USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Upland > The record of the court at Upland, in Pennsylvania, 1676 to 1681, And a military journal, kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795 > Part 20
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14th. - This evening a party with a craft was sent up the Muskingum to bring off Ensign M'Dowell, command, &c. The treaty, if any, determined to be held at Fort Harmar.
15th .- Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the Territory, and one of the directors of the Ohio Company, had reached this with the ordinance of Congress respecting the government, and with the commissions for the sever- al officers. The people convened on the point; military officers invited over. When assembled, the Secretary read the law and the appointments. Those people ap- pear the most happy folks in the world ; greatly satisfied with their new purchase. But they certainly are the best informed, most courteous and civil to strangers of any people I have yet met with. The order and regu- larity observed by all, their sober deportment and perfect
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submission to the constituted authorities, &c., must tend much to promote their settlements.
16th. - Lieutenant Ford, who had been stationed at Fort M'Intosh, arrived with his party. He is to proceed to Post Vincennes to join his company.
17th. - Lieutenant Beatty embarked with part of Ford's command for the Rapids.
20th .- Ensign M'Dowell returned. By his address be- fore he left his camp, had managed to get hold of six of the fellows who had made the attack upon him. They were brought down bound, and confined under the garri- son guard. They called themselves Tawas and Chippewas.
28th .- Two of our Indian prisoners made their escape from the guard. Four of the soldiers had been conduct- ing them, as was usual, to the necessary which stands outside the fort. Those within are used only after night. A corn patch adjoining the necessary. The Indians had previously found that the irons on their hands and fect could be slipped off; when close to the corn, and at a moment when the attention of the guard was taken off, they slipped their shackles, leaped into the corn field, which sheltered them from the view of the sentries, and were soon out of reach.
Aug. 7th. - Ensign Thompson sent express to Fort Pitt with orders for Captain Ziegler, who we hear has arrived there with his company. .
8th. - Lieutenant Ford set out for the Rapids of the Ohio ; from thence he is to proceed with the pay-master to Post Vincennes.
17th .- Captain Heart arrived from Venango, and Cap-
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tain Strong set off for Connecticut, by whom I wrote to my friend J. C.
27th. - Judge Symmes, with several boats and families, arrived on their way to his new purchase at the Miami. Has a daughter (Polly) along. They lodge with the General and Mrs. Harmar. Stay three days and depart. If not greatly mistaken, Miss Symmes will make a fine woman. An amiable disposition and highly cultivated mind, about to be buried in the wilderness.
31st. - Captain Smith arrived from New York on his way to the Post to join his company. With him came Ensign Thompson, Mr. Melcher and Mr. Brown, a member of Congress from Kentucky.
Sept. 1st .- Mr. Brown proceeded down the river.
2d. - Captain Heart and Major Doughty set out for Venango. The latter to muster the troops at that post.
9th .- General Richard Butler, commissioner on the part of Pennsylvania, and Captain James O'Hara, the contractor, with Cornplanter and about fifty Senecas, arrive. They were escorted from Pitt by Captain Zieg- ler's company of recruits. They were received with a salute of three rounds of cannon and the music. Zieg- ler is a German, had been in Saxon service previous to our late war with England. Takes pride in having the handsomest company in the regiment ; and to do him jus- tice, his company has been always considered the first in point of discipline and appearance. Four-fifths of his company have been Germans. Majority of the present are men who served in Germany.
FORT HARMAR, 11th. - Mitchell arrived express from
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the Falls, by whom we learn that Lieutenant Peters with a command of thirty men, had been defeated near the mouth of the Wabash. Eight of his men were killed and ten wounded. That one boat loaded with provisions fell into the hands of the enemy. That Mr. Peters retreated down the Ohio, and was making for Kaskaskia. By the same express are told that Captain Hardin, from Kentucky, had conducted thirty active woodsmen (militia) into the Indian country about the mouth of the Wabash, and it was supposed had fallen in with the Indians who defeated Peters; that he had returned to the Falls with thirty horses taken and ten scalps. Messengers arrive from the Indian towns. Say the nations in grand council had agreed to attend the treaty. Saw the young men return daily with scalps.
12th .- A singular occurrence took place to-day in sight of the fort, between two of the Seneca Indians. Both among the best looking men, and duly sober, met, drew their knives and fought until both sank under their wounds. It seems that they had formerly lived together as brothers. One of them, a married man, was obliged to go on a mission to some distant nations, and unable to take along his wife, left her in charge of his friend, who was to provide for and protect her. When the hus- band returned he found that his poor frail wife had been left in care of a savage. She was seduced and carried out of the nation. He bore this with manly fortitude, but resolved if they ever met, one of them must die. It seems that they had a knowledge of each other coming here, and were prepared for the meeting and for what
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took place. The fellow who had eloped with the woman came last from the Shawanee towns, where it is said he lately killed a girl for refusing to comply with his wishes.
14th. - A messenger arrived from the Indian towns with speeches, &c. They report that all the nations will attend the grand treaty as soon as possible for them to arrive. That they had been counciling at the Miami town, where they had agreed on the above; at the same time scalps were daily brought in by the young men.
15th. - Mr. Ernest and Mr. Wilkins set out for Fort Pitt, the former with orders to relieve Lieutenant Schuyler, who is stationed there. By the latter I sent a letter to my sister Nancy, and inclosed a bank note of twenty dollars.
21st. - Lieutenant Armstrong arrived on his way to the Falls.
22d .- Lieutenant Kersey, with forty-eight Jersey re- cruits, and Ensign Hartshorn, with twenty-nine from Connecticut, arrived.
29th. - Major Doughty arrived from Venango, where he had been sent to muster Captain Heart's command. With him came Major Alexander and several other gen- tlemen.
Oct. 4th. - Captain M'Curdy, with Ensign Hartshorn and cadet Morgan, and about forty men, were detached to escort the geographer to the Scioto river.
13th .- Doctor Knight joined the regiment in character of a substitute for Doctor Sumner, who had occasion to remain at home longer than his furlough specified.
One of the two savages mentioned on the 12th Sep-
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tember as having fought respecting a woman, is found drowned in the Muskingum. It is said the tribe gener- ally wished for his exit, and that some of them must have been the instruments of his death. Every possible attention was paid by the Senecas, as well as by the sur- geon of the garrison, to the husband. . His life was despaired of. The other totally neglected, an outcast, left to shift for himself, to dress himself; a small portion of victuals sent daily from the fort, and left in his reach where he lay near the bank. Notwithstanding, and con- trary to the expectation and wishes, was recovering and able to crawl about, when now, a month after the fight, and all hopes of his death having ceased, he is found drowned in the Muskingum. Some one or two of his nation had in the night dragged him down the bank and put him in the river. From the appearance of the ground being torn up where he lay and along to the water's edge, he must have made considerable resistance.
19th .- General Gibson, a commissioner on the part of the State of Pennsylvania, arrived from Fort Pitt. He and General Butler are appointed by the State to treat with the Indians, particularly the Senecas, and to make them compensation for a tract of country lying on Lake Erie, and including Presqu' Isle, which the State has purchased of Congress.
20th .- Notwithstanding the treaty was solicited by the savages, it is doubtful whether the chiefs will come in or not. A late message from them says, that they have been informed by good authority, that we have poisoned the whiskey which we intend for them ; and infection for
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the small pox has been put in the blankets to be present- ed them. This message, with the daily accounts of mis- chief doing in some quarter or other, seem to indicate as if they had no mind to treat. Three canoes arrived last night from Limestone, brought accounts that Lieutenant Armstrong's boat was fired on near the Scioto; that one of his men was shot through the cheek. The Indians have lately killed a soldier in the vicinity of the fort at the Rapids, and not content with scalping him, cut him in four quarters and hung them up on the bushes.
28th. - G. W., a trusty Indian messenger who had been sent to the towns, arrived with an account that the chiefs were preparing to attend the treaty, and might be expected in twelve or fifteen days.
Nov. 1st. - Captain M'Curdy, with his command, and the geographer, arrived.
7th .- Messengers Wilson and Rankin return from the Indian towns. With them came Captain Davie, of the Six Nations, and several others. These last are from Grand river, on the British side of Lake Erie. Brant is expected in a few days.
Dec. 13th. - About two hundred Indians arrive-con- sist of Delawares, Wyandots, Senecas, Tawas, Pottowat- tamies, Chippewas and Socks. No Shawanees.
14th .- Meeting in council house to welcome each oth- er, &c.
15th .- Met in council. Treaty opened. This evening Captains Ferguson and Beatty set out, and Ensign M'- Dowell arrived, who had been escorting Mr. Marten sur- veying up the Scioto.
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20th .- The weather extremely cold. The river driving with ice. The Governor and Indians have had frequent meetings in the council house, but nothing conclusive yet.
29th .- A grand council was held. The old Wyandot chief, Shandotto, addressed the Governor in behalf of all the nations present. He began by telling their origin and how the thirteen fires had gotten possession of their country ; how we had in two instances cheated them. The first, he said, was in a bargain made with them for just as much ground as an ox's hide would cover, merely to build one fire upon. The Americans cut the hide into strings and claimed all the ground they could encompass therewith. The second case was a bargain for such an extent of country, in a certain direction, as a white man would travel to and back in one day. A surprising walker was found, who went as far and back again the same day as any of their swiftest men could do in two. These, said he, were submitted to, as you were strangers in our country, and professed to be our friends, but you have gone on from one step to another, so that we don't know when you will stop. At a treaty concluded to the northward, before the late war, he said, they had given up all the country south of the Ohio river. That boun- dary was a very plain one. It was such as could not be altered or mistaken; there could be no dispute about it. Concluded by saying that all the nations present had determined to grant no more of the country, but were willing to abide by the treaty which established the river Ohio as the boundary line. He presented.a large belt of wampum with a black stripe running through the
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middle of it, representing the Ohio river dividing, &c. The Governor replied, and told them that he could not possibly make the least deviation from the treaties which had been concluded at Fort Stanwix, at Fort M'Intosh and at the Miami river. That at these treaties the sev- eral boundaries had been fixed, and were unalterable. Council adjourned. Several days pass over. Indians pow-wowing. The Ohio rising and driving with ice.
Jan. 6th, 1789 .- All hands assemble again. The Gov- ernor made a speech to the Indians. Explained to them by a simile how they had forfeited their country. He supposed the Wyandots and some distant nation at war with each other. The Shawanees living between, were desired by the Wyandots to lie still, which was agreed to, but the Shawanees being of a restless disposition, and easy persuaded, took up the hatchet against their neigh- bors the Wyandots ; notwithstanding, the Wyandots con- quered their enemies, and obliged them to sue for peace, and the Shawanees' lands were given as a price for the same. Now, whether had not the Wyandots a good claim to the lands? They all agreed it was but just ; then, said he, this is exactly your case, you took up the hatchet against the United States, and joined the English in the late war. The English, to obtain peace, ceded to the United States all the country south of the great lakes. He told them that they had been all summer en- deavoring to meet, but it seemed to be to no purpose. The United States, he said, were much inclined to be at peace with all the Indians, but if the Indians wanted war they should have war. He told them that if they
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would renew the articles which had been agreed to and signed at M'Intosh and at the other treaties, he would add another article, and allow them the privilege of hunt- ing anywhere in the United States' territory, and would deliver over to them a certain quantity of goods, such as might be agreed on. Adjourned.
8th. - Lieutenant Pratt joined us, from Connecticut, with about seventy recruits.
9th. - In council once more. The old Wyandot chief, Shandotto, who spoke for all the nations present, said he was sorry the Governor talked of war. It was not long since both had felt the effects of it. For their part, they wished for no more. He said they all had a great re- gard for the thirteen fires, and would do everything in their power to accommodate them for the sake of peace, only hoped the line would be removed a little way.
11th .- This was the last act of the farce. The articles were signed.
13th. - The goods were given out to the different na- tions of Indians. The death of General Vernum, one of the judges of the territory, who was buried this after- noon, is generally lamented. The officers of the fort at- tended his funeral.
22d .- The Indians mostly dispersed. Mr. Thompson, Luce and Schuyler, embarked for the Rapids.
28th. - The Governor, Pennsylvania commissioners, and sundry other gentlemen attending the grand treaty, left us for Fort Pitt.
Feb. 15th. - Captain Bradford, with his company, em- barked for the Rapids. Dr. Carmichael proceeded with
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him as far as the Great Miami, there to join Lieutenant Kersey.
22d .- Married this evening, Captain David Ziegler, of the first regiment, to Miss Sheffield, only single daughter of Mrs. Sheffield, of Campus Martius, city of Marietta. On this occasion I played the captain's aid, and at his request, the memorandums made. I exhibited a charac- ter not more awkward than strange, at the celebration of Captain Ziegler's nuptials, the first of the kind I had been a witness to.
March 18th. - Lieutenant Kingsbury was sent to con- duct a number of M'Curdy's discharged men to Fort Pitt.
April 19th .- Ensign Hartshorn detached with a party for Wheeling, where he expected to meet Mr. Ludlow, with whom he was to proceed to run the northern boun- dary of the Ohio Company purchase.
May 1st .- The Indians attack and kill a Mr. King, a proprietor in the Ohio Company, just below the Little Kanahwa, where a settlement is forming. The directors apply to General Harmar for a few soldiers for the pro- tection of the place. A sergeant, corporal and fifteen men, detached to protect the settlement below, called Belpre, and a corporal and eight sent up the Mus- kingum to Wolf creek, where the people are making another settlement.
5th .- The commission of first Lieutenant, which ought to have been sent me last year, was received but to-day. It is dated 28th of March last ; the detention occasioned by a claim. of Mr. Spear for the same appointment.
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Spear had filled a vacant ensigncy twelve months after our appointments, but having been an older subaltern in the Revolutionary war, thought he was still entitled to the right. Our State, where the appointments originate, decided against him. This evening Lieutenant Ford, with Captain Mercer's company, arrived from Vincen- nes. Captain Mercer and Lieutenant Peters came also, on their way home
28th. - Two parties of a corporal and nine men each were detached to escort the surveyors of the Ohio Com- pany in running out certain ranges upon the river, and to the extension of the purchase westward. They took two men and provisions.
June 4th. - Lieutenant Kingsbury, Mr. Tupper and myself set out in a small boat with four men, to visit the settlements made by the New England people on donation lands, called Belpre settlement. We got down about one o'clock -found everything appeared as well as industry could make.
5th. - We embarked and returned up within seven miles of the garrison. Landed and struck off on a west line, and at the distance of one mile, got upon Mr. Kingsbury's one hundred and sixty acre lot, and mine, which adjoins his. We found mine to be tolerably good land, having a branch of the Little Hockhocking run- ning directly through it. A great deal of poplar, walnut, locust, cherry, shellbark hickory and black oak. Re- turned to the boat and got home about dark.
9th .- Ensign Hartshorn and his party returned from escorting Mr. Ludlow, the surveyor, who was running
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the northern boundary of the Ohio Company purchase. They completed the business without the least molestation.
9th .- Major Wyllys, Ensign Sedam and Dr. Allison, arrived from the Rapids on their way to New York.
28th. - A young Delaware came in with information that George Washington was wounded by some person in ambush, on the Tuscarawas branch of the Mus- kingum. They are willing to lay it to Brant's people, but at the same time think the mischief done by militia from Wheeling.
July 7th .- Major Doughty joined us from New York.
14th. - Captain M'Curdy and Ensign M'Dowell came with forty-four recruits-good looking fellows.
Aug. 9th. - Captain Strong, with his two subalterns, Lieutenant Kingsbury and Ensign Hartshorn, and a complete company of seventy men, embark for the Mi- ami.
11th. - Captain Ferguson joined us with his recruits. Major Doughty follows Captain Strong for the purpose of choosing ground and laying out a new work intended for the protection of persons who have settled within the limits of Judge Symme's purchase.
21st .- A corporal and six men escorting surveyors of the Ohio Company, attacked by the Indians. The cor- poral only escaped.
Sept. 4th .- Ferguson with his company ordered to join Strong in erecting a fort near the Miami. Lieutenant Pratt, the quarter-master, ordered to the same place.
14th. - At a meeting of the agents of the Ohio Land Company, a tract of land lying at or near the mouth of 22
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Tyger's or Kyger's creek, on the Ohio, about four or five miles above the Great Kanahwa, was granted to an as- sociation of thirty-five proprietors, formed for settling the same; each to have one hundred acres at least. The 1st September, 1790, is the time allowed for commencing the settlement. Captain Beatty and myself are of the association.
22d. - Captain Heart, with his company from Fort Franklin, arrive here.
Nov. 10th. - The General intends removing to head- quarters very shortly, to the new fort building by Ma- jor Doughty, opposite the mouth of Licking creek. Had hinted that a short furlough would be very desirable before I went lower down, and if I could be excused from the regiment, would proceed to Philadelphia, and complete some business of his and of the officers of the Pennsylvania quota. I had, in the absence of quarter- master, performed both duties of adjutant and quarter- master. Mr. Pratt I always found ready and willing. On this occasion he volunteered, and I obtained a fur- lough until 1st May. Embarked in a twelve oar boat with Doctor Scott.
11th .- Lay near the upper end of the Long Reach.
12th. - Met a rise of water, and got one mile above Sunfish.
13th. - Rainy weather. Lay all night at Mr. Mahan's, seven miles below Wheeling.
14th .- Deposited with Esquire Zeens sundry articles found with Rogers (drowned), to be sent to his wife at Marietta. Got to Carpenter's at Short creek.
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15th. - High water. Lay one mile above Holliday's Cove.
16th .- The river continued to rise. With hard work we made Dawson's, opposite the mouth of Little Beaver, about eight o'clock at night.
17th. - As we turned up Beaver creek, to go to the- block-house two miles up, where an officer and party is stationed, we met General Parson's canoe, with some property, floating down. Found the old gentleman, in attempting to pass the Falls, about five miles up, was cast out and drowned, with one man who accompanied him. Judge Parsons was esteemed a useful, enterprising ยท citizen. He had an interest in Salt Spring tract, on the Mahoning, and anxious to prove the navigation of the Falls practicable, the experiment cost him his life. It is said that his life was insured in New York.
18th. - Set out after breakfast and got as high as the lower end of Montour's Island.
19th .- Arrived at Pittsburgh about two o'clock, P. M., when to our great satisfaction we found Major Wyllys, Captain Mercer, Captain Beatty, Lieutenant Peters, En- sign Sedam and Doctor Allison, all on their way to join the regiment.
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 4th .- With Beatty, the pay-master, I had business which detained me here longer than was intended. My boat and crew were taken back by these officers. Got upon the road this afternoon.
12th .- Reached Carlisle.
Jan. 9th, 1790. - Left Carlisle in company with Mr.
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Nesbit. That evening reached the Susquehanna on my way to Philadelphia.
13th .- Arrived in the city after a cold and tedious ride.
26th .- Having settled all my business fully, took leave of the pleasing amusements of the city and got back to my friends at Carlisle on the 29th. Had been here but a few days, when a strange indisposition came on me, altogether unaccountable. Few persons have been favor- ed with better health than I have enjoyed all my life ; once only, in South Carolina was I laid up for a while. Temperance and an active life may have contributed to exempt when few escaped, but never was without a grate- ful sense of the favor of Divine Providence. In the present case endeavored for several days to keep up, when it was discovered that I had taken the measles, a disease very prevalent here at this time, and which it was supposed I had had. This sickness could not have taken me at a more convenient or happy time - was in the house with my mother and sisters. In the space of a couple of weeks was again about, and as soon as it was prudent to be exposed to the roads and weather, left my kind and affectionate relations, and arrived at Pittsburgh on the 22d. March.
April 11th. - No place appears to me more inviting than this ; could willingly remain here awhile, but my furlough draws to a close, nor would I go over it one day, for a week of pleasure anywhere. Besides, I know that nothing short of unavoidable delay would do in my case. The only conveyance for one down the river is a Ken-
.
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tucky boat loaded with flour for head-quarters. The boat and hands are put under my charge, and with three soldiers, making seven of us, we set sail.
12th .- Buffalo creek.
14th .- Land at Fort Harmar, mouth of Muskingum, a place where I had spent most part of the last two years with much satisfaction. It was now in a manner desert- ed. Head-quarters had been removed to Fort Washing- ton, opposite the mouth of Licking. Spent one day with some old friends of the Ohio Company. Accounts from below that Indians are in force on the river near Scioto.
17th. - Reached the Great Kanahwa, where were sev- eral boats waiting to increase their force. An express had arrived from Limestone to Colonel Lewis, with ac- counts that the savages had attacked and taken several boats at the mouth of Scioto.
18th .- While waiting to enlarge our fleet, Mr. Kings- bury arrived from the Miami, by whom I received a let- ter from the General, but too late for me to execute his business.
19th. - Having examined the several boats and the people on board, the arms, &c., and made such disposi- tion of the whole as was thought most judicious, sailed at the head of sixteen Kentuck boats and two keels. The Kentucky boats were lashed three together and kept in one line. Women, children and stock all put into the middle boats. Outside boats only manned and worked. The men belonging to each block of boats had their own commanding officer, and the whole could re- pair to either side as necessity might require. The keels
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