The commissioners of the United States immediately sent the following brief answer to the confederate Indians at the rapids of the Maumee: "To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Indian Nations assembled at the foot of the Maumee Rapids: Brothers: We have just received your answer, dated the 13th instant, to our speech of the 31st of last month, which we delivered to your deputies at this place. You say it was interpreted to all your nations; and we presume it was fully understood. We therem explicitly declared to you, that it was now impossible to make the river Ohio the boundary between your lands and the lands of the United States. Your answer amounts to a declaration, that you will agree to no other boundary than the Ohio. The negotiatiou is, therefore, at an end. We sincerely regret that peace 18 not the result; but, knowing the upright and liberal views of the United States-which, as far as you gave us an opportunity, we have explained to you-we trust that impartial judges will not attribute the continuance of the war to them. "Done at Captain Elliott's, at the mouth of Detroit river, the 16th day of August, 1793. BENJAMIN LINCOLN, BEVERLEY RANDOLPH, Commissioners of the TIMOTHY PICKERING, United States." On the 17th of August, the commissioners left the mouth of the Detroit river. They arrived at Fort Erie on the 23d, and immediately despatched the following letter to Major-general Wayne, at Fort Washington: "FORT ERIE, 23d August, 1793. "SIR: We are on our return home from the mouth of Detroit river, where we lay four weeks waiting for the Indians to close their private councils at the rapids of the Maumee, that we might all remove to Sandusky and open the treaty. But, after sending repeated deputations to us, to obtain answers to particular questions, they finally determined not to treat at all. This final answer was received on the 16th instant, when we immediately began to embark to recross Lake Erie. Although we did not effect a peace, yet we hope that good may hereafter arise from the mission. The tranquillity of the country north west of the Ohio, during the (supposed) continuance of the treaty, evinced your care of our safety; and we could not leave this quarter without returning you our unfeigned thanks. We are, sir, yours, etc., BENJAMIN LINCOLN, CHAPTER XXVI. INDIAN AFFAIRS-DIFFICULTIES WITH FRANCE. OWING to various causes, which have been sufficiently explained in the preceding chapters, the overtures of peace which were made by the government of the United States to the northwestern Indians were rejected by those tribes. On the 5th of October, 1793, Major-general Wayne addressed to the secretary of war a letter, from which the following is an extract: “HEAD-QUARTERS, HOBSON'S CHOICE, } Near Fort Washington, 5th October, 1793. Agreeably to the authority vested in me by your letter of the 17th of May, 1793, I have used every means in my power to bring forward the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, as you will observe by the enclosed correspondence with his excellency, Governor Shelby, and Major-general Scott, upon this interesting occasion. I have even adopted their own proposition, by ordering a draught of the militia, which I consider as the dernier resort, and from which I must acknowledge that I have but little hopes of success. Add to this, that we have a considerable number of officers and men sick and debilitated, from fevers, and other disorders incident to all armies. But this is not all; we have recently been visited by a malady called the influenza, which has pervaded the whole line in a most alarming and rapid degree. Fortunately, this complaint has not been fatal, except in a few instances; and I have now the pleasure of informing you, that we are generally recovered, or in a fair way; but our effective force will be much reduced. * * * After leaving the necessary garrisons at the several posts, (which will generally be composed of the sick and invalids,) I shall not be able to advance beyond Fort Jefferson with more than twenty-six hundred regular effectives, officers included. What auxiliary force we shall have is yet to be determined. At present, their numbers are only thirty-six guides and spies, and three hundred and sixty mounted volunteers. This is not a pleasant picture; but something must be done immediately, to save the frontiers from impending savage fury. "I will, therefore, advance to-morrow with the force I have, in order to gain a strong position about six miles in front of Fort Jefferson, so as to keep the enemy in check (by exciting a jealousy and apprehension for the safety of their women and children) until some favorable circumstance or opportunity may present to strike with effect. The present apparent tranquillity on the frontiers, and at the head of the line, is a convincing proof to me that the enemy are collected, or collecting, in force, to oppose the legion, either on its march or in some unfavorable position for the cavalry to act in. Disappoint them in this favorite plan or maneuver, they may probably be tempted to attack our lines. In this case I trust they will not have much reason to triumph from the encounter. They can not continue long embodied for want of provision; and, at their breaking up, they will most certainly make some desperate effort upon some quarter or other. Should the mounted volunteers [from Kentucky] advance in force, we might yet compel those haughty savages to sue for peace before the next opening of the leaves. * * * Knowing the critical situation of our infant nation, and feeling for the honor and reputation of government, (which I will support with my latest breath,) you may rest assured that I will not commit the legion unnecessarily; and, unless more powerfully supported than I at present have reason to expect, I will content myself by taking a strong position advanced of Fort Jefferson, and, by exerting every power, endeavor to protect the frontiers, and to secure the posts and army during the winter, or until I am honored with your further orders.” In a letter from Major-general Wayne to the secretary of war, dated "Camp, southwest branch of the [Great] Miami, six miles advanced of Fort Jefferson, October 23d, 1793," the writer said: "I have the honor to inform you that the legion took up its line of march from Hobson's Choice, on the 7th instant, and arrived at this place in perfect order and without a single accident, at ten o'clock in the morning of the 13th, when I found myself arrested for want of provisions. Notwithstanding this defect, I do not despair of supporting the troops in our present position, or rather, at a place called Still Water, at an intermediate distance between the field of [St. Clair's] battle and Fort Jefferson. * * * The safety of the western frontiers, the reputation of the legion, the dignity and interest of the nation, all forbid a retrograde manoeuver, or giving up one inch of ground we now possess, until the enemy are compelled to sue for peace. The greatest difficulty which at present presents, is that of furnishing a sufficient escort to secure our convoys of provisions and other supplies from insult and disaster; and, at the same time, to retain a sufficient force in camp to sustain and repel the attacks of the enemy, who appear to be desperate and determined. We have recently experienced a little check to our convoys, which may probably be exaggerated into something serious by the tongue of fame before this reaches you. The following is, however, the fact, viz: Lieutenant Lowry, of the 2d sub-legion, and Ensign Boyd, of the 1st, with a command consisting of ninety noncommissioned officers and privates, having in charge twenty wagons, belonging to the quartermaster-general's department, loaded with grain, and one of the contractor's [wagons] loaded with stores, were attacked early in the morning of the 17th instant, about seven miles advanced of Fort St. Clair, by a party of Indians. Those gallant young gentlemen, (who promised at a future day to be ornaments to their profession,) together with thirteen noncommissioned officers and privates, bravely fell, after an obstinate resistance against superior numbers, being abandoned by the greater part of the escort upon the first discharge. The savages killed, or carried off, about seventy horses, leaving the wagons and stores standing in the road, which have all been brought to this camp without any other loss or damage except some trifling articles. One company of light infantry, and one troop of dragoons, have been detached this morning to reinforce four other companies of infantry, commanded by Colonel Hamtramck, as an escort to the quartermaster-general's and contractor's wagons and pack-horses. I have this moment received the return of the mounted volunteers* [from Kentucky], under General Scott, recently arrived and encamped in the vicinity of Fort Jefferson. I shall immediately order a strong detachment of those volunteers as a further reinforcement to Colonel Hamtramck. I fear the season is too far advanced to derive that essential service, which, otherwise, might be expected from them. Whether they can act with effect or not is yet eventual. It is reported that the Indians at Auglaize have sent their women and children into some secret recess or recesses from their towns, and that the whole of the warriors are collected or collecting in force. The savages, however, can not continue long embodied, for want of provisions. On the contrary, we have, by great exertions, secured in this camp seventy thousand rations. I expect one hundred and twenty thousand in addition by the return of the present convoy, unless they meet with a disaster-a thing that can scarcely happen should my orders be duly executed, which I have no cause to doubt, from the character, vigilance, and experience of the commanding officer [Colonel Hamtramck]. A great number of men, as well as officers, have been left sick and debilitated at the respective garrisons,† from a malady called the influenza. Among others, General Wilkinson has been dangerously ill. He is now at Fort Jefferson, and on the recovery. I hope he will soon be sufficiently restored to take his command in the legion." The approach of winter, which was regarded as an unfavorable season for carrying on active hostilities against the Indians, induced General Wayne to dismiss the Kentucky militia, and to place the regular troops in winter quarters. On a tributary of the southwest branch of the Big Miami About one thousand men. Forts Washington, Hamilton, St. Clair, and Jefferson. |