acquaint you that all the Settlers living in this Country are my Master’s
subjects therefore I take this opportunity to desire you our Brethren of
the several Nations not to take any of their Effects from them by force,
nor kill or steal any of their Cattle, as I shall look on any insult of
that kind as if done to me, as they are under my protection. I desire
you will encourage your young Men to hunt and bring their Meat to me for
which they shall be paid in Powder and Lead.—A belt.
Major Rogers acquainted the Indians that he was going to Misselemaknach
to relieve that Garrison and desired some of their young Men to go with
him, whom he would pay for their Services and that he was sending an
Officer to Sᵗ. Josephs and the Waweoughtannes[85] to relieve their Post &
bring of[f] the French Garrisons & desired they would send some of their
young Men with him who should likewise be paid for their services.—A belt.
Then we acquainted them by a string that as they had requested a Smith to
mend their Guns as usual & the Doctor to attend their sick that it was
granted till the Generals pleasure was known.—A string.
December the 4ᵗʰ.—A Principal Man of the Wayondotts spoke and said
Brethren we have heard and considered what you said to us yesterday and
are met this day to return you an answer agreeable to our promise.
The Wayondott Speaker addressed his speech to Major Rogers, Capt Campbel
and myself.
BRETHREN: We have heard what you said to us yesterday, we are like a
lost People, as we have lost many of our principal Men, & we hope you
will excuse us if we should make any Mistakes, but we assure you our
Hearts are good towards our Brethren the English when your General and
Sir William Johnson took all Canada they ordered you to send us Word,
we received your Messages & we see, by your removing the French in the
manner you have from here, that what you said to us by your Messengers is
true. Brethren be it so, and continue as you have begun for the good of
us all. All the Indians in this Country are Allies to each other and as
one People, what you have said to us is very agreeable & we hope you will
continue to strengthen the Ancient Chain of Friendship.—A belt.
You desired us yesterday to perform our promise & deliver up your
Prisoners, it is very true we did promise to deliver them up, and have
since delivered up many, what would you have us do there is very few here
at present they are all yours & you shall have them as soon as possible
tho’ we do not choose to force them that have a mind to live with us.—A
belt.
BRETHREN: Yesterday you renewed and brightened the Ancient Chain of
Friendship between our Ancestors the Six Nations & you. Brethren I am
glad to hear that you our Brethren the English and the Six Nations have
renewed and strengthened the Ancient Chain of Friendship subsisting
between us, & we assure you that if ever it be broke it will be on your
side, and it is in your power as you are an able People to preserve it,
for while this Friendship is preserved we shall be a strong Body of
People, and do not let a small matter make a difference between us.—A
belt.
BRETHREN: Yesterday you desired us to be strong and preserve the Chain of
Friendship free from rust, Brethren look on this Friendship Belt where we
have the Six Nations and you by the hand; this Belt was delivered us by
our Brethren the English & Six Nations when first you came over the great
Water, that we might go & pass to Trade where we pleased & you likewise
with us, this Belt we preserve that our Children unborn may know.
BRETHREN: We heard what you said yesterday it was all good but we
expected two things more, first that you would have put it out of the
power of the Evil Spirit to hurt the Chain of Friendship, and secondly
that you would have settled the prices of goods that we might have them
cheaper from you than we had from the French as you have often told us.
Brethren you have renewed the Old Friendship yesterday, the Ancient Chain
is now become bright, it is new to our young Men, and Brethren we now
take a faster hold of it than ever we had & hope it may be preserved free
from rust to our posterity.—A belt [of] 9 rows.
BRETHREN: This Belt is from our Warriors in behalf of our Women &
Children and they desire of us to request of you to be strong & see that
they have goods cheap from your Traders & not be oppressed as they have
been by the French.[86]—A belt [of] 7 rows.
BRETHREN:—Shewing two Medals those we had from you as a token that we
might remember our Friendship whenever we should meet in the Woods and
smoke under the Tree of Peace, we preserved your token and hope you
remember your promise, it was then said that this Country was given by
God to the Indians & that you would preserve it for our joint use where
we first met under a shade as there were no Houses in those times.
The same speaker addressing himself to the six Nations.
BRETHREN: I am very glad to hear what our Brethren the English have said
to us, and I now send this string by you, and take the Chiefs of the six
Nations by the hand to come here to Council next spring.
Brother addressing himself to me
You have been employed by the King and Sir William Johnson amongst many
Nations of Indians in settling this Peace, now you are sent here where
our Council fire is, the Smoke of which ascends to the Skies you are
going away and all Nations to the Sun sitting are to meet here to see
their Brethren the English in possession of this place and we desire that
you may stay here till that Council, that you may take your Master Word
of what is to be transacted here.—A belt.
BRETHREN: By this String we request you will consider it will be
difficult for us to understand each other. It would be agreeable to us
if you would continue our old Interpreter as he understands our Language
well.—A string.
December the 5ᵗʰ the Principal Man of the Putawatimes spoke
BRETHREN: Yesterday our Uncles of the Six Nations spoke to you for us
all; do not be surprised at it, they have more understanding in Council
affairs than us, we have employed them to speak for us all, and Confirm
what they have said by this Belt.—A belt.
BRETHREN: Be strong and bring large quantitys of goods to supply us & we
will bring all our Furs to this place. We are glad you acquainted us that
the Inhabitants of French here are become English subjects, we shall look
on them as such for the future and treat them as our Brethren.—A belt.
BRETHREN: Our Uncles gave us this String of Wampum and desired us to be
strong and hunt for you, we should be glad [if] you would fix the price
to be given for a Deer of Meat, then insisted strongly that the six
Nation Deputys should press their Chiefs to attend the General meeting to
be held here in the spring by a Belt.
The principal Man of the Ottawas got up and made two speeches to the same
purport as above.
Then I made them the following speech.
BRETHREN: I return you thanks for the several affectionate speeches you
made us yesterday. To day it is agreed that he [the interpreter] be
continued till General Amherst and Sir William Johnson’s pleasure be
known; you likewise desired I might stay here till your General Meeting
in the Spring, I am not my own Master so you must excuse me till I
receive further Orders.—A belt.
Then the Present of Goods was delivered to each Nation in his Majestys
Name, for which they returned their hearty thanks.
Then Major Rogers spoke to them.
BRETHREN: I return you thanks for your readiness in joining his Majestys
Troops under my Command, on my way here, as I soon set out to execute
my orders and relieve the Garrison of Misselemakinach I take this
opportunity of taking my leave of you, and you may be assured I will
acquaint General Amherst and Sir William Johnson of the kind reception I
have met with amongst your Nations and recommend your services.—A belt.
Then the Council fire was covered up & the Conference ended.
7ᵗʰ.—Mr Butler of the Rangers set of[f] with an officer & party to
relieve the Garrison at the Milineys[87] [Miamis] with whom I sent an
Interpreter and gave him Wampum and such other things as was necessary
for his Journey and Instructions in what manner to speak to the Indians
in those parts.
The 8ᵗʰ.—Major Rogers set of[f] for Misselemachinack with whom I sent
Capᵗ Montour and four Indians who were well acquainted with the Country
and the Indian Nations that Inhabit it.[88]
The 9ᵗʰ & 10ᵗʰ.—Capt Campble assembled all the Inhabitants and read the
Act of Parliament to them & setled matters with them to his satisfaction,
they agreeing to yᵉ billiting of Troops and furnishing fire Wood &
Provisions for the Garrison, and indeed every thing in their power for
his Majestys service.
The 11ᵗʰ.—In the Evening Capt. Campble finished his Letters when I set
off leaving him what Wampum, Silver Truck & Goods I had for the Indian
service.
The 16ᵗʰ.—We came to the little Lake called Sandusky which we found froze
over so as not to be passable for some days.
The 22ᵈ.—We crossed the little Lake on the Ice which is about 6 Miles
over to an Indian Village where we found our Horses which we sent from
D’Troit, there were but five Indians at home all the rest being gone a
hunting.
23ᵈ.—We came to Chenunda an Indian Village 6 miles from Sandusky.[89]
24ᵗʰ.—We stayed to hunt up some Horses.
25ᵗʰ.—We came to the Principal Mans hunting Cabin about 16 miles from
Chenunda level Road and clear Woods, several Savannahs.
26ᵗʰ.—We came to Mohicken Village, this day, we crossed several small
Creeks all branches of Muskingum, level Road, pretty clear Woods about 30
Miles, the Indians were all out a hunting except one family.
27ᵗʰ.—We halted, it rained all day.
28ᵗʰ.—We set of[f], it snowed all day & come to another branch of
Muskingum about 9 Miles good Road where we stayed the 29ᵗʰ for a Cannoe
to put us over, the Creek being very high.
30ᵗʰ.—We set of[f] and came to another branch of Muskingum about 11 Miles
and the 31ˢᵗ we fell a Tree over the Creek and carryed over our Baggage
and encamped about one Mile up a Run.
January the 1ˢᵗ.—We travelled about 16 Miles clear woods & level Road to
a place called the Sugar Cabins.
2ᵈ.—We came about 12 Miles to the Beavers Town clear Woods and good Road.
3ᵈ.—Crossed Muskingum Creek and encamped in a fine bottom on this side
the Creek.
4ᵗʰ.—Set of[f] and travelled about 20 Miles up a branch of Muskingum good
Road.
5ᵗʰ.—Travelled about 18 Miles and crossed a branch of little Beaver Creek
clear Woods & good Road.
6ᵗʰ.—Travelled about Eighteen Miles and crossed two Branches of little
Beaver Creek good Road & Clear Woods.
7ᵗʰ.—Crossed the mouth of big Beaver Creek at an Indian Village and came
to Pittsburg about 25 Miles good Road & Clear Woods.[90]
CROGHAN’S JOURNAL, 1765[91]
May 15th, 1765.—I set off from fort Pitt with two batteaux, and encamped
at Chartier’s Island, in the Ohio, three miles below Fort Pitt.[92]
16th.—Being joined by the deputies of the Senecas, Shawnesse, and
Delawares, that were to accompany me, we set off at seven o’clock in the
morning, and at ten o’clock arrived at the Logs Town, an old settlement
of the Shawnesse, about seventeen miles from Fort Pitt, where we put
ashore, and viewed the remains of that village, which was situated on a
high bank, on the south side of the Ohio river, a fine fertile country
round it. At 11 o’clock we re-embarked and proceeded down the Ohio to
the mouth of Big Beaver Creek, about ten miles below the Logs Town: this
creek empties itself between two fine rich bottoms, a mile wide on each
side from the banks of the river to the highlands. About a mile below
the mouth of Beaver Creek we passed an old settlement of the Delawares,
where the French, in 1756, built a town for that nation. On the north
side of the river some of the stone chimneys are yet remaining; here the
highlands come close to the banks and continue so for about five miles.
After which we passed several spacious bottoms on each side of the river,
and came to Little Beaver Creek, about fifteen miles below Big Beaver
Creek. A number of small rivulets fall into the river on each side. From
thence we sailed to Yellow Creek,[93] being about fifteen miles from the
last mentioned creek; here and there the hills come close to the banks of
the river on each side, but where there are bottoms, they are very large,
and well watered; numbers of small rivulets running through them, falling
into the Ohio on both sides. We encamped on the river bank, and found a
great part of the trees in the bottom are covered with grape vines. This
day we passed by eleven islands, one of which being about seven miles
long. For the most part of the way we made this day, the banks of the
river are high and steep. The course of the Ohio from Fort Pitt to the
mouth of Beaver Creek inclines to the north-west; from thence to the two
creeks partly due west.
17th.—At 6 o’clock in the morning we embarked: and were delighted with
the prospect of a fine open country on each side of the river as we
passed down. We came to a place called the Two Creeks, about fifteen
miles from Yellow Creek, where we put to shore; here the Senecas have
a village on a high bank, on the north side of the river; the chief
of this village offered me his service to go with me to the Illinois,
which I could not refuse for fear of giving him offence, although I had
a sufficient number of deputies with me already.[94] From thence we
proceeded down the river, passed many large, rich, and fine bottoms; the
highlands being at a considerable distance from the river banks, till
we came to the Buffalo Creek, being about ten miles below the Seneca
village; and from Buffalo Creek, we proceeded down the river to Fat Meat
Creek, about thirty miles.[95] The face of the country appears much like
what we met with before; large, rich, and well watered bottoms, then
succeeded by the hills pinching close on the river; these bottoms, on the
north side, appear rather low, and consequently subject to inundations,
in the spring of the year, when there never fail to be high freshes in
the Ohio, owing to the melting of the snows. This day we passed by ten
fine islands, though the greatest part of them are small. They lay much
higher out of the water than the main land, and of course less subject to
be flooded by the freshes. At night we encamped near an Indian village.
The general course of the river from the Two Creeks to Fat Meat Creek
inclines to the southwest.
18th.—At 6 o’clock, A.M. we set off in our batteaux; the country on both
sides of the river appears delightful; the hills are several miles from
the river banks, and consequently the bottoms large; the soil, timber,
and banks of the river, much like those we have before described; about
fifty miles below Fat Meat Creek, we enter the long reach, where the
river runs a straight course for twenty miles, and makes a delightful
prospect; the banks continue high; the country on both sides, level,
rich, and well watered. At the lower end of the reach we encamped.[96]
This day we passed nine islands, some of which are large, and lie high
out of the water.
19th.—We decamped at six in the morning, and sailed to a place called
the Three Islands, being about fifteen miles from our last encampment;
here the highlands come close to the river banks, and the bottoms for
the most part—till we come to the Muskingum (or Elk)[97] river—are but
narrow: this river empties itself into the Ohio about fifteen miles below
the Three Islands; the banks of the river continue steep, and the country
is level, for several miles back from the river. The course of the river
from Fat Meat Creek to Elk River, is about southwest and by south. We
proceeded down the river about fifteen miles, to the mouth of Little
Conhawa River, with little or no alteration in the face of the country;
here we encamped in a fine rich bottom, after having passed fourteen
islands, some of them large, and mostly lying high out of the water.[98]
Here buffaloes, bears, turkeys, with all other kinds of wild game are
extremely plenty. A good hunter, without much fatigue to himself, could
here supply daily one hundred men with meat. The course of the Ohio, from
Elk River to Little Conhawa, is about south.
20th.—At six in the morning we embarked in our boats, and proceeded down
to the mouth of Hochocken or Bottle River,[99] where we were obliged to
encamp, having a strong head wind against us. We made but twenty miles
this day, and passed by five very fine islands, the country the whole
way being rich and level, with high and steep banks to the rivers. From
here I despatched an Indian to the Plains of Scioto, with a letter to the
French traders from the Illinois residing there, amongst the Shawnesse,
requiring them to come and join me at the mouth of Scioto, in order to
proceed with me to their own country, and take the oaths of allegiance to
his Britannic Majesty, as they were now become his subjects, and had no
right to trade there without license. At the same time I sent messages
to the Shawnesse Indians to oblige the French to come to me in case of
refusal.
21st.—We embarked at half past 8 o’clock in the morning, and sailed to a
place called the Big Bend, about thirty-five miles below Bottle River.
The course of the Ohio, from Little Conhawa River to Big Bend, is about
south-west by south. The country hereabouts abounds with buffalo, bears,
deer, and all sorts of wild game, in such plenty, that we killed out
of our boats as much as we wanted. We proceeded down the river to the
Buffalo Bottom, about ten miles from the beginning of the Big Bend, where
we encamped. The country on both sides of the river, much the same as we
passed the day before. This day we passed nine islands, all lying high
out of the water.
22d.—At half an hour past 5 o’clock, set off and sailed to a place,
called Alum Hill, so called from the great quantity of that mineral
found there by the Indians; this place lies about ten miles from Buffalo
Bottom;[100] thence we sailed to the mouth of Great Conhawa River,[101]
being ten miles from the Alum Hill. The course of the river, from the
Great Bend to this place, is mostly west; from hence we proceeded down to
Little Guyondott River, where we encamped, about thirty miles from Great
Conhawa; the country still fine and level; the bank of the river high,
with abundance of creeks and rivulets falling into it. This day we passed
six fine islands. In the evening one of our Indians discovered three
Cherokees near our encampment, which obliged our Indians to keep out a
good guard the first part of the night. Our party being pretty strong, I
imagine the Cherokees were afraid to attack us, and so ran off.
23d.—Decamped about five in the morning, and arrived at Big Guyondott,
twenty miles from our last encampment: the country as of yesterday;
from hence we proceeded down to Sandy River being twenty miles further;
thence to the mouth of Scioto, about forty miles from the last mentioned
river. The general course of the river from Great Conhawa to this place
inclines to the south-west. The soil rich, the country level, and the
banks of the river high. The soil on the banks of Scioto, for a vast
distance up the country, is prodigious rich, the bottoms very wide, and
in the spring of the year, many of them are flooded, so that the river
appears to be two or three miles wide. Bears, deer, turkeys, and most
sorts of wild game, are very plenty on the banks of this river. On the
Ohio, just below the mouth of Scioto, on a high bank, near forty feet,
formerly stood the Shawnesse town, called the Lower Town, which was
all carried away, except three or four houses, by a great flood in the
Scioto. I was in the town at the time, though the banks of the Ohio were
so high, the water was nine feet on the top, which obliged the whole town
to take to their canoes, and move with their effects to the hills. The
Shawnesse afterwards built their town on the opposite side of the river,
which, during the French war, they abandoned, for fear of the Virginians,
and removed to the plains on Scioto. The Ohio is about one hundred
yards wider here than at Fort Pitt, which is but a small augumentation,
considering the great number of rivers and creeks, that fall into it
during the course of four hundred and twenty miles; and as it deepens
but very little, I imagine the water sinks, though there is no visible
appearance of it. In general all the lands on the Scioto River, as well
as the bottoms on Ohio, are too rich for any thing but hemp, flax, or
Indian corn.[102]
24th, 25th, and 26th.—Stayed at the mouth of Scioto, waiting for the
Shawnesse and French traders, who arrived here on the evening of the
26th, in consequence of the message I sent them from Hochocken, or Bottle
Creek.[103]
27th.—The Indians requested me to stay this day, which I could not refuse.
28th.—We set off: passing down the Ohio, the country on both sides the
river level; the banks continue high. This day we came sixty miles;
passed no islands. The river being wider and deeper, we drove all night.
29th.—We came to the little Miame River, having proceeded sixty miles
last night.
30th.—We passed the Great Miame River, about thirty miles from the little
river of that name, _and in the evening arrived at the place where the
Elephants’ bones are found_, where we encamped, intending to take a view
of the place next morning. This day we came about seventy miles. The
country on both sides level, and rich bottoms well watered.
31st.—_Early in the morning we went to the great Lick, where those bones
are only found, about four miles from the river, on the south-east side.
In our way we passed through a fine timbered clear wood; we came into
a large road which the Buffaloes have beaten, spacious enough for two
waggons to go abreast, and leading straight into the Lick._ It appears
that there are vast quantities of these bones lying five or six feet
under ground, which we discovered in the bank, at the edge of the Lick.
We found here two tusks above six feet long; we carried one, with some
other bones, to our boats, and set off.[104] This day we proceeded down
the river about eighty miles, through a country much the same as already
described, since we passed the Scioto. In this day’s journey we passed
the mouth of the River Kentucky, or Holsten’s River.[105]
_June 1st._—We arrived within a mile of the Falls of Ohio, where we
encamped, after coming about fifty miles this day.
2d.—Early in the morning we embarked, and passed the Falls. The river
being very low we were obliged to lighten our boats, and pass on the
north side of a little island, which lays in the middle of the river. In
general, what is called the Fall here, is no more than rapids; and in the
least fresh, a batteau of any size may come and go on each side without
any risk.[106] This day we proceeded sixty miles, in the course of which
we passed Pidgeon River. The country pretty high on each side of the
River Ohio.
3d.—In the forepart of this day’s course, we passed high lands; about
mid-day we came to a fine, flat, and level country, called by the Indians
the Low Lands; no hills to be seen. We came about eighty miles this day,
and encamped.
4th.—We came to a place called the Five Islands; these islands are very
long, and succeed one another in a chain; the country still flat and
level, the soil exceedingly rich, and well watered. The highlands are at
least fifty miles from the banks of the Ohio. In this day’s course we
passed about ninety miles, the current being very strong.
5th.—Having passed the Five Islands, we came to a place called the Owl
River. Came about forty miles this day. The country the same as yesterday.