breast-work erected, supposed to be done by the Indians. The mouth of
this river is about two hundred yards wide, and in its course runs
through one of the finest countries in the world, the lands being
exceedingly rich, and well watered; here hemp might be raised in immense
quantities. All the bottoms, and almost the whole country abounds with
great plenty of the white and red mulberry tree. These trees are to be
found in great plenty, in all places between the mouth of Scioto and the
Ouabache: the soil of the latter affords this tree in plenty as far as
Ouicatonon, and some few on the Miame River. Several large fine islands
lie in the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Ouabache, the banks of which
are high, and consequently free from inundations; hence we proceeded down
the river about six miles to encamp, as I judged some Indians were sent
to way-lay us, and came to a place called the Old Shawnesse Village,
some of that nation having formerly lived there.[108] In this day’s
proceedings we came about seventy-six miles. The general course of the
river; from Scioto to this place, is south-west.
7th.—We stayed here and despatched two Indians to the Illinois by land,
with letters to Lord Frazer, an English officer, who had been sent there
from Fort Pitt, and Monsieur St. Ange,[109] the French commanding officer
at Fort Chartres, and some speeches to the Indians there, letting them
know of my arrival here; that peace was made between us and the Six
Nations, Delawares, and Shawnesse, and of my having a number of deputies
of those nations along with me, to conclude matters with them also on
my arrival there. This day one of my men went into the woods and lost
himself.[110]
8th.—At day-break we were attacked by a party of Indians, consisting
of eighty warriors of the Kiccapoos and Musquattimes,[111] who killed
two of my men and three Indians, wounded myself and all the rest of my
party, except two white men and one Indian; then made myself and all the
white men prisoners, plundering us of every thing we had. A deputy of
the Shawnesse who was shot through the thigh, having concealed himself
in the woods for a few minutes after he was wounded—not knowing but
they were Southern Indians, who are always at war with the northward
Indians—after discovering what nation they were, came up to them and made
a very bold speech, telling them that the whole northward Indians would
join in taking revenge for the insult and murder of their people; this
alarmed those savages very much, who began excusing themselves, saying
their fathers, the French, had spirited them up, telling them that the
Indians were coming with a body of southern Indians to take their country
from them, and enslave them; that it was this that induced them to commit
this outrage. After dividing the plunder, (they left great part of the
heaviest effects behind, not being able to carry them,) they set off with
us to their village at Ouattonon, in a great hurry, being in dread of
pursuit from a large party of Indians they suspected were coming after
me. Our course was through a thick woody country, crossing a great many
swamps, morasses, and beaver ponds. We traveled this day about forty-two
miles.
9th.—An hour before day we set out on our march; passed through thick
woods, some highlands, and small savannahs, badly watered. Traveled this
day about thirty miles.
10th.—We set out very early in the morning, and marched through a high
country, extremely well timbered, for three hours; then came to a branch
of the Ouabache, which we crossed.[112] The remainder of this day we
traveled through fine rich bottoms, overgrown with reeds, which make the
best pasture in the world, the young reeds being preferable to sheaf
oats. Here is great plenty of wild game of all kinds. Came this day about
twenty-eight, or thirty miles.
11th.—At day-break we set off, making our way through a thin woodland,
interspersed with savannahs. I suffered extremely by reason of the
excessive heat of the weather, and scarcity of water; the little springs
and runs being dried up. Traveled this day about thirty miles.
12th.—We passed through some large savannahs, and clear woods; in the
afternoon we came to the Ouabache; then marched along it through a
prodigious rich bottom, overgrown with reeds and wild hemp; all this
bottom is well watered, and an exceeding fine hunting ground. Came this
day about thirty miles.
13th.—About an hour before day we set out; traveled through such bottoms
as of yesterday, and through some large meadows, where no trees, for
several miles together, are to be seen. Buffaloes, deer, and bears are
here in great plenty. We traveled about twenty-six miles this day.
14th.—The country we traveled through this day, appears the same as
described yesterday, excepting this afternoon’s journey through woodland,
to cut off a bend of the river. Came about twenty-seven miles this day.
15th.—We set out very early, and about one o’clock came to the Ouabache,
within six or seven miles of Port Vincent.[113] On my arrival there, I
found a village of about eighty or ninety French families settled on the
east side of this river, being one of the finest situations that can be
found. The country is level and clear, and the soil very rich, producing
wheat and tobacco. I think the latter preferable to that of Maryland or
Virginia. The French inhabitants hereabouts, are an idle, lazy people, a
parcel of renegadoes from Canada, and are much worse than the Indians.
They took a secret pleasure at our misfortunes, and the moment we
arrived, they came to the Indians, exchanging trifles for their valuable
plunder. As the savages took from me a considerable quantity of gold
and silver in specie, the French traders extorted ten half johannes[114]
from them for one pound of vermilion. Here is likewise an Indian village
of the Pyankeshaws,[115] who were much displeased with the party that
took me, telling them that “our and your chiefs are gone to make peace,
and you have begun a war, for which our women and children will have
reason to cry.” From this post the Indians permitted me to write to the
commander, at Fort Chartres, but would not suffer me to write to any
body else, (this I apprehend was a precaution of the French, lest their
villany should be perceived too soon,) although the Indians had given me
permission to write to Sir William Johnson and Fort Pitt on our march,
before we arrived at this place. But immediately after our arrival they
had a private council with the French, in which the Indians urged, (as
they afterwards informed me,) that as the French had engaged them in so
bad an affair, which was likely to bring a war on their nation, they
now expected a proof of their promise and assistance. Then delivered
the French a scalp and part of the plunder, and wanted to deliver some
presents to the Pyankeshaws, but they refused to accept of any, and
declared they would not be concerned in the affair. This last information
I got from the Pyankeshaws, as I had been well acquainted with them
several years before this time.
Port Vincent is a place of great consequence for trade, being a fine
hunting country all along the Ouabache, and too far for the Indians,
which reside hereabouts, to go either to the Illinois, or elsewhere, to
fetch their necessaries.
16th.—We were obliged to stay here to get some little apparel made up
for us, and to buy some horses for our journey to Ouicatonon, promising
payment at Detroit, for we could not procure horses from the French for
hire; though we were greatly fatigued, and our spirits much exhausted in
our late march, they would lend us no assistance.
17th.—At mid-day we set out; traveling the first five miles through a
fine thick wood. We traveled eighteen miles this day, and encamped in a
large, beautiful, well watered meadow.
18th and 19th.—We traveled through a prodigious large meadow, called
the Pyankeshaw’s Hunting Ground: here is no wood to be seen, and the
country appears like an ocean: the ground is exceedingly rich, and partly
overgrown with wild hemp; the land well watered, and full of buffalo,
deer, bears, and all kinds of wild game.
20th and 21st.—We passed through some very large meadows, part of which
belong to the Pyankeshaws on Vermilion River; the country and soil much
the same as that we traveled over for these three days past, wild hemp
grows here in abundance; the game very plenty: at any time, in half an
hour we could kill as much as we wanted.
22nd.—We passed through part of the same meadow as mentioned yesterday;
then came to a high woodland, and arrived at Vermilion River, so called
from a fine red earth found here by the Indians, with which they paint
themselves. About half a mile from the place where we crossed this river,
there is a village of Pyankeshaws, distinguished by the addition of the
name of the river. We then traveled about three hours, through a clear
high woody country, but a deep and rich soil; then came to a meadow,
where we encamped.
23d.—Early in the morning we set out through a fine meadow, then some
clear woods; in the afternoon came into a very large bottom on the
Ouabache, within six miles of Ouicatanon; here I met several chiefs of
the Kickapoos and Musquattimes, who spoke to their young men who had
taken us, and reprimanded them severely for what they had done to me,
after which they returned with us to their village, and delivered us all
to their chiefs.
The distance from port Vincent to Ouicatanon is two hundred and ten
miles. This place is situated on the Ouabache. About fourteen French
families are living in the fort, which stands on the north side of the
river. The Kickapoos and the Musquattimes, whose warriors had taken us,
live nigh the fort, on the same side of the river, where they have two
villages; and the Ouicatanons have a village on the south side of the
river. At our arrival at this post, several of the Wawcottonans, (or
Ouicatonans) with whom I had been formerly acquainted, came to visit me,
and seemed greatly concerned at what had happened. They went immediately
to the Kickapoos and Musquattimes, and charged them to take the greatest
care of us, till their chiefs should arrive from the Illinois, where
they were gone to meet me some time ago, and who were entirely ignorant
of this affair, and said the French had spirited up this party to go and
strike us.
The French have a great influence over these Indians, and never fail in
telling them many lies to the prejudice of his majesty’s interest, by
making the English nation odious and hateful to them. I had the greatest
difficulties in removing these prejudices. As these Indians are a weak,
foolish, and credulous people, they are easily imposed on by a designing
people, who have led them hitherto as they pleased. The French told them
that as the southern Indians had for two years past made war on them, it
must have been at the instigation of the English, who are a bad people.
However I have been fortunate enough to remove their prejudice, and,
in a great measure, their suspicions against the English. The country
hereabouts is exceedingly pleasant, being open and clear for many miles;
the soil very rich and well watered; all plants have a quick vegetation,
and the climate very temperate through the winter. This post has always
been a very considerable trading place. The great plenty of furs taken in
this country, induced the French to establish this post, which was the
first on the Ouabache, and by a very advantageous trade they have been
richly recompensed for their labor.
On the south side of the Ouabache runs a big bank, in which are several
fine coal mines, and behind this bank, is a very large meadow, clear
for several miles. It is surprising what false information we have had
respecting this country: some mention these spacious and beautiful
meadows as large and barren savannahs. I apprehend it has been the
artifice of the French to keep us ignorant of the country. These meadows
bear fine wild grass, and wild hemp ten or twelve feet high, which, if
properly manufactured, would prove as good, and answer all the purposes
of the hemp we cultivate.[116]
July 1ˢᵗ—A Frenchman arrived from the Illinois with a Pipe and Speech
from thence to the Kickapoos & Musquattamies, to have me Burnt, this
Speech was said to be sent from a Shawanese Indⁿ who resides at the
Ilinois, & has been during the War, & is much attached to the French
interest. As soon as this Speech was delivered to the Indians by the
French, the Indians informed me of it in Council, & expressed their
great concern for what had already happened, & told me they then sett
me & my people at liberty, & assured me they despised the message sent
them, and would return the Pipe & Belt to their Fathers the French, and
enquire into the reason of such a message being sent them by one of his
messengers, & desired me to stay with them ’till the Deputies of the Six
Nations, Shawanese & Delawares arrived with Pondiac at Ouiatonon in order
to settle matters, to wʰ I consented.
From 4ᵗʰ to the 8ᵗʰ—I had several Conferences with the Wawiotonans,
Pyankeeshas, Kickapoos & Musquatamies in which Conferences I was lucky
enough to reconcile those Nations to his Majesties Interest & obtain
their Consent and Approbation to take Possession of any Posts in their
country which the French formerly possessed & an offer of their service
should any Nation oppose our taking possession of it, all which they
confirmed by four large Pipes.
11ᵗʰ—Mʳ Maisonville[117] arrived with an Interpreter & a message to the
Indians to bring me & my party to the Ilinois, till then I had no answer
from Mʳ St. Ange to the letter I wrote him of the 16ᵗʰ June, as I wanted
to go to the Ilinois, I desired the Chiefs to prepare themselves & set
off with me as soon as possible.
12ᵗʰ—I wrote to General Gage[118] & Sir William Johnson, to Colᵒ Campbell
at Detroit, & Major Murray at Fort Pitt & Major Firmer at Mobiel or on
his way to the Mississipi,[119] & acquainted [them with] every thing that
had happened since my departure from Ft. Pitt.
July 13ᵗʰ—The Chiefs of the Twightwees came to me from the Miamis and
renewed their Antient Friendship with His Majesty & all his Subjects in
America & confirmed it with a Pipe.
18ᵗʰ—I set off for the Ilinois with the Chiefs of all those Nations when
by the way we met with Pondiac together with the Deputies of the Six
Nations, Delawares & Shawanese, which accompanied Mʳ Frazier & myself
down the Ohio & also Deputies with speeches from the four Nations living
in the Ilinois Country to me & the Six Nations, Delawares & Shawanese,
on which we return’d to Ouiatonon and there held another conference,
in which I settled all matters with the Ilinois Indians—Pondiac & they
agreeing to every thing the other Nations had done, all which they
confirmed by Pipes & Belts, but told me the French had informed them that
the English intended to take their Country from them, & give it to the
Cherokees to settle on, & that if ever they suffered the English to take
possession of their Country they would make slaves of them, that this was
the reason of their Opposing the English hitherto from taking possession
of _Fort Chartres_ & induced them to tell Mr. La Gutrie & Mʳ Sinnott[120]
that they would not let the English come into their Country. But being
informed since Mʳ Sinnott had retired by the Deputies of the Six Nations,
Delawares & Shawanese, that every difference subsisting between them &
the English was now settled, they were willing to comply as the other
Nations their Brethren had done and desired that their Father the King of
England might not look upon his taking possession of the Forts which the
French had formerly possest as a title for his subjects to possess their
Country, as they never had sold any part of it to the French, & that I
might rest satisfied that whenever the English came to take possession
they would receive them with open arms.
_July 25th._[121]—We set out from this place (after settling all matters
happily with the natives) for the Miames, and traveled the whole way
through a fine rich bottom, overgrown with wild hemp, alongside the
Ouabache, till we came to Eel River, where we arrived the 27th. About six
miles up this river is a small village of the Twightwee, situated on a
very delightful spot of ground on the bank of the river. The Eel River
heads near St. Joseph’s, and runs nearly parallel to the Miames, and at
some few miles distance from it, through a fine, pleasant country, and
after a course of about one hundred and eighty miles empties itself into
the Ouabache.
28th, 29th, 30th and 31st.—We traveled still along side the Eel River,
passing through fine clear woods, and some good meadows, though not so
large as those we passed some days before. The country is more overgrown
with woods, the soil is sufficiently rich, and well watered with springs.
_August 1st._—We arrived at the carrying place between the River Miames
and the Ouabache, which is about nine miles long in dry seasons, but not
above half that length in freshes. The head of the Ouabache is about
forty miles from this place, and after a course of about seven hundred
and sixty miles from the head spring, through one of the finest countries
in the world, it empties itself into the Ohio. The navigation from hence
to Ouicatanon, is very difficult in low water, on account of many rapids
and rifts; but in freshes, which generally happen in the spring and fall,
batteaux or canoes will pass, without difficulty, from here to Ouicatanon
in three days, which is about two hundred and forty miles, and by land
about two hundred and ten miles. From Ouicatanon to Port Vincent, and
thence to the Ohio, batteaux and canoes may go at any season of the year.
Throughout the whole course of the Ouabache the banks are pretty high,
and in the river are a great many islands. Many shrubs and trees are
found here unknown to us.
Within a mile of the Twightwee village, I was met by the chiefs of that
nation, who received us very kindly. The most part of these Indians knew
me, and conducted me to their village, where they immediately hoisted
an English flag that I had formerly given them at Fort Pitt. The next
day they held a council, after which they gave me up all the English
prisoners they had, then made several speeches, in all which they
expressed the great pleasure it gave them, to see the unhappy differences
which embroiled the several nations in a war with their brethren,
the English, were now so near a happy conclusion, and that peace was
established in their country.
The Twightwee village is situated on both sides of a river, called St.
Joseph’s. This river, where it falls into the Miame river, about a
quarter of a mile from this place, is one hundred yards wide, on the east
side of which stands a stockade fort, somewhat ruinous.
The Indian village consists of about forty or fifty cabins, besides nine
or ten French houses, a runaway colony from Detroit, during the late
Indian war; they were concerned in it, and being afraid of punishment,
came to this post, where ever since they have spirited up the Indians
against the English. All the French residing here are a lazy, indolent
people, fond of breeding mischief, and spiriting up the Indians against
the English, and should by no means be suffered to remain here. The
country is pleasant, the soil rich and well watered. After several
conferences with these Indians, and their delivering me up all the
English prisoners they had,—[blank space in MS.]
On the 6th of August we set out for Detroit, down the Miames river in
a canoe. This river heads about ten miles from hence. The river is
not navigable till you come where the river St. Joseph joins it, and
makes a considerably large stream. Nevertheless we found a great deal
of difficulty in getting our canoe over shoals, as the waters at this
season were very low. The banks of the river are high, and the country
overgrown with lofty timber of various kinds; the land is level, and the
woods clear. About ninety miles from the Miames or Twightwee, we came to
where a large river, that heads in a large lick, falls into the Miame
river; this they call the Forks.[122] The Ottawas claim this country,
and hunt here, where game is very plenty. From hence we proceeded to the
Ottawa village. This nation formerly lived at Detroit, but is now settled
here, on account of the richness of the country, where game is always to
be found in plenty. Here we were obliged to get out of our canoes, and
drag them eighteen miles, on account of the rifts which interrupt the
navigation.[123] At the end of these rifts, we came to a village of the
Wyondotts, who received us very kindly and from thence we proceeded to
the mouth of the river, where it falls into Lake Erie. From the Miames
to the lake is computed one hundred and eighty miles, and from the
entrance of the river into the lake to Detroit, is sixty miles; that is,
forty-two miles up the lake, and eighteen miles up the Detroit river to
the garrison of that name. The land on the lake side is low and flat. We
passed several large rivers and bays, and on the 16th of August, in the
afternoon, we arrived at Detroit river. The country here is much higher
than on the lake side; the river is about nine hundred yards wide, and
the current runs very strong. There are several fine and large islands in
this river, one of which is nine miles long; its banks high, and the soil
very good.
17th.—In the morning we arrived at the fort, which is a large stockade,
inclosing about eighty houses, it stands close on the north side of the
river, on a high bank, commands a very pleasant prospect for nine miles
above, and nine miles below the fort; the country is thick settled with
French, their plantations are generally laid out about three or four
acres in breadth on the river, and eighty acres in depth; the soil is
good, producing plenty of grain. All the people here are generally poor
wretches, and consist of three or four hundred French families, a lazy,
idle people, depending chiefly on the savages for their subsistence;
though the land, with little labor, produces plenty of grain, they
scarcely raise as much as will supply their wants, in imitation of the
Indians, whose manners and customs they have entirely adopted, and cannot
subsist without them. The men, women, and children speak the Indian
tongue perfectly well. In the last Indian war the most part of the
French were concerned in it, (although the whole settlement had taken
the oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty) they have, therefore,
great reason to be thankful to the English clemency in not bringing them
to deserved punishment. Before the late Indian war there resided three
nations of Indians at this place: the Putawatimes, whose village was on
the west side of the river, about one mile below the fort; the Ottawas,
on the east side, about three miles above the Fort; and the Wyondotts,
whose village lies on the east side, about two miles below the fort.
The former two nations have removed to a considerable distance, and the
latter still remain where they were, and are remarkable for their good
sense and hospitality. They have a particular attachment to the Roman
Catholic religion, the French, by their priests, having taken uncommon
pains to instruct them.
During my stay here, I held frequent conferences with the different
nations of Indians assembled at this place, with whom I settled matters
to their general satisfaction.
August 17ᵗʰ[124]—I arrived at Detroit where I found several small Tribes
of Ottawas, Puttewatamies & Chipwas waiting in Consequence of Colᵒ
Bradstreets Invitation to see him.[125] Here I met _Mʳ DeCouagne_ and
_Wabecomicat_ with a Deputation of Indians from Niagara, with Messages
from Sir William Johnson to Pondiac & those Western Nations.[126]
23ᵈ—Colo Campbell[127] & I had a Meeting with the Twightwees,
Wawiotonans, Pyankeshas, Kickapoos and Musquattamies, when they produced
the several Belts sent them by Colᵒ Bradstreet, in consequence of which
Invitation they came here.
Then they spoake to the Six Nations Delawares & Shawanese on several
Belts & Pipes, beging in the most abject manner that they would forgive
them for the ill conduct of their Young Men, to take Pity on their Women
& Children & grant yᵐ peace.