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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcestiaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. y errata Id to nt 16 pelure, pen A 1 2 3 32X 1 2 8 4 5 6 INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS. VOLUME 11. Number n. t nj I'll ill ! DOCUMENTS RBLATINO TO THR French Settlements WABASH. iiv JACOB PIATT DUNN. INDIANATOUS; THE nOWFN-MKKUII.L COMPANY. ISIM. I; I! ^> INTRODUCTORY. The following papers relate to Vincennes and the Ww- bash country, and more or less to the entire Ohio valley. They almost cover the period of English possession of this part of the United States, the first being the last orders of the last French commandant of Post Vincennes, and the last being a letter of the last English commandant. With the exception of the Gage correspondence and papers they are arranged in order of date. The Gage papers, beginning witL the letter of Ste. Marie, or Jean Baptiste Racine, acting commandant of Post Vincennes, to General Haldi- mand, and closing with the letter of General Haldimand to General Gage, in regard to the matter, show the proof of legal title and right of settlement in the French people of Vincennes which was demanded by the famous letter of General Gage in 1773. This letter will be found in Dillon's History of Indiana at pages 86-88. I obtained copies of these various documents when writ- ing my "Indiana" for the American Commonwealth series. The farewell proclamation of St. Ange was furnished to me by Hon. C. C. Lasselle, whose ancestors were among the ancient residents of the Wabash country. The re- mainder were obtained from the Canadian archives. I have reproduced the originals as nearly as possible in spelling and punctuation. In translating I have endeav- ored to give the ideas that the writers, in my opinion, en- deavored to convey. J. P. Dunn. Indianapolis^ 'January 22^ iSg^, my (40s) Frei Fj En au pa\ pollise poste itiiine pour iivont foncti Sr. le etre d Kmpe luihiti des s Mt trop Htant pass( ail d la be jntei les ' feric duit d( i;'; French Settlements on the Wabash. FAREWELL PROCLAMATION OF LOUIS ST. ANGE. En vertue de I'ordre M' de Neyon Major Commandant au payes des jllinois de nommer une personne veller a la pollisse et mantenir le bon order entre les habittans de ce poste j ussi que des vollontaire et les sauvage — Nous Cap- itaine reforme etante sur le point de partir pour les jllinois pour nous randre au ordre de monsieur de Neyon nous avont nomme monsieur deroite de richarville, fesint les fonctions de Capitaine de millisse conjointement avec le Sr. le Caindre Soldat des troupe — leur premier soint doit etre de maintenir la bonne jntelligensse entrc les Sauvage I'Jmpechaire le desordre au terns quil dependerad eux lors qui leur sera porte des plaintes contre quelqun jl le vont ailantion de faire un assanble des plus notables entre les habittans du lieu oux la chose ce dasidera a la pluralite des suffrage. Messieur de roite de richarville et de Caindre ne peuve trop veller a ce que les habittans entretienne leur cloutures etante de 1' interait du publique a ce que les animaux ne passe de ter au g*. ains. jl soposeron autant quil pouvont au desordre qui n arive que trops souvant ocasionne par la boissons, lors quil viendera quelque nouvell quel soit jnterressante a a bien du service jl auront attention de nous les faire assavoir En tin pour tons les cas que nous ne ferions prevoire nous nous enraportant a leur bonne con- duitte et a leur application pour le bien p iblique. donn6 au poste Vincene le i8me May 1764. St. Ange. (407) ■ y \i h '4 i A 4o8 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS rr! (Translation.) By virtue of the order of M. de Neyon, Major Com- mandant of the Illinois country, to name a person to attend to the police, and to maintain good order among the citi- zens of this post, as also of the voyageurs and the Indians — I, invalided Captain, being about to depart to the Illi- nois country according to the order of Monsieur de Neyon have named Monsieur Deroite de Richardville, perform- ing the functions of captain of militia, jointly with Sr. le Caindre, soldier of the troops. Their first care sliould be to maintain good feeling among the Indians to prevent disorder so long as they are in charge. Whenever com- plaint shall be made to them against any one they will proceed to call an assembly of the more notable of the citizens of the place, where the matter shall be decided by a plurality of votes. Messieurs Deroite de Richardville and de Caindre can not watch too carefully that the citizens keep up their fences, it being to the public interest that the cattle siiould not pass from the commons to tlie grain fields. Tiiey will check as far as they are able the disorders which occur too frequently, occasioned by drinking. Whenever any news shall come to them which may be of importance to the good of the service they will take care to apprise me of it. In conclusion, in all cases which I have not been able to foresee, I depend on their good management and their devotion to the public welfare. Given at Post Vincennes the i8th of May, 1764. St. Angk. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT ERASER. Sir — A detail of the different occurrences of my late journe}'^ through the Indian Nations, cou'd neither be very entertaining, nor interesting to any others, but myself. At 3(1 ON THE WABASH. 409 Ki your request Sir, I will endeavour to give you a discrip- tion of the countries through which I passed which is a thing however I should not attempt were I not confident that you will have the goodness to excuse any inaccuracies vou may find in it w hither occasion by hurry or proceed- ing from my incapacity. I am very sensible that my pen can not do justice to the beauties and cc^^veniences that nature has bestowed on the large tract of country lying hitherto uninhabited be- tween Fort Pitt & the Illinois on both sides of the Ohio. After traversing ninety miles of a beautiful country lying between New York & Philadelphia, and traveling from that place to Fort Pitt, istant 320 miles the greatest p;irf peopled by very wealthy .nV Sitants I thought Icou'd st'e no other that cou'd exc( I was soon convinced liowever of the contrary oi. > proceeding down the Ohio on my way to the Illinois. 1 iuit river (very properly termed La Belle Riviere by the French which is the lit- teral translation of the Iroquois name) is formed by the confluence of the AUegeny & Moningahila Rivers, at Fort Pitt where they lose their names as the Ohio does by fall- ing into the Missisipe about forty leagues below Fort Char- ters & almost due West from Philadelphia after running about two thousand miles in a serpentine course through a country abounding with an incredible quantity of game & constantly presenting different agreeable -prospects to the Travelers view. Tho' this River is considerable at Fort Pitt for its size during the greatest part of the year, yet it is very much increas'd both in Depth and Width by the many Rivers that Discharge themselves into it. The most considerable of these are the Muskingum, whereon the Delaware live. The Canaway which comes from the back Frontiers of Virginia, the Scioto on whose Banks the Shawanise dwell, La Riviere de Rochers, which begins at a little distance IV'i ' hC- m \!i \ 1 •: 4IO FRENCH SETTLEMENTS from the Miames, the Ouubache which comes from near the same place & the Cumberland & Cherokee Rivers which fall into it considerably lower. These lesser rivers are navigable for Batteaus during the greatest part of the year. From the middle of October to June, 8 months. There are no Indian Nations living contiguous to the Banks of the Ohio, but those two I have just mentioned The Delaw & Shaw & the Mingos or Senecas who live a little above Fort Pitt — excepting those of Ouabache on which there are five nations, Ouiachlonons, Quicapous, Mascoutains, Piankishavv & Virmillion, settled besides a French Village called St. Vincent in which there are about sixty farmers who raise a considerable quantity of Wheat and Tobacco, and have a good stock of cattle. Between this River and the Illinois are several very ex- tensive plains on which there are always vast numbers of Buftaloe & Deer and every other species of game common in that country. The soil in the Illinois settlements is not so good as at any of the places I have already named owing perhaps to the quantity of sand mixed with it by the Missisipe, the Inhabitants, suppose that the River overflowed formerly, all the land at present cultivated in that Colony & the sit- uation with some other vestiges seem to give great proba- bility to their conjecture. The land hov\ever is capable to produce anything which one cou'd expect in so northerly a climate. They raise a great deal of wheat & Indian corn, they have also moat kinds of European fruits and vegetables, tolerably good considering the l^*Me pains they give themselves in culti- vating them. They have attempted to rear the European vines, which they say they cou'd not bring to any perfec- tion, but I impute their having given it up of late more to the want of skill in those who planted them, or the Mon- arch's Injunctions prohibiting the raising any thing which ii IH ON THE WABASH. 4TI might interfere with the staple commodities of the North- ern Country. They make however a very bad Wine, from the natural vine of the country which grows spontaneous in every part of that Colony, this Wine tho' seemingly very unhealthy is sold at a most exorbitant price, when they have none else to drink. The Illinois Indians are about six hundred & fifty able to bear arms. Nothing can equal their passion for drunk- eness, but that of the French Inhabitants, who are for the greatest part drunk everyday while they can get Drink to buy in the Colony. They import more of this article from New Orleans than they do of any other, and they never fail to meet a speedy & good market for it. They have a good many Negroes, who are obliged to labour very hard to support their masters, in their extravagant Debaucheries. Any one that has had any dealings with them, must plainly see, they are for the most part transported convicts, or people who have fled for some crimes. Those who have not done it themselves are the offspring of such as those I just mentioned inheriting tlieir Forefatliers vices. They are cruel and treacherous to each other & consequently so to strangers. Tiiey are dishonest in every kind of Busi- ness & lay themselves out to overreach strangers, which they often do by a low cunnrng peculiar to themselves, and their artful flatteries with extravagant entertainments (in which they affect the greatest hospitality) generally favour their schemes. There is a rich Lead Mine in that Colony from which they get all the lead, that is needed in the country, and a River, the water of which (tho' fresh to the taste) they make a sufficiency of salt for the consumption of the In- habitants. But these latter conveniences are unluckily on the Western or Spanish side of the River. The trade of this Country is extremely considerable, till of late years it was wholy monopolized by tlie leading i (H 412 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS 'H men in New Orleans, but since the last peace, they have allowed any one that wou'd pay the fees of a passport to (TO to our side of the River and amongst our Indians. This - as a very political scheme in them, as every trader be- came a Partizan for the French in the nations we traded :o, or in other words, the introduced those traders, who are in general most unconciencious Rascals and made it their interest to debauch from us such Indians as they found well disposed touai. ' us — and to foment & in- crease the animosity of such as the found otherwise ; to this we shou'd alone impute our late war with the Indians, whom they unwarrantably supplied with ammunition and every other thing necessary for carrying it on. The N. O. Company for the Fur trade have confmed their commercL' to the Missouris River since, which falls in about five leagues above our most northern settlement in the Illinois, private traders are permitted to go every where else, and many of tluMn come to our side to trade, particularly into the Illinois River from whence they get a great share of the trade of that Colony. I discovered also a few days before I left the Illinois that many traders who are permitted by us to come up from Canada with small quantities of goods, on their ar- rival in the Indian Nations commissions great quantities of goods from the French Merchants at the Illinois wiili which they purchase skins in the neighbourhood of our Posts & transport them afterwards to the Illinois — hut tliis I hope will be put a stop to when we have tioojis enough in that Colony to establish proper posts or enable the commander to send Detachments todetect any we may fmd committing such Frauds. When our traders arrive from the Post they can under- sell those of the French at least 25 per cent, for which reason you may depend Sir that they will use all tiieir endeavours to create us as many enemies as possible as ij^.Jfc>>A ON THE WABASH. 413 they will have the whole trade of every Nation they can engage in a war against us. They have an astonishing sway over the Indians, and they will not fail to put it to the proof, to procure themselves Profit. In sliort Sir it is my humble opinion that our Countrymen at the Illinois will never have a real peace while they are rivals with the French in Trade. The French Commandments have always been sharers in the Profits of the New Orleans Company and do every- thing in their power to promote their common Interest. They will make eternal professions of Friendship and gocd Ofiices with every Englishman with whom they have tiie least intercourse, but their double manner of acting shou'd put us on guard to trust them as little as possible & to suspect them of doing us every harm possible in pri- vate. I have the honor to assure you of this Sir, from my own experience not from conjectiu"e, and such as have had any business with them regarding his Majesty's Servicf mnst have met the same — if any shou'd pretend to say the contrary it must proceed from their having mistaken tlu'ir flattering protestations for sincirity so far as to overlook tlieir cunning designs. I have on many occasions been flattered by them & had compliments paid me that I had no tittle to a consciousness of the smallness of my own merit convinced me that they were covers for some hidden designs & the Commander in Chiefs gave me suOicient precautions on this head, to keep me always on my guard & to supply my want of Penetration. You will think Sir from my account of the French in that new Colony that his Majesty has not made very val- uable acquisition if we consider only the luimber of new Subjects he has got in that Colony, and I assure you Sir that we would be as well quit of them, if the Troops in that country unfortunately depend on them in a great measure for their jircn-isions — You have heard Sir how the 4: f^ -■ 4H FRENCH SETTLEMENTS hi ■i !■ A 1* 1 f'\ « ■; .-•■ 1 1 ' \- 1 m[1) 1 ' nM' J 1. Ijnfi k Kj \ Ml 1 jjreatest part of those who inliabited our .side of the River abandon it on our getting possession of the Colony — Tlioir desertion was undoubtedly occasion'd b}' the re- jtorts spread to paint the English government in as bad a light as invention cou'd frame it, but it is to be hojud, they will see how they have been imposed on and thai so many will come back as will be able to supply our Troops plentifully. The French have had Besides Fort Charters a small Fort at Cascaskias and another at Coake, there was a third called Assomption on the Bank of the Ohio opposite to the mouth of the Cherakee River, besides two Forts on Ouabach the one called the great Ouiachtonon was tie- pendant on Canada & the other at little Ouiachtonon or S'' Vincent — dependant on Orleans all those excepting,' fort Charters are intirely in ruins, some of them that you can scarce see any appearance of they did not seem to me of any great consequence were they even on a bi'llrr footing as they were situated. The Fort of the Natcluv: is little better, tlie Barracks and everything in them soeiu to have been destroyed through wantonness. I am much sur- prised that we have not inquired of the French dieir Rea- sons for abandoning them so abruptly, without giving us Regular possession of them. I took upon myself to ask their reasons for so doing but I could never obl;iin any answer, perhaps owing to the dilliculty of giving a proper one, or perhaps they did not look upon me as a person of sufTicient consequence to in(]uire into those matters. I forgot to mention Sir the number of Inhabitants at tlic Illinois and it is a thing which is very dillicult to assertain as they are going &. coming constantly to it from the In- dian Nations, as othe"s are from New Orleans to the Illinois, but there are in general about seven hundred white men able to bear arms. It remains only now to mention something of the In- ON THE WABASH. 415 dians in general. What can be said of one, may be apply'd to all, there is so great a similitude between them. The Indians are cruel, treacherous, and cowardly un- less they can surprise their enemy without probability of sullering any loss themselves, but in that case they attack often ten times their own number. They are in general great Drunkards. I must except the Ozages nor are the Akansa or Chicasas so passionately fond of drink as other Nations are. These two are extremely like each other and are more remarkable for their attachment to the white people than any other. As the Chicasases have ever been faithful to us they shou'd be distinguished by our favours to them before any other Nation, and showing a partiality for them before other Indians might inspire others with a resolution of imitating tlu'ir fidelity Drink is the occasion of all our troubles amongst them and it were much to be wished that the as- semblies or councils of the neighbouring Provinces would restrict the sending of it, as has been done to the North- ward. I am persuaded Sir, when you well learn the li- centious methods of carrying on the trade amongst them, that you will use your endeavours to prevent the fatal con- sequences we :ihou'd dread from it. I know no body so proper to inform you Sir minutely regarding it as Mr. John Mcintosh commissary of the Chickasaws aou need not ex- pect to come at the truth from any Yrac/rr, but } ou may sal'ely trust to his information, as I know him to be a man of such honesty that nothing could make him conceal any- thing which regards his Majestys Service or which you would be desirous to know. I know no place (as I had the honour formerly to tell you Sir) where we shou'd establish a l<\)rt at sooner than opposite to the mouth of the Missouris River which would give us the command of that River, shou'd we (ind it here- after beneticial & wou'd also put a stop to French trading H'M VI 4i6 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS ',) up the River, a Post at the mouth of the Ouabache wou'd also be necessary to command the navigation of that river and the Ohio, & as a store to secure provisions or goods in coming from Fort Pitt, shou'd it be thought hereafter more expedient to go from thence by hmd to Fort Cliarters. I think also that the mouth of the Yasou is a more proper place for a Post or Settlement than any other place on the Missipi, as it is the common route of the Creeks and Chactavvs going to New Orleans. I beg leave to Inform you Sir that I think if we could prevail on a few Indians to live at the Iberville with the detachment we get there, might be very servicible in kill- ing game for the Troops, and their wives & children wou'd always be good pledges for their Peaceable Behaviour. I have the honour to be with true respect Sir your most humble Servant Al" Fhaser. Pensacola 4th May 1766. P. S. The Commandants of the French Troops in the Illinois were always impowered to prohibit the exportation of any provisions from the Illinois till the Kings Ma^ja- zines shou'd be first supplyd. This however the com''" often permitted in consequence of pecuniary considerations from those who exported them I think Sir that yowv In- structions on this head to your Commanding oliicer there would be necessary. The Inhabitants migiit otiierwise ex- port their grain and sell it at a lower price to the French that we might offer them for it. I know their antipatiiy to our Nation would make them embrace with great cheerful- ness any sullerings or loss should they in any manner tend to distress us. In consequence of Mons' Auburys intercession I imdor- stand by a letter from General Gage to him, that there are no reprisals to be made on the Indian Alibamons who lately, so grossly insulted us at the Iberville — as the Tonicaws have not been punished either for having beat back the r ON THE WABASH. 417 22d Regiment, they may think that they may always ex- pect to commit the same Hostilitie with impunity. I think Sir it would not be improper to signify to them that must expect to be all cut ofFshou'd they for the future give rea- son to suspect their good intentions — nor do I thinlc it would be wrong to punish them accordingly. The Chica- saws are the Proper Instruments for this duty. Al^ Fraser. u if ■■ THOMAS HUTCHINS TO GEN. HALDIMAND. Fort Ciiartres 15th Nov' 1768. v.— 15 of October. Sir — Please to allow me to observe that your Exalted Station like many other high places in life, is not I pre- sume free from some degree of care and trouble, at least so much as to deprive me of the smallest hopes of the Honour of you- correspondence, however abstracted from the great obligation a letter from you would lay me under. I shall beg leave to intrude so much upon your time as may be necessary for the perusal of the enclosed it is a short description of the Country near (and River of) the Ohio from Fort Pitt to its junction with the Mississippe. You have it in the form of a journ d wrote in haste. I Hatter myself it may notwithstanding serve to assist in passing a few of your leisure minutes. I would trouble you with the Occurrences of this place, but am apprehensive that a detail of them would swell this letter to a tedious length, you will bt^ pleased tlierefore to excuse the liberty I have taken in referring you to M' Hutchinson to whom 1 have wrote a particulars of them. The Fever and Augue since our arrival has raged with such uncommon violence as to put it out of our power to do scarce anyti ing more than lo bury some of our Ollicers and Men who were carried oil' by those disorders. ^ 418 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS We expect next Spring if the Health of the Garrison permit to take possession of Post St Vincent on the Oua- bache, if I should be furnislied with any Occurrences worth your notice during my stay there, I shall do myself the pleasure to acquaint 3'^ou with them. Colonel Wilkins who is quite recovered from his illness has desired me to present you with his most respectful compliments. It will always afford me pleasure to be favoured with your commands. I am with the Greatest Respect Sir, your most obedient Humble Servant Tuo r Hutchins N. B. I must pray you will not \ permit any Person to take a copy > of the enclosed. ; To Brigadier General Haldimand. JOURNAL FROM FORT PITT TO THE MOUTH OF THE OHIO. In thk year 1768. The country for 71 miles below the Fort to an Indian Vilhige situate on the north bank is broken with very high ridges, the valleys narrow and the course of tiie River plunged from many higli grounds which compose its banUs. 90 miles lower down is tlie Muskingum on the same side, in latitude 39° 19'. Tiie Muskingum is a large River 250 yards wide at its conlluence with the Oliio, it is said to be navigable 150 miles upwards with Battoea, and runs tiirough a pleasant country as that near its junction ap- peared to be — on this River and its brandies most of the Delaware Indians reside. 366 miles from Fort Pitt in Latitude 38° 22' is the Sioto Rivt-r on tlie North Side. The River Ohio 50 miles above Muskingum to Sioto is most beautiful a number of Islands are to be seen of different sizes, but all covered with the ON THE WABASH. 419 Tallest of Timber. The long reaches among which is one of 16 miles, and a ^ inclosed with the finest Trees of different kinds, of various verdures and leaves of the largest soils, afford a noble and enchanting prospect. The stillness of the current and a calm sunshine put a Trace on the Water, from which was reflected the most beautiful objects of simple nature, that 1 ever beheld. This glorious Vista was terminated by two Sugar Loaf Hills, of easy asscent, from which can be discovered all this magnificent variety. The Rivers Hockhocking & Canawha fall into the Ohio in this space, besides others of a smaller size, up the big Can- awha the Northern Indians penetrate into the Chorakee Nations, and is a large ffne stream by report navigable 100 miles towards the Southward. The Country is everywhere pleasant, in the bends of the River course are large levell spotts of the Richest Land, it is by the account of Traders remarkably Healthy. On the Siolo the principal part of the Shawanoe Na- tion have their Villages 560 miles below Fort Pitt, 5 miles south of the River is the Licks in which Elephants bones are found, tlie principal Lick is of a circular form, composed of a species of C^^uick Sand and Black Mud which is of a very Miry Quality. From whence these animals came, and the cause of their Extinction may be a subject for an able Penn to discuss. It however seems not improbable, but that the whole which were in this Country (by wiiat means soever they were brought) kept constantly in one Herd and tliat arriving at the Licks in a wet season, and entering to satisfy their natural thirst for tlie salt water wliich arrises from tiiem, some of them might by their great weight have sunk so deep as not to he able to rise out &. the others out of sympathy, or some other cause, not being willing to leave their companions in distress, have siiared the same fate. The pasturage near tlie Licks seems to be one of the finest kind, mixed with grass and Herbage, and well watered. :i ii; iil' ' m h 420 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS ' % ' The Ohio continues to be narrow the whole Distance froiii Fort Pitt to within lOO miles of the Falls. Its breadth seldom exceeds 5ooyards and is confined by risirg grounds, which causes many windings, altho the reaches i;re some- times from 2 to 4 miles long. The River loo miles above the Falls widens to 700 yards in many places, a number of Islands appear. The grounds diminish generally into Height, and the country is not so much broken — the height of the Banks permits their being every where in- habited, nor do they seem subjected to crumble much away. The Little and Big Mineamies Rivers fall into below the Sioto on the North side, and the Licking Creek and Kentuckee on the South. There are many good En- campments on the Islands. The Falls is 682 miles below Fort Pitt in Latitude 38° 8'. This place ought rather to be called a Rapid, as the streams has no sudden pitch, but only Runs with incon- ceivable rapidity over the Ledge of llatt Limestone Rock, which keeps up the waters of the higher Ohio, and 'o be the cause of that beautiful stillness of the Rivers course above. 317 miles below the Falls is the Wabash in Latitude 37° 41'. F'rom the Falls to about half this distance the coun- try is very Hilly, the course of the River very winding and narrow and tiie Hills are mostly strong and steep. 837 miles below Fort Pitt the Ridgy ground disappears, the country grows flat and tlie River whose Bed widens is often divided by Islands. The River Wabash at its con- fluence is 300 yds. wide and Issues in with a considerable quantity of water of a muddy kind, it is navigable be- tween 3 & 400 miles upwards. Post St Vincent a French Village is situate 60 leagues iip it and nearly the same dis- tance further up stands the Villaji-j f)f Ouialanon. Tiie Following Indian Nations reside on this River, Vi/t. Oui- atanons Kickapoos Pyankashaws, r.nd Musquetons. ON THE WABASH. 421 The c ■ untrj'- between the course of this River and that of the Mississipi is general Fiatt, open and of a rich luxuriant soil, and that on the Banks of the Ohio is level, and in many places overflowed here abouts. 120 miles below the mouth of the Wabash and 11 below that of the Cherokee River is the remains of the Fort Massiac, formerly a French Post. The country 25 miles from the Wabash begins again to be mountainous being the N. W. end of the Apalachian iMountains which entirely terminate a small distance from the River Northernly. 45 miles below Massiac and 1164 from Fort Pitt is the mouth of the Ohio in Latitude 36° 43'. The gentle Ohio is pushed back by the impetuous stream of the Mississipi whose muddy white water is to be seen 200 yards up the Former. The ground for some miles within the Fork is an aggregation of mud and sand interspersed with marsh and some ponds of water, and is in high times of the Missis- sipi over flowed which is the case with the other sides of both rivers. Tho. Hutchins. '1 , STE. MARIE'S LETTER TO GENERAL HALDI- MAND. Monsieur— je suis trop remplie de respect pour tout ce qui porte I'emnrinte de I'otorite pour avoir manque a faire reponse a celle que votre Excelence marque m'avoir ecrite apres le depart de Monsieur le general Gage. Voicy la seulle que Mons' Maisonville m a remize ; a laquelle je repond avec tout le respect possible. Pour faire une plus juste reponse a celle que Monsieur le general Gage nous honora et a la proclamation qu 'il nous envoya en date du 8me Avril 1773, je ne pui me dis- penser de faire le voyage des Illinois avec Mr. Perthuit qui fui depute pour cette afl^tire parcequne partie des titres de 1^1 M 1 1 II a. f 1 1 422 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS cette endroit etoient dans les archives de ce poste une autre part.ie emporte par un M. Clouvier cy deven notaire et que la niauvaize conduitte obliga de partir furtivement d'autres mange des rats &c. En fait du ressencement que vostre Excelence exige de nous, il n'est pas surprenen qu'il ne luy fui pas encore parvenue puis qu'il ne put estre party des Illinois qu'au commencement de Septembre. II a ete fait tel qu' etoit la formal que Monsieur le general Gage nous envoya et qu'il recommendait suivre exactement. Nous y avons joinn le certiflicat de M"^ S' Ange qui a longtemps command^ en ce poste au nom du Roy de France legalize par M' Pierre Nasse, commendent en chef a S' Louis et de M' le Capitaine Laird qui a bien voulue se charger du tout pour le faire parvenir a Monsieur le general Gage n'etent pas prevenue que Vostre Excelence gouvernoit en sa place. Nous sommes tres persuade que des affaires ainsi mal en ordre ne pouroit avoir qu'un tres meauvais succes si nous n'avions pas la plus ferme conlience dans les vertues de vostre Excelence et sous la protection de laquelle nous nous metons ; et comme c'est les propres des grandes anies de s'interesser pour un peuple malheureux, nous la supplions de nous estre favorable et faire chouze digne d'elle et ne cesserons de faire des veux pour sa prosperite. J'ay Thonneur d'estre avec un tres profond respect Monsieur Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur S" Mauie Au Poste Vincennes le 3e May 1774. (Translation.) Monsieur — I am too full of respect for all that bears the imprint of authority to have neglected to make reply to that which your Excellence informs me you wrote me after r! ON THE WABASH. 423 the departure of Monsieur General Gage. This is the only one which Monsieur Maisonville has sent me, to which I reply with all possible respect. To make a more correct reply to that with which Mon- sieur General Gage honored us, and to the proclamation which he sent us under date of April 8, 1773, I was obliged to make the trip to the Illinois with Mr. Perthuit (Perthwaite?), who was sent to attend to this matter, be- cause a part of the title-deeds of this place were in the archives of that post, another part carried away by a M. Clouvier, former notary, whose bad conduct obliged him to depart secretly, others were eaten by rats etc. In regard to the verification (of titles) which your Ex- cellence requires of us, it is not surprising that it has not yet reached you, for it could not be started from the Illi- nois before the beginning of September. It has been made according to the form which Monsieur General Gage sent us, and which he recommended us to follow exactly. We have joined to it the certificate of Monsieur St. Ange, who commanded at this post for a long time in the name of the King of France, authenticated by Monsieur Piernas, commandant in chief at St. Louis, and of Monsieur Captain Lord, who indeed oflfered to see that it reached Monsieur General Gage, not being aware that your Ex- cellence governed in his place. We are indeed convinced that affairs in such bad order could not have other than very poor success, if we did not have the greatest confidence in the virtues of your Excel- lence, and under the protection of whom we put ourselves ; and as it is the characteristic of great souls to interest themselves for an unfortunate people, we supplicate you to be favorable to us, and to do as is worthy of you, and we will never cease to oflTer prayers for your prosperity. . i I I A (S ;c \ il I \ I 4 424 FREXCH SETTLEMENTS I have the honor to be, with very profound respect, Monsieur, Your very humble and very obedient servant Ste. Marie. Post Vincennes, May 3, 1774. i i i I I ON THE WABASH. W W u 2; w h O Oh CO (U o B .2 u 01 o c 11 11 . • F," ^ •.•i • :t iKu; u; : u u u u r: n ii u ■:: a :'^:^'j.'X>-x-x bO SB W) M hxj sc tjj bo ccccsccc c !^ 72 ^ C« 7) 7} 7) UO 'S 5 u u u ;-.* u u C C ,3 . J^ J^ J^ ?! P! J^ <%!?,>• 73 SO if. if. trrC tr. tr, ic ic bn ;c io CCCCr:3CC3C = C o.^ .^ <- <■ < ^ << rt Cfi 73 73 C« CJ 7; X X X X X. 73 O • - O -t- - ■ 1^ I^ 1^ l^ •vO . \0 vC sC ^C O \C -l-C "^ • 1^ l- l~. I^ !>. l^ !>. t-» 1^ «j c (A 0. .^'.'kt;t-^«.>t.t« ■ h*»S,V •*«•'*'»' «■>'**— s- ^V»;,S.^v,H^ L26 R D O U W W U J?; 73 2 3ii 1) C (/; O 3 " — C 3 O ^ C O •n Nil T >(U 0; u T) ■J. c •r. •n c U E U 3 a. c 2 J3 u) V •a s o 55 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS U 3 U II t; 3 (U u u u ^ 1) u 1) t) ^ ^ ^ rt 11 (U II rt II K u m II _ij T3 o U 1) u .s; U T3 A M M f f\j 11 o ■ • 4; ii5Jii'Ciiouwii*C'uiitLiaj'niio'ua>iiQja>iiiiii''ji;ii be to ;r. n be st ti; tt bo « n so bo tc « be bo n to bo bo bB be be be bo to to «■ . ''. . \«<- \ ^. <. <:<'-?!' '<' -i" . II ;<<<•<<<<:•<<;< ^ Tj TrTj TrSi Tj J^ ^ in J) in Xi Ji J^ Tj Tj J^ .fi J^ J: T. Ti in T, TjTj ^. ro l>H I"! 1^ 1- 1-. I- I- >n 1- I-. 1- !>. I>. I- I- l<. I>. .s «^ (•5 11 3 « ,^ Onw2 3 3 •e-3 c c "3 '3 <. <. << r ►- - _ ^ '^ '-^ Z ►i. >■' ^ 5- II ii _ (A (/I X (A c c ^, ,.', <, A 3 U U II 11^ 3 «J V II u s e E E U II 4, u := = w 3 3 5 2 3 liuCCCuCCCC_i^4/i,.JCi-ji, j: -5 X '- u >- '^ ti "^ > Cn > 3 \> 7j C /. . H . U 3 c n 3 c o u ^U > B- = •-Si' . ij o bo_ u C C u : o "ci E c 3 p c F t^ (- be rt f. I- t^ 11 ^ u 3 <1 . 11 M DU.llfl^l''^ — — U J X U, - U ■-! S x U ''^ f*. •2Q .- = = C 3 : (/; x X ■/) X 7 lA c ■ c (1 fl ^. . /». '/. ■ « j! .'^ u u 3 « 3 3 u -1 I. •nT3 u *^ u C 1 n U S.U&'Cl. ^ 4i c '- '"- ^ 1 J a 'J c ON THE WABASH. 427 11 1) 6 T!-^ ■n i ^ ^ ~ ~ •u; /-v •^ -^ ) II D /j te be tf ^r : c c c '<< <■ -^ * *J ^* 37:7: X r. Q 1 1 • « • n :> :c . a • X, ■ w>w>wDH>u>c.u^j:^u;:cuuci.uwc.u&. -C "O , X, c c c V c 3 *4^ 3 c 3; .:£ /2i t 3 ^73 ,V B c rt •— • -J rt o c bei = 305 g-ftj t; c I i u- '3 « rta. (UK*. — 3 ^ *-• rt rt 3' D c a. li. ■:" •+- rt 41 rt rt ^ rt rt 3 rt 4) 4-* jj c ?■ ■w ,■5! 3 ■^ = I- 2 a-s.rt rt <», 1) 73 k< ^•U <-. .^ -3 ^'■ E rt C W rt ii C ►J0a'JBSC!Ji;u,JaHUft.hJajMJ«7QJ>'ja-BAMU>>U.D(!J ^1 •I ! 5 ' (Ml f. 428 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS CERTIFICATE OF THE NOTARY PHILLIBERT. Je, Etienne Phillibert, sous mon propre sermetit siir les S'*" Ev;in(^iles Certifie a tons qu'il appartiendra, que plus- ieurs habitants du poste Vincenne, Lorsque je faisois la fotictlon de Notaire au dit Poste, avant 1' eva.sion de feu Baumer notaire apres moi, lui avoir remis plusieurs con- tracts de concession appertenans aux habitants, et que r evasion du dit S' Baumer, ainsi que le Transport du Grelle de ce poste en celui des Illinois, ont fait perdre quantite de papiers de Concessions, ainsi que des Contracts de Vente, en 1' annee mil sept cent soizante et un, qui fut ce transport de dits papiers ainsi que 1' evasion du dit Notaire. En foy de quoi j'ai signe le present au dit poste Vincesne Le 12'* Aout 1773. Signe a L'original, J. E. Phikliukkt, Notaire. Roy ale. (Translation.) I, Etienne Phillibert, under my solemn oath on the Holy Gospels, certify to all whom it may concern, that many citizens of Post Vincennes, when I was performing the function of Notary at the said Post, bel'ore the llight of the late Baumer notary after me, delivered to him many con- tracts of concession belonging to the citizens, and that tlie flight of said Mr. Baumer, and also the removal of the record odiceofthis Post to that of the Illinois, hive caused to be lost a number of pjipers of concession, as well as con- tracts of sale, in the > ear seventeen hundred and sixty-one, when this removal of said papers as also llie iliglit of said notary occurred. In testimony of which 1 iiave signed these presents ul the said Post Vincennes, the 12th of August, 1773. Signed in original, J. E. PillLLIUKUT, Royal Notary. ON THE WABASH. CERTIFICATE OF LOUIS ST. ANGE. 429 Nous Louis St. Ange de Bellerive ci devant Capitaine d' Infanterie, employe du service de SaMajestee Ties Cliretienne, actuellement Capitaine reforme au service de Sa Majesle Catholique : 'Jertilions a tons ce qu'il appar- tiendra a avoir commande le Poste Vincesnes au nom de sa dite Majeste Tres Cliretienne, avec une Garrison de Troupe Reglies, depuis I'annee mil sept cent trente six jusqu'en I'annee mil sept cent soizaule quatre et que ma premiere commission pour commander dans le dit poste a ete de sa Majeste Tres Ch.relienne, sous le gouvernement de M. de Bienville, Gouverneur General de la Louisiane en la dite annee mil sept cent trente six, qu'ensuite j'ai ete continue sous les gouvernements de Mess'" de Vaudreuille el (le Kerlerec et Dabadie succv ssi-urs les uns des autres au dit gouvernement ; jusqu'en la dite annce mil sept cent soizante quatre ; que pendant le dit Temps j'ai concede a piusieurs habitants diverses Trrres et Terrains par ordre (le mes dits S" les Gouverneurs, au nom de sa Majeste Tri'S Chri'tii'nno ; que de plus le dit Poste etoil etabli nombre d'annt-es auparavant mon commandment, sous celui de M. de Vincesne Ollicier des Troupes, lequel j'ai relev6 par ordre du roi ; que Ton doit ajouter foi aux con- cessions que j'ai delivrees et signees aux dits habitants, (ju'en outre j'ai permis verballemcnt a nombre de particu- liers, de s'etablir et d'y cultiver des Tones dont ils soiitrn possession dejiuis piusieurs. aiinees. En foi de quoi avons signe ces presents pour servir et valoir aux habitants du Posle\'^incesnes a (]ue de raison. Et a quelles fait apposer le cachet de nos amies aux Illinois sur la parHe de Sa Ma- jeste Catholique le Trente Aout mil sept cent soizantc et treize. Signe ii rorigin;il, S' Anoe W I 111 ' M 1 J 'f \ 1) i !: i I 430 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS (Translation.) I, Louis St. Ange de Bellerive former captain of in- fantry employed in the service of His Most Christian Ma- jesty, at present invalided captain of the service of His Catholic Majesty, certify to all whom it may concern that I commanded at Post Vincennes in the name of Mis Most Christian Majesty, with a garrison of regular troops, from the vear one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six uiilil in tlie year one thousand seven hundred and sixty four, and that my first commission as commandant of the said post was from His Most Christian Majesty under the gov- ernment of M. de Bienville, Governor General of Louisi- ana in the said year one thousand seven hundred aiul thirlv six ; that thereafter I was continued under the gov- ernment of Messieurs de Vaudreville, de Kerlerec, and D'Abadie, successors one to another in the said govern- ment until in tlie year one thousand seven hundred and sixtv-four; that during the said time I have conceded to maiiv inhabitants divers lands and pieces of ground bv or- der of my said Srs. the Governors, in the name of His Most Clirislian Majesty ; that further, the Siiid post was established a number of years before my command under that of M. de VinctMines, olhcer ' ." tlie troops, whom I succeeded by order of the king ; that faith should be givt'ii to tlie concessions which I have signed and delivered to llie said inhabitants ; that in addition to this I have vrr- liallv permitted a numb.'r of individuals to establish tlu'in- selves and cultivate the lands of which they have been in possession for many years. In testimony of which I Iimvc signed these presents to secure and establish the rights ol' tlie inhabitants of Post Vincennes, and to which I liavt- causeil to be attached the seal of our arms at the Illinois on the part of His Catholic Majesty, the thirtieth ol August, one thousand seven hundred and si'venty tlirei'. Signed in original, St. Anok. ON THE WABA.SH. 431 AUTHENTICATION OF DON PEDRO PIERNAS. L. O. S. Nous Don Pedro Piernas Capitaine d' Infanterie Lieu- tenant Gouverneur des Etablissements des Illinois et leur dependances appartenans a Sa Majeste Catholique, cer- tifions a tous qu'il appartiendra que Mens. De St Ange est Capitaine retbrme et employe au service de Sa Majeste Catholique, que c'est sa veritable signature, qu'il aposee devant nous au has du certificat ci-dessus et que foi doit y elre ajoutee. En consequence avons signe le present, et apose le sceau de nos armes a St Louis aux Illinois, le trente Aout mil sept cent soizante et treize. Signe a 1' original, L. O. S. Peuro Piernas. [sEAi>.] (Translation.) I, Don Pedro Piernas, Captain of Infantry, Lieutenant Governor of the settlements of the Illinois and their de- pendencies, belonging to His Catholic Majosty, certify to all whom it may concern that IVIonsiour de »Sl Ange is an invalided cajilain and employed in the service of His Cath- olic Majesty ; that this is his genuine signature which lie affixed before n » at the bottom of the above certificate ; and that credit should be given to it. In testimony of which 1 have signed these presents, and attached tlie seal of mv arms at St. Louis in the Illinois country, the thirtietli of August, one thousand seven hundred and seventy three. Signed in original, [seal.] Pi'Duo Piernas. GENERAL HALDIMANl) TO GENERAL GAGE. N. York, le 5 Jan. 1774. MoN. — Je viens enfin de recevoir une lettre de Cap' Lord des Illinois date du 3e Sep'" m'envoyer le recense- 1 J ■ <'!/ i'»ii(V u 432 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS \\h -'i *;;■. ment (ou plutot les noms) de 88 habitans qui sont etabli au Post Vincene. Cette piece est accompagne d'un certificat de M. St Ange qui y a commande pendant plusieurs annees, et qui dit avoir fete authorisee par les differents (jouv' de la Louisianne, de conceder des Terrains dans les endroits la. Mais la plupart de ces titres sont perdu, soit par accident ou par la mauvaise conduite d'un notaire de I'endroit, de sorte qu'il y a plusieurs de ces habitans qui n'ont d'autre titres que celui de possession, et comme il serait tresdifiicile He leur disputer, le meilleur serait peutetre de leslaissertranquille, maisde leur donnerquelqu'un pour les conduire. Q^ioique lamalle doit se fermer ce soir je tacherai d' envoyer les pieces au compte de Dartmouth, me persua- d-int que vous vous prenderez quelqu' arrangement pour les Illinois pendant cet hiver. Le Cap"" Lord me manque que deux habitans Francais ont (a I'example de Mons, Mur- ray) achete toute le terrain appurtenant a une des tribus des Illinois, qui etait autrefois tres nombreuses et qui se trouve reduile aujourd'hui a douze Guerriers. J'ai toute lieu de crois que les deux Francais ne sont que les Agents de la meme compagnie qui achete la premier terrain, et il est facile de prevoir qu'il y aura dans peu beaucoup de desordre dans ces cotes la, si on n'y porta une prompte reniede, habitans s'etahli augmente et a que jours la fureur. Je profitais de I'occasion du L' Ellis qui p.artit Dimanche dernier pour vous savoir la mort de Commissaire Lake, enlin que si vous avez dessein de servir quelques une de vos amis vous puissiez le faire. J'antionce cet vacance au Secretaire de la Guerre par ce pacquet et en attendant que la volonte du Roi soit connu j'ai nomme le Cap" Hutchinson pour faire la fonction de Mons. Lake avec ordre de continuer tout h's personnes employe dans cette affaire, ailn que les choses continent dans I'ordre ou elles ont ele j'usqua present. Dans le retour de I'etat Maj. outre mon Aide de Camp, lb ON THE WABASH. 433 etabli au certificat 3lusieurs ifferents ns dans t perdu, 1 notaire tans qui nl serait itetre de pour les tacherai ! persua- int pour manque ns, Mur- •ibus des Be trouvc lieu de ts de la et il est :lesordre rem ode, imanclie e Lake. 5 une de ance au ttendant le Cap- ke nvec ns cette ou el les : Camp, J...r. j'en ai nomme un autre faisant fonction en Amerique et quo je payerai par un warrant. Depuis les nouvelles que vous aurez recues par le Cup^ Cowper il ne s'est rien passe d'extraordinaire et je compte que le vaisseau qui apporte le The n' occasionera pas des (losordre, on parait bien determiner a le faire reporter sans !)rLiit. Lady Dunmore arriva liier avec une legion d' enfants. Elle aura de la peine a continuer son voyage le temps etant trev mauvais. Mes compliments a Madame &c. J'ai r h. Je vous prie Mon. d' assurer My Lord Gage de mes re- spects, et de lui dire que j'ai tail parvenu dans son temps les lettres pour Mons Campbell qui avait mis sous mon convert, Jevous telicite d' avoir pu servirMons. Kemble. On me dit que sa commission de •' naval officer" est ar- rivee. (Translation.) Nicw York, Jan. 5, 1774. Monsieur — I have at lengtli received a letter from Captain Lord, of the Illinois, dated September 3d, trans- mitting to me the verification (or ratlier the names) of 88 citiicens who are established at Post V^incennes. This document is accompanied bv a corliticate of M. St. Ange, who commanded there for many \ ears, and who says he had been authorized bv the different j^overnors of Louisi- ana to concede lands in that locality. Hut llie most of these title-deeds are lost, either by accident or by the bad conduct of a notarv of the place, so tliat there are many of these ciiiziMis who have no other title tiian that of pos- session, and as it will be very ditlicult to controvert them, it will probably be better to let llicin remain, but to send some one to govern tlieni. Although the mail ouglU to close this evening, I will endeavor to forward the docu- ments to Lf)rd Dartmouth, believing that you will adopt some arrangement lor tlie Illinois iluring this winter. Cap- it I r'5 fi 434 FRENCH SETTLEMENTS i tain Lord informs me that two French citizens have (after the manner of Mr. Murra}') bought all the land belonging to one of the tribes of the Illinois, who were formerly very numerous and who are now reduced to a dozen warriors. I liave every reason to believe that the two Fren^'imen are nothing but agents of the same company which bought the first land, and it is easy to foresee that there will be in a little while much disorder in those parts if a remedy is not promptly provided ; the settlers will establish themselves, increase, and some day there will be trouble. I availed myself of the opportunity to write you by Lt. Ellis, who left last Sunday, to let you know of the death of Commissary Lake, in order that if you desired to serve some of your friends you might be able to do so. I an- nounce this vacancy to the Secretary of War by this mail, and until the pleasure of the King shall be known I have appointed Captain Hutchinson to perform the duties of Mr. Lake, with orders to continue all the persons employed in this business, in order that affairs may keep in the same situation that they have been to the present. In tlie return of the stafl'in addition to my aide-de-camp, 1 have appointed another for duty in America, and whom I will pay by a warrant. Since the news that you received by Captain Cowper nothing extraordinary has occurred, and I think that the vessel which brings the tea will not occasion disorder, in- deed they appear to have decided to take it back quietly. Lady Dunmore arrived yesterday with a legion of chil- dren. She will have trouble in continuing her journey, the weather being very bad. My compliments to Madame, etc. I have the honor — T beg you to present My Lord Gage my respects and to say to him that I have delivered in good time the letters to Mr. Campbell which he sent in my care. I congratulate you on having been able to serve Mr. Kemble. I hear tli:il liis I'otniiiission as "naval oflicor " lias arrived. ! ox THE WAJIASII. 435 ili.f B 27. p. 2i)^. THE ROAD FROM DETROIT TO THE ILLINOIS By way of the Forts Mianiie, Ouiattanon and St. Vincent with some remarks.^ I miles! MILI'.S From Detroit to Lake Krie To tlie Itivcr M iainie^ To the Foot of tlie Kapids To tlie Top of tlie Capitis N. I{. Part of tlie Ottawa & a few of the Ilurons inhaliit this part of tiie iiiver. In liie forme- when the water is low, Canoes cannot pass tlie Rapiiis, otiierwise tiian hy heiii^' draijired over tiie stones I'v; lVrc[uentlv the 'J"ra- ders are ohiii^ed to carry tlieir yoods tlie whole eighteen miles. To the end of the still water 'J'o tlie Top of the next Rapids To the (irand (jhi/e.' a river so called on the left going up. N. IJ. A few Ottawas live here. To the little Gla/e on the right 'J'o the Kings CJla/.e on the right (a few Ottawas live here). . To the Flin Meadow To Sledge Id (so called I'roni a large stone resemhiing a sledge) ' To the Split rock To the Wolf Rajiid To the great Heiul.* To Fort Miamic.* 18 18 18 ^4 9 f) ?, 1 2 '.s 12 6 J -> \i N. n. The Miami Nation live opjiosite the Fort and consist of ahoiit i;o Men ahle to hear arms — The Fort is inhuhited by Eight or Ten French Families, iThl.s Ithiernry l.s not ilatod, Imt Is deposited wltli papers of the your 1774, anil was protiMt)1y prcpaicii tn that year. 2|{lver Mianile— tlie Maiimec. ■uiraiid tilaze— tile Aunlal/e river; site of I)(>flanep, Ohio. 4'1'lic (ireat llend-ln Maimiee townslilp, Allen county, Ind. Tlip rlvor Is very whullnn for a inmilpcr of miles cast of this iilaco, so that the distances Klvcn appear larue when comimred with a illruct lino, .''Fort iMIumlo— The IJrltlsli ustubllslimeiit. < ,;' ( I (i 111'. 7 436 FRENCH SE TTLEMEXTS J Broui^ht over From Fort Miamieto Cold Feet' where the old Frcncii Fort was The carrying place to the little River To the River i lioite To the Flats To the little Rock' To the Ouabache' N. B. Between the Miainie & the Onahache there are Beaver Dams which when water is low Passeni^ers break down to raise it, ds; by that means pass easier than they otherwise would, when they are s^one the Beaver come and mend the Breacii, tor tiiis -eason they have been hitlierto sacred as neither Indians or White people hunt them. To the River Sallaminee* on left icoinjr down N. B. This iiiver is navigable for canoes i ^o miles. To the Pipe River on the left " To the Great Rapiil To the Fel River on the right* To the Little Rock* To the Island of CJarlic' To Richards Coal Mine" on the right close to the river. . . . ■ iht .MII.KS To the River Tripi'ccans'' on the To Ouiatlanon Fort'" This I'ort is on the right about 70 yards trom the River, the Ouattanon Nation of Iiulians is on the opposite side, iS: the Kiccajiosses are round the Fort, in both vil- lages about 1000 men able to bear arms. i.S 18 .3 3 9 i.S 9 9 18 MILF.S 216 183 399 iCold Foot— 1. o.,tti(' Inillan village of Coldfoot'.s banil. Coldfoot (I'Icd Frold) was a pronilnont Miami eliiof of tlic niliidU' of tliu lust century. Vlile Dunn's Iiiilluna, pp. im, iK!. 'Little Kock river— now known as l!uH er(>ek. • Tlic Waljasli-nioutli of l.lttic iMver, site of Huntington, Ind. *Tlie Salomlnci-— site of I.a (Jim. f'l'j'l I'lvpr— site of I.oifaiisi'oi t . «Mttli! Itoek river— So niaikiil on ancient maps, rrobably Crooked Creek, Cass eount.v. 'Island of tiarlle—l'rol)nbly an Island near Loekport. Tlie distances from Eel river to tlie Tlppoeanoe an- too irreat for aeeuniti' decision. • At lUeluirds river, on old maps— Probably a small stream tluit eiiiptli>.s (jpposlte lii'lpld, or one two miles abv)ve. »Tlie 'I'lppecanoe. i'Pi)st oulatanon— After careful study of authorities and maps I loeatod tills fort ' on tlio nortb liank r>f the Wabash," "a short dlstaneo aiiove In- dian creek, whl h the I'reneh called l{lvli~>ro de UolsroUKe." About llvo months after my "Indiana" was published. In Fel)ruary Isv.i, some workmen who were tuklng Ki'uvul trum u bauk near the I'lvur.ubout four miles above O.V THE W ABASH. 437 BroiiLjlit over From Fort Ouiattanon Down the Ouabaclie to the river Verniillioii N. n. This River is; on the i'i;riit & at some seasons is navigable ("or l)()ats about 120 miles. A mile up it is a Villai;e of Piankshaws of upwards of 1:^0 Men To the liiifiilands' or old Boundary between Canada and Louisiana To Fort St. Vincent To the Illinois by Land, the road Plains and Extensive Meadows is chieflv through From Detroit to the Illinois N. n. The above distances arc all computed. The Road from Detroit to Fort St. Josephs by land o ■1'; <)0 J 40 292 .';4' JThe Kalamazoo— near Battle rreek. 2 Prairie Uonile— In the soutliwest corner of Kalamazoo county, Michigan. The township still bear.s tlie name. 3Near NMles, Michigan. 4Slte of South Hona, Indiana. 5Tho DCS I'lalnes. «Plmetoul. ON THE WABASH. THE FIRST CENSUS OF INDIANA.* 439 List of the Inhabitants at Fort St. Vincents on the Oua- bache as they were in 1769, since vvhicii they have in- creased rather than diminislied. Mr. Nicholas r>ouicier Di- Loiier Juan Milliioiiime Mrs. Mall^ "Michelle Depu Antoliie Marci Leuar Dubois DutriMiible Noiivcaii Millet Cardinal St. Aubin C',11 dinal Mrs Ricliarvilic Josc]iIi Deroin Antoint' La Framboise Pierre Mi ret J:i(iuo Siiinailte niichesne Pit-rrc Ld'cvrc Bailoiip Charlo ilarbonnaux Languedoc Pierre Cornville Chapeaux Francois Ciodere \':iiulrille I'ranvois Uarois Pierre Peruii Jean [azon Lagarouclie Godere ■ Borciclot Mallet IVleterec Josephe Chapot Provencalle Joscphc Me^ ige Joseph Sal)otle Sanseiias^rin Laiiivlf)'!* St. Louis dit-p uechon De Comte La iulliatle Valcuiir Clairni;in Dcnoiyon l)e Liijne Malic ills (iriinar Antoinc Poradort Alexis Delaronte Orlan.s Maifniticpie Desne. St. Marie Jean Laj^arde Lajraissic Saiispeur Briiiictt I'aullon Desnott Cliarle Saehisne Piinat St. Martin Arpain Rapicaut N. B. Nicholas is the most substantial Inhabitant and has been emplo3'ed as Justice of tlie Peace there, by some authority from the commanding officer at the Illinois. When this list was taken there were fifty women and One Hundred and Fifty Children belonging to the Inhab- itants, and Fifty Men able to be;ir arms including Servants ♦Filed with the papers of 1774 and probably of that dale. nvr'.-*Kf^''V-'?wTr»p-'''"" ' fl i ; PI i 1 '■ I 3 m k\t am 440 FliE^'c^ si:ttlemj:xj,s Names of Inliahit lilts at Fort Names of tlie Iiihi'.bitants at Tort Ouialluiiou. Miamie. Maisonville Capiuhin Maiy;iiian Baptisie Camiiau PaiU^ Nicliolas Perot Lamorceau Pierre Harthr. J. Cardinal I!eri;erson Lot'c'vre lierllielemy Vcriictte Dorien La Riviere Fraiifois Maisonville Cleiueiit Lauruin Pierre Uertiii Crept) Aijot LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABBOTT, SUPERIN- TENDENT, TO SIR GUY CARLETON. Sir — I hiive the honor of acquainting your Excellency of my arrival the iplhinst ; the short time and trouble with the Indians &c has not permitted my taking a general Review of the affairs of this district ; since the conquest of Caiuida, no person bearing His Majesty's Commission has been to take possession ; from this your Excellency may easily imagine what anarchy reigns. 1 must do the inhabitants justice for the respectfull re- ception I met witli, and for their readiness in obeying tlie orders I thought necessary to issue. The Wabache is perhaps one of the thiest rivers in tlie world, on its banks are several Indian Towns, the most considerable is the Ouija, where it is said there are 1000 men capable to bear arms, I found them so numerous, and needy, I could not pass without great expense ; The prt-s- ents thf)ugh very large, were in a manner despised, saying tlu'ir anlient Father (the frencii) never spoke to them with- out a barnfuU of goods; having no 'I'roops and ctidy a handful! of french oblii;ed me to es(|uiese in part of their exorbitand demands, which hasoccationed a much gieater expense than I could have imagined, but I believe it not »i:/ (K\ THE WABASH. 441 thrown away, as I left them seemingly well disposed lor His Majesty's service. I have drawn on M' Dunn for seven thousand live hun- dred and thirty two I*ounds six shillintrs and tenpence halfpenny New York currency and request your Excel- lency will order payment, I have likewise took the Liberty of drawing on M' Dunn for 6428 Livre,'} in favour of Jean iiaptiste Racine dit S' Marie, who has acted as command- ant of this place since it was conceded to His Majesty. The fair character he bears with the certificate annexed to his account mak^js me think it just ; I hope your Excel- lency will excuse the incorrectness of this as I am every minute call'd away and have not a moment to myself; I beg leave to mention M' Edgar the bearer of this who has liada gioatdeal oftroul)le, paid all theexpencesof Govern- iiient without the least gratilication and without wiiom I could not have kept the accounts in any order from the multiplicity of aOairs, 1 offered him payment which he re- fusal, he catne with me to see the country and can much better inform you of it than I can who was continually em- ployed — I slinll send olYin a few days towards Fort Pitt to see what is doing tiu're ; I enclose a note sent me from Mons' Roclu'hlavc which shews the Si)aiii;!rds intention toward us and which ccn'responds with oilier intelligence I have had. By the nox opportunity I hope to have it in mv power to send a circumstantial account of this jtlace, I must not neglect mentioning a M' Ramsey who has been here about nine years ago from the Illinois. I would beg yourlCxcelleiuv would give me orders concerning the land at this place for few of them have any proper grants though possessed near thirty years. I have the honor to be with respect your Excellency's most obedient lliim' Serv' (Signed) I^^dwakd Aiuiorr Lieu' Governor & Superinlendant of vS^ Vincennes i\\ Ml i ^ 442 FIU'XCII ^r/rXLEMEXTS OS THE WABASH. As it is necessary for a commissary of Indian aiTairs at this place I cou'd wish your Excellency wou'd approve of M' Edgar a person well qualified for it. His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton. Indorsed : — Copy of a Letter from Lieut. Governor Abbott Superintendant dated S'' Vincennes 26'" May 1777. In Sir Guy Carleton's (No. 32) of 1 1"' August 1777 (10)