WASHINGTON’S MISSION TO FRENCH CREEK
When James Morris arrived at the homestead of the Morris family he
was received with open arms by his brother and his sister-in-law, and
Henry and little Nell. All were glad to see him and wished to know
immediately about Dave.
“He arrived safe and sound with Sam Barringford,” said James Morris.
“And he has done so well that I have left him and Sam in charge at the
post.”
Then he asked about poor Rodney and was told that the operation had
proved a great success and that the youth was mending rapidly. Later
on he went in to have a long talk with the sufferer which Rodney much
enjoyed, for visitors were scarce, and the family’s stock of books was
so small that he had had nothing new to read for fully six months.
Of course Joseph Morris was anxious to learn all about the affairs at
the trading-post and the brothers spent a whole day and several hours
of the night going over the figures James had brought along. These
satisfied Joseph thoroughly and he congratulated his brother heartily
on his success.
“As for that additional capital, do as you think best,” he added. “I am
willing you shall use it all up to the limit of fifty pounds. That I
must keep for Rodney’s doctor’s bills and for anything else he may need
in the future.”
James Morris remained at the homestead about a week, and then, in
company with the hunter who was going to Georgetown he started eastward
again. He went straight through to Annapolis, and here not only
disposed of his furs at a good price but also made several business
arrangements for future goods, and purchased additional things needed
at the post.
While in the east he heard many rumors which caused him more or less
uneasiness. Governor Dinwiddie had sent a Captain Trent to the French
commander on the Ohio to remonstrate against the several attacks on the
English traders, and this commissioner had returned with news that the
friendly Miamis living at and near Piqua had been attacked by other
Indians and by the French and defeated, and that the English traders
were taken prisoners and the French flag hoisted over the spot. At the
same time news came from other sources that two additional English
trading-posts had been robbed by the French and Indians and everything
of value carried off.
“Can it be possible that they intend to attack my post?” he asked
himself. Then he resolved to get back to the Kinotah without
unnecessary delay. But trading in those days took time, and
shop-keepers were not used to be hurried, and consequently it was fully
a week before he started on the return, by way of Winchester and Will’s
Creek.
In the meantime Governor Dinwiddie, much dissatisfied by the manner in
which Captain Trent had executed, or more properly perhaps, failed to
execute, his commission, appointed George Washington to take up the
task, knowing that Washington was well acquainted with the country
and its people, and used to roughing it. By his orders Washington was
to go to Logtown and hold a conference with Tanacharisson and other
sachems of the tribes friendly to the English, and having settled
with them, was to get an escort and travel to the headquarters of
the French commander, where he was to present a letter written by
Governor Dinwiddie and wait not longer than a week for an answer. While
traveling to the French headquarters he was to keep his eyes and ears
open and learn all he could of what the enemy had done and was doing
toward fortifying the Ohio valley.
Such a mission was exactly to Major Washington’s taste, and late
in October he set out, accompanied by Jacob Van Braam, an old
Dutch-American soldier, who had taught Washington how to fence and
shoot while at Mount Vernon, and who went along as interpreter. The
pair journeyed from Fredericksburg to Alexandria, and from the latter
place to Winchester. Here tents and supplies were purchased, and they
pushed on to Will’s Creek, arriving there in the middle of November.
Winter was now at hand again and the ground was covered with snow.
At Will’s Creek James Morris met the Washington party, which was now
increased by the addition of Mr. Gist, the pioneer, John Davidson, an
Indian interpreter, and several backwoodsmen and Indian traders. Word
had come in of a battle between the Delawares and some thieving Miamis
under Red Bird, but nothing of the attack on Ella Dell post. Yet the
air was full of ugly rumors and James Morris lost no time in bidding
his brother and the others of the family farewell.
“I am going west with the Washington party,” he said. “He remembers
Dave well and said he would be glad to have me along. I don’t know how
far I will go with him but certainly as far as Logtown.”
The first snows of the winter had been followed by a thaw and heavy
rains, consequently the rivers were so swollen the party had to swim
their horses across. Washington shipped a goodly portion of his outfit
down the Monongahela by canoes, telling those in charge to meet him at
the point where that stream and the Alleghany united.
“A fine spot for a fort,” said Washington to James Morris, as the pair
stood on the bank of the rivers, just at the fork. “The ground is high
and firm and there is an abundance of timber with which to build. I
shall recommend it.” This he did, but the French came in and erected
Fort Duquesne. To-day, as stated before, the city of Pittsburgh, with
its great iron and steel works, stands upon the spot. Thus has the
wilderness, in less than a hundred and fifty years, been subdued.
At last the party, after stopping to interview Shingiss and other
Indian sachems, arrived at Logtown, and two days later a grand
conference was held with the sachems who had come in upon invitation.
This was a most impressive sight, even to James Morris, who had seen
“pow-wows,” as he termed them, before. Each Indian chief was dressed
in his best and brightest robe and feathers, and all squatted around
the camp-fire and the whites squatted with them. Before there was any
talking the pipe of peace was lit and passed from one to another until
it had gone around the circle and been returned to the oldest of the
sachems. Then Washington arose and delivered his message, sent to them,
as he said, by their white brother, the Governor of Virginia. At the
conclusion he presented his “speech belt,” a string of wampums, always
necessary when holding an important conference with the red men.
Washington’s manner of presenting his cause pleased the Indians and
after due deliberation they stated that they had always considered the
English their brothers and that they would return the “speech belts”
given to them by the French. They further stated that Captain Joncaire
had called the Indians together at Venango, nearly sixty miles away,
by the trails. They would send three representatives with Washington,
and they trusted that all would go well with their white brother on the
trip.
On the way from Winchester, Washington’s party had been joined by John
Frazier, already mentioned in these pages. Frazier was an English
trader who had had a gunsmith shop in Venango, but had been driven
from the town by the French. He now warned the young commander of the
expedition to be on his guard.
“The French are not to be trusted,” he said. “Unless you are careful
they will steal your papers from you and then call you a trader and
make you a prisoner.”
“I shall be careful, never fear,” answered Washington.
Anxious to see the outcome of this appeal to the French, which might
mean so much to him and his trading-post, James Morris accompanied the
expedition to Venango. It was now bitterly cold and snows were frequent
and at one spot they were snow-bound for nearly a day, and one of the
backwoodsmen had his toes frostbitten. But at last, on the 4th of
December, they reached the town, which was little more than a French
and Indian settlement.
“The rascals, look at that!” exclaimed John Frazier, and pointed to the
house in which he had had his shop. The French officers had made it
their own and from the roof was hoisted the flag of France.
It was not long before Washington presented himself to Captain
Joncaire, who proved to be as oily and smooth-tongued as Sam
Barringford had described him. Yet Joncaire was a lover of good
liquor and company and did his best to make them feel at home, in the
meantime trying to “draw them out,” at every possible opportunity. Yet
Washington soon gauged the fellow perfectly, and hearing that the
French commander was at the next fort, tried to get away at once. But
Joncaire would not listen and had the Indians brought in and treated,
and kept this up so liberally that the poor red men at last forgot all
they had come for and said nothing about returning the French “speech
belts.”
“It’s a shame to let the French rascal get them in his clutches,” said
James Morris.
“Wait, it will all come back upon Captain Joncaire’s head,” said
Washington, and so it proved. On the next morning the half-king of the
Indians came to the commander and related how sorry he was over the
way he had acted. “I will yet return their speech belts, and then they
shall feed me no more fire-water,” he said. “It is not good for the
Indian for it makes of him a fool.”
At last the party was off for the next fort, situated on French Creek,
fifteen miles below Lake Erie. This fort was quite an elaborate affair,
but to reach it they had to travel through mud and slush for four days,
with snow coming down steadily. When they arrived at the fort they were
glad enough to accept the shelter offered them.
At this place the greeting to Washington was quite different from
that given by Joncaire. The young commissioner was received with much
formality and this formality continued during the whole of his stop
there. His letter from Governor Dinwiddie was translated by the French
first and then corrected by Van Braam, and the French commander took a
long while to consider it.
But Washington was not idle. On the second day at the place he called
James Morris to his side.
“You have a keen eye and understand these people and also the Indians,”
he said. “Take a walk down the river and see how many canoes they have
for use in the spring. Blaydell will do the same errand up the river.”
The mission was a delicate one, for the French and Indians were
watching the English as a cat watches a mouse. But James Morris was
equal to the occasion and the next day appeared with his arm in a sling.
“I am going out to cut some herb roots for a sprain,” he told the
French guard, and then told the Indians the same thing. After that he
sauntered down the bank of the stream knife in hand and cut out first
one root and then another. Yet his eyes were not on the roots, but on
the canoes which he brought to light hidden in the bushes, and when he
came back he had a tally which pleased Washington very much. Needless
to say the herb roots were never used on the arm in the sling.