USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and its centennial celebration, Volume I > Part 11
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During the Alarms last Spring & Summer several of the principal people here wrote Intelligence down the Country that large Armies of Indians were assembled & advancing to attack this place. I fear the consequences of a general Indian War & I believe it is more necessary to restrain our own people & promote good order among them than to think of awing the different Nations by expeditions into the Country which may involve us in a general & unequal Quarrel with all the Nations who are at present quiet but extremely jealous of the least encroachment on their Lands.
I am Sir
Your most Obedt Servt GEORGE MORGAN.
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It was probably this disapproval of the general unreasoning and undiscriminating hatred of the Indians which Morgan always manifested, and his reluctance to see their country in- vaded, which later, as we shall see, occasioned his loyalty to be called in question.I
1 The following letter shows the zeal which Morgan was early manifesting in the cause of the American Colonies:
" PITTSBURGH May 31st, 1776. " To the Gov'r & Commandant at Detroit " SIR " I am informed that several Letters from you for this place have been destroyed on the Way. What were their contents I have not been able to learn, or I would do myself the pleasure to answer them. but perhaps an Exchange of Sentiments between us may be mutually advantageous.
" You, Sir, have been frequently inform'd that an Army were on their March from the United Colonies against your Post. This has been altogether without Foundation, though we are indeed prepared, should the Savages be induced to strike our Frontier Settlements on the Ohio-but if they remain quiet you will never be disturbed, unless by a general Surrender of Canada-for this, notwithstanding we have hitherto been unsuccessful before Quebec, we still flatter ourselves with unless by the late arrival of Commissioners from England to treat with Congress, our Grievances shall be redress'd & all our Differences happily settled, which all good men must ardently wish for.
Our Frontier Settlements though sufficiently numerous not only to defend themselves but to drive all the Indian Nations before them, in Case of a War, have been alarm'd with repeated acc'ts of your endeavoring to engage the Savages against them. This Informa- tion has often been handed to Congress, but as the Indians still remain quiet, no Force is allowed to cross the Ohio; nor will any be permitted to do so, unless in our own Defence after being first Attack'd. As I am station'd here to observe what passes in this Quarter, & to treat with the Indians I shall be happy to have it in my Power to contribute toward a general Peace, good Understanding & happy Reconciliation-As such I shall be glad to hear from you & any Messenger you send to me may rely on being permitted to return at any time. I am &c, &c.
" The foregoing letter tho' dated at Fort Pitt May 31st was wrote from Walehaketopack June roth, 1776-and was sent by Express enclosed in the following Letter to Capt. James Heron at Guyahoga who was lately arrived there from Detroit with a Cargo of Dry Goods.
" To Mr. F. Vraiment SIR (Secret)
" MORAVIAN TOWN June roth
"Your Letter of the 15th of April last from lower Sandusky, came of course to my Hands, but it was not till the 8th Instant-had it arrived sooner it might have been of Service. I understand you have return'd from Detroit to Cayahoga-If this reaches you there, be pleased to write to me very particularly and I must especially beg the favour of your Answers to the following Queries.
Ist How many regular Soldiers are there at Detroit?
2d Have they been reinforced, or from whence do they expect any Reinforcements?
3d Of what number do their Militia consist-Fr. & English?
4th What arm'd Vessels have they-their Names, Force, Compliment of Men to each & by whom commanded ?
5th The number of Families settled at & near Detroit-
6th The Number of black cattle-do. Horses-do. Hogs?
7th From whence do they get other Supplies of Provisions?
8th How have they strengthened the Fort, what new Works erected & how many Cannon have they?
9th What Tribes of Indians have been collected at Detroit ?- how many? have they gone away satisfied ?- or do they remain?
10th Have the Indians been desired to strike the Settlements of the Colonies-In what manner have they been so requested ? What Instances have come to your Knowl- edge & what answers have the diff't Tribes given? On this our forming an Expe- dition depends-for it is determined never to send an Army over the Ohio untill we have certain Intelligence that the Governor or Commandant at Detroit have instigated the Savages to strike us.
11th What News have you of what pass'd at the Treaty at Niagara?
12th Who commands there-& how many Men are there in that Fort-& of what Regiment?
13th At what Prices are Flour, Beef, Pork &c at Detroit?
14th How is the Garrison at Niagara supplied with Provisions & from whence-What Indians went there to the Treaty?
15th What Garrison is at Michilamackinac-are there many Goods there do you hear -are they plenty or scarce at Detroit-Do they get fresh supplies or frequent Intelligence from Montreal?
16th What is the latest News from Quebec &c?
17th What do you hear of the Garrison at the Illinois?
I shall send this to you by Express as you desire but it will be necessary to keep the
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In the autumn preceding Morgan had called to account one of the "principal people," of whom he speaks above, as shown in the following letter from his manuscript letter-book:
To Dorsey Penticoast, Esq'r PITTSBURGH November 17th, 1776. Colonel & Lieut. of Wt. Augusta S
SIR :-
I understand that a Letter you wrote from hence the 9th inst., of which many Copies are handed about, has alarmed the country very much, & that the like Accounts have also gone down to Williamsburgh & Philadelphia relating to several Expeditions being formed & attacks to be made this Fall from Detroit & Niagara against the Kenhawa, Wheel- ing, & this place. In your Letter you write that your Intelligence is from undoubted Authority; you will therefore oblige me if you will inform me from whom you obtained it.
Any Person the least acquainted with the Country, or who will take the least pains to inform himself, will pronounce these Expeditions to be, not only improbable, but impracticable, yet the Promoters of such reports, cannot take more effectual steps to injure the Frontier Inhabi- tants.
(Signed) GEORGE MORGAN.
The following is Mr. Pentecost's answer to the above letter :
CATFISH CAMP1 Nov. 19th, 1776. Tuesday.
To George Morgan, Esq. DEAR SIR
Your favor of the 17th was handed to me yesterday-The Letter you mention must, I suppose, be a Letter I wrote to Capt. Brenton at Logs Town to be forwarded to different Stations on the Ohio. I make no doubt but the Intelligence is gone to Philadelphia & Williamsburgh, as the Intelligence I mentioned was given me by Doctor Walker, & that Letter I showed to the Commissioners before I sent it away who approved of it.
nature of it secret-& for that purpose I shall inclose you a Letter on pretended Business- tho' in Reality I shall be glad to purchase the whole of your Goods for the public Use if we can agree for them-I am on my Way to the Shawnese Towns-perhaps you may meet me there or here.
Your Letter came open'd-This, & indeed your whole Correspondence should be kept Secret-trading business must be pretended. I wish to see you-You should destroy this letter after answering it.
"I think you would do well to inclose my Letter wch covers this, to Detroit with the one for the Governor as a Blind-and write to him of me as a Person from Philadelphia unknown to you-Or if you will go to Detroit with the inclosed Letter which I leave open for your Perusal & bring me an answer so as to meet me here the 10th of July or sooner, I will pay you for your Trouble & Expense -- but you should destroy this Letter after charging your memory with the different Questions, so as to bring me answers to them & every other necessary Information. Seal the Governor's Letter & take no copy or you will be dis- covered thereby.
"I am &c G. M."
1 The site of Catfish Camp, as formerly said, was within the limits of what is now the borough of Washington, Pa.
* From the Ferdinand J. Dreer collection of manuscript letters owned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
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The Powder Mark Harding got from you is worth nothing-please to exchange such quantities of it as may be brought back.
I am &c.
DORSEY PENTECOST.
P. S. On Monday morning last within four hundred yards of the Garrison at Grave Creek, was killed and scalped the eldest son of Adam Rowe, & the youngest who was with him is missing. D. P.I
The efforts of Morgan and Neville to hold the friendship of the Indians were seconded by Congress, which appointed com- missioners to treat with them at several places. The commis- sioners mentioned in the letter of Dorsey Pentecost, just quoted, were those who, in July, 1776, had met at Pittsburg, and had remained there for some time carrying on negotiations with the chiefs of the western tribes, who were very slow in gathering. The efforts of the commissioners and of the others were, how- ever, finally crowned with apparent success, and on the 8th of November Colonel Morgan wrote to Hancock as follows:
I have the happiness to inform you that the cloud which threatened to break over us is likely to disperse. The Six Nations, with the Munsies, Delawares, Shawnese and Mohikons, who have been assembled here with their principal chiefs and warriors, to the number of six hundred and forty-four have given the strongest assurance of their neutrality with the United States. 2
The confidence herein expressed was justified in so far that the much-dreaded general war was averted, but small bands of savages were nevertheless constantly marauding along the set- tlements on the Ohio, and the frontiers of Virginia were so fre- quently harassed by the Indians on the Scioto belonging to the gang of the Mohawk Pluggy that, upon the recommendation of Congress, it was decided by the Virginia Council at Williamsburg, March 12, 1777, to send a punitive expedition against them. Colonel George Morgan, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Colonel John Neville (or, in his absence, Robert Campbell, Esq.) were instructed to confer with reliable chiefs of the Delawares
1 Dorsey Pentecost was a very prominent man in what became Washington County, Pa., being its second president judge (the first specially commissioned for that office). His great-grandson, Joseph H. Pentecost, was mortally wounded at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865, while, as its lieutenant-colonel, he was commanding the famous "Roundhead" regiment (100th P. V. I.). A great-grandson, Thomas M. Pentecost, is still living in West Middletown, Washington Co., Pa .- (See Bench and Bar of Washington County, by Boyd Crumrine, pp. 36-37.)
2 American Archives, Fifth Series, vol. iii., p. 599.
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and Shawanese, to ascertain if they would consent to such an expedition passing through their country, and in case no oppo- sition from this source was to be apprehended, the expedition was to be at once set on foot. It was proposed to organize the party with three hundred militiamen, commanded by a colonel, major, six captains, six lieutenants and six ensigns, and a proper number of non-commissioned officers. Col. David Shepherd of Ohio County was designated as commander-in-chief, and Major Henry Taylor1 of Yohogania County as major, and these gentle- men were to nominate the captains and subaltern officers out of those commissioned in the counties of Monongalia and Ohio, or either of them.
The correspondence in connection with this affair is so inter- esting in itself and from the prominence in history of the writers that we give space to the letter of instructions written by Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, to Colonels Morgan and Neville, and the reply of the latter, evidently from the pen of Morgan.2 Governor Henry wrote as follows:
WILLIAMSBURGH, March 12, 1777.
To George Morgan, Esq., & Colo. John Nevill
(or in the obsence of the latter to Robert Campbell, Esq.) GENTLEMEN,
You will perceive by the Papers which accompany this that the Indians at Pluggy's Town are to be punished in an exemplary manner. When you apply to the Shawnese & Delawares on the subject, it may not be amiss to observe to them, that these villainous Indians by their frequent mischiefs, may breed suspicion against innocent friends and Allies; for it is often difficult to tell what Nation are the Offenders. Willing to cultivate that good understanding that subsists between Virginia & their Nations, the Shawnese and Delawares cannot take umbrage at the march against Pluggy's people, more especially as the latter march through the country of the former when they attack us. You will readily understand the delicacy of the Business in opening this matter to the Chiefs. Many if trusted may not keep it secret. If the Enemy have warning the expedition will produce but little good com- pared to what may be expected if they are attacked by surprise. You will please communicate to the Allies of this State, the strict orders given to the Officers & Soldiers not to molest or offend any but the Enemy of
1 The Major Henry Taylor named above was the great-grandfather of Hon. James Franklin Taylor, additional law judge of Washington County, Pa. He was also known as Colonel Henry Taylor from his connection with the militia, and was the first president judge of Washington County, by virtue of his being the first named in the general com- mission .- See Bench and Bar, Crumrine, p. 35.
2 From Morgan's letter-book (MS.).
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Pluggy's Town, & that orders are given to spare the Women & Children & such of the Men as submit.
I take the liberty to remind you that the success of the Enterprise depends upon the address & propriety which will I hope distinguish your conduct in communicating this affair to the Shawnese and Delawares.
I trust, Gentlemen, that you will leave nothing in your power undone, that may tend to give success to a measure so necessary for the well being of your country: And that you will not confine yourselves to the strict Line of Duty with respect to what falls into the business of each Officer respectively, but act on the most liberal plan for promoting the Enter- prise. I have the honor to be
Gentlemen,
Your most Obdt. hble Servt Sign'd: P. HENRY, JR.
P. S. You will communicate
everything necessary to the Officer who is to command in Chief.
P. S. If it is judged best to go part of the way to
Pluggy's Town by Water, let it be so-this may avoid
perhaps all offence to other Indians. P. H.
This communication reached Morgan and Neville about noon of the Ist of April following, and on the same day they replied as follows :
To His Excellency Patrick Henry, Esq. S
FORT PITT April 1, 1777.
SIR,
We had not the honor to receive your Orders & the Minutes of Council of the 12th ulto. until this day .- We immediately wrote to Colonel Shepherd & Major Taylor to meet us here the 8th inst., to confer thereon & determine the most effectual steps to carry the same into execution-And your Excellency may be assured we will leave nothing in our power undone that may tend to promote the Interest of our Country in general or the success of this Enterprise in particular-not regarding the strict Line of Duty in our respective Departments, but the promotion of the service on the most liberal Plan-We nevertheless wish we were left more at liberty to exercise our Judgments or to take advice on the expediency & practicability of the Undertaking at this critical time,-For although we are persuaded from what has already passed between Colo. Morgan & our Allies the Delawares & Shawnese that they would wish us success therein, yet we apprehend the inevitable Conse- quences of this Expedition will be a general Indian War, which we are persuaded it is the interest of the State at this time to avoid even by the mortifying means of liberal donations to certain leading Men among the Nations as well as by calling them again to a general Treaty-And if the State of Pennsylvania should judge it prudent to take some steps to
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gratify the Six Nations in regard to Encroachments made on their Lands on the North Western Frontier of that State, of which they have so repeatedly complained, we hope & believe it would have a very salutary effect-The settlement of the Lands on the Ohio below the Kenhawa & at Kentucke gives the Western Nations great uneasiness.
How far the State of Virginia may judge it wise to withdraw or confine those Settlements for a certain term of years, or during the British War, is too delicate a matter for us to give our opinion on, but we have reason to think that the Measures we have (tho' perhaps out of the strict Line of our Duty) presumed to hint at, would not only tend greatly to the happiness of this Country, but to the interest of the whole State; more especially if care be taken to treat the different Nations in all re- spects with Justice, Humanity & Hospitality; for which purpose & to punish Robberies & Murders committed on any of our Allies, some wholesome Orders or Acts of Government may possibly be necessary -- for Parties have been formed to massacre some who have come to visit us in a Friendly manner & others who have been hunting on their own Lands, the known Friends to the Commonwealth.
These Steps if continued will deprive us of all our Indian Allies, and multiply our Enemies. Even the Spies who have been employed by the County Lieutenants of Monongahela & Ohio seem to have gone on this Plan with a premeditated design to involve us in a general Indian War- for on the 15th inst. at daybreak five or six of these Spies fired on three Delaware Indians at their hunting Camp, which they afterwards plundered of Peltries to a considerable value & brought them off-this was com- mitted about 20 Miles on this side the Delaware Town between that & Wheeling & out of the Country or Track of our Enemies :- Luckily all the Indians escaped, only one of whom was wounded, & that slightly in the Wrist.
We enclose to your Excellency the copy of a speech or Message found near the body of a dead Man who had been kill'd & scalp'd two days before near the Kittanning on the North Western Frontier of Pennsyl- vania, when another Man was taken Prisoner.
We suppose the party of Indians who left the Message & perpetrated the Murder to have been hired for that purpose by the British Officers at Niagara, in order to promote an open Rupture between the Six Nations & the United States, as we had Intelligence of such a Party being out, & having come from thence.
Your Excellency cannot but be already informed that many Persons among ourselves wish to promote a War with the Savages, not considering the distresses of our Country on the Sea Coast.
This disposition with the conduct of a Banditti consisting of 60 or 80 Savages at the Heads of Scioto may possibly create a general Quarrel -- Yet we flatter ourselves that by prudent measures it is possible to avoid it. But if as seems the inclination of some, all Indians without distinction who may be found are to be massacred, & even when visiting us as
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friends, a general War cannot be avoided; and we fear the consequences would be fatal at this critical time-but should it please God to bless us with Victory to overcome our British Enemies on the Sea Coast, we shall have it in our power to take ample satisfaction of our Indian Enemy- In the Interim, we are humbly of opinion, that the most pacific measures with liberal Presents if in our power to make them will be attended with much happier consequences with the Savages than an armed Force can produce.
Nevertheless we beg leave again to assure your Excellency that noth- ing in our power shall be wanting to promote & insure Success to the Expedition now ordered to be executed. But as it will be impossible to have the Men raised & armed before the first day of June next we shall have sufficient time to receive your Excellency's further instructions on that head & we shall in the Interim take every possible precaution to prevent Intelligence reaching the Enemy so as to defeat the wise intentions of Government.
We are with the greatest Respect
Your Excellency's most Obed't & most humble Serv'ts ( GEORGE MORGAN Sign'd JOHN NEVILL
After considerable preparation for this expedition had been made, it was abandoned on the representations of Colonels Morgan and Neville in the foregoing letter of the danger that its passage through their country would alienate the Delawares and Shawanese.
ARRIVAL OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL HAND IN THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT
On the Ist of June, 1777, Brigadier-General Hand of the Continental army arrived at Fort Pitt and assumed command of the Western Department, superseding Col. John Neville, who, with his Virginia militia, had held the old and dilapidated fort- ress from the beginning of the war. In 1777, up to the last of July, fifteen parties of Indians, consisting of two hundred and eighty-nine warriors, with thirty white officers and rangers, had been sent out from the British stronghold at Detroit against the western settlements. The Indians of Pluggy's-town were still among the most troublesome of these miscreants, and when we consider their small number it seems surprising that they could have been so long permitted to harass the country. In general, the attacks of the savages were made by small parties, however, and their success in inflicting so much distress upon the frontiers
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was mainly due to the scattered character of the settlements, and the impossibility of the small force of scouts and militiamen guarding the whole line of those settlements effectually. Their descent was so sudden and stealthy that it was seldom that any warning of their presence was received, and after their bloody work was done their flight was usually taken before sufficient force could be summoned to seize or destroy them.
Soon after his arrival General Hand determined to organize an expedition against the Wyandots at Sandusky, and perhaps also against the Mingoes at Pluggy's-town,1 and for this purpose he made a demand upon the western counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia, but although eight hundred men were embodied, including regulars at Forts Pitt and Randolph, he met with so many unexpected difficulties that late in the fall he abandoned the enterprise.
An attack upon Fort Henry on the Ist of September (1777) by about two hundred savages, with fifteen Americans killed and five wounded, and another on the 27th of the same month, when forty-six white men were waylaid by forty Wyandots, about eight miles below Wheeling, on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and lost twenty-one killed, several wounded, and one captured, created a general panic which threatened to depopulate the whole region between the Ohio and the Monongahela. Up to this time the Shawanese had hung back from the British, but the dastardly murder of one of their chiefs, the noble Cornstalk, and his son Ellinipsico, with the young Delaware chief, Red- Hawk, and another Indian, who had come to Fort Randolph on a mission of peace (referred to in George Morgan's letter cited on page 80), turned this formidable nation into the relentless ene- mies of the Americans. From the autumn of 1777 the majority of them were joined with the Wyandots and Mingoes in most of the attacks upon the border.
CLARK'S EXPEDITION
The summer of the following year witnessed the brilliant ex- ploits of Colonel (afterwards General) George Rogers Clark, who at "Redstone-old-fort" (now Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa.) prepared his expedition against the British posts in the Illinois
1 Wash .- Irvine Cor., p. II.
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country, receiving from General Hand at Pittsburg material aid for his enterprise, which was undertaken under the authority of Virginia. After incredible hardships suffered during a march of one hundred and thirty miles through a country almost im- passable on account of its swamps and streams, he surprised one after another of the enemy's posts,-Kaskaskia, St. Philips, Cahokia, Prairie du Rocher, and Vincennes,-and won the whole country along the Wabash and the upper Mississippi to the Americans. After organizing a civil government, Colonel Clark directed his attention to the subjugation of the warlike tribes, and exhibited great skill and fearlessness in bringing them to terms. No figure in the Revolutionary period is more striking than that of this large-brained and courageous leader, and an admiring people gave him the well-earned sobriquet of "The Heroic." I
"THE SQUAW CAMPAIGN"
In February of 1778, Gen. Edward Hand, commanding the Western Department, marched from Fort Pitt with five hundred men for an Indian town on the Cuyahoga River, which flows into Lake Erie near Cleveland, where was a large quantity of stores deposited by the British, which he meant to destroy. Heavy rains and snows compelled him to abandon his undertaking after he had reached a point some distance above the mouth of the Beaver, on the Mahoning Creek. The outcome of this ex- pedition was the killing of one Indian warrior and one squaw, and one squaw taken prisoner, and it was afterwards called in derision "the Squaw Campaign." 2
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