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The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grAce A la g6n6rosit6 de i'itablissement prAteur suivant : La bibliothAque des Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul ciichA sont filmAes d partir de Tangle supArieure gauche, de gauche A droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mAthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 S 6 I ■:fli 10m-My,;^%,^' ^v?^f?|!:fc^: J i^,';f;«^i;f:f *;v' ■w^*m:^i$myWTfm^*':f?^^!l^^ifj^ '■*'*^ ,i>' A.MEI^ICAN HISTORICAL aSS0CIAT1«»> THE EMPLOYMKNT OF INDIANS IN THE WAK OF 1812, I E. CBUIK8HANK, or FOilT BitlK, ONTABIO. (Prom tbeyAlu>il»l JK«port of the Amei-'o^in HUtoricjl] Asstxiiation for ISJi:., i>»gc« 82J-3d8.>' WASHINGTON: laoG. m.:. .'^•* h I I I I AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. THE EMPLOYMENT OF INDIANS IN THE WAR OF 1812. »r E. CRUIKSHANK, OF PORT ERIK, ONTARrO. (From the Annual Keporl of I lie AmeriRau Historical AHgooiatiuii fur 1895, pages 321-335.) WASHINGTON: OOVKRNMENT PRINTING OPPICK. 189G. I 1 ■•~1*^ V. , ':: f THE EMPLOYMENT OF INDIANS IN THE WAR OF 1812. By E. CitniKsiiANK. t . Prom tlie end of the Ameri<;an lievolution the importauce, and, indeed, the necessity, of preserving the friendship of the Indians of the Northwest was steadily kept in mind by the officers intrusted with the administration of ('anada. The organization of the Indian department which had been formed during the war was carefully maintained. Sir John Johnson, whose family name was still a word to conjure with in the Indian world, was appointed supenntenoured into Ohio. Fifty thousand more made their way into Illinois and Indiana in open defiance of the protests and threats of the dwindling and dispirited bands that had been x)ushed back to the banks of the Wabash. ' . There were unmistakable signs that the visions and the harangues of the Shawauese prophet and others were bearing fruit in the evident unrest and discontent among all the West- ern Indians. The American settlers declared, and apparently believed, that the spirit of hostility was largely due to British inrtuence. In this they were certainly mistaken, although it would be useless to deny that the officers of the British Indian department sympathized strongly with the Indians and were sometimes indiscreet in expressing their opinions. As early as 1808 the Seven Nations of Lower Canada were dissuaded by them from sending delegates to a great council near Lake Michigan that had been convoked by the prophet, and up to the last they seem to have spared no ettbrt to avert ^ collision. ijfmifM^.fS»r'mrK3>^!iiif. • '.'^ft.iMnii.jirwi <;•-«".— -T«* ■**«!«■ INDIANS IN THE WAR OK 1812. 323 111 a dispatch to SirOeorjfe IMevostdated Decembers, 1811, Ooiieral lirock said: My first euro on my iirrivul in this proviiiro wiis to artmeiit at Amliorstbnrjj tooxcrt tlieir wlioln inHiici>co with the IndiiiuH to prevent Ihe attack which I luulertttood a few tribea luedi- tatod a)j;ain8t the Aincri(Min frontier; Imt thi'ir oft'ortH proved fruitlesK. 8noh wiM their infatuation that the ludiaM^ refused to listen to advice, and they are now ho deeply en>;a^d that I despair of being able to with- draw tliein from thi; contest in time to avert tlieir destrnction. A hijjh degree of fanaticism, which has been for years working in their uiinds^ has led to the jtresent state of affairs. Yet when he wrote these words he was convinced that war with the United States was unavoidable, and deliberately con- templated seeking tlie assistance of the Indians in that event. " But before 1 can expect an active co-operation on the part of the Indians," he continued, " the redmtion of Detroit and Micb- ilimakinac must convince that people (who consider themselves to have been sacrificed to our policy in the year 1794) that we are earnestly engaged in the war. The Indians, I am given to understand, are eager for an opportunity to avenge the nu- merous injuries of which they complain. A few tribes at the instigation of a Shawanese of no note have already (ultho' explicitly told not to look for assistance from us) commenced the contest. The stand which they continue to make on the Wabash against about 2,000 regulars and militia is a strong Iiroof of tlie strong force which a general combination of the Indians will render necessary to protect wholly so extended a frontier.'* The dispatch from Lord Liverpool to the (Jovernor-Cieneral of Canada, dated July 28, 1811, reiterating the *instnu'tion8 sent to his predecessor in ortice on the 2d of February to exert every means in his power to restrain the Indians from hostili- ties does not a])pear to have been received by Prevost until the following .laiiuary; but he was then able to reply tliat the wishes of the cabinet in tliat respect had been fully anticipated, and an extract from IWock's letter, alreatly cited, was at once forwarded to the British minister at Washington to be used as evidence of his pacific attitude. A vague rumor of the battle at Tippecanoe had reached Elliot at Amherstburg as early as the 3d of i >ccember, 181 1, but it was not until the 12th of January, 1812, that he obtained what may be regarded as the olHcial Indian account of that affair: Two young Winibiegoes, no doubt out of curiosity (for it appears tho Indians had uo intention to attack but to defend themselves if attacked), 324 AMEKICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. went near some of tho American HentinelH and wero Mbot at anil toll as wounded men, but on the Hentint^ls coming up to dispatch tbem, they arose and tomahawked them. This iiiHiiIt roiiH<>d tho indigiirtiou of the Indians and they determined to be revengtMl and accordingly connueuced tho attack at cockcrowing. They had the AinericunM between two tires; driven l)y the Winibiegoes they wero received by tho Kikapoos, alternately, till about 9 o'clock when the Indians gave w:iy for want of arrows and annniinition. It appears that not above 100 IinliunH tired a shot, the greater )iart being engaged in plnnilering and conveying of horses. The Indians asserted that tlioy had less than iiOO men in the field, belonging to seven dittei-ent nations, and admitted the loss of only 25 in killed and wounded Replying about tlie saimi time to incjuiries from Colonel Claus, Elliot assured him that "all tlie Indians, with the excei)tion of a few stragglers of all the nations within the limits of your sketch, may be depended upon ; the exact number of whom I can not give you, but the following is what I Imve been able to collect of those living from the St. Croix lliver to the Wabash, viz: Chippewas, .JOO; Nodouessies, 1,000 and iipwari in the vicinity of Prairie du Chien, and Brock apj)lied for information to Robert Dickson, tho most influential of these, who had spent more than twenty years of an adventurous life in the exploration of the western cerson coinmisHioned for that purpose, and iictnally disi)a.tched 71) warriors to Amlicrstburj? on th« very day of the dcchiration of war, and issued instructions for the remainder to asseudde at St. Josephs on the .30th of June. He does not seem to have taken any pains to conceal his intentions, for as early as tlie 24th of April, 1812, Ninian Kdwards, governor of the Illinois Territory, informed the Sec- retary of War that "the opinion of the celebrated British trader, Dickson, is that in the event of a British war all the Indians will be opposed to us, and he hopes to engage them in hostility by making peace between the Sioux and Chippewas, two very large nations, and getting them to declare war against us.'' Dickson asserted that he had found the agents of the Ameri- can Government among the Indians extremely active, ''makinpf them unusual presents of goods and inviting them in the most pressing manner to visit the President of the United States at Washington." He spent about $1(>,(KM» out of his own means in frustrating their efforts in the course of the spring and sum- mer of 1812. Everywhere the Imlians were ripe for war owing to the fail- ure of their crops for two years in succession, and the migra- tion of game caused by excessive drought. They were, besides, bitterly exasperated by the refusal of some of the American othcers to furnish them with supplies on credit, and Dickson confirmed his influence by distributing his entire stock among them and purchasing all the provisions he could obtain. At the same time the Governor-General of Canada sought the assistance of the two great fur companies, upon whom so much of the prosperity of the colony at that time depended. The Northwest Com pa"/ replied that they could control 250 engages and from 300 to TKM) Indians. The Michilimakinac^ or Southwest Company with equal readiness promised the services of 100 engages and 300 Indians. Prevost then endeavored to increase the etticiency of the Indian department, which consisted of a superintendent- general, 3 superintendents, and 14 interpretwrs, many of them very old men who had been in the service since the Revolution. With this object, on the 1st of May, 1813, he addressed a care- ful letter of instructions to Sir John Johnson, who was still superintendent- general : You are to keep np friendly intercourse and communication with all the Indian nations, to preserve economj*, regularity, and order, ■M m r 326 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. Ah they conBider themselves free and independent, th<\v are to be gov- erned by address and persuasion, and the utmost attention to ceremoni*;8 and external appearance, with an nncoinmou share of patience, ^ood temper, and forbearance, and you are to instruct your officers accord- ingly. Upon the arrival of parties of Indians at any post the agent shall notify the commanding otYicer, who. with the officers of the garrison, shall assist in receiving them with every mark of solemnity and friend- ship. Their reciuests, if reasonable, are to be complied with. Should they lay down presents, they are to be taken up with thanks and given presents of greater value in return. Chiefs are also to be distinguished. When conferences are held by the agent the conmianding officer is to preside and all the officers are to be present, hut he is not to interfere with the agent in the management of the Indians. As they are curious and fond of news, the officers are to be cautiouf as to what they say and it should be told very be regularly kept. The agents are at all times to inculcate into the minds of the Indians principles of humanity and tenderness to prisoners, particularly on the departure of all parties during a war or when there is a probability of retaliating or resenting injuries sustained. In all matters of trade in which Indians are concerned the utmost jus- tice is to be done them. No person belonging to or employed in the Indian department is to be allowed to trade, directly or indirectly, or to have any share, profit, or concern therein. * * » Every means is to be taken to prevent the pernicious practice of intro- ducing liquors among them and every endeavor exerted to keep them perfectly sot)er. The entire cost of the department for the year 1811 was £29,606, and, so far from exhibiting a hirge increase, as alleged by General Harrison, it was actually nnicli less than in the preceding year. The number of Indians' actually residing in Canad.a, among whom most of this money was si)ent, was inconsiderable. The Seven Nations of Lower Canada, living at Caughnawaga and the Lake of Two Mountains, could muster about "lOO lighting men; the Six Nations, at the Grand Kiver, in Upper Canada, nearly 4(M), and the Missassaugas about the same number. On the 8th of July Captain Roberts, the commandant of a British outpost on St. Josephs Island, received letters from General Brock announcing that war had been declared by the United States and suggesting an attack upon Mackinac. A day or two later he received instructions to suspend hostili- ties, and finally, on the lotli, a dispatch directing him to act as he thought proper. Dickson had come in with 130 Sioux, i INDIANS IN THE WAR OF 1S12. 327 FoUes Avoiiuvs, jukI Winnebagoes from (Ireeu Buy, and M. Tousssiint Pothier arrived tVoiii Montreal in +.he (iapacity of agent for tlie Southwest Fur Company. An express was sent to reijuire asaistancie fi-oni the iigents of the Northwest Coni- p.any at Fort William, and on the ninth day after its departure they answered by their presence, bringing with them nearly 20() engages. Anmble Chevalier, an Ottawa chief of influence, who had recently returned from h)wer (Canada to reside at L'Arbre Croche, volunteered his services and succeeded in assembling a considerable number of his tribesmen. I'otliier observed that "they appeared very lukewarm, and after a great deal of prevarication reluctantly agreed to join the expe- dition. The other Indians were unanimous, particularly the Western Indians, whose animated example had great influence ui)on the others.'' The garrison of Mackinac was absolutely taken by surprise and surrendered without resistance on the 17th of July. The Indiana are stated to have behaved in the most exemplary manner. Captain Koberts wrote: It is !i circiiiimtance, I believe, without precedent and demands the greatest praise for all thoso who ct.adncted the Indians, that although these peo]>l<''s minds were much heated, yet as soon as they hoard the capitulation was signed they all returned to tlieir eunoes, and not a drop of either man's or uninjal's blood was spilt till I gave an order for a certain number of bullocks to be purchased for them. John Askin, an officer in the Indian department, declared that "since the capitulation they have not drunk a drop of liquor nor even killed a fowl belonging to any person (a tliing never known before), for they generally destroy everything they meet with." After the fall of Mackinaw, Dickson returned to (Ireen Bay to collect a larger body of warriors whom he dispatched to lirock's assistance, partly in canoes and partly overland. They arrived at Detroit too late to take any part in the military operations which led to the surrender of that place. The Ottawas, however, ('ontiiuied to waver, and were even suspected of fouming a conspiracy to seize Fort Mackinac and exterminate ohe British garrison. During the winter Elliot had sent a message to the Indians on the Wabash urging them to desist from further hostilities, and about the 14th of June he re(!eiveth he observed, "As to the Indian.s, I wished those here to act when I could support them; but as they are so anxious, I must let them on and sustain them as 1 see occasion to the utmost of ray power." In the course of tlie same day p]lliot reported that "the Indians witli us are between 300 and 400, who have resisted every allurement which General Hull laid before them. Techkumthai has kept them faithful. He has shown himself to be a determined character anjeet to j^et this (icl\h) raite interspersed among the troops. I slioidd be unwilling, in the event of a retreat, to have 300 or 400 of them hanging on my dauks. I shall probaldy have to sacrifice some money to gain them over. Three weeks later, after learning that all but 50 had declined to join his forces and announced their determination of remain- ing neutral, he said: The militia which I had destined for this service (the relief of AnduTst- burg) will now be alarmed and unwilling to leave their families to the mercy of 4(X) Indians whose conduct affords siu-h wide room ior suspicion, and really to expect that this (icklo race would remain in the midst of war in a state of neutrality is truly absurd. Tlu* Indians have ]>robably been led to this change of sentiment by emissaries from General Hull, whose proclaimition to the Six Nations is lierewith inclosed. On the 2r>th of .Inly, 22 Menoniinees routed a i)arty of Ohio militiiji near Sandwich, and innuediately afterwards a sudden change of sentiment became ai)parent among the Hurons residing in Michigan, which ended in a determination to join the British. "On the 2d instant," said Colonel Proctor, writing to Hrock on the llth of August, "the Wyandots having at last decided ou joining the other nations, of whom they are the bravest and eldest, against the Americans, a considerable body of Indians accomi)anied the chief Tecumseth to the village of the Wyan- dots (lU'ownstown) nearly .'iO miles on the opposite shore from Detroit and a from hence. I sent a detachment of 100 men under Cai»tain Muir to enable the Wyandots to bring off their families, (;attle, and effects. This was effected, much to the disappointment of Mr, Hull, who has given them a considera- ble sum of money in the hope of retaining them in the American interest.'' The Indians at once beset the communication with Ohio and a day or two later cut off a party with dispatches for General Hull. On the ath of August 24 Indians, headMby Tecuratha and Capt. William Klliot, ambushed and dispersed the escort una Tajor V^an Florne, cai)turing the mail from Detroit, which contained a great number of letters and documents revealing the demoralized state of the American army in the most forci- 1 INDIANS IN THE WAR OF 1812. 331 ble iiiiiiiner. Tlie importance of tlieiiiforiUiitioTi tlins obtaiiicd was warmly insisted upon by IJrock in justitication of his con- duct in advancin;:^ against Detroit. "[ j?ot possession of the letters of my anta warriors to .join the American army. This they declined to do, butagreepioved of the employment of Indians. " Had it been possible," he said, " to have induced the Indians to preserve a strict neutrality between the Americans and this i'ountry in the contest in which wemay beenjiiijfed, the interest of humanity mi{{ht have reoii any i>riiiciple of self defense, thei-efore, we can not but be justi- rted in conciliating: them, and if they are determined to engage in the war, in employing them to promote our succ^ess. I can not too strongly impress up(»!i you the lUHU'Ssity of keeping that control <»ver them which may enabhi yon to prevent thi^ com- mission of those excesses which are so much to be apprehemled and can not fail to biiiig discredit uim'U the power in whose service they are engaged. It would be desirable, if jutssible, to restrain them from acting at any time except under tlie imme- diate direction and guidance of scune officers of the Indian department or others in whom they may jdaee confidence and to whose command they may be induced to submit." The correspondcMice of Sir(Jeorge I'revost indicates that he made strenuous efforts to carry out these instructions in s^s humane a spirit as possible. On the 7th of December, 181L', a ciriMilar was iiddressed I 334 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. to Jill oHicers coiniuatKiing posts upon tlie frontier, strictly enjoiniuj;; them to rostraiu tlio Indians from the commission of any acts of cruelty, and con<'ludiii{f with the statement thiit "his exc('llen(\v disapproves of any co-operation with the Indians not couneeted with the system of defense of tlie province." In a subsequent Iclter to (lencral SheaHe, the atljutant- general said : * * I am coniiimiulod to signify to you bis exfellenty's ileHire that ovt-ry pio- cantioniiry nitiasiire may be tiikeii thrniigboiit tbo illHtrict under your coiiiiiiaiid to restrain tbe Indians wboni it nitiy bo neccHHary to omiiloy. Sir George I'rovost is niucli averse to allowing tiie regular troops to be engaged witli tbe Indians in any odeiisive operations, and it is bis wisli tliat in your conunnnicntions wilb Colonoj I'roctor you will call bis atten- tion to tbis iui])ortant subject and rcconinicnd to tliat officer a cautious line of conduct in tbis respect ('onsisteut witb tbe iireservation of tbe district coiuniittcd to bis cbargi', Dickson received similar instructions on the 7th of .January, 1813, when on the point of departure from Montreal for the far west: In tbe i)olicy to be strictly observed iu your conduct toward tbe dilfer- ent tribes it is desirable tbut you sbould endeavor to conciliate tbeiu to act togetber bi.rniouionsly, tbat you sbould restrain tbeiu by all tbe nieaiis in your power from acts of cruelty and inbuuianity, enoouraging iu tbeni a disposition to preserve uu alliauue of fricndsbip witb tbeirllreat Father, tbe King of Hnglaud. ()n the Dtli of February the o()vernor-gencral said, in a letter to Colonel Proctor: I earnestly recotumend on all occasions a strict adherence to that control und restraint of tbe Indians tbat we may be cnabUid to rojjel tbe charges which have not infre<|uently, though falsely, been brought agaiiiat our Government for resorting to the oniployuieut of them. Again, addressing the same officer on the 1st of March, he returned to this subject: You will osplalu to Norton and Koundbeud in the most distinct terms the services tbe King ex[>ecls from bis faithful allies, tbe Indians, and assure them of His Majesty's entire reliaure uixiu their zeal and courage in defending their best rights and preserving their future exittence. Let them clearly understand the extent of the co-operation you can alibrd, con- sisteut witb the trusi reposed in you, and al»ove all recommend nu^rcy iu A'iotory. The oflicers belonging to tbe Indiiiu dej)artmeut must not lie sparing in their ert'orts to restrain and control tbe Indians so that your uchievemeuts may be without staiu. 1 i t^rwihir I INDIANS IN THE WAR OF 1812. 335 Writing to (Jeiienil Sheatt'e, on the L*7th of Msirch, he Huid: 1 now come to thiit highly iinpoituut part of your resources, the oiuploy- iiient of IiitliaiiH, soiuo in aid of your priM'ttutloniiry iiiciiHurt'M of ilcfense and othorH for u»akin>{ otteusivc dfuionHtratioim for tlio recovery of tJicir usurped territory, the latter of whi<'h can not fail to act as a powerful •liversion in your fiivor. In consideration, therefore, of tlie uu)venient of tho confedorato natiouH from the \Val)a8h to the Kivcr Raiiiin under 'I'ecuui- seh, and of tho expected arrival from the westward of several warlike trihes witli Mr. Dickson, the iij^Rregate of whidi will he forniidahle, I have decided on intruHtinj? the uianaKcnicnt of tiiose distant trihes of Indians to other hands than those which are at i)reHent employed in the Indian department at Ainherstliurn, and accordingly have appointed Mr. h'oherfc Dickson deiiuty superintendent of the Indians in Michigan and tho conquered territory, on account of tlie hi;;h opinion I entertain of his cour- age, his perseverance, his integrity, ami his zeal for the service. The late instance of the ir.trigue hy the Indian deimrtnient, in the ease of Norton, anted to sotten tho ferocity of their usual mode of warfare ;ind to restrain them in it. n I 'A • if'- 'It n 3> M«:i!iLn-'3Sffini?»'*T- '-^mssam^ff^' mimmi *• iU 4: ( I -jlrMHCai-^l 'l^kV'>t»Lri