USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 58
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Your friend and brother,
RED HAWK, or Mesquapamesque, Chief Captain."
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APPENDIX-NO. XVI.
At a conference held with the Senecas, living upon the Ohio and Cus- tologa, (tribe of Delawares,) at the camp upon Muskingnm, Novem- ber 9th, 1764.
Present-Col. Henry Bouquet, commanding his Majesty's forces in the Southern district, and all the officers mentioned, and several ! gentlemen of the army, at the former conference.
Mr. Alexander M'Kee, assistant agent for Indian affairs.
Indians-KEYASHUTA, Chief, and ten warriors, Senecas ; CUSTOLOGA, Chief, and twenty warriors.
KEYASHUTA, speaker : " Brother, the misfortune which has happened, of one of your people being murdered, the day before yesterday, gives us the same sorrow it gives you ; and we beg, that this accident may be no hindrance to the friendship already begun between us." A string.
" Brother: By this string of wampum, we wipe the tears from your eyes, and remove from your heart, the resentment which this murder has raised against us ; and we hope that you will throw away every thing bad that this may have occasioned, and hear us freely." A string.
" Brother : We have strictly complied with your desire, and now de- liver you these three prisoners, which are the last of your flesh and blood that remain among us. The Senecas and Custologa tribes are now gathered together, and bury, with this belt, all the bones of the people killed during this unhappy war, which the evil spirit occasioned among us. Brother, we cover the bones which have been buried, in such a manner, that they never more be remembered." A belt.
" Brother : We cover them again with leaves, that the place where they are buried, may never more be seen." A string.
" Brother : As we have been along time astray, and the path between us and you stopt, we hope the path will be again cleared ; and we now extend this belt of wampum between you and us, that we may again travel in peace to see our brothers, as our ancestors formerly did ; and as you will hold it by one end, and we by the other, and we hope we: shall always be able to discover any thing that may happen to disturb our friendship." A belt.
" Brother : As we have now extended a belt representing the road between you and us, we beg that you will take fast hold of it, that the path may always be kept open between us. This is all we have to say at present." A string.
Colonel Bouquet's answer to Keyashuta and Custologo, at the camp upon Muskingum, Nov. 9th, 1764.
". I have heard with pleasure the speeches you have made, which I shall now answer." A string.
"Two days ago, one of our men was murdered. I do not charge you, personally, with that murder ; but as it has been committed in your country, the blood must remain upon your heads, till the murderer be delivered up, to be punished capitally." A string.
"I received these three last prisoners, which you now deliver, and I bury the bones of the people who fell in the war, so that the place be no more seen." A string.
" Your readiness in complying with every condition I have already [158]
BOUQUET'S JOURNAL. 1764.
required of you, convinces me, that your intentions are upright, and con- sequently, I will now treat you as brethren, and speak to you as such." A string.
Brother : You ask peace. The king, my master, and your father, has appointed me to make war upon you; but he has other servants, who are employed in the work of peace ; and his Majesty has been pleased to empower Sir William Johnson, to make peace with the Indians ; it is to him, therefore, that you are to apply ; but before I can give you leave to send to him, two things are necessary to be settled : The first is, that as peace is not yet made, you will deliver to me four officers as hostages, viz :- two for the Senecas, and two for the Custalogos tribe, who are to remain in our hands at Fort Pitt, till the peace is concluded with Sir William Johnson. as a security that you shall commit no hostilities, or violence against any of his Majesty's subjects or properties ; and when the peace is made, they shall be delivered back to you." A belt.
The second is, that the deputies you are to send to Sir William John- son, be fully empowered by you to treat for your tribes, and that you engage to abide by what they stipulate in the treaty. Sir Wm. Johnson, will settle every thing concerning trades, or any other points, necessary to render the peace everlasting.". A belt.
" Brother : The deputies you are to send to Sir William Johnson, as well as the hostages to be delivered in my hand, are to be named and presented to me for my approbation." A string.
"I will inform Sir William Johnson of what has passed between us, and I speak to you now, on your own belts, that your deputies may re- peat to Sir William Johnson, all you have said to me." A belt.
" Brothers : I believe you have now delivered up all the prisoners you had in your tribes ; but, if any should yet be discovered amongst you hereafter, you are to deliver them at fort Pitt, as well as any of those now delivered up that might return to you." A string.
" Brother: You have not mentioned to me Captain Pipe and Captain John, who are both detained at fort Pitt, but I have not forgotten them, but as you have now delivered to us all our people, I will return to you these two. There are still more of your people amongst us, but as they are not my prisoners, I cannot dispose of them ; but I will recommend it to the general to have them given to you, when the peace is concluded. The Colonel took then, for the first time, the chief by his hand, which occasioned great joy amongst them."
At a conference held with the Turkey and Turtle tribes of the Dela- wares, at the Camp aforesaid, Nov. 10, 1764.
Present-Col. Bouquet, with the officers, &c.
Indians-KING BEAVER, chief of the 'Turkey tribe, and twenty warriors, KILEPAMA, chief of the Turtle tribe, with twenty-five warriors, CUSTALOGO, KEYASHUTA, with the Indians present on yes- terday.
It gave us great satisfaction to hear the good speech you made yester- day to one of our tribes, and as you desired at Tuscarowas, to see your flesh and blood, I now deliver thirteen, who are the last we have remain- ing in our tribes ; and it will likewise give us great pleasure, that you
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APPENDIX-NO. XVI.
will take us once more by the hand as your brethren, that we may travel the road now open us, in peace to see you. A string.
"Brother: I return a great many thanks in behalf of the chiefs, warriors, women and children of our three tribes, who are all glad to embrace peace once more with their brethren ; and we likewise return God thanks, for giving us the opportunity to take you by the hand in peace, which shall never more be broken on our side. Our young men shall now think of nothing but hunting, to exchange their skins and furs with their brethren for clothing." A belt.
" Brother : Should we at any time discover any of your people who are not now delivered to you, they shall immediately be sent you, as well as those who may attempt to return to us." A string.
Col. Bouquet desired to know before he spoke to them, the reason there was no chief of the Turtle tribe. They answered, their chief was not present, but that his brother, KALATAMA, acted for him. The Colo- nel then asked them whether they would choose to have the speech delivered yesterday to the Senecas and Custologa tribes, repeated to them ; which they said they would be glad to hear from himself; upon which the same was repeated with the following addition, that an Eng- lishman has been murdered by some of their people on the frontiers, and that they had brought the scalp to their nation, that they should be immediately delivered up, and that each tribe should deliver the same number of hostages and appoint the same number of deputies as had been stipulated to Sir William Johnson. A belt.
Nov. 10th-In the evening, the officers and three men of the Virginia volunteers returned, who had been sent the 2d inst., with a message to the Wyandotts, and brought the following message from one of their chiefs.
To Col. Bouquet :
" As I have received certain intelligence, that all our chiefs have left their towns, and gone some distance to the westward to hunt, I hope you may not take it amiss, that I do not proceed after them, being un- acquainted with the places they may resort to. But I will send one of our young men this winter to deliver your message to them ; their an- swers to which, you shall be acquainted with early in the spring, at which time we can conveniently carry all our prisoners to fort Pitt.
Signed, OTERUNKQUE."
Written the 8th of November, 1764, near the head of Sciota.
The above officer was informed at a Delaware town, that the Wyan- dotts have passed that town with a number of horses, which they had stolen from the English.
At a private conference held with the chiefs of the Delawares, the 11th instant.
Present-Col. BOUQUET, Col. REED, Capt. OURRY, Mr. ALEX. M'KEE. Indians-CUSTOLOGA, KING BEAVER, the NEW-COMEN-BAD.
KING BEAVER, speaker :
"Brother : Yesterday you desired that we would appoint and present to you, the hostages to be left in your hands. We have named six and [160]
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BOUQUET'S JOURNAL, 1764.
also five, to go to Sir William Johnson. They are men of experience, on whom we can rely, and proper to treat for us. Their names are,
Hostages.
Deputies.
Mondeaticker, Mendies, or Davis,
Killbuck,
Keyeveyaughing,
Killachkpcher, or Andrew Taump,
Lahalapowhy, or Kitchen,
Katepakomen, or Simon Girty,
Telapiskeva,
Possquetonckena, or Jo. Compass, Waylskonowas.
Luquest, or Flour.
"Brother: You desire to know the deputies and hostages we should appoint ; you have now their names, and these are the men. You also required of us the man who had killed one of your soldiers. It is not in our power to deliver him, but as soon as we can discover who he is, and of what nation, we shall inform you, and then you can demand him of his chiefs." A string.
Col. Bouquet's answer :
" Brothers : I am glad you have appointed the deputies and hostages required of you. I have no objection to the persons you mentioned ; they shall be well treated, and we shall take the same care of them as of our own people.
"I am satisfied for the present with what you say in regard to the man who has struck us. As soon as I shall know of what nation, I shall demand of the chief, and you will then be clear of the blame. I think it not proper, that any of your people should go to our settlements ; the inhabitants not being yet reconciled with you; but if some of you are desirous of going to fort Pitt, you may with safety." A string.
The BEAVER spoke :
" Brother : We now have produced to you the deputies we intend to send to Sir William Johnson; as they cannot understand nor express themselves in English, we beg you will send an interpreter with them." A string.
Col. Bouquet's answer :
" Brother : You shall have from me, all necessary assistance, and if you tell me what man you choose for an interpreter, I will appoint him." A string.
The BEAVER's reply :
" As Owens speaks our language so well, and is accustomed to the words, we should be glad if he could accompany them.
Col. Bouquet-They shall have him.
The Colonel then spoke to the chiefs :
" The chief of the Turtle tribe having given me great reason to be dissatisfied with his conduct, I depose him this moment, he is no more chief. That tribe is therefore, to choose another chief, and present him to me, and I will confirm him, and he shall be king of the Turtle tribe, al d acknowledged as such by the English.
"Richoumeack, or the Two Feathers, and Cockadanis is to go with the captives to fort Pitt."
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APPENDIX-NO. XVI.
Minutes of a conference held with the Shawanese, Nov. 12, 1764, Col. Bouquet, with the officers and several gentlemen, as mentioned in the former, held with the Delawares.
Indians, Shawanese -- KEISSINAUCTHAT and NEMICHA, chiefs, RED- HAWK, LAWISSIMO, BENSIWASIUA, ERVENCEUNWEE, KEIGH- TUGHQUE, and forty warriors.
Senecas-KEYISHUTA, and ten warriors.
Cocknewagaas-OSHHARRYGOWA, a chief and twenty warriors. Delawares-CUSTOLOGA and KING BEAVER, chiefs, and thirty warriors.
The RED-HAWK, speaker :
" Brother : We have come to this place to see you, and thank God, that we are here met together, which gives us all a great deal of pleasure.
" Brother : You will listen to us, who are your younger brothers, and as we discover something in your eyes which shews you are not satis- fied with us ; we now wipe away every thing bad between us, that you may see clearly ; and, as you have heard many bad stories, we likewise clean your ears that you may hear us speak, and remove every thing bad from your heart, that it may be like the heart of your ancestors of whom they thought nothing but good." A string.
" Brother : When you arrived at this place, and we were informed of your desire, we immediately set about gathering your flesh and blood ; and accordingly all that could be collected by this time, we have brought to you ; but there remain more among us which you may assure yourself you may see in the spring.
" Brother : One year and a half ago, we made a peace with you at Fort Pitt, which was soon after broken; but that was neither your fault nor ours ; but the whole blame is to be laid on the Ottowas, who are a foolish people, and are the cause of this war. When we now saw you coming this road, you advanced towards us with a tomahawk in your hand, but we, your younger brothers, take it out of your hand and send it up to God to dispose of it as he pleases, by which means we hope never to see it any more. And now, brethren, we beg leave that you, who are a warrior, will take hold of this chain of friendship and receive it from us, who are always warriors, and let us think no more of war, but to take pity on our old men, women and children." A string.
" Brother : Since the peace we made at Fort Pitt many of our young men on both sides have been killed by this war occasioned by the Otto- was ; but now I know we bury their bones, so that they shall be seen no more.
" Brother : Now we have thrown away every thing bad out of our hearts. We hope you will hear favorably of our good men who are not now at home; but will surely come to speak with you in the spring at fort Pitt, and then you shall hear nothing but good." A belt.
"'This is all your younger brethren have to say to you at present." [162 ]
BOUQUET'S JOURNAL, 1764.
They then produced the following messages, letters and treaties which were read :
A treaty held with them, April 23d, 1701 .*
A message from Governor Gordon, Dec. 4th, 1730.
A letter from Thomas Penn, Jan. 18th, 1732.
Another letter from Gov. Thomas, Aug. 15th, 1742.
After which he added :
"Now, brother, I beg that we, who are warriors, may forget our dis- putes, and renew the ancient friendship which appears by these papers to have subsisted between our ancestors."
Col. Bouquet answered :
"Captain and Warriors : I have heard your speaker, and have seen the papers you have laid before me. I shall take them into considera- tion, and to-morrow morning I will give you my answer at this place. In the meantime I will receive the few prisoners you have brought us."
They delivered thirty-six prisoners.
At a Conference held with the Shawanese at Muskingum, 14th No- vember, 1764.
Present-Colonel BOUQUET, with the same Officers and Indians as at the Conference of the 12th.
Col. Bouquet's speech to the Shawanese :
" Captains and Warriors : The speech you delivered, the day before yesterday, would have been agreeable to me, if your actions had corres- ponded with your words. You spoke much of your disposition of peace, but at the same time you neglected to comply with the only con- dition upon which you can obtain it. 'To set this matter in a clear light, I will repeat to you what has passed between me and your Chiefs .. 1 received as a message, by two Indians, at Fort Pitt, of the Six Nations, who were empowered by the Senecas living upon the Ohio, the Dela- wares and Shawanese, to ask for peace. I told them if you were desirous of peace, your chiefs should come to Tuscarowas and speak themselves to me ; accordingly Keissinanchtha met me at that place, a month ago, with some of your people, and having heard the condition presented to the Senecas and Delawares, he told me he accepted them likewise for the Shawanese, and that they would certainly come to me at this place in ten days, when they would deliver up all their prisoners ; in conse- quence of that engagement, I did not attack you as I had intended, but have waited for you at this place ever since ; you are come at last bring- ing only a small parcel of the prisoners, and you propose putting off the rest till spring. The Delawares have been equally concerned with you in the war. They have submitted to the conditions I required of them ;
* This treaty was held at Philadelphia, between William Penn, the propri- etary and Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and Connoodagtoh, King of the Indians inhabiting upon and about the river Susquehanna, and Widaaph, alias, Oretyagh and Andaggy-lonekquagh, Chiefs of the said nations of Indi- ans ; and Wopathlha, King, and Lemoytungh and Pemoyajooagh, Chiefs of the nations of the Shawanese Indians ; and Ahookassongh, brother to the Emperor, for and in behalf of the Emperor; and Weewhinjongh, Chequittagh, Takyew- san and Woapaskoa, Chiefs of the nations of Indians that inhabited in and about the northern part of the river Potomac, within the limits of the province of Pennsylvania .- Minutes of the Prov. Council : vol. II. p. 9.
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APPENDIX-NO. XVI.
fully complying with every part of their engagements with me, and have given me entire satisfaction by their conduct in the course of this trans- action. What right have you to expect different terms ? I shall cut this matter short with you, and before I explain myself further, I insist upon your giving me an immediate answer to the questions I shall ask you." A string.
" First-Will you immediately collect and deliver up all the prison- ers in your possession : men, women, and children, and the French liv- ing among you, with all the negroes you have taken from us, either in this, or any other war, and that without any exception, or evasion whatsoever ?
Secondly-Will you give six of your people as hostages to remain in my hands as security that the above prisoners shall be delivered without delay, and that your nation shall commit no hostilities against the persons or property of his Majesty's subjects ?" A belt.
Their answer.
BENWISAKER, Speaker :
" Brother : What you now have required, we agree to. Six of our people shall go with you as hostages ; and I, myself, will immediately return to our lower town, and collect all your flesh and blood, that you may see them as soon as I can carry them to fort Pitt. As to the French- men you insist upon to be delivered up, we cannot do it; they are your prisoners ; do with them what you please ; but we believe they are re- turned before this time to their own country."
Here they named the following hostages :
Ewukumuee, or Husstler,
Red Hawk, or Mesquapelathee, ? Wecawakpa, or Whitelegs, Neightthakeina.
Keightighqua, or Tawmemabuck, or Cornblade.
Colonel Bouquet's answer :
"Captains and Warriors : As you have consented to the terms I offer- ed you, I will now treat you with the same indulgence shown to the Del- awares, and put you in the way to renew the friendship which formerly subsisted between us." A string.
"I came here determined to strike you, with a tomahawk in my hand, but since you have submitted, it shall not fall upon your heads. I will let it drop, and it shall no more be seen. I bury the bones of all the people who have fallen in this war, and cover the place with. leaves, so that it shall no more be perceived." A belt.
" Having now buried the dead, and seen that you have removed every thing bad from your hearts, I will again treat you as brothers, and speak to you as such." A string.
" Brother : As you are now going to collect all our flesh and blood remaining among you, to deliver them up as soon as possible at fort Pitt, I desire you will use them with tenderness, and look upon them as bro- thers, and no longer as captives ; and as they have several relations who are anxious to see them, I intend to send some of them with you from this army, and I intend to send some to assist you in bringing them to fort Pitt. I hope you will give them all the assistance in your power." A string.
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"Brother: I have now settled with you, every thing as warriors, what remains concerning the peace, and will be settled with your Chiefs."
Col. Bouquet's speech to the Chiefs of the Shawanese.
" Brothers: Every condition preliminary to a peace, having been agreed upon between us, I permit you to appoint deputies to go to Sir William Johnson to make peace. The same deputies are to have the same power to treat for your nations, and you are to promise to execute punctually what shall be stipulated to them at that treaty ; as soon as you have appointed them, you will present them to me, and I will give them letters for Sir Wm. Johnson, to inform him of what has passed between us at this place." A belt.
The Cachnewagas, addressing the Shawanese with a string of wam- pum, told them, they were glad to see them settle matters peaceably with their brethren, the English, and bade them be strong in doing good, and that their peace would last forever." A string.
King BEAVER addressing the Shawanese :
" Grand Children : It gives me great pleasure to see you comply with every thing required of you by our brethren, the English ; and as they have desired to see all their flesh and blood, be strong, deliver them all up, as we have done, and then we may expect everlasting peace ; and ob- serve what our uncle, the Cachnewago Indians have said to you." A belt.
KEYASHUTA, addressing the Shawanese :
" Brothers : Be strong and perform every thing you promised ; and I desire you will appoint some of your wise men, with the deputies going from the Delawares and us."
BENNAWISAKER returned the Cochnowagas and Senecas thanks, for the good advice they gave them, and said, " His nation would hold fast by the friendship now settled, as it was what they long wished for." A string.
Then he told Col. Bouquet, that he would immediately go home to his town, to make his people acquainted with what had passed, as it would give them all a great deal of pleasure.
[Minutes of Provincial Council, December 5, 1764.]
Immediately on the conclusion of the several conferences, Col. Bouquet wrote the following letter to Governor John Penn.
CAMP AT THE FORKS OF MUSKINGHAM, Nov. 15th, 1764.
SIR :- I have the pleasure to inform you, that the Mingoes, the Dela- wares and the Shawanese, after a long struggle, have at last submitted to the terms prescribed to them, viz :
Ist. To deliver all the prisoners without exception.
2d. To give fourteen hostages, to remain in our hands as a security, for the strict performance of the first article ; and that they shall com- mit no hostilities against his Majesty's subjects.
Upon those conditions, they are permitted to send deputies from each nation to Sir William Johnson, to make their peace.
The Mingoes have given two hostages ; the Delawares six ; the Shaw- anese six.
The enclosed copy of our proceedings with these nations, contains a
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APPENDIX-NO. XVII.
minute account of the whole transaction. Therefore, I shall not trouble you with particulars.
I am only to request, that you will have a suspension of arms with these savages, published in your governments, and I may presume to assure you, from their present humble dispositions, that the troops stationed on your frontiers, may be discharged, and the inhabitants re- turn with safety to their deserted plantations.
We have, already, upwards of two hundred captives delivered, and many of them have remained so many years amongst them, that they part from them with the greatest reluctance. We are obliged to keep guards, to prevent their escape; and unless they are treated with indul- gence and tenderness by their relatives, they will certainly return to their savage masters.
The Delawares and Mingoes have not only delivered all their priso- ners, but even their own children born from white women.
The Shawanese have been very obstinate, and nothing has prevented the chastisement they deserved, but the certainty, that if they were driven to despair, they would massacre one hundred and fifty prisoners then in their hands. However, their pride has been humbled, and they have been forced to submit to the same conditions as the other nations.
The troops of our government have carried on the service with great zeal and cheerfulness, and their conduct does them honor in every respect.
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