Brethren-I am very sorry to hear of your troubles ; and I hope you and your brethren, the Six Nations, will let the French know that you are a free people, and will not be imposed on by them ; to assure you that I have your troubles much at heart, I present you this belt and this present of goods, to cloath your families." Gave a belt of wampum, which was received with the Yo-HAH.
A speech delivered to the Twightwees, from the Hon. James Hamilton, Esq .. Governor of Pennsyvania, by George Croghan.
" Brethren, the Twightwees-As you are an ancient and renowned nation, I was well pleased when you sent your deputies, now three years ago, to solicit alliance ; nor did we hesitate to grant you your request, as it came so warmly recommended to us, by our brethren, the Six Nations, Delawares and Shawonese, At your further request, we ordered our traders to go amongst you, and supply you with goods at as reasonable rates as they could afford ; we understand, that in obedience to our commands, our traders have given full satisfaction to your request. In one of your towns, about three months ago, Mr. George Croghan likewise informs us, that some more of your tribes earnestly requested to become our allies ; he and Mr. Montour did receive a writing from you, certifying such your request, and containing your promises of fidelity and friendship, which we have seen and approved of.
"Brethren-We have recommended it to our brethren, the Six Nations, to give you their advice, how you should behave in your alliance with us, and we expect you will follow it; that the friendship now subsisting between us, the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Wandotts and you, may become as strong as a great mountain which the winds constantly blow against, but never overset.
" Brethren-To assure you of our hearty inclinations towards you, I make you the present of goods : and that this speech which I make you now, in conjunction with the Six Nations, may have its full force on your minds, I present you this belt of wampum."-Gave a belt, which was received with the Yo-HAH.
A speech made to the Six United Nations, by George Croghan, in behalf of the Hon. James Hamilton, Esq., Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania.
" Brethren, the Six Nations, hear what I have to say to you- Brethren, it is a great while since we, your brothers, the English, first came over the great water, (meaning the sea)-as soon as our ship struck the land, you, the Six Nations, took hold of her, and tied her to the bushes, and for fear the bushes would not be strong enough to hold her, you removed the rope and tied it about a great tree ; then fearing the winds would blow the tree down, you removed the rope, and tied it
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about a great mountain in the country, (meaning the Onondago country,) and since that time, we have lived in true brotherly love and friendship together. Now brethren, since that, there are several nations joined in friendship with you and us, and of late, our brethren the Twightwees. Now, brethren, as you are the head of all the nations of Indians, I warmly recommend it to you, to give our brethren, the Twightwees, your best advice, that they may know how to behave in their new alli. ance ; and likewise, I give our brethren, the Wandotts, in charge to you, that you may strengthen them to withstand their enemies, the French, who, I understand, treat them more like enemies than children, though they call themselves their fathers.
"Brethren-I hope we, your brothers, the English, and you, the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Wandotts and Twightwees, will con- tinue in such brotherly love and friendship, that it will be as strong as that mountain to which you tied our ship. Now, brethren, I am in- formed by George Croghan, that the French obstruct my traders and carry away their persons and goods, and are guilty of many outrageous practices, whereby the roads are rendered unsafe to travel in ; nor can we ask our traders to go amongst you, whilst their lives and effects are in such great danger. How comes this to pass ? Don't this proceed from the pride of ONONTIO,* whom the Indians call their father, because they don't see his ill designs ? The strong houses you gave him leave to erect on your lands, serve (as your brethren, the English, always told you,) to impoverish you, and keep your wives and children always naked, by keeping the English traders at a distance : the French well knowing that the English sell their goods cheaper than they can afford : and, I can assure you, ONONTIO will never rest while an English trader comes to Ohio. And, indeed, if you don't open your eyes and put a stop to his proceedings, he will gain his ends.
"Brethren-I hope you will consider well what ONONTIo means, or is about to do. To enforce what I have been saying on your minds, I present you this belt of wampum." Gave a belt .- They received this belt with Yo-HAH.
The speaker of the Six Nations made the following speech to Monsieur Joncœur, in open council. He spoke very quick and sharp, with the air of a warrior.
" Father -- How comes it that you have broken the general peace ? Is it not three years since you as well as our brothers, the English told us, that there was peace between the English and the French ? and, how comes it, that you have taken our brothers as prisoners on our lands ? Is it not our land ? (stamping on the ground and putting his finger to Joncoeur's nose). What right has Onontio to our lands ? I desire you may go home directly, off from our lands, and tell Onontio to send us word immediately, what was his reason for using our brothers so ; or, what he means by such proceedings, that we may know what to do, for I can assure Onontio, that we, the Six Nations, will not take such usage. You hear what I say ? These are the sentiments of our Nations. Tell
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it to Onontio, that that is what the Six Nations said to you." Gave four strings of black wampum.
After which, the chiefs of the Indians ordered the goods to be delivered; and appointed some of each nation to stand by to see it done, so that' those that were absent might have a sufficient share laid by for them.
After which, the chiefs made a speech, and told me it was a custom with their brothers whenever they went to council, to have their guns, kettles and hatchets mended, and desired that I might order that done, for they could not go home till they had that done. So Mr. Montour and I agreed to comply with their request, and ordered it done, that they might depart well satisfied.
May 29th-Present. (Same persons that were present the 28th.) The BEAVER, the speaker of the Delawares made the following speech, in answer to the speech made them yesterday :
" Brethren-(Directing his speech to the Governor of Pennsylvania,) We heard what you said to us yesterday, we thank you for considering our lamentable condition for want of a chief. It is true what you told us, we have been like people in the dark, not knowing where to go. nor what to do. Now brothers, our hearts are glad, for you have opened our eyes that we may see the sun clear, and you have directed us how to behave. It is good, we will be directed by you, our brothers, and do what you bid us ; and to assure you our hearts are ready to receive your advice, we send you those two strings of wampum." -- Gave two strings.
He added : That as all their wise men were not gathered together, it would take sometime to consider on a man that was fit to undertake to rule a nation of people, but as soon as possible, they would make a full answer; which, they hoped, would give satisfaction to their brothers, the English, and the Six Nations.
A speech received from the Shawnese in answer to the speech delivered to them yesterday.
KEISHEQUEATAMA, Speaker :
" Brethren-(Directing his speech to the Governor of Pennsylvania,) We, the Shawonese, return you our hearty thanks for the kind speech you made yesterday; you have now washed our eyes and opened our ears, that we may see the sun clear, and hear what you, our brothers, will, at any time, say to us ; and we assure you, our brothers, the Eng- lish, our hearts are all good and true towards you ; and we will be ready and willing at any time, to hear what you say to us, and will take your advice kindly, and to assure you of the truth of what we say, we send you those three strings of wampum."-Gave three strings.
A speech received from the chiefs of the several nations, one of the Six Nation's speakers in answer to the speakers sent there last winter by the Governor of Virginia, by Mr. Christopher Guest .*
" Brethren-(Directing their discourse to the Governor of Virginia,) We received your messages by your messenger, Mr. Guest, letting us know that our great father beyond the seas not forgetting us, his children, on this side the great water, has sent us a present of goods to your care
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for us ; we all return you our hearty thanks for your care in sending us word so soon as you did. Now, brethren, we expect you will consider that we are a poor people, and at war with the southward Indians, and don't know but some of our Nations may soon be struck by the French, so that it is not in our power to go down to hear what our great father has to say to us; but, our brothers of Pennsylvania have kindled a council fire here, and we expect you will send our father's speeches to us here ; for we long to hear what our great father, the King of Great Britain, has to say to us, his poor children. Brother, that his speech may have its full effect on your minds, we send you these four strings of wampum." Gave four strings.
A speech made by the Commissioners of the Wandotts, sent to the Council by that Nation to receive what speakers their brothers, the English, had brought them.
The GREAT ARROW, Speaker :
" Brothers -- We have heard what you said yesterday to our nation. We return you our hearty thanks for the care of us and our people ; but as we are not impowered to give a full answer, we desire to be excused at this time ; but, upon our return home, we will call a council, and then our brothers may expect a suitable answer to the kind speeches they have sent us. I hope our brother, the Governor, will accept those four strings of wampum till they get a full answer." Gave four strings.
A speech received from the Six Nation's speaker, who directed his dis- course to the Governor of Pennsylvania.
TAWAGO, CONAJAREA,
'TORASONGHHO, CONNESTRAHO, CONTUGHQUA,
Six Nation Chiefs.
TOANOHISO, Speaker :
" Brother -- We, your brethren, the Six Nations, have heard what you said to us yesterday. We thank you for your good advice, and you may depend on our giving our new brethren, the TWIGHTWEES, our best advice ; and, we will have them and the Wandotts always under our eyes, as well as the Delawares and Shawonese, that we may all become as one people, which is the way to be as strong on Ohio, as that moun- tain which you mention in your speech, which is the Onondago country.
"Brother-As to what you mention of the traders being taken by the French, we, your brethren, the Six Nations, have a true sense of the ill- usage you have received from the French, and we can assure you, we will take a method to oblige the French to make satisfaction. Brother, we have discharged the French from amongst us, and told them that they should not build upon our land. Now, brothers, we have been considering what the French mean by their behavior; and believe they want to cheat us out of our country ; but we will stop them. And broth- er, you must help us-we expect that you, our brothers, will build a strong house on the river Ohio; that if we should be obliged to engage in a war, that we should have a place to secure our wives and children ;
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likewise, to secure our brothers that come to trade with us ; for without our brothers supply us with goods, we cannot live; now, brothers, we will take two months to consider and choose out a place fit for that pur- pose, and then we will send you word. We hope, brothers, as soon as you receive our message you will order such a house to be built. Broth- ers, that you may consider well the necessity of building such a place of security to strengthen our arms, and that this our first request of that kind may have a good effect on your minds, we send you this belt of wampum." Gave a belt.
A speech made by the Six Nations in behalf of the Twightwees, as none of them were present :
"Brethren-We, your brothers, the Six Nations, received your mes- sage to the Twightwees, and the present which, we assure you, we will deliver them safe, and we will join you and make a speech to them, to let them understand that we will put our hands on their heads, so that, if any Nation strikes them our fingers must first be cut off before they are hurt. We hope this speech with the present will have its desired effect on the minds of our new brethren, so that we may all become uni- ted as one people." Gave two strips of wampum.
May 30th-I took my leave of the Chiefs of the several Nations, when I made each of them some small presents reserved for that purpose by Mr. Montour and myself. They wished me a good journey home, and desired they might be remembered to their brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and all the wise counsellors; and desired me to assure them that they would always observe what their brothers, the English, would tell them.
[NO. VI.] WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL, 1753.
(From Spark's edition of Washington's writings, vol. 1. pp. 427-447.)
"Intelligence had been received from time to time that the French were making encroachments on what was deemed British territory be- yond the Allegheny mountains. Messengers were sent out for observa- tion and inquiry, who had brought back various reports, and particularly that a French army was approaching from Canada, with a view to erect fortifications on the Ohio river, and take possession of the whole country in the name of the French King. As this region was supposed to be within the limits of Virginia, Governor Dinwiddie regarded it as his duty, in conformity with his instructions, to watch the motions of the French, and make preparations for defending the British claims. He resolved to send a commissioner duly authorized to demand of the prin- cipal French officer his designs, to ascertain facts, and to make such observations as his opportunities would allow. Major Washington was selected for this arduous undertaking. His knowledge of the Indians, his practical acquaintance with the modes of living and travelling in the woods, acquired in his surveying expeditions, and the marked traits of
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character, which he had already displayed, were doubtless the qualities that recommended him for this delicate and important mission, although he was not yet twenty-two years of age. The following instructions from Governor Dinwiddie, and extracts of letters written by him to the Board of Trade in London, will indicate the objects and nature of his service."
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON.
" Whereas, I have received information of a body of French forces being assembled in a hostile manner on the river Ohio, intending by force of arms to erect certain forts on the said river within this territory, and contrary to the dignity and peace of our sovereign the King of Great Britain.
"These are therefore to require and direct you, the said George Washington, forthwith to repair to Logstown on the said river Ohio; and having there informed yourself where the said French forces have posted themselves, thereupon to proceed to such place; and, being there arrived, to present your credentials, together with my letter, to the chief commanding officer, and in the name of his Brittannic Majesty to demand an answer thereto.
"On your arrival at Logstown you are to address yourself to the Half-King, to Monacatoocha, and other sachems of the Six Nations, ac- quainting them with your orders to visit and deliver my letter to the French commanding officer, and desiring the said Chiefs to appoint you a sufficient number of their warriors to be your safe-guard as near the French as you may desire, and wait your further direction.
"You are diligently to inquire into the numbers and force of the French on the Ohio, and the adjacent country; how they are likely to be assisted from Canada; and what are the difficulties and conveniences of that communication, and the time required for it.
"You are to take care to be truly informed what forts the French have erected, and where; how they are garrisoned and appointed, and what is their distance from each other, and from Logstown: and from the best intelligence you can procure, you are to learn what gave occasion to this expedition of the French; how they are likely to be supported, and what their pretensions are.
"When the French commandant has given you the required and ne- cessary despatches, you are to desire of him a proper guard to protect you as far on your return, as you may judge for your safety, against any straggling Indians or hunters, that may be ignorant of your character, and molest you.
"Wishing you good success in your negotiation, and safe and speedy return, I am, &c. " ROBERT DINWIDDIE."
" WILLIAMSBURG, 30 October, 1753." .
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQUIRE, ONE OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERALS OF THE TROOPS AND FORCES IN THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA.
"I, reposing special trust and confidence in the ability, conduct, and fidelity of you, the said George Washington, have appointed you my express messenger ; and you are hereby authorized and empowered to proceed hence, with all convenient and possible dispatch, to the part
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or place, on the river Ohio, where the French have lately erected a fort or forts, or where the commandant of the French forces resides, in order to deliver my letter and message to him; and after waiting not exceeding one week for an answer, you are to take your leave and re- turn immediately back.
" To this commission I have set my hand, and caused the great seal of this Dominion to be affixed, at the city of Williamsburg, the seat of my government, this 30th day of October, in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of his Majesty George the Second, King of Great Britain, &c., &c., annoque Domini, 1753. "ROBERT DINWIDDIE."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME OR CONCERN, GREETING:
" Whereas I have appointed George Washington, Esquire, by com- mission under the great seal, my express messenger to the commandant of the French forces on the river Ohio, and as he is charged with busi- ness of great importance to his Majesty and this Dominion ;
"I do hereby command all his Majesty's subjects, and particularly require all in alliance and amity with the crown of Great Britain, and all others to whom this passport may come, agreeably to the law of nations, to be aiding and assisting as a safeguard to the said George Washington and his attendants, in his present passage to and from the river Ohio as aforesaid.
"ROBERT DINWIDDIE."
TO THE LORDS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE.
" RIGHT HONORABLE :
"My last to you was on the 16th of June, to which I beg you to be referred. In that I acquainted you of the accounts we have had of the French, with the Indians in their interest, invading his Majesty's lands on the river Ohio.
"The person sent as a commissioner to the commandant of the French forces neglected his duty, and went no further than Logstown on the Ohio. He reports the French were then one hundred and fifty miles further up that river, and I believe was afraid to go to them. On the application of the Indians in friendship with us on the Ohio, I sent Mr. William Trent, with guns, powder, and shot to them, with some cloth- ing ; and enclosed I send you his report and conference with these peo- ple, on his delivering them the present .*
* A copy of Trent's Journal is preserved among the papers in the office of the Board of Trade. Trent reports his having been informed by an Indian, that "the French say they took possession of all the lands on the other side of the Allegheny Hill for the King of France, three years ago, by sinking iron plates at the mouth of several of the creeks, and putting up tin plates on the trees." [MS. Journal.] This circumstance is also mentioned in Smith's "His- tory of Canada, Vol. 1, p. 209."
Within a few years one of these plates has been found near the mouth of the Muskingum. It was a leaden and not an iron plate, eight inches by ten in size, and three-eighths of an inch thick, with an inscription dated August 16th, 1749. In addition to the names and words of form, the inscription affirms: "We have deposited this plate as a monument and memorial of the re-estab- lishment of our power in the territory, which we claim near the river [Ohio] and near all those which empty into it, and in all that country on both sides, in the neighborhood of the sources of those rivers, and which we have gained to our empire by a long line of wise and prudent princes, maintained by our arms and solemn treaties, especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix-
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WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL, 1753.
" I have received by a man-of-war sloop, orders from the Right Hon- orable Earl of Holdernesse, and instructions from his Majesty. In con- sequence thereof I have sent one of the adjutants of the militia out to the commander of the French forces, to know their intentions and by what authority they presume to invade his Majesty's dominions in the time of tranquil peace. When he returns I shall transmit you an account of his proceedings, and the French commander's answer.
" Your Lordships' &c., "ROBERT DINWIDDIE."
We insert the whole of this Journal, containing as it does, an interest- ing account of Washington's first public service, and indicating some strong traits of the writer's character.
WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL OF A TOUR OVER THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.
"I was commissioned and appointed by the Honorable Robert Din- widdie, Esquire, Governor, &c., of Virginia, to visit and deliver a letter to the commandant of the French forces at the Ohio, and set out on the intended journey on the same day : the next, I arrived at Fredericks- burg, and engaged Mr. Jacob Vanbraam to be my French interpreter, and proceeded with him to Alexandria, where we provided necessaries. From thence we went to Winchester, and got baggage horses, &c., and from thence we pursued the new road to Wills' creek, where we arrived on the 14th November.
"Here I engaged Mr. Gist to pilot us out, and also hired four others as servitors, Barnaby Currin and John McQuire, Indian traders, Henry Steward and William Jenkins; and in company with these persons left the inhabitants the next day.
"The excessive rains and vast quantities of snow which had fallen, prevented our reaching Mr. Trazier's, an Indian trader, at the mouth of Turtle creek, on Monongahela river, till Thursday the 22d. We were informed here, that expresses had been sent a few days before to the traders down the river, to acquaint them with the French general's death, and the return of the major part of the French army into winter quarters.
"The waters were quite impassible without swimming our horses, which obliged us to get the loan of a canoe from Frazier, and to send Barnaby Curran and Henry Seward down the Monongahela, with our baggage, to meet us at the forks of Ohio, about ten miles below ; there to cross the Allegheny.
"As I got down before the canoe, I spent some time in viewing the rivers, and the land in the fork, which I think extremely well situated for a fort, as it has the absolute command of both rivers. The land at the point is twenty-five feet above the common surface of the water; and a considerable bottom of flat well timbered land all around it very convenient for building. The rivers are each a quarter of a mile or more across, and run here very nearly at right angles ; Allegheny, bear- ing north-east; and Monongahela, south-east. The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running water, the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall.
la-Chapelle." The name of the officer, who deposited the plates, was Celeron. Communicated by Mr. William Smith, of Quebec, author of the " History of Canada."
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"About two miles from this, on the south-east side of the river, at the place where the Ohio company intended to erect a fort, lives Shing- iss, king of the Delawares. We called upon him to invite him to a council at Logstown.
"As I had taken a good deal of notice yesterday of the situation at the fork, my curiosity led me to examine this more particularly, and I think it greatly inferior, either for defence or advantages; especially the latter. For a fort at the fork would be equally well situated on the Ohio, and have the entire command of the Monongahela, which runs up our set- tlement, and is extremely well designed for water carriage, as it is of a deep, still nature. Besides, a fort at the fork might be built at much less expense, than at the other place.
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