USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 59
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I shall immediately send them to Carlisle, with the prisoners belong- ing to the province ; as several of them are not known, I beg you will appoint a person to receive them at that place, and provide them with the necessaries of life, till they are claimed.
I have the honor to be, with great regard, sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant,
HENRY BOUQUET.
[ NO. XVII. ]
JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF GEO. CROGHAN, ESQ., Deputy Agent for Indian affairs, with different tribes of Indians at Fort Pitt, from Feb. 28, 1765, to May 12, 1765.
READ IN COUNCIL, JUNE 4TH, 1765, ENTERED IN THE- MINUTES.
February 28th, 1765-Lieutenant Frazier and I arrived at Fort Pitt, where Major Murray informed us, that Mr. M'Kee had, a fort-night be- fore, sent a message to the chiefs of the Delawares, Shawanese, Sene- cas and Sandusky Indians, desiring them, immediately, to come to this post to meet me ; but as yet, received no answer ; and further acquaints me, there have been but few Indians here during the winter.
I then went and spoke to the Hostages, who informed me, that they had heard from Custaloga and his tribe, who was hunting near Tusca- rawa, and that they believed, they would soon come into this post; but heard nothing from the other two tribes.
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CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, 1765.
March 1st-Six Seneca Indians came here from one of the Shawa- nese towns, and informed me as follows :
" That the deputation from the Shawanese and Delawares, which was sent last summer to Illinois, to council with the French and Indians in that country, was returned; that they had been well received by the French, who, on their arrival, clothed them, and told' them, they would supply them with every necessary they wanted, to carry on the war against the English ; and would send traders with them, to their towns, when they set off. That they had held a council with nine Indian nations, settled on the Onalache and Illinois country, who had all en- gaged to support them with their whole force, should they continue the war against the English.
That on those deputies return to the plains of Scioto, and being in- formed of the terms of accommodation agreed on by their nations, (during their absence) with Col. Bouquet, they then, in council with the Sandusky and Seneca Indians, agreed to abide by their people's engage- ments, and perform the whole on their part, provided the English would open a free trade and intercourse with them, and supply them with am- munition, goods and rum, as usual, and not prohibit the sale of powder and liquors, as they had done before the difference happened; those Indians further say, that the Shawanese had sent a message to the French traders, who were then following them to their towns, to return home ; (I much doubt the truth of this ;) and that they had sent a message like- wise to the nine nations, in that country, acquainting them that they were about accommodating matters with the English, desiring them to sit still, till they heard further from them in the spring.
March 2d-I dispatched a messenger to the Shawanese and Senecas, and another to the Delawares and Sandusky Indians, to acquaint them of my arrival here, in company with Lieut. Frazier, with messages from the King's Commander-in-Chief, and Sir William Johnson, to their nations, and desired their several chiefs would, immediately, come here to meet me ; I likewise sent a message to PONDIAC,* who, I hear, is among the Twightwees, to meet me at the mouth of the Scioto, on my way down the river.
" 3rd-Two Senecas came here from Venango, where a hundred of their people were hunting, to know if a trade was opened here for the Indians, as they had heard from the Seneca country, that all differences being settled by their nations, and the English, last fall, by Sir William Johnson." Delivered a string of wampum.
"5th-Major Murray and I acquainted them, that there was no trade opened yet, nor could there be any, till the Shawanese and Delawares
* This name is written variously, PONTIAC and PONTEACK. Rogers, in his account of North America, in the Annual Register for 1765, says :- "' The Indians on the lakes are, generally, at peace with each other, having a wide extended and fruitful country in their possession. They are formed into a sort of empire, and the Emperor is elected from the oldest tribe, which is the Ot- towas, some of whom inhabit near Detroit, but are mostly further westward, towards the Mississippi. PONTEACK, is their present King, or Emperor, who has certainly the largest empire and greatest authority, of any Indian chief that has appeared on the continent, since our acquaintance with it. He puts on an air of majesty and princely grandeur, and is greatly honored and revered by his subjects."-I. D. R.
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APPENDIX-NO. XVII.
had come to perform their engagements with Col. Bouquet ; that we had sent for them, and expect they will be here before the last of this month ; gave them a belt of wampum, desiring them to rest satisfied till that time ; and likewise, desired some of their chiefs to come down, and hear what would pass between us and those nations.
" 17th-ANDREW, a Huron Indian, and a Frenchman, one Alexander Maisonville, came here with dispatches from Col. Campbell, at Detroit, to the General.
"20th-Lieutenant Frazier informed Major Murray and me, that the General's instructions to him were, to be at the Illinois, at all events, the beginning of April, that as the Indians were not to meet here, he pro- posed to set off down the river, in two or three days, as the service he was sent on, was of a different nature from mine, and desired I would employ Mr. Maisonville and Andrew, to go with him, that the service he was going on, might not suffer.
" 21st-With the approbation of Major Murray, I employed Mr. Maisonville and Andrew, (Interpreters) with the Shawanese and the Sene- ca Indians, to accompany him : and furnished him with wampum, silver truck, and other necessaries for his journey, that the service might not suffer by any delay the Indian's might give me here, or his want of any assistance in my power to give him,
"22nd-Two Delaware runners came here from Custaloga, to let us know, that he had forwarded their messages sent him, and expected, that all the nations would be on their way here by this time, and that he would come in after a few days.
"23rd-Several Delawares came here to trade with what peltry they had for goods, but not being suffered, they seemed very sulky.
"25th-Several Senecas from Venango came here, expecting the Shawanese, Delawares and Sandusky Indians were come, but finding they were not, determined to wait their arrival.
" 28th-Three Shawanese and one Seneca came here from the Lower Shawanese, at the plains of Sciota, with a message, to let me know that my message had come to their town two days before they left it, and that their chiefs had sent them off, to acquaint me that they were col- lecting all our flesh and blood together, (meaning the English prisoners) and were to set off in two days after they left it, and would make all the haste in their power to bring them up with them ; but as the weather was so severe, and the waters high, they could not make that dispatch they could wish.
" April 1st-Four Delawares came here from one of their towns, where two of their tribes were collected together in council, and said, they were sent by their chiefs to inform us, that although Custaloga had sent word, their chiefs would come here, yet their two tribes could not. One of their men having been called up to Heaven, by the Great Spirit of life, who told him, that he must acquaint his nation, that before they made peace with the English, they must consult with the Quakers* of
* The Indians had a particular regard for the Quakers ; they strove during the French and Indian wars to promote a reconciliation between the Indians and English ; for that purpose they organized in 1757, a "Friendly Association," and exerted considerable influence upon the military movements in this country.
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CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, 1765.
Philadelphia, who would direct them how to make lasting peace, and desired I would send for some of them to come here, then their nations would come in and make peace ; and, as the Great Spirit had told this man several things of great consequence to them, desired that Mr. McKee, might go there and commit it all to writing.
" 2d -- Major Murray and I, made those four Delawares the following answer, on a belt of wampum :
"Brethren : We are surprised at the message you delivered us yes- terday, from the chiefs of the Delawares; the man you mention, who says he spoke to the Great Spirit, you may be assured is deceiving your people, as we are persuaded he never spoke to him ; your nations agreed to terms of accommodation last fall, with Col. Bouquet; in part, they have complied with those terms. They begged of him for peace in the most submissive manner, and your brethren, the English, thought your nation would be the first to come here when sent for. We, have re- ceived messages from the Senecas, Shawanese and Sandusky Indians, that they are now on their way here; there are the messengers that brought us those accounts, and are to stay here till they arrive. You will, therefore, return to your chiefs, and let them know, that no people what- ever in this country, can give you peace but the King's commander-in- chief, and we desire them to come here with the other nations, and comply with your engagements to Col. Bouquet, and not suffer them- selves to be amused by idle dreamers or stories that may be told them by any body." A belt.
"6th-Four Six Nations Indians arrived here in a canoe, down the Monongahela river, with five Cherokee scalps; they met a number of Virginia hunters on the heads of New river, who had like to have killed them.
" 13th-Several Munsey Indians came here in canoes down the Ohio, from their village above Venango, and brought two English prisoners, which they delivered up, both girls, one about twelve, the other about nine years of age ; they were taken young, can't speak a word of Eng- lish, one was taken near Shippensburg, the other near Juniata, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.
" 14th-About eighty Seneca Indians came here, from their town at the two creeks, and brought with them a quantity of skins and furs, ex- pecting to trade.
" In a private conversation with Major Murray and me, they informed me, that two tribes of the Delawares, were very much aversed to making peace with the English, till the return of Killbuck from Sir William Johnson ; and then, if they liked the terms, they would stand to them, but not otherwise ; that they called Custaloga an Old Woman, for agreeing to the terms he did with Col. Bouquet, that they wanted to fight, and would have cut off that army, had it not been for him, and they have been striving all this spring, to prevent the Senecas, Shawanese and Sandusky Indians, from coming here with the English prisoners, telling the Indians in public council, as the French, and the Nine Nations living on the Oualache and Illinois country, have agreed to supply and support us in the war against the English, we shall be able to drive them out of this country in less than two years.
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APPENDIX-NO. XVII.
"But those Indians say that GIASHUTHA, with the rest of the Senecas, Shawanese and Sandusky Indians, with all the English prisoners in their nations, are now on their way here, and would have arrived by this time, had it not been for the Delawares ; Custaloga and his tribe being the only people of that nation willing to be at peace with the English."
" 18th-Two Delaware runners came here from their chiefs, to inform us they had accepted of the invitation I had sent them, and was now on their way here, and would endeavor to be here as soon as the other nations.
19th-The several Indians now here, who are about two hundred, seem very sulky on account of their not being suffered to trade, notwith- standing I have used every argument in my power, to explain to them the reason of it.
20th-I dispatched four Indian runners to meet the several chiefs, with messages to press them to make all the dispatch possible hither.
In the afternoon the Beaver, with several Delawares came here, with several horses loaded with peltry, in order to trade, when I informed them that no trade could be permitted till the several nations had per- formed their engagements to Col. Bouquet.
21st-A number more of Delawares arrived here with several horse loads of peltry, in order to trade.
23d-Four Senecas came here, who informed me, they saw a battoe with several white men, going down this river about twenty-five days ago, and asked me where they were going? On which I told them. -- They then said, I was wrong in letting them go, as they knew the French had incensed the Indian nations that way against the English ;; and that unless a number of the Shawanese and Delawares would under- take to reconcile those nations to the English, they were of opinion it would be very difficult to do it any other way.
24th-The Newcomer or Noatwhelama, arrived here with most of the warriors of his tribe, when he made a long speech to Major Murrayy and me, by way of compliment.
25th-Custaloga arrived here, when he and his tribe saluted the gar. rison with three discharges of their guns, which Major Murray ordered to be returned with three cannon.
26th-Six Delaware Indians arrived here from Sir William Johnson. and brought a letter to the chiefs of the Delawares, which I interpreted and explained to them, in a meeting which Major Murray and I had with theni on that occasion.
In the evening about twenty more Delawares came here, with several horses loaded with skins and furs.
28th-Four Shawanese runners came here with the calumet of peace belonging to their nations, and after smoking out of it, they informec Major Murray and me, that the chiefs of their nation were on their way here with all the English prisoners, which was the reason of their being so long on the road, the prisoners not being able to travel fast ; but that they would be here in three or four days, and desired us not to be un. easy till they arrived.
29th-I had a private meeting with the chiefs and principal warriors of three tribes of the Delawares. When they had brought the Indiar
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CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, 1765.
they say had been lifted to heaven, and had spoken to the Great Spirit, or Giver of Life. I spoke to him, and desired to know what the Great Spirit had told him. He remained silent some time, and then spoke as follows :
"Brethren : It is now one hundred and fifteen days since I saw, and spoke, with our Father who is in heaven, by which I know every thing on earth, and good from bad. I have likewise been informed how far our Great Father allows us to know his will, and in what manner we ought to proceed, in order to make a firm and lasting friendship between one another; and the persons amongst the white people to whom we are to speak to on this head, by order of our Father, are the Quakers. We are sensible of the misunderstanding that has been between us, and know we ought to be as one people, having but one Father. God, when he first made us, and seated us on this earth, considered us as his people, and gave us directions in what manner to live ; and now this second time, has discovered himself to me, acquainting me with the method we ought to pursue, to live agreeable to his desire ; he spoke to me concerning all the people who inhabit this continent.
" Now, brethren, we have got as much of his sentiments as will be sufficient to direct us how to live in firm friendship : and it will be well with us, brethren, if we adhere to the advice our Father has given us ; it will do us both good; as we are people of different colors, who in- habit this continent. Our Father has likewise spoken to my chiefs by me, giving them an advice in what manner to behave as kings, and how they will act as kings.
" Brethren : we are fully determined to comply with the orders of our Great Father, as we don't think it would be right to disobey him ; and desire you will join us, and let us both comply with his desire; it will be better for us. We are his people, and he is our Father. You know, brethren, if we do not do as he desires us, it will not be good for either of us."
30th-Several chiefs and principal warriors of the Delawares, in a private meeting, told me that the Great Spirit had told them, as they were the first nation that met the Quakers when first they came to Phila- delphia, they ought to be the first applied to in making a lasting peace, for all other nations in this country, and if they would agree to that, they would make a peace, and bring all other nations into it.
I told them I was well acquainted by other nations. That if this was what they wanted, I was much surprised at their conduct, after what they had promised Col. Bouquet, and that the Quakers could not make peace with them ; that as soon as the Shawanese come, I would deliver the General's message to them, which, if they complied with it, would be well for themselves, as all other nations had made their peace already with Sir William Johnson, except them and the Shawanese. That the Shawanese were now coming, in order to go to Sir William Johnson, to make theirs, and if they would not, they must go to the Quakers, or sit alone in the woods ; for it was out of my power to comply with their request.
May 1st-Two Indians from Sandusky, came here and said, that about thirty days ago, a Frenchman from the Illinois, past by the
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APPENDIX-NO XVII.
Miamies village towards Detroit, and told all the Indians he saw, that the King of France, their father, had sent a large quantity of goods to New Orleans for to supply his children, the Indians, in this country, and would send them more next year.
Last night two principal warriors of the Delawares, differed in coun- cil, and stabbed each other in such a manner, their lives are despaired of; which threw all the tribes of that nation in such confusion, that Major Murray and I were oblige to speak to them on three belts of wampum, to reconcile them to each other.
2d-A number of the Shawanese arrived here with part of the Eng- lish prisoners, and saluted the garrison with a discharge of three guns, which was returned by three cannon; after which, they came over the river, and informed, that the rest of their people would be here to- morrow.
5th-The messenger that I sent to meet part of the Shawanese re- turned, and says that some of the prisoners were sick, which delayed them so long on their way here, but that they expected them to-morrow evening.
6th-A number of Senecas arrived here, and say the Shawanese would not get here till to-morrow morning.
7th-The Shawanese arrived with the last of the white prisoners, and saluted the garrison with two rounds, which was returned by three cannon ; then made several apologies to Major Murray and me, for their delay on the road, and the time it took them to collect the prisoners together before they set off, being determined not to come till they could deliver them up, and comply with their other engagements, as their whole nation was resolved to make a lasting peace with their breth- ren, the English, which shall never be broken on their side ; and hope their brethren would not give any occasion for the future, to excite their jealousy or suspicion, (meaning the English.)
In the evening two Senecas arrived here from CHENESSIES," on busi- ness to the Senecas, Shawanese and Delawares ; and by what I can learn, their business is to enquire what success the Shawanese, Dela- wares and Senecas had last fall at the Illinois, with the French and Indi- ans there ; those two men have told the Senecas here, that the Six Na- tions are so divided in their councils, that they had not agreed to go to Sir William Johnson when they left home, though he had sent several messages for them.
8th-The"Shawanese and Senecas sent for Major Murray and me, and performed all the ceremonies, of condolence as usual on meetings of this nature.
*Genesee.
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CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, 1765.
At a meeting of the Chiefs of the Shawanese, Delawares, Senecas and Sandusky Indians, at Fort Pitt.
Present-Major WILLIAM MURRAY, and several officers of the garrison.
Delawares.
Shawanese.
Neattawataways,
Kisinontha,
Custaloga,
Lawoughqua,
The Beaver,
Thaminusque,
Latort,
Lawissimo,
Tepiscochan,
Chiefs.
Ketopum,
Ossitahiwa,
Spogusa,
Metholahela,
Nesscutethum,
Beniwisica,
Cuscalethon,
Mamsehigh,
Kehewenum,
Captain Jacobs,
Weconnathaca,
Wingenum,
Thecomma, -
Cutfingers Peter,
Wapemoga,
Chief Warriors.
Captain Pipe,
Nichebucketha,
Captain Johnny,
Niemwhoa,
Capt. Grey Eyes, Turtle Heart,
With 105 Warriors, besides wo- men and children.
Sun Fish,
Chief Warriors.
Senecas.
White Wolf,
Ouchista,
Kyashuta,
Opaughkee,
Chiefs.
Kecholan,
Connaduntohas,
Couidageaiato,
Ginisuram,
Chief
Sohays,
Warriors.
With 125 warriors, besides wo- men, and children.
Sandusky Indians,
Onadegoss,
Chiefs.
Thanissisa,
Chief
Thusnedasgo, Š
Captain John,
Warriors,
With 38 more warriors, besides women and childrn.
Munses.
Thirty-eight men, besides women und children.
" Brethren : I have been sent here two months ago, by his Majesty's Commander-in-Chief, and Sir William Johnson, Baronet, with messages to your several tribes ; and have sent several messengers to summon you together ; and to my great surprise, you have, by your delays, obliged me to stay here waiting for you, thirty days longer than I expected." A string.
" Brethren : His Excellency, General Gage, has ordered me to inform you, that he expects you will, immediately, perform all the engagements you made last fall to Col. Bouquet, one of which was, to deliver up all the English prisoners, and negroes, which were in your several villages ;
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3
Opetoawethin, Wesoaux,
John Peters,
Thos. Hickman,
Simon Girty,
With 215 warriors, besides wo- men and childrn.
)
1
S
·
Wapecawpa,
>Chiefs.
APPENDIX-NO. XVII.
this article, in part, you then performed, and were to deliver the rest here, early this spring ; and I hope, as you have delayed so long after I sent for you, that you have brought them agreeable to your promises." Two belts.
" Brethren : At the same time you promised, solemnly, to Col. Bou- quet, that you would send deputies of your nations, fully empowered to settle a peace with Sir William Johnson; and at the same time, leave a number of hostages here, till their return. How you have complied with this article, I need not inform you. You have sent but one man to Sir William Johnson, and he is not a chief of any of your tribes, and the hostages you delivered to Col. Bouquet, have all shamefully run away, except three, though they were all as well used here, as any of our own people, and never confined.
"This conduct, brethren, has given all your brethren, the English, a suspicion of your sincerity, therefore, his Excellency, General Gage, expects that you will, immediately, send proper deputies to Sir William Johnson, to ratify and confirm a lasting peace, and replace hostages here, till that is done ; as till you perform those, your engagements, to Col. Bouquet, no trade can be opened for your nations." Two belts.
" Brethren : His Excellency, General Gage, and Sir William Johnson, has ordered me to assure you, that as soon as you perform those articles, that a free trade and intercours will be allowed you, and all other nations of Indians to the sun-setting, so long as they continue to behave well to his Majesty's subjects." 'Two belts.
" Brethren : His Majesty, the King of Great Britain, having con- quered the French in this country, which you are well acquainted with, all the forts and settlements the French had, is now become the property of the king of England. The French troops are to be sent to France, and the planters, to become subjects to England ; therefore, the General has ordered me to inform you, that the King of Great Britain, will take under his protection, all the nations of Indians in this country, to the sun-setting, and restore tranquillity amongst all nations, that your child- ren unborn, may enjoy the blessings of a lasting peace." 'Two belts.
" Brethren : I am now going, by his Excellency, General Gage's order, to visit all the Indian nations settled on the Onabache, and in the Illinois country, and to offer them the friendship of the King of Great Britain, and his subjects, as he is now become their father; and the General expects that you will send a deputation of your nations with me, to assist in reconciling those nations, with whom we have had but little intercourse, to his Majesty's interest." Two belts.
Then KIASHUTA spoke in behalf of the Seneca and Sandusky Indians, to the Shawanese and Delawares :
" Nephews, the Delawares and brethren the Shawanese. You have heard what your brethren, the English, has said to you; they have de- sired nothing of you, but what you solemnly promised, last fall, to Col. Bouquet, all which you ought to perform. For our parts, we are de- termined to take the advice of our brethren, the English, as we know it will be for our good ; and we desire your friends to do the same, as you are under engagements to do so. If you do not, you must take the con- sequences, for we are determined to comply with what our brethren de-
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