and regularly supplied with provisions, from the British stores at Swan creek, near Lake Erie. That previous to the arrival of Governor Simcoe, Blue Jacket, with two of the chiefs of the Ottawas, and the principal chief of the Pottawattamies, had agreed to visit General Wayne, accompanied by the person who gave the information, who was a man of distinction and influence among the Indians, and whose personal safety required that his name should then be kept a profound secret; but that Blue Jacket informed him, after the arrival of Simcoe, that he would not go to Fort Wayne, as he had promised to do, till after the proposed treaty at the mouth of the Detroit river that his wishes were still for peace-that he did not know what propositions Governor Simcoe had to make; but that he, and all the chiefs, would go and hear; and in the mean time, they desired him to enquire of General Wayne, in what manner the chiefs should come to him, and whether they would be safe, in case they should determine to do so, after the treaty with Simcoe was over. He further stated that had it not been for the arrival of Simcoe, McKee, and Brandt, with his Indians, he was confident the chiefs beforementioned, would have accompanied him to head-quarters at the time before stated.

This interesting information was immediately communicated to the War Department, by the General, accompanied with strong intimations of fear, that through the influence of the Governor, and his co-adjutors, the negotiations then going on, at the mouth of the Detroit river, with the British agents, would result in an agreement on the part of the Indians, to carry on a winter campaign against the American posts; and that the proposed visit of Blue Jacket and his associate chiefs, to the American head-quarters, to treat for peace, would prove to be delusive. At the same time, the attention of the Secretary was called, in the most emphatic terms, to the reduced state of the army, and the

danger to be apprehended from that cause, should the British agents succeed in the efforts they were making to induce the Indians to renew the war.

He gave it as his opinion, that the chiefs were playing a deceptive game, and were determined to carry on the war, if they could be convinced that the British agents would sustain them, as they were then most solemnly promising to do. It was true, that no hostile attempt had been made by any of their parties, after the battle of the 20th, yet that might be ascribed to the fact, that the American detachments always moved superior to insult, rather than to any pacific or friendly feeling entertained by the savages.

Among the causes of the embarrassment experienced in the army, during the winter of 1794-5; the unfortunate death of Colonel Robert Elliott, the acting contractor, was mentioned in the official communications to the War Department. That valuable officer was killed by the Indians near Fort Hamilton, on the 6th of October, 1794, on his way from Cincinnati to the out-posts; which occurrence so increased the derangement of the Department he belonged to, as to render it necessary for the General to order the Quartermaster General to supply all omissions on the part of the contractors, at their expense, to be settled at the Treasury, at a future day.

While the army were in winter quarters at Greenville, the General was constantly receiving communications from chiefs of different tribes; some of a friendly, others of a hostile character. Among them was one from a chief at Sandusky, dated September 17th, which stated, that after the plan suggested by the General, for a settlement of difficulties, had been fully considered by his own tribe, they declined to decide on it, till it had been sent to their confederates at the Miami river, for their information and advice; who soon after returned the following answer:

"Elder Brothers: We have received your speech, in

which you say, 'that you are just on the point of sending speeches to the Americans.' We are happy you thought proper to let us know, what you were going to do. We now request you to drop that measure. You must not believe the Americans, for they only wish to decoy us into a snare, by the fine speeches they so frequently send us. Let us listen to what our Father says to us, as he is now arrived, and the Five Nations are coming to join us."

About the same time, the General received a speech from Tarkee, chief sachem at Sandusky, in which he entreated the Americans to listen to the chiefs and warriors of the Sandusky tribe, with whom intercourse had been suspended for a long time. He referred to the council and treaty made at Muskingum, with Governor St. Clair, in 1789, by which all matters in dispute were settled, and by which their chains of friendship were linked strong with ours. He approved of that treaty, and said that an evil spirit had been set in motion, against the good work then finished, by which, in a short time after, all things were thrown into such confusion, that a rupture had taken place between the United States and the Indians, which was then undecided. He spoke in warm terms of friendship, towards the United States, and in favor of a speedy peace.

On the 27th of September, a speech was sent to General Wayne, from a chief at Sandusky, whose name is not given; in which he requested the honor of communicating to him a few words, on a subject of the greatest importance to the United States and to the Indians. He said, that it was then more than five years since the commencement of the war, and he thought it was almost time to rest, and enjoy the remainder of life in the blessings of peace. It had always been the desire of his heart to live in peace. That he could not express the regret he felt for his countrymen, who were then in the utmost distress, and seemed to be threatened with a total extirpation, from their native soil, which was the most alarming event a human being could

contemplate. He asked, whom they had to blame for their misfortunes; adding, that the world knew.

He affirmed that he had exerted all his ability, with the chiefs and warriors, when they were assembled at that place, to create in them the same ideas that he himself possessed. If they went wrong, the charge of their ignorance could not be upon him. He complained of the injustice that had been done to his people; and appealed to the United States for protection; requesting that a garrison might be established at Sandusky, for the safety of his people, alledging that he had always acted with fidelity, and hoped to see the day, when he should convince his countrymen how far they had been wrong.

On the 3rd of November, a Wyandot chief thus addressed the General:

"Brother! I thank the Great Spirit that I have now an opportunity to see you. I have come to speak of peace. I live at Sandusky. We, Wyandots, wish for peace, and are determined to bury the hatchet and scalping-knife, deep in the ground. We pray you to have pity on us, and leave us a small piece of land to build a town upon. The Great Spirit has given land enough for us all, in this world, to live and hunt upon. We have looked all around us, for a place to move to, but cannot find any. We want to know your mind. Our people will all be assembled at Sandusky, when we return home.

"Brother! I have come to you in behalf of my father, and his little town. We are for peace, and intend to move to the head waters of Scioto. We are determined for peace, and come to tell you where we live, so that we may not be injured on account of bad Indians, should they continue to be hostile."

These speeches were responded to by General Wayne, in the spirit and temper which circumstances seemed to require. On the 4th of November, he sent the following speech to Tarkee, and to all the chiefs and warriors of the

Wyandots, and to all other tribes and nations of Indians whom it might concern.

"Brothers! I have listened with attention to the messages sent to me, and am rejoiced that the Great Spirit has at last opened your hearts and ears to the voice of peace; but am sorry that the Evil Spirit has been busy in attempting to prevent you from accomplishing that desirable object; yet I hope and trust, that your eyes are now opened, and that you will no longer suffer yourselves to be imposed on by the bad advice of those interested men, who have so often deceived you, and betrayed you into error, by fair and plausible, but false, promises of assisting you to fight against the fifteen fires of the United States.

"I have already told you, that those people had neither the power nor the inclination to protect you- the truth of which you have fully experienced.

"Brothers! You request me to bring forth from the bottom of my heart, my sentiments respecting a definitive treaty of peace; and upon what terms. The enclosed copies of my speeches, addressed to you and all the other hostile tribes of Indians, will best demonstrate the sincerity and wishes of my heart; and show the pains I have taken to bring about a happy peace, and prevent a further effusion of human blood.

"Brothers! I now call upon you to open your hearts and ears, and exert every power of attention to what I shall say. It is close upon six years since the sachems and warriors of the Wyandot, Delaware, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawattamie, and Sac nations, concluded a treaty at the mouth of the Muskingum, with General St. Clair, for removing all causes of controversy, and for settling boundaries between the aforesaid tribes of Indians, and the United States of America. That treaty appeared to be founded upon principles of equity and justice; and to have been clearly and fairly understood, and satisfactory to all parties, at that period; being the same which you have