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V o

HISTORY

OF THE

BORDER WARS

TWO CENTURIES

XMBRACINO A

NARRATIVE OF THE WARS WITH THE INDIANS
FROM 1750 TO 1874.

ILLUSTRATED.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN FROM THE MOST RELIABLE SOURCES,

CHARLES RICHARD TUTTLE,

AUTHOR OF " THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN."

CHICAGO:
PUBLISHED BY C. A. WALL & COMPANY,

105, 107 & 109 MADISON STREET.
1874.

5 f ,

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874,

Bt CHARLES R. TUTTLE,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

i^^%»»»

UMUtY OF JHi UNIVERSITY
•^ AUtCTi

:/ I

■li

PREFACE.

This Volume is simply what its title page indi-
cates — a history of the Border Wars of the United
States from the fall of Canada, in 1759, ^0 and
including the Indian troubles in the far West in
1874. T^hc narrative opens with a brief history of
the Indian Nations east of the Mississippi, and a
short description of the outposts of both the Eng-
lish and French colonies as they appeared at the
close of the French war. Then follows, in consider-
able detail, an account of the Pontiac War, which in
its desolating march spread the horror of murder and
massacre from the Carolinas to the most northern
lake fort From this desperate struggle the reader is
conducted through the tempests of Border Warfare
in its furious march across the Continent, from the
Alleghanies and the lakes to the dangerous lava-cave
ambuscades of the ^^odocs, in Arizona, and the wilds
of the Pacific slope. At the proper point the narra-
tive is interrupted to give place to a brief history of
the Indian tribes, and a description of the outposts
. of civilization west of the Mississippi.

In the course of the history the reader is presented

2093060

PRKTAOK.

with interesting and authentic sketches of the lives ot
Chiefs Pontiac, Brant, Tecumseh, Black Hawk, Cap-
tain Jack, and the great Indian warriors who have
figured conspicuously in Border Warfare in North
America ; the various treaties that have been made
and broken, the boundary lines that have been agreed
upon and invaded ; in short, all the events that have,
for the time, either prevented or promoted these
wars, are fully and truthfully represented, so that the
reader, after carefully perusing this Volume, will, in
the absence of any opinion expressed by the author,
be able to judge intelligently for himself of the merits
of the treatment which the native tribes have received
at the hands of the United States government.

The demand for this work cannot be questioned.
There is not a single person interested in the history
of the United States who has not felt the want of a
reliable History of the Wars between his country and
the Indians ; and it is with a view to supply this want
that this book is presented to the public. It has been
compiled and written from the most reliable sources,
and, it is confidently believed, will be found complete,
authentic and interesting. The various books, publi-
cations and reports which have*been consulted, and
to which the perfection of this Volume is largely
indebted, require something more than a passing
notice in this introduction. In compiling and writing
a volume such as the following, where most of the

rHKrkvM.

materials used have been, in some way, connected
with other books, it is impossible, in the course of the
narrative, to give proper credit to the authors con-
sulted ; and, in order that the reader may know to
what extent books heretofore published have contrib-
uted to the perfection of this work, I take this
opportunity of making the necessary explanation.

Mr. Francis Parkman deser\es the first mention.
From his valuable works on the Indians and Indian
wars east of the Mississippi, has been gathered the
materials which make up the first part of this book,
and it is only necessary to make this reference to
establish the authenticity of my history of the Pontiac
war, for there is no more able, complete, or interesting
narrative of this terrible border war than that given
by Mr. Parkman, whose writings are justly regarded
as an ornament to American literature.

In that part of the narrative which gives an account
of Harmar's, St. Clair's and Harrison's campaigns
against the Indians, including T^cum vK's war. I have
gathered much from the works of Messrs. James H.
Perkins and J. M. Peck — a volume originally com-
piled by the former and revised by the latter —
entitled "The Western Annals." I have frequently
given this volume credit in the course of the narra-
tive; but, in addition, I wish to make this acknowl-
edgment here.

My account of the Black Hawk war is materially
dependent upcm Mr. Upham's valuable little book

PRKrACI.

which is entirely devoted to the life of thin wayward
chief. In this volume, the author takes occasion, and
I think, justly, to censure the acts of the United
States authorities for needlessly irritating the Sacs
to this bloody onset.

In the brief account of the Indian tribes west of
the Mississippi, which precedes my history of the
Indian wars in the same territory, Mr. Charles De
Wolf Brownell is the most valuable contributor. His
standard work, entitled the " Indian Races of North
and South America," has been freely consulted, and,
although the usual credit is given in the proper
places, I cannot fail to mention it here.

In my account of the adventures of Colonel John
C. Fremont, and. Christopher Carson, I have freely
used the official reports of the former, the " Life and
Explorations of Fremont," and other volumes, but I
shall not undertake to enumerate all the official
reports and documents which have contributed to the
thrilling catalogue of wars and adventures west of
the Mississippi, which constitutes the last part of this
book. It will suffice to say that some five or six hun-
dred of these have been diligently consulted and
always with good results.

A description of the principal battles during the
conquest of Mexico, which has been thrown in to
relieve the general current of Indian warfare, is
largely dependent upon a njeat little volume entitled
"The Mexican War and its Heroes." I have no

niKVAOK.

means of knowing the name o( the author of this
volume, since it has not been attached to its pages. I
ought also to mention " The Life and Adventures of
Kit Carson," by Col. DeWitt C. Peters, which came
into my hands a few days before this volume was
given to the publishers. It is a deeply interesting,
strictly authentic work, that reflects scarcely less
honor upon the name of the famous mountaineer
than credit upon his biographer. Several important
passages in this work have their origin in the labors
of this author. The brief account of the Seminole
war, which closes this volume has been compiled and
written from Mr. Joshua R. Giddings' valuable book
entitled, " The Exiles of Florida," a neat little work
of surpassing interest.

I wish to claim for myself only the earnest labor
of a compiler, and in presenting this book to the
public, I do so in the belief that the materials have
been so arranged as to constitute the most complete
and satisfactory history of the wars with the Indians
of the United States and Territories that has yet
been written.

CHARLES R. TUTTLE.

Chicago, March, 1874.

HISTORY OF

The Border Wars.

CHAPTER I.
Tbk Ihdian TniBBi or trb Labb Rboiob — Obmbbal Ohabaotkr-

IBTICt — ThIBAL DIVMIONS— MoDB or OOVBBMMBNT— MyTHI AMD-
LboBNM— TlIBIK £l.Oqt]KNOB AND BaOAOITT — DWBLMNQI, Vlk
I<AOU AND PORTI — ThB WaH PaTH — FeSTIVAUI AND PaITIMB* —

Rkmoioui Faith.

Before entering upon an account of the scenes and incident!
of the Border Wars of the Northwest, I will give the reader a
faint glimpse of the condition of the Indian tril)e8 of the lake
region about the date at which our narrative commences—
1700. Tlie territory east of the Mississippi was occupied,,
excepting where the whites had intruded their colonial settle-
ments, by three great families, differing from each other by a
radical peculiarity of language. They wore called the Iroquois,
Algonquin and Mobilian nations. The Mobilians embraced the
confederacy of the Creeks and the Choctaws, but as they took
no active part in the ensuing narrative, I will avoid any detaila
of their history. But the Iroquois and the Algonquin nations^
being conspicuously identified with the last great struggle of
the savages against civilization, demand a closer attention.

Foremost in eloquence, war and intellect stood the Iroquois.
To use their own words, they " were a mighty and warlike

(0)

TlIK lylVKS OF lONTIAC AND TI':CUM8KH :

peo])le," and thoy oxtciuled tlicir conqueBts from Quebec to tho
Ciirolinas, on the eeaboard, and to the MiBBiseippi on the went.
Kverywliero in tliis broad country they established their name
and power, and, indeed, throughout tho country they were tho
terror alike of whites and Indians. In the south they had
conquered the Deiawares, and were, at this time, forcing them
to a heavy tribrte; in the north, they had completely subjected
the Wyandots, and prohibited them the use of arms; in the
west they exterminated the Eries, and in the east " a single
Mohawk war cry was sufficient to terrify all the Indians in
New England."

But the Indians were not alone in terror of the Iroqnois.
All Cannda trembled beneath their infuriated onset. More
than once Champlain fled with his troops to the forts for
refuge, leaving his pursuing conquerors to destroy and plunder
the defenseless French settlements. Certainly the history of
such a powerful nation should not be slighted, yet to trace it
beyond the dark border of the discovery is beyond the power
of human penetration.

As we glance at them in 1700, we find their central govern-
ment located within the present limits of the state of New
York, where, in the Valley of the Onondaga, the chiefs of the
several tribes of this great family held their civil and military
councils for many generations. The Iroquois nation consisted
of, first five, and, at a later period, six tribes, called the
Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Sen-
ecas and the Tuscaroras. These tribes were bound together by
a loose confederacy, being, in a small measure, subject to a
general congress, but each tribe had its own organization, and
independent tribal government. Each tribe had several
sachems, who. with the subordinate chiefs and principal men,
regulated all its civil and military affairs; but when foreign
powers were to be consulted, or important treaties made, all
the sachems of the several tribes convened in general assembly
at the great council house — the Iroquois capitol — in the val-
ley of the Onondaga. Here tho Congressmen of the Six
Nations were received, the great council fire kindled, treaties
made and difficulties settled. Hero the simple Iroquois

Oft, 'niK BOUUER WARS OF TWO (JKNTDRIBS.

sachem eat and listened to the eloquent Bpecches of the leading
chiefH, who spoke their honest sentiments in accordance with
the most ancient usages of their nation.

When Jacques Cartier first visited the St. Lawrence he found
the savages of the Six Nations occupying the country along
the north bank of the river, and, as early as 1536, he discov-
ered a town of the Huron-Iroquois, consisting of about fifty
liuts, near tlie present site of the city of Montreal. This vil-
lage was situated in the midst of large fields of Indian corn,
and must, even at this early day, have been a place of consid-
erable importance, or, to use the words of another, "the
metropolis of the neighboring country."

Mr. Stone, in his able writings on the Indians of the Six
Nations, gives the following description of this village: " It
waft surrounded by palisades or trunks of trees set in a triple
row. The outer and inner ranges of palisades inclined till
they met and crossed near the summit, while the upright row
between them, aided by transverse braces, gave to the whole
an abundant strength. Within were galleries for the defend-
ers, rude ladders to mount them, and magazines of stone to
throw down on the heads of the assailants. A single entrance
was secured witli piles and stakes, and every precaution adopted
against sudden attack or seige. The town consisted of about
fifty oblong houses, each fifty feet in length by twelve or fif-
teen in breadth, built of wood and covered with bark. Each
house contained small chambers built round an open court in
the centre, in which many fires were Kindled. Tlie inhabitants
were devoted to husbandry and iishing, and the lands in the
vicinity were well cultivated." '

According to the history of Cartier's voyage, the Indians of
Hochelaga — now Montreal — were unusually civilized, for bar-
barians, and greatly in advance of their nation a century after-
wards; but in 1600 no trace of this village could be found.

According to their own traditions the people of the Six
Nations originally came from the north, but they date the
period of their migration a long number of centuries back.
Cusick, the Tuscarora author — and the only Indian who has
written upon the subject — dates the event more than five hun-

■I

TirK LIVES OF POmiAC AND TECUMHKIi:

dred years before the discovery by Columbus, but his writings
are not generally accepted. The tradition of the Scnecas, the
iifth of the Six Nations, is that the original people of their
Nation broke forth from the earth, from the crest of a moun-
tain at the head of Canandaigua Lake. The mountain which
gave them birth is called Ge-nun-de-wah-gauh, or the great
hill, and for this reason the Senecas are sometimes called the
great hill people, and, I believe, this was their original title.
The Ge-nun-de-wah-gauh has been held, by them, sacred as
being their birth-place. It was for many years the place of
holding the councils of this tribe, and was the hallowed place
of their religious services.

As with the Senecas so with all the tribes of the Six Nations^
They have no written history of their origin, nor can one now
be produced.

One of the principal supports to the confederacy of the Six
Nations, and one of the strongest ties which bound them
together was the system of totemahip. In the Six Nations
there were eight totemic clans.

The Iroquois believed that Taounyawatha, the God of Waters^
had descended to the earth to teach them the arts of savage
life. They claimed further that this God, seeing the evils by
which their various tribes were beset, urged them to form a
great confederacy for their comm n good and defence. But
before the people could be collected together this Messenger
took his flight, promising, however, that another should be
sent to instruct them in the principles of the proposed league.
"And accordingly," says the glowing pen of Francis Park-
man, " as a band of Mohawk warriors were threading the fu-
neral labyrinth of an ancient pine forest, they heard, amid its
blackest depths, a hoarse voice chanting in measured cadence;
and following the sound, they saw, seated among the trees, a
monster of so hideous an aspect that, one and all, they stood
benumbed with terror. His features were wild and frightful.
He was encompassed by hissing rattlesnakes, which, Medusa-
like, hung writhing from his head; and on the ground, around
him were strewn implements of incantation, and magic vessels.
formed of human skulls. Recovering from their amazement,

ilv,

OR, TIIK liOKDKR WA«H OF TWO 0KNTUKIK8.

the warriors could perceive that in the Ynystic words of the
chant, whicli he still poured forth, were couched the laws and
principles of the destined confederacy. The tradition ftirther
declares that the monster being surrounded and captured, was
presently transformed to human shape; that he became a chief
of transcendent wisdom and prowess, and to the day of his
death ruled the councils of the united tribes." The last of tlie
presiding sachems at the councils at Onondaga inherited from
liim the honored name of Atotarho. Such, according to
[ndian tradition, is the origin of the great Iroquois confeder-
acy. But if the reader is shocked with this preposterous
legend, what must be said of their tradition regarding the
€poch which preceded the auspicious event of their union. In
these evil days, according to the same authority, the scattered
and divided Iroquois were beset with every form of peril and
disaster. Giants, cased in armor of stone, descended on them
from the mountains of the north. Huge beasts trampled
down their forests like fields of grass. Human heads, with
streaming hair and glaring eyeballs, shot through the air like
meteors, shedding pestilence and death throughout the land.
The waters of Lake Ontario were troubled. From the bosom
of the boisterous lake a horned serpent of mighty size rose up
almost to the clouds. The people fled from before his awful
presence, and would not have escaped his open jaws had not the
thunder bolts of the skies driven him down into his watery
home at the bottom of the lake. Around the infant Seneca vil-
lage on Mount Genundewahguah, already spoken of, a two-
headed serpent coiled himself, of size so monstrous that the per-
ishing people could not ascend his scaly sides, and perished in
multitudes. At length the monster was mortally wounded by
the magic arrow of a child, and, writhing in the agonies of
death, he uncoiled himself from the mountain home of the
Senecas, and rolled into the lake below, lashing its black waters
into a bloody foam, and allowing the few remaining wretched
Indians to flee from the place of their long and disastrous con-
finement. The serpent sank to the bottom of thje lake, and
disappeared forever.

According to the fancy of the Iroquois, the Spirit of Thun-

i: : I'

THE LIVES OF PONTIAO AMD TECUMSEIi:

der dwelt under the Fulls of Niagara, and when, amid the
blackening shadows of the approaching etorm, or the sharp,
quick flaslies of the lightning, they heard his broad, deep voice
peal along the heavens, they " hid themselves from the face of
the angry Spirit." ^

These legends, although unworthy of much cons'deration,
are grand evidences of the superior intellectual powers of the
people of the Six Nations. It is true that their imaginations
were assisted by the dismal voice of the wind, the unfathoma-
ble darkness of the gathering thunder storm, or the low, deep
sound of the tossing lake waters; but, even in view of these
mysteries, their traditions, when compared with those of other
nations, grandly demonstrate the power and capacity of the
Iroquois mind. But with all their intellectual superiority, the
arts of life among them had made no advance from a barbarous
condition. Their implements of war, and other products of
their genius, were not very flattering to them. There was a
rough, unflnished appearance to everything artificial around
them. Their huts, pottery and the conveniences of life com-
bined to attest their untidy inactive genius. Although behind
their race in these things, they were largely in advance of it as
husbandmen. Their beautiful fields of Indian corn and squashes
and the ancient apple-orchards which grew around their settle-
ments, captivated the invading army of Count Frontenac
in 1696.

Their dwellings and works of defense, although rough, were,
however, well adapted to their wants, and were good evidences
of their great industry. But these, which were scattered along
the St. Lawrence and around Lake Ontario, were leveled to the
ground, never to rise again, in 1687, by De Konville, and, nine
years, later by Frontenac.

" Along the banks of the Mohawk, among the hills and hol-
lows of Onondaga, in the forests of Oneida and Cayuga, on the
romantic shores of Seneca Lake, and the rich borders of the
Genesee, surrounded by waiving maize fields, and encircled
from afar by the green margin of the forests, stood the ancient
strongholds of the confederacy." The little villages were sur-
rounded by palisades, and were otherwise well fortified with

ge»',

OR, TIIK BOKDER WAK8 OF TAVO CENTURIES.

were.

nine

hol-
n the
f the
rcled
eient

sur-
with

magazines of stonos, and with water conductors, which were
efficiently used in the event of a fire.

In habits of social life the Iroquois were thoroughly savage.
During the long winter evenings, men, women and children
gathered near the log fires in tlieir rude- huts, and, while the
cold storm was beating tlie lonely forest without, the story-
teller of the tribe recounted the history of his nation and deeds
of ancient heroism. The curious pipe was passed from hand
to hand, and, by the flickering firelight, each half-naked war-
rior, wrought up by the superstitious narratives of the talker,
uecmed to pass the hours in pleasure.

The war path, the race of political ambition, and the chase,
all had their votaries among the people of the Six Nations.
When their assembled sachems had resolved on war, and when,
from their ancient Council House a hundred light-footed mes-
sengers were sent to the distant tribes to call them to arms, in
the name of their great chief, then from Quebec to the Caro-
linas, and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, thousands of
warlike hearts caught up the invitation with glad enthusiasm.
By fasting and praying, by consulting dreams and omens, and
by ancient usages, the warriors sought to ensure victory for
their arms. When these singular performances had been con-
cluded, they began their secret progress towards the defenseless
white settlement. Soon followed the news of some bloody
massacre which, exaggerated in its flight from (settlement to
settlement, was swiftly borne to the ears of the older New
England towns. While these places were filled with excite-
ment over the shocking tidings, the victorious warriors returned
to their villages with the unfortunate captives, to celebrate
their merciless triumphs. As they approach, the sound of the
war-whoop is heard, and hundreds of savage women and chil-
dren run out with sticks and stones to meet the company.
Their hideous yelping, warns the prisoners of increasing dan-
ger, but they have no power to turn back, and, resigning
themselves to an awful fate, they regard a pelting i'vom these
foolish wretches, as necessary to prepare them for the tortures
that must follow. And now the black arches of the forest
grow blacker as the smoke, slowly curling upward from the

TIIK MVK8 OF l-ONTIAO ANT) TKOrMSKlf:

fires of death, forma itgelf in clouds nhove them. With fire-
brand and torcli tlie excited multitude circle round their
aji^onizing victim, until the bIow tortures have ended in death,
when the charred corpse is thrown to the dogs and the cruel
ceremony is ended by clamerous shouts to drive away the
spirit of the captive. Such were the most exquisite enjoy-
ments of the cruel Indians of the Six Nations.

Leaving this remarkable people, let us turn to the other
members of the same great family. The Algonquin people
occupied a large tract of territory surrounding the Six Nations.
It was the Indians of this family who first greeted Gartier, as
his little fieet ascended the St. Lawrance; it was Algonquins
who welcomed the pioneer settlers of Virginia. They were
Algonquins who, led on by Sassacus, Pequot and Phillip of
Mount Hope, harrassed the settlements of the New England
colonies; who under the great tree at Kensington, made the
covenant of peace with William Penn; and when French mis-
sionaries and fur-traders explored the Wabash and the Ohio,
they found " their valleys tenanted by the same far-extended
race." As civilization progressed, they were driven from these
eastern strongholds, until only a few remnants of their once
great and powerful nation were clustered around the Strait of
Mackinaw.

The Delawares were the most powerful tribe of the Algon-
quin family. According to their traditions, they were the
parent tribe from whence sprung all the other divisions of this
people. They were called Delawares, probably from the fact
that, when the European Colonists first visited that section of
country, their lodges were found thickly clustered along the
waters of the Delaware and its tributary streams. They were,
in a small measure, an agricultural people, although they mainly
depended upon fishing and the chase as a means of subsistence.
As already mentioned, they had been subjected by the fierce
warriors of the Six Nations, and when the Quakers first came
among them, they offered but few evidences of military skill or
<50urage. But as civilization pushed them westward, beyond
the reach and power of the Iroquois, they revived their M'ar-
Jike spirits, and were soon found to be formidable enemies.

f)K, THF. BORDRK WAKH OF TWO CtlNTURIES.

During the old French War, they had so far recovered from
the Buppressed condition into which their enemies had forced
them, that tliey resumed the use of arms, and while their
ancient conquerors espoused the cause of Canada, they became
the fast and fierce allies of the English. At the beginning of
the Kevolution, they publicly declared their emancipation from
Iroquois bondage, which was acknowledged by the Councils of
the Six Nations; and ever since that period they have occu-
pied a high position among the Indian nations of Nortli
America. Indeed, at a still later day, when the Iroquois peo-
ple bad disappeared from the border battle-fields, the American
pioneer settlers found their most unconquerable enemies in
the Delaware Indians. " Their war parties,*' says an eminent
writer, '* pierced the fartherest wilds of the Rocky Mountains;
and the prairie traveler would often meet the Delaware war-
rior returning from a successful foray, a gaudy handkerchief
bound about his brow, his snake locks fluttering in the wind, his
rifle resting across his saddle-bow, while the tarnished and
begrimed equipments of his half-wild horse bore witness that
the unscrupulous rider had waylaid and plundered some unfor-
tunate trapper."

Next in order among the tribes of the Algonquin family
were the bold Shawanoes. At an early day they occupied the
Valley of the Ohio, but in 1672 they were defeated by the Six
Nations, and fled to escape destruction. Following the Ohio
down a little farther, the traveler would next come to the vil-
lages of the Miamis, and the Twightwees. Their huts were
clustered along the banks of the Wabash and its branches.
They were also living in terror of the Iroquois when Europeans
'first came among them, but, as with the Delawares, they were
liberated by the progress of Colonial power. The Illinois Indi-
ans, who in the early days were located along the banks of the
river which was given their name, were also of the Algonquin
family, and, like their brothers, were sorely harrassed by the
Iroquois. At one time their numbers exceeded twelve thou-
sand, but so complete was the subjection and total tlieir defeat,
which they received at the merciless hands of the Six Nations,
that they were reduced to a few small villages. The Illinois

TilK IIVKM or HUNTIAO AND TKflUMHKH :

Indians wore, porha|)it, the most licentiouit and Hlotlit'iil Havii^iH
of tho Algonquin family. Having loHt their proHtige at) a
warlike people, they nought to gratify their vicious natures bj
the most extravagant indulgences. They spent a greater part
of the year in the pursuit of game with which the prairies of
their country abounded in great plenty, but there were seasons
when nearly all of them wore gathered together at their prin-
cipal village, merry-making, feasting, and, when liquor could
be obtained, drinking to excess.

The Ojibwas, Fottawatomies, Ottawas, Sacs, Foxes, Men-
omonies and the Northern Knisteneaux were also members of
this great family. Tliey were scattered throughout the lake
region in detached villages, and, in common with their kins-
men, had, at an earlier period, fled from the eastern country to
escape the fury of the Iroquois. The Ojibwas, Ottawas and
Fottawatomies were bound togetlier by a sort of confederacy,
having for its object their common defense and mutual welfare.
The former tribe, which was tlie most numerous of any of this
confederacy, was located in the Lake Superior vicinity. They
were a barbaric, rude people, living in a loose and imperiect
state. Hunting and fishing were their favorite pursuits, and
agriculture was but slightly encouraged. Tliey were, withal,
an improvident, reckless tribe. At one season they were feast-
ing, with an abundance on every hand, and at another they^
werd famishing. Yet, with all this uncertainty touching their
supplies, they never manifested a single prudent trait.

Thus I have hurriedly noticed tlui location and condition of
the Six Nations and Algonquin family of Indians, at the period
in which our narrative opens. The reader has, no doubt,
already observed that of these two distinct families, the
Iroquois were by far the most intellectual and elevated, never-
theless some of the greatest warriors and orators belonged to
the Algonquin nation. Even Pontiac and Tecumseh, the sub-
jects of this work, boasted its blood and language. A point
that has not failed to elicit attention, however, is that with the
advance of Colonial power, the prestige of the Six Nations
declined more rapidly than that of the tribes which they had
conquered.

OK, TUB liOKDKK WAKtl OV TWO OKmilKIICS.

Bofore pantiing on to the opening uvuntH ot' tlit* narrative, I
will stop to glanco, for a niotnent, at tlie WyundottH and the
Neutral Nation. Tliese tril)08, which originally belonged to
the Iroquois family, occupied the peninsula l)ctweon Ijikes
Huron, Erie and Ontario. The Wyandotts were a numerous
people, inheriting all the high qualities of their brethren of
the Six Nations. Their numbers at one time exceeded thirty
thousand. They were both an agricultural and commercial
nation. The products of their well cultivated corn-fields were
exchanged to a considerable extent, for the fish which had been
taken from the lakes and rivers by the surrounding tribes.
Being more provident than their neighbors, the Ojihwas, they
were generally well supplied with the necessaries, and not
nnfrequently called upon, in times of want, by the latter, to
share their bounties with them. As a rule they responded
with a generosity that was truly commendable.

In 1649, during the long cold winter, when by their indus-
try and consequent prosperity, they were lending material
assistance to the half perishing tribes around them, they were
incessantly harrassed and linally defeated by a numerous band
of Iroquois warriors. These fierce Indians levelled all the
principal Wyandot villages to the ground, and slaughtered
men, women and children without mercy. The few conquered
savages who survived this onslaught, fled in terror, and the
whole tribe was dispersed and broken. Some of them fled to
Quebec and others escaped into the Ojibwa country; but in 1680
they again united, and formed a permanent settlement on the
Detroit River.

The fate of the Neutral Nation was not unlike that of the
Wyandots. The Senecas, a powerful tribe of the Six Nations,
invaded their country and effected an easy conquest. Their
habits of life and general characteristics were very similar to
those of the Wyandots.

Thus we have seen that several powerful tribes of North
American Indians, during the last quarter of the seventeenth
century, sank before the arms of the Six Nations. Their con-
quests extended to every adjacent tribe, and their bravest war-
riors were sorely harrassing the infant colony of New France.

THK IJVKH itK lltNTIAO ANI» IMniMHKIi:

liiko the Six Niitioiiit, t\w Alf^>ni|ii!iiii liiul t\mr inythit and
l«'^ ihU. }^Mnf( luMH intullut!timl, howovur, t\wy did n(»t aMKiime
tliiit MyHttiirtatic ty\H) which charactoriziMi thoitu ot' thoir vnmiiirs,
hut they wure full of interest nnd Hlmdowy landinarkH of their
hiHtory. Hiuy had a faith more fiiiiplo than that of the Iro-
quoiH n'f^ardin^ the ihnl of Tliunder, which iH another prcM»f
of tlieir inferior intellectual Hcopu. They l)elieved that the
thunder waH a hini who huilt Iuh nent on the pinnaule of
towering niountainD.

The reli^ioiirt faith of the Indian trilHw already mentioned
was mixinl and ainhij^uoUH. They Mield (mmI in every part or
feature of hi8 creation, and yet, I do not think that they
believtHi in a one Alinif^hty Heinjf, the (treat Spirit, I^ord of
Heaven and Karth, until the miHrtionarioM came among them;
but it cannot l)e xaid that with tluH important addition to their
faith, their religiouH worHhip wa8 increaHed. I Mhould rather
hold to the opinion that the liiglieHt intellectual Btate of the
Indian race, and the loftiest conception of their minds, and, aH
a consequence, their most acce])tahle worship, date hack Iwyond
the advent of European civilization and (Jhristianity. All evi-
dence procurable on this suhjecf points to this conclusion. 1'he
Indians never could understand the religious faith of either
the (Catholic or Protestant religion, and in every attempt to
embrace either, they added additional testimony pointing to
its utter inadaptability to their minds. The heart cannot
embrace a doctrine which the mind is unable to comprehend.
" Red Jacket," the Seneca chief and orator, at a later day set
forth, in a very able manner, the difhculties which the Indian
mind encountered in attempting to penetrate Christian d«xj-
trine, in the following words, which he addressed to a mission-
ary who had come to preach Christ and Him crucified to the
inhabitants of a Seneca village:

" Bkother: Continue to listen. You sny tliat you are sent to instruct
UB how to worsliip the Great Spirit agreeably to His mind, and, if we do
not take hold of the religion which you white peopl(3 teach, we shall be
unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do
you know this to he true? We understtind that your religion Is written
in a book. If it was intended for us as well as ynu, wliy has not the
Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did He not give

OK, TIIK UOKDKK WAKX o» TWu UKMIUKIM.

•t

to niir rorfil'iithun tliu knowlinlKu u( th»l InHtk, with tliu mi'ttiiH »( undtr-
■UuiilinK ll rlKlitly T W«i only know what you toll ua abiiut It. How ahkll
wi* know when to l>«ll«v«>, \}v\ng *o often (lucfllvrd by th« while puopUT
You a«y that thvris U but ontt way t«> womhlp and aerro th« Oreat Bplrlt.
If thrre U but oda religion, why do you whitn piiople dlfTur ao inuoh about
Itr Why not all agreed, an yoii can all read the aame bookT We do not
undorKtand thoMi tiilnxH. Wu am told that your religion waa glron to your
forofathi'm, and has been handed down fV«>m father to ion. We alao have
• rellfrlon, which ^hn given to our forerathora, and haa been handed down
to UN — their children. Wu worahip In that way. It teachoa ua to bo
thankful for all the favora we ritculve; to love each other and to bo united.
We never quarrel about our religion. The Oreat Spirit haa made ua all,
but lie haa made a great ditTcrence Iwtween hia white and red children.
He haa given ua dltTerent compluxiona and different cuatoma. To you he
haa given the arts. To theae ho haa not opened our eyea. Wo know theae
thinga to bo true. Since he haa made ao great a difference between ua In
other thinga, why may we not concliidu that ho liiia given uh a different
religion according to our underatandingt The Oreat Spirit doea right
He knowa what la boat for hia children. We are aatiafled."

r i

CUAl'TEK II.
Tdb Brouiu IK TiiM WHHT--l'oNriAO Htandino ih Tiiaiii Wat— !!■

GOMIRNTt TO I.RT TIIRM OOCtlPV lim ('OUNTMT — TUK KNOI.IIIt TAKK

Pom KM ION or Drtiioit.

In thiH narrativu of tho Border Wan of tho N^orthwo«t, I will
(irst direct tho roador'H attention to the events which occurred
immediately after the EngliHh relieved the weHtorn oiitpoBtM of
Canada or New France. But this (*un Im; more acceptably done
by first pointiufj^ out some of the incidents connected with the
surrender of theMj forts by the French to their con({uerors.

(yanuda liad fallen. The lon;^ cherished ho|>es of the French
to establish a permanent branch of Empire in the New World
were now blighted, and their country, so recently full of prom^
ise and prosperity, was now humbled at the foot of the English
throne. The capitulation was complctcHl, and it only remained
for the English to take possession of their conquests. Well
might the bravest soldier shrink from this luuardous task, for
many of the strongholds to l)e occupied were not only still in
the bands of the French, but surrounded by clouds of warlike
savages, ea^er to visit death and destruction upon tho enemies
of the defeated colony. Indeed the Indians, who from the
beginning of the Old French War, had been the faithful allies
of the French, were already uniting against the " re<l coats."
They beheld the approaching ruin of their race, and resolved
on the foolish attempt of driving the English from the country.

The forts yet to be occupied were Detroit, Michilimackinac
and one or two others of less importance in the lake region.
It was on the 12th of September, 1700, that Major Rogers
received orders from Sir Jetfery Amherst to ascend the lakes
with a detachment of rangers, and take possession of these

08)

att, wr iM)Ror.M WAKM <ir two narrumn.

po«U in till* riHini* «>t' U\» (trititmic Mi»j«wt)r. Aoeordingij h«
•ct out with two hud'lr^i »ml<lti)t« in tlllnvn wli«l<)-bo«U, on tht
dny fullowin^, Mid, Afliar A troubioMimo journojr, boMt bjr
•turuiN nnd )inrA»M«ci hy thu aevef iij' of Ui« woatliur, ho roHvhud
thu OHHtorn otui of Ldk*^ Krio. Iloro he was fiiut by tho dopu-
tiiw of thu ^rtMkt Pontittu, ohiftf of tho OttnwnM, and " lord tnd
rnlor of nil that country." 'Dio chiofi onionHJ Ilo^ort to halt,
and coiniiiandud iiini to proouod no further uutil thoy had
recoivud pterin iiwion from titeir Ottawa lcach>r.

At this point wu will turn for a motninit to glance at this
wonderful man. I\)ntiao waM tho aon of an Ottawa chief, and
by hit) vulorouH detnlH, tnatchloHM oUK)uimco and >(reat force of
character, hud l)t>tu>me exceedingly |N>pulur and intluontial
amon^ all the triltcH in the vicinity of tho grmt laketk. Tlie
OttawaM, Ojibwatt and PottawatomieH were, at tluM time, unitod
under a conftHlerucy of which he waa both civil and military
leader; but hin authority extended far beyond thcMo triboH, and
waH nlinoHt unbounded wherever hie voice could be heard. He
did not owe IiIh ^reatnohs to the fact that he wa8 tho Hon of a
chief, for amon^ the IndiaiiH many a ohiefM Mon sinks into
insigniticance among the common rabble of iii^ tribe, while tho
otflipring of a common warrior ihay succood to his place. Por-
Htmal merit alone can win the respect and obedience of the
ludiauH. In the eyoH of his numerous followers, no other
person possessed more of this than Pontiac. Courage, ro«olu>
lion, wisdom and elo(|uenco and good address had been Hie
principal paHsportn to his fame and distinction. His intellect
was far-reaching, forcible and capacious. His energy and force
of character, his great subtlety and craftiness, conspired to
elicit the greatest admiration and respect from his wild and
reckless followers.

Although possessed of all these high qualities, Pontiac was
a thorough savage, and, as we shall see, capable of deeds of the
blackest treachery. He was now in his fiftieth year, and in the
prime of life. His menttd and physical powers were unim-
{)aired, and he stoml forth the giant of his tribe in both
intellect and endurance. In short, he was in every respect
qualified to lead his savage people into the bloody contest which

TlIK LIVEN OK I^NTIAO AND TKOUMBKH:

followed. When deeds of lofty magnanimitj best suited his
purpose, Pontiac could respond from the generosity of his own
nature, while, from the same source, he could supply the foulest
stratagems.

During the long wars that had passed, he had been the con-
stant friend and ally of the French, and had led his warriors
to battle on many a hard-fought field in the interests of this
people against the Eifglish. He commanded the Ottawa braves
at the memorable defeat of Braddock, and in this contest he
fully set forth his rare military skill and great craftiness. He
had served the French officers in various capacities, and espec-
ially did he render them valuable aid as a leader of Indian
warriors in the hour of their greatest peril. For these deeds
he had received many marks of esteem from Montcalm, the
brave commander of the Frencli forces, who fell while defend-
ing Quebec in 1759.

Such was the man whose chiefs were now standing in the
pathway of the English, at the eastern end of Lake Erie.

When the deputies had been assured by Eogers that their
command would be respected, they returned to Pontiac, who
soon after accompanied them on their return to the English
camp. He greeted Rogers with two haughty questions, which
were put in about the following language: "What is your
business in this country? How dare you come here without
my permission? " These stern demands had considerable effect
upon the Major, but he concealed his emotions as far as possi-
ble, and appeared to be undaunted. His reply to Pontiac was
that the French had been defeated, and that Canada had fallen
into the hands of the English, and that he was on his way to
take possession of Detroit, and restore a general peace. The
great chief listened with attention, but appeared to be dissat-
isfied. His only reply was that he would consider the matter
until morning, and then give them an answer. He ordered
the English to proceed no further without his consent, and
then withdrew with his chiefs to his own encampment.

A dark and gloomy night followed. The rangers had met
their enemies face to face, and now as the shades of night gath-
ered about them they began to suspect treachery. The night

PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN.

was blac
restless \
doubled
first sigl
The nigh
minds ar

With
tlie weal
Pontiao (
of Roger
English,
as long a
his officii
cial office
of the sf
between 1
It would
man witL
brought (
settlemen

On the
western e
.Detroit ri
Detroit \n
hundred
tant. At
for assists
tation of
peaceful r
and, obed
This acco]
Detroit.

Thewh
came witl
around it.
over the i
supply its
his troops

! ■

OB, TBB fiOKDKS WAltS OV TWO GEMTUHIKB.

was black and stormy, and the winds sang mournfully over the
restless bodies of the half perishing soldiers. The guard was
doubled in numbers, and instructed to give the alarm at the
first sight of danger; but Bogers was happily disappointed.
The night passed in perfect tranquility, excepf in the troubled
minds and hearts of the suffering rangers.

With the dawn of the following day the clouds thinned and
tlie weather became slightly improved. At an early hour
Pontiac and his chiefs returned. The chief replied to the words
of Sogers, saying that he was willing to live at peace with the
English, and would suffer them to remain in his country only
a8 long as they treated him with the respect and courtesy which
his official station demanded. The Indian chiefs and Provin-
cial officers then smoked the calumet together, and to the eye
of the spectator a perfect harmony seemed to be established
between them. But alas I it was doomed to a short existence.
It would have been well had the English treated this powerful
man with more respect; for by enraging him with insult, they
brought an avalanche of savage warriors upon their defenseless
settlements.

On the lifteenth of November the detachment reached the
western end of Lake Erie, and encamped at the mouth of the
Detroit river. Here they were informed that the Indians of
Detroit were in arms ready to give them battle, and that four
hundred warriors lay in ambush not more than half a mile dis-
tant. At this juncture Eogers turned to his new made friend
for assistance. He requested Pontiac to send forward a depu-
tation of his warriors to persuade the Indians to extend a
peaceful reception to the English. The great chief complied,
and, obedient to his word, the savages abandoned their designs.
This accomplished the rangers continued their course towards
Detroit.

The whale-boats passed slowly up the river until the rangers
came within full view of the little fort and the Indian villages
around it. They could see the French flag waving in the breeze
over the ramparts of the fort, and, no doubt, they felt eager to
supply its place by the Cross of St. George. Rogers landed
his troops on the opposite side of the river, and pitched his

THK LIVES OF PONTIAO AND TKOUMBKH:

tents upon the meadow. He then crossed the river with two
cfiicers and a few soldiers, and summoned the French garrison
to surrender. In obedience '' the soldiers detiled upon the plain,
and laid down their anus." Tlie English flag was now unfolded,
and in a few moments the British were in full possession of
Detroit.

The Indians, to the number of nearly two thousand, wit-
nessed this singular transfer with wonder and amazement.
Why so few Englishmen should thus quietly disarm so many
Frenchmen, was, to their savage minds, a question not easily
solved. To say the least, it was, in the Indian's way of viewing
it, a grand demonstration of English prowess. The surrender
had scarcely been completed when all the savages present sent
up a burst of triumphant yells, as if to declare that their sym-
pathies were already with the conquerors.

Rogers took possession of Detroit on the 29th day of
November, 1760. The French garrison was sent down the
lake as prisoners, while the Canadian inhabitants were allowed
to enjoy peaceful possession of their farms and dwellings on
the condition of swearing allegiance to the British crown.
Forts Miami and Onatauon were next relieved, but Michili-
mackinac and the adjacent posts were so far distant that, owing
to the advanced season, they remained in the hands of the
French till the following spring, when a small detachment took
possession of them, and thus completed the work assigned to
Major Rogers.

The English were now in full possession of their conquests,
the Indians alone remaining to dispute their possessions.

CHAPTER III.

Thb W1LOBRNB88 ANP ITS Inhabitants at thk Close op thr Fbbkob
War— Tkavkl and Adventure— The Outposts of CnniiiSATiON—
The Highways op the Wilderness.

Evert reader of American history will remember that, after
the defeat of Braddock, the western tribes of Indians rose
unanimously against the English. They had come to regard
the " red coats " as intruders, and, misguided by the French,
they believed the English had formed a design to drive them
from the country. And now that their enemies had possessed
themselves of Canada and the western outposts, the savages
began to discern the approaching ruin of their race. It was
at this period that the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania
felt the scourge of Indian war. The onslaught extended into
Maryland and Virginia, and a wide-spread havoc desolated the
border settlements. During the whole summer and autumn
of 1T55 the slaughter raged with increasing fury. The west-
ern forests appeared to be alive with infuriated warriors, and
day after day, and week after week, scalping parties sallied
forth from its pathless depths, murdering women and children
without mercy. The log cabin of the hard working pioneer
disappeared in smoke and flame, while the frightened inmates,
in attempting to escape the raging element, fell into the hands
of the blood-thirsty savages. Thus continued the awful work
of death and devastation, until, in 1756, the Indians, under
various influences, laid down the hatchet. In the following
year a treaty of peace was concluded between these Indians
and the colonists, which also had a good result. This treaty,
however, did not embrace the Indians of the Ohio, who com-
prised many of the bravest Delaware and Shawanoe warriors,
and who still continued their murderous assaults until 1758,,

(27)

TIIK UVICB OK PONTIAO AND 'FKCimtKH:

I i

when, heuring of the advance of Genoral Forbes, and seeing
that the French cause was utterl^r hopeless they accepted terms
of peace. The Six Nations, however, were still unfriendly.
At the outbreak of the war, they hud manifested some signs
of friendship, but the disasters which had attended the first
campaign gave them a very poor idea of British prowess.
They became still more dis^'usted with the English, when, on
the following year, they beheld their defeat at Oswego. It is
said that many of them fought with the French in tliis battle.
But, fortunately, success favored the English in the succeeding
contests. Du Quesue and Louisburg were taken, and the fierce
Iroquois, seeing these achievements, went over to tlie side of
the conquerers, and from that day, fought in the interests of
the English. This was one of their greatest mistakes, for,
with the fall of Canada tlieir doom was sealed. They no
longer held the balance of power between the rival colonies,
and, being lightly regarded as allies, they were left to their
own limited resources. The numerous tribes of the west,
however, arrayed themselves on the side of the French, and
fought in the interests of Canada through the whole war. At
its conclusion they retired into the forests, where they remained
inactive until called to battle by the voice of the mightiest of
warriors — Pontiac, the Ottawa chief.

And now, before entering upon an account of that terrible
contest, the Pontiac War, which makes the first part of our
narrative, it will be proper to glance at that vast country which
the Indians had resolved to wrest from the hands of their
enemies. " One vast, continuous forest," says Francis Park-
man, " shadowed the fertile soil, covering the land as the grass
covers the garden lawn, sweeping over hill and hollow, in end-
less undulation, burying mountains in verdure, and mantling
brooks and rivers from the light of day. Green intervals
dotted with browsing deer, and broad plains blackened with
buffalo, broke the sameness of the woodl«nd scenery. Unnum-
bered rivers seamed the forest with oLeji* devious windings.
Vast lakes washed its boundaries, where the Indian voyager,
in his birch canoe, could descry no land beyond the world of
waters. Yet this prolific wilderness, teeming with waste fer-

OK, THK B(>KI>KK WAKM <>K TW<* OKM'l'KIKH.

tility, was but a hiintinf^ ground and a battle field to a few
tierce liordoH of Havages. Hero and tliere, in Home ricli meadow
opened to tlie sun, tlie Indian equaws turned tbe black mould
with their rude implements of bone or iron, and sowed their
scanty stores of maize and beans. Human labor drew no
other tribute from that inoxhaustable soil."

Tlie population, consisting almost entirely of Indians, was
so thin and scattered that sometimes one might travel for
whole weeks without meeting a human form. Kentucky was
but a '' skirmishing ground for the hostile tribes of the north
and south;" while in many parts of the lake region hundreds
of square miles were inhabited only by wild beasts. At the
close of the French War, the Indian population of the whole
northwest did not exceed thirty thousand. Out of this num-
ber there were not more than ten thousand fighting men. Yet
this army, when detached and scattered after the Indian cus-
toms of warfare, was all that the English could master.

The condition of the savages had changed, although, per-
haps, it was but little improved. Onondaga, the capital of the
Iroquois, where their council fires had been kindled from
time out of mind, was no longer a place of great importance.
The ancient council house of bark was still to be seen, but its
deserted appearance bespoke the fall of the Six Nations. Their
other villages presented a similar spectacle. Everywhere civ-
ilization had worked evil for the savages. It was true that the
use of firearms aided them in the chase, but all the advantage
of the arts could not atone for the evils of rum. " High up
the Susquehanna were seated the Northcokes, Conoys, and
Mohicans, with a portion of the Delawares. Detached bands
of the western Iroquois dwelt upon the headwaters of the
Alleghany, mingled with their neighbors, the Delawares, who
had several villages upon this stream. The great body of the
latter nation, however, lived upon the Beaver creeks and the
Muskingum in numerous scattered towns and hamlets." In
each village might have been seen one large building of better
style than the rest. This was devoted to festivals, dances, and
public meetings.

Along the Sciota were the lodges of the Shawanoes. To the

THK I.rVKB or mNTTAO AND TEdlTMHKH:

westward, along the banks of tht^ Wabash and tlio Mauniee
dwelt the MianiaH. The Illinois wore scattered and degraded.
Having early met the French traders, they became addicted to
the habit of drinking, and soon Hank from their native purity
into a wretched degeneracy. Tliere was no tribe in the whole
lake region which adapted itself to the customs of civilization
with better results than the Wyandot family. At this time
tlieir villages along the Detroit, and in the vicinity of San-
dusky, presented a clean and tidy a[)pearance. They were
husbandmen of considerable industry, and their name ranked
high in war and ])olicy.

The English settlements were scattered along the eastern
seaboard on a narrow strip of land bordered on the west by a
dense forest. At this time Albany, N. Y., was, by far, the
largest frontier town. It was from this place that traders or
soldiers bound for the lake region, or the wilds of the great
west, set out on their hazardous journey. These hardy adven-
turers would embark in a canoe, ascend the Mohawk, pass the
old Dutch town of Schenectady, Fort Hunter and Fort Herki-
mer, finally reaching Fort Stanwix, at the head of the river
navigation. They would then pass overland to Wood creek,
carrying their canoes. Here they would embark, and by fol-
lowing its winding course, arrive at the Royal Blockhouse. At
this point they entered the waters of the Oneida. Crossing
its western extremity, and passing under the wooden ramparts
of Fort Brewerton, they would descend the river Oswego, to
the town of the same name, on the banks of Lake Ontario.
Here the vast navigation of the lakes would be open before
them.

The principal trail from the middle colonies to the Indian
country waa from Philadelphia westward, mounting the
Alleghanies, and descending to the valley of the Ohio. As
soon as peace had been established, after the war between the
colonies, adventurous fur traders hastened over the mountains,
hoping to become rich in the traffic of the wilderness markets,
and forgetting the dangers with which they were surrounding
themselves. These pioneer merchants would transport their
merchandise on the backs of horses, threading the forests and

il?^

OK, THR BOKDKR WAKM OF 'WIU CKNTUKIRK.

fording streainii for many iiiilcH into tlit> unknown wildurnefiit
of the Indian country. They were a rough, bold, yet happy
net of men, and often vm tivrce and as fond of war and adveo-
tiiru HS the savages themselves. Tlioy wore but little dross. A
bliinkot coat, or a frock of smoked deer skin, a riHe on the
shoulder, and a knife and tomahawk in the belt, formed their
ordinary equipment. The principal trader, "the owner of the
Miurchandise, would iix \m headquartern at some large Indian
town, whence he would dispatch his subordinates to the sur-
rounding villagcM, with a suitable supply of blankets and red
cloth, guns and hatchets, liquor, tobacco, paint, beads and
hawk's bills." This traffic was attended with every descrip-
tion of irregularity. Rivalism, robbery and murder were fre-
quent results; and, when it is considered that these adventurers
were in a country wliere neither law nor jnorals had any foot-
hold, such conduct will hardly be wondered at.

A visit to the more remote tribes of the Mississippi valley
was attended with still greater risk. No Englishman, how-
ever, attempted this hazardous journey without losing his
scalp, until several years after the conquest of Canada. The
traveler bound to this region generally descended the Ohio in
a canoe. " He might doat," says Francis Parkman, " for more
than eleven hundred miles down this liquid highway of the
wilderness, and, except the deserted cabins of Logstown, a
little below Fort Pitt, the remnant of a Shawnoe village at
the mouth of the Sciota, and an occasional hamlet or solitary
wigwam along the luxuriant banks, he would discern no trace
of human habitancy through all this vast extent." The body
of the Indian population lay to the north on the tributaries of
tiiis river, but scattering war parties were often to be encoun-
tered in this region. Tlie traveler needed to exercise the
greatest caution. If, perchance, he observed the blue smoke
curling above the green bosom of the forest, betraying the
camping ground of some war party, his light canoe was drawn

I into some hiding place on the bank of the river. When
darkness closed in, the adventurer would again embark and

[float along in safety.

In the southern portion of the present state of Illinois were

TUK UVBM or I^IMTUO AND TKOUMMIlH:

to be Mon the old French outpoflta, Kiutkaskia, ( 'ahokift and
ViiiuonnoH. From the latter the travuler could paddle his
canoe up the Wabash until he reauhwl the little village of
Ouatauon. From this point a trail le<l through the forest to
the Maumee, where stood Fort Miami. This is the spot where
Fort Wayne was afterwards built. From this Fort the trav-
eler might descend the Maumee river to Laku Krie. Here he
would have Sandusky on the right, or, further north, through
the strait of Detroit, he would pass Fort Detroit, and enter
the watery wastes of the northern lakes. Farther east, beyond
the Alleghany, were Forts Presque Isle, Le \heui' and
Venango.

I have thus briefly pointed out the western outpostH of civil-
ization as they were to be found soon afUir the conquest of
Canada, or at the commencement of th>) Vontiac War. We
will now glance at the Indians in their military capacity, and
lee to what extent they were prepared to prosecute the war
into which they were about t(j plunge.

.CHAPTER IV.

TnK Imdunm Preparinu ruH War— Fontiao amo Hm Amhamauor*
— Tub Councii. atthk Hivkh EcoRCKa— Flam rou tub Kbouotion
or Dbthoit— TiiK Conbpiracy.

Altiio!?oh the Inrlinns of the Nortliwest were poorly qual-
ified to en^nge in a wnr with the EngliBJi, they Imd good reasons
for commencing it. A dotbat could not be much worse than
the insults to which they were every day subjected, and to stand
quietly by and see their best hunting grounds invaded by English
settlers, was not to be endured by Indian warriors who could
boast as brave and sagacious a leader as Pontiae. The French
missionaries and fur-traders who had formerly come among
them, gave but little cause for alarm. These adventurers were,
for the most part, satislied with the proceeds of a traffic with
the savages, or with telling them the story of the Cross; but
it was not so with the English. He was essentially a husband-
man, and for half a league around his little hut he claimed
exclusive rights to the resources of the territory. When the
Indian invaded these limits, he was treated with a haughty
opposition, and ordered away. Thus the red men beheld the
rapidly approaching ruin of their race, and hastened to avert
it. Pontiae, whose penetrating mind could reach fartherest
into the annals of coming events, warned those around him
of the danger of allowing the English to make permanent 80t-
tlements in their country, and counseled the tribes to unite, in
one great effort, against their common foe. He did not siip-
port the common idea which prevailed among the infuriated
Indians, of driving the English into the Atlantic ocean, for he
well knew their military skill and power; but being persuaded
by the French that the King of France was at that time
advancing up the St. Lawrence with a mighty army, he resolved
8 (88)

TIIK I.rVWI or l-ONTUr ktfV mTMHKM:

to loiwl hilt wnrriont to hattlo with h vi«w u» n^toring th«
French (N)Wt)r in (/unudu, and to ch('<'k tlie KtigliHh in their
pro^ruiw wt*Htwnnl.

Ik'Holvi'd on thiM oonrfio, Pontine, ut thi» cIohu of the ymr
17((2, Kent out iloputivii to nil th«' triUtii. "They viitito<l tho
country of thtt Oiiio," myn i'iirktnim, " puHHod nort hwitrd to tlio
rugion of the (FpiMtr LuIcuh, iind thu wild bordiTK of tho rivi>r
OttawH, und fur rtouthward to the mouth of tlivi MiMiitMippi,
Ikuring with tiu'in the l>ult of wainpuni, hroad and long aH the
iinportanou of tlin nioHsafj^u duniand«Hl, and tliu tomahawk
stained red in token of war, thuy w«>nt from camp to camp,
and villago to villa^^ Whtm^vor they ap|M>ar«d tlio ttachcms
and old luv.u ariH(>tnl>lea to hoar the wordx of tUugivat Pontiac.
Then the head ciiiof of tliu emhartny Hung down the tomahawk
on the ground before them, and holding the war l)olt in hit
hand, dolivorod with veiioment goHture, wonl for word, the
Bpeech with which he was charged." Kvervwliere the Hpeech
wati received with approval, the hatchet taken up, and the
auditors utood pledged, according to tho Indian custom, to aid
in tho projected war.

llio onslaught wax to begin in the following month of May.
Each trilM) was to surpriHo the garrison in his own immediate
neighborhood, slaughter tho s«>ldiers, aii/d then with a united
effort all were to turn agninnt the dofenMelesB fVontier settle-
ments.

The reader will here be anxious to know the names of those
nations who thus eagerly united under Pontiac against the
English. With a few unimportant exceptions, they comprised
the whole Algonquin family, the Wvandots, the Senecas, and
several tril)eH of tho lower Mississippi. Of the Six Nations,
tho Senecas wore the only nation who joined in the league,
riie other five nations remained neutral, it is said, through the
timely influence of Sir William Johnson.

Although on the very eve of an outbreak, the savages con-
uealed their design with impenetrable secrecy. Tliey continued
to visit the various forts, and to solicit tobacco, amunition and
whisky in their usual manner. Now and then, enraged by
English insolence, they would threaten the officers with the

OH, TMK IIOKDKK WARM or TWO (IKNTimiia.

Appnmching iUll^:lltnr, but boyond thU, and with m tiiif^lt
ux(t!pfiiMi, tli«i ^gr^^Ht cormpiraoy wm nnknowti to tho English
until if *MirMt t'orlh in duath and dovaatation. "On one ooo*>
■ioiu" m yH thi< Miithor from whom I havo juHt quoted, "the
plot waa nearly (llMuivortKl. Karly in March, 17((8, Kniign
IIoliiMtA, commniidiiif( at Fort Miami, waM told hy a friendly
Indian, that t\w warriors in a iMMghborin^ village had latuly
rociiiviHl a war hnit, with a muHHagu urging thorn to doHtroy
liitn and IiIh garriHtin, and that thin th«y woru pruparing to do."
Tlio commandant Hummoni)d tho IndianH together and o|H)nly
ciiargtxl thom with tlinir denign. Thoy oonfoHMHl to thu truth-
fulness of the ro|M)rt, deolart^ that tho plot had origitiated
with a neighboring tril)o, and promiHod to abandon it. Molmea
coinmunicatonl information of thin affair to Major (i^ladwyn of
Detroit, who regarded it merely in the light of an ordinary
Indian outbrtiak, and, Intlieving tliat it would H4M)n paHrtaway, he
took no notice of it. With ttie approai^h of Hpring, the Indi-
ans, returning from the ohaHO, began to congregate in Htnall
parties around the differimt fortfl. Tliey wore unusnally
roHcrved, seldom going into the forts, and encamping a short
distance from them, in the edges of the wo(»ds. They wore
now rapidly preparing to strike the blow so long meditated by
Pontiac, and the liour of treachery and massacre was nigh.
They were by no means prepared for a successful war on their
part, but, true to thu Indian character, thoy loved tho war-path,
and all woro now anxious to enter upon it. " While there wa«
little risk that they would capture any strong and well fortitied
fort, or carry any important position, there was, on the other
hand, every reason to apprehend wide-spread havoc, and a
destructive war of detail. That tho war might be carried on
with vigor and effect, it was the part of the Indian loaders to
work upon the passions of their people, and keep alive the
feeling of irritation^ to whet their native appetite for blood
and glory, and cheer thom on to tho attack; to guard against
all that might quench their ardor, or abate their fierceness; to
avoid pitched battles; never to fight except under advantage,
and to avail themselves of all aid which surprise, craft and
treachery could aiford." The English colonies, at this time,

■V

THK LIVEfS OK TON'nAO AND TK4UIM8KH:

I !

|; |';|

tfl

having ju8t emerged from a long and costly war with Canada,
were not in a position to meet this Indian outbreak without
Hulfering largely from its consequences. Their little army was
disorganized, and there remained hardly troops enougli to gar-
rison the feeble western outposts against which Pontiac's war
was now to be desperately waged. Sir William Johnson stood
at the head of this inadequate force. He was then ripe in mil-
itary renown, and, withal, well qualified for the task which
was tlius unexpectedly thrust upon him. "The command,"
says an able writer, " could not have been intrusted to better
hands, and the results of the war, lamentable as they were,
would have been much more disastrous but for his promptness
and vigor, and, above all, his judicious selection of those to
whom he confided the execution of his orders."

At this period the western wilderness presented an interest-
ing scene. Everywhere Indians were preparing for the war.
The war dance was celebrated in a hundred villages, and chiefs
and warriors, jiainted and adorned, stood ready for the onset.
To begin the war, however, was reserved by Pohtiac as his own
special privilege. In the spring of 1763, his great conspiracy
was mature, and he summoned the chiefs and warriors of all the
tribes in the newly formed league to a war council. The sachems
met on the banks of the Ecorces river, Detroit, near whither
Pontiac had gone to welcome them. Band after band of
painted warriors came struggling in until the forest was alive
with restless kv-^ ^/.es, for nearly a mile up and down tre little
stream. Il \ab; .♦.-'ced, an import&mt evsnt for the red man.
At frequent in.'.' als during tlie year 'cny ^Hfimd, he iiaJ iieurd
the words of the great Ottawa viiicf, df. i^.' •ret'od by hie depu-
ties. Now they had met tirlc wor lot I'Ji irar. face to face. He
who, through his diligent ambassaJ.orB liad united all the tribes
of the Algonquin family under a confederacy, equal in demo-
cratic scope to that of the far-famed Six Nations, was now to
speak to many of his subjects for the first time. He was to toll
them, in true Indian eloquence, the story of their approaching
ruin; he was to uncover the selfish policy of the English, and
point to the only means by which they could revive their declin-
ing prowess ; he was to stand forth before his savage auditors

OB, THE BORDER WARS OF l-WO CENTURIKW.

and verity, by matchless power of word and gesture, the thril-
ling story of his greatness, which had been passed from village
to village on the tongues of his light-footed messengers; he
was this day to prove himself the mightiest among a thousand
haughty, jealous savage warriors. Truly, the occasion was an
exciting one for the assembled tribes. All waited patiently to
hear the words of the famous Ottawa chief.

This council took place on the 27th of April, 1763. " On
that morning," says a reliable writer, " several old men, the
heralds of the camp, passed to and fro among the lodges, call-
ing the warriors in a loud voice to attend the meeting. In
accordance with the summons, they came issuing from their
cabins — the tall, naked figures of the wild Ojibwas, with quivers
slung at their backs, and light war clubs resting in the hollow
of their arms; Ottawas, wrapped close in tlieir gaudy blankets;
Wyandots, fluttering in painted shirts, their heads adorned
with feathers and their leggins garnished with bells." All
were soon seated in a wide circle upon the grass, row within
row, a mighty and warlike assembly. Each savage countenance
wore an expression of gravity. Pipes, with ornamented stems,
were lighted and passed from hand to hand, until all had
" smoked together in harmony."

Then Pontiac came forth from his lodge, and walked forward
into the midst of the council. He was a man of medium
height, with a grandly proportioned muscular figure, and an
address well calculated to win the admiration and respect of
the savage heart. His complexion was rather dark for an
Indian, and his features wore a bold and stern expression, while
his bearing was imperious and peremptory. His only attire
was that of the primitive savage — a scanty cincture girt about
his loins, and his long, black hair flowing loosely at his back —
excepting the plumes and decorations of the war dress. " Look-
ing round upon his wild auditors," says Parkman, " he began to
speak, with fierce gesture and loud, impassioned voice; and at
every pause, deep gutteral ejaculations of assent and approval
responded to his words."

He gave a full and eloquent exposure of the English policy
towards the Indians; spoke of the French in high terms, and

z'"

THE LIVBB or PONTIAO AND TKCUM8EH:

M I !

h !

contrusted tlietii with the "red coats." He recounted the
many insults which he and his followers had received at the
hands of the British commandant at Detroit, and ably set forth
the danger that would arise were the English allowed to con-
tinue their settlements in the West. He said that their
enemies had conquered Canada, and were now about to turn
upon the Indians and slaughter them without mercy. Already
their best hunting grounds had been invaded by their settlers,
and, if this was continued, it would not be long before they
would be crowded from their homes altogether. Then he took up
a broad belt of wampum, saying that lie had received it from his
great father, the King of France, in token that he had heard
the voice of his red children, and was on his way to aid them
in a war against the English, and to restore Canada to the
French. When he had fully wrought upon their savage minds
by setting forth all their grievances and complaints, and declar-
ing that a desperate war was the only means by which they
could be removed, he addressed himself to their superstitions,
by telling the following curious story : " A Delaware Indian
conceived an eager desire to learn wisdom from the Master of
life; but, being ignorant where to find him, he had recourse
to fasting, dreaming and magical incantations. By these means
it was revealed to him that by moving forward in a straight,
undeviating course, he would reach the abode of the Great
Spirit. He told his purpose to no one, and having provided the
equipments of a hunter — gun, powder-horn, ammunition and
kettle for preparing his food — he set forth on his errand. For
some time he journeyed on in high hope and confidence. On
the evening of the eighth day, he stopped by the side of a
brook at the edge of a small prairie, where he begun to make
ready his evening meal, when, looking up, he saw three large
openings in the woods on the opposite side of the meadow,
and three well-beaten paths which entered them. He was
much surprised, but his wonder was increased when after it
had grown dark, the three paths were more clearly visible than
ever. Kemembering the important object of his journey, he
could neither rest nor sleep, and, leaving his fire, he crossed
the meadow, 'and entered the largest of the three openings. He

OS, THhl BOKDEK WARS OF TWO OUMTURIBB.

had advanced but a short distance into the forest, when a bright
flame sprang out of the ground before him and arrested his
steps. In great amazement he turned back, and entered the
second path, where the same wonderful phenomenon again
encountered him; and now in terror and bewilderment, yet
still resolved to persevere, he pursued the last of the three paths.
On this he journeyed a whole day without inter^'uption, when
at length, emerging from the forest, he saw before him a vast
muuntain of dazzling whiteness. So precipitous was the assent
that the Indian thought it hopeless to go further, and looked
around him in despair; at that moment he saw, seated at some
distance above, tlie figure of a beautiful woman arrayed in
white, who arose as he looked upon her, and thus accosted him :
' How can you hope, encumbered as you are, to succeed in your
design? Go down to the foot of the mountain, throw away
your gun, your ammunition, your provisions and your clothing;
\\ ash yourself in tlie stream which flows there, and you will
then be prepared to stand before the Master of Life.' The
Indian obeyed, and again began to ascend among the rocks,
while the woman, seeing him still discouraged, laughed at his
faintness of heart, and told him that if he wished for success,
he must climb, by the aid of one hand and one foot only.
After great toil and suffering, he at length fuund himself at
the summit. The woman had disappeared, and he was left
alone. A rich and beautiful plain lay before him, and at a
little distance he saw three great villages, far superior to the
squalid dwellings of the Delawares. As he approached the
largest, and stood hesitating whether he should enter, a man,
gorgeously attired, stepped forth, and, taking him by the hand,
welcomed him to the celestial abode. He then conducted him
into the presence of tt.e Great Spirit, where the Indian stood
confounded at the unspeakable splendor which surrounded
him. The Great Spirit bade him be seated, and thus addressed
him : ' I am the Maker of heaven and earth, the trees, lakes,
rivers and all things else. I am the Maker of mankind, and
because I love you, you must do my will. The land on which
you live I have made for you, and not for others. Why do
you suffer the white men to dwell among vou ? My children, you

TUB LIVKS OP PONTIAO AND TKCUMSKH:

have forgotten the customB and traditions of your forefathers.
Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, as they did, and use
the bows and arrows, and the stone-pointed lances which they
used? You have bought guns, knives, kettles and blankets
from the white men, until you can no longer do without them ;
and what is worse, you have drunk the poison fire-water which
turns you into fools. Fling all these things away; live as
your wise forefathers lived beibre you. And as for these Eng-
lish — these dogs dressed in red who have come to rob you
of your hunting grounds, and drive away the game — you must
lift the hatchet against them. Wipe them tVom the face of
the earth, and then you will win my favor back again, and once
more be happy and prosperous. The children of your great
father, the King of France, are not like the English. Naver
forget that they are your brethren. They are very dear to me,
for they love the red men, and understand the true mode of
worshiping me.'

" The Great Spirit then instructed the Delaware in matters
of religion, and bade him i :turn to the earth and tell all that
he had seen and heard."

Such was the legend with which Pontiac closed his great war
speech. All present listened to him with great interest, and
at its close each warrior was eager to attack the British fort.
But the Ottawa chief counseled them to desist for the present.
He wished to establish order and method at the beginning, so
as to insure success to their arms. He told them that on the
second of the following month he would gain admittance to the
fort at Detroit, with a party of his warriors, on pretence of
dancing the calumet dance before the garrison; that they
would observe the strength of the place, and summon another
council immediately afterwards.

On the day appointed Pontiac, with about forty Ottawa war-
riors, appeared at the gate of the fort and asked admittance
for the purpose of dancing the calumet before the garrison.
At first Gladwyn refused, but, after considerable hesitation, he
gave his consent, and the Indians were admitted. They imme-
diately began the celebrated dance, and were soon surrounded
by the soldiers who were highly amused with their perform

OK, THE UUKDUR WAKH UF I'WO CKNTURIKB.

aiices. During the dance, some ten of the Indians who took
no part in it, walked leisurely through the fort, observing
everything it contained. At the conclusion of the dance, all
withdrew peaceably.

A few days after, a council was held in the Pottawatomie
village. Here there had been erected a large bark structure
for the purpose of public meetings, and in thic more than a
hundred warriors seated themselves, and bjgan to pass the
time-lionored pipe from hand to hand. Pou :ir.c soon appeared
in their midst. He addressed himself to the assemMed chiefs,
urging them to take up arms against the Englibh, and closed
by submitting the following plan for the reduction of Detroit;
" He would demand a council with the commandant concern-
ing matters of great importance, and on this pretext he flattered
himself that he and his principal chiefs would gain ready
admittance within the fort. They were all to carry weapons
concealed beneath their blankets. Wliile in the act of addrcfis-
ing the commandant in the council room, Pontiac was to make
a certain sign, upon which the chiefs were to raise the war-
whoop, rush upon the officers present, and strike them down.
The other Indians waiting meanwhile at the gate, or loitering
among the houses, on hearing the yells and firing within the
building, were to assail the astonished and half-armed soldiers,
and thus Detroit would fall an easy prey." The plan was
eagerly adopted.

CHAPTER V.

A Qlimpbe at Fort Detroit in 1708 — Tub Conbpiracy— Thb
Trbachkrt of Pontiac — His Plot Uevbaled — The Savaobb
Baffled — Murder of Enolibh Bbttlbrb — Tub Bibob Com
MBNCBD — The Abbault — Qladwyn Offrhb Pkaou — Pontiac
Rbfubeb — Departure of Major Campbell to tuk Ottawa
Camp — Hib Warning.

At this point I will interrupt the narrative, and look in, for
a moment, upon the little trading post of Detroit. This post,
originally called Fort Pontchartrain, was established by La
Matte Cadillac, in 1701. It continued to be a French trading
post of considerable importance until its transfer to the Eng-
lish, when, according to Maj. Eogers, it contained about twenty-
iive hundred inliabitants. The dwellings in the settlement
extended for some distance up and down the western bank of
the river. In the centre stood the little fort, containing about
one hundred houses, and surrounded by a palisade. The settle-
ment, at this time, extended for nearly ten miles along the
river, and presented quite a tidy and comfortable appearance.
Each dwelling had its orchard and garden, and both were
enclosed together by a palisade of rounded pickets. Near the
fort were three large Indian villages. The Pottawatomies w^ere
located a little below the fort on the same side of the river, and
nearly opposite, on what is now termed the " Canada side,"
were the lodges of the Wyandots, and on the same side, at a
considerable distance up the river was the home of Pontiac and
his brave warriors.

At the time of which I write, 1763, this post was garrisoned
by British regulars and Provincial rangers. Its form was
almost square, and the palisade which surrounded it was about
twenty-five feet high. A block-house was erected over each

(42)

OK, TIIK liUKDKK WAKH OF TWO rKN'JUKim.

gateway. l^Hiduu tho ImrruckK, thu only public buildings were
a council houue and a little church. The garriuun consisted of
about one hundred and twenty tioldiers, with, i>erhaps, half as
many t'ur-traders. Two wniall armed schoonurH, the Beaver and
tiie Gladwyu, lay anchored in the Btream, and Boveral light
pieces of artillery were mounted in the buBtions. Such was
Detroit in the spring of 1703, when Poiitiac and his wild war-
riors formed a plot for its reduction.

"On the afternoon of the 6th of May," says Parkman, *'a
Canadian woman crossed over to the western side and visited
the Ottawa village to obtain from the Indians a supply of
maple sugar and venison. She was surprised at linding several
of the warriors engaged in filing off tlie muzzles of their guns,
so as to reduce them, stock and all, to the length of about one
yard." This woman reported what she had seen to the settlers
who, in turn, communicated the information to Major Glad. wyn,
but he took no notice of it.

But according to trp.dition, the commandant received infor-
mation of the desigii of Pontiac in another way. In the
Pottawatomie villago dwelt an Ojibwa girl, called Catherine,
who was very beautiful. She had attracted Gladwyn's atten-
tion, and he had become very intimate with her. On the
afternoon of the sixth of May, she came to the fort, and visited
Gladwyn's quarters, bringing with her a pair of slippers which
he had requested her to make. She manifested something
unusual in her manner, and Gladwyn pressed lier to tell him
the cause of it, and, after great reluctance, she unveiled the
terrible conspiracy. "To-morrow," she said, "Pontiac will
come to the fort with sixty of his chiefs. Each will be armed
with a gun, cut short, and hidden undor his blanket. Pontiac
will demand to hold a council, and after he has delivered his
speech, he will offer a peace belt of v/ampum, holding it in a
reversed position. This will be the sign of attack. The chiefs
will spring up and fire upon the oflic(;r8, and the Indians in the
street will fall upon the garrison. Every Englishman will be
killed, but not tlie scalp of a single Frenchman will be taken."

Whether this tradition be true or false, it is evident that the
British commandant received secret ii formation on the evening

TIIK I,IVE8 OK IH»NTIA(? AND TK<;UMPKIi:

H n

of the Bixth of Miiy, thiit tin attempt would bo made on the
seventh to cupturo tho fort und slaughter the garrison. Ho
suiriinoned tho otHeers to his room and told them what he had
heard. Tho garrison was immediately ordered under arnis,
and all the otii(;orH prepared to spend tlie night upon the
rampartB. During tho whole night an anxious watch was
maintained, but nothing disturbed tho quiet of tho little fort
save the wild Indian yells, as they were borne on tho night
wind from tho distant Ottawa camp-fires.

At an earlier hour than usual on the following jnoming, the
open space west of the fort was thronged with savages. Thoy
had, to all appearances, assembled for a general game of ball.
Warriors, men, women and children, adorned with all tho gaudy
finery of paint, beads and feathers, moved restlessly to and fro,
while the principal chiefs and warriors passed through the open
gates into the fort. Presently the garrison observed a number
of canoes crossing the river from the eastern shore. These
wntained the great Ottawa leader and his sixty braves, although
to the eyes of the soldiers only three persons were visible in
each. They had concealed themselves by lying flat in the bol;-
tora of the canoes, so as not to attract attention.

Tlie garrison now prepared itself for the emergency. At
ten o'clock, Pontiac and his chiefs reached the fort, and
thronged the gateway with their painted forms. They were
admitted, for Gladwyn had resolved to teach tliem that he
despised their hostility. As they entered, ranks of armed
soldiers greeted them on either side, and everywhere they could
read the total ruin of their plot. As the warriors passed along
the narrow street towards the council house, the measured tap of
of the drum indicated that all was ready within the fort to receive
them. Reaching the council house they found Major Gladwyn
and his officers awaiting their arrival. Here, too, Pontiac
found every one armed. After much reluctance, the warriors
seated themselves, and their leader demanded to know why so
many persons were standing in the street with their gnvH.
The commandant replied that he had ordered the soldiers under
arms for the purpose of exercise and discipline.

After the usual delay, Pontiac rose, and, holding in his hand

OK, TIIK UOKUKK .vAKM OK TWO OKN II'KIIX

tho wiiinpuin boh with wliiuh he was to hiive iiuidu the signal,
he udtlresBed Gladvvyii, declaring that they were Mtill friendly
to the EngliHh, and that he had come with IiIh chiefs to '* smoke
the pipe of i>eaco and brighten the chain of friendship." The
ofHc.ers watched him with deep interest, for they feared that,
although he knew his designs had been detected, he miglit still
attempt to accomplish them. It is said that at one time he
niised the belt for the purpose of giving the fatal signal, but at
that instant Giadwyn made a slight sign, whereupon a terrify-
ing clash of arms, and the drum rolling the charge, sounded
from the passage without. At this dreadful moment Fontiao
stood like one confounded. Seeing the utter ruin of his plot, he
sat down in despair. After the \i8ual pause Giadwyn rose and
made a very brief reply. He told the chiefs that they should
be treated with friendship and protection as long as they
deserved it, and threatened ample vengeance for the Urst act of
aggression. The council then broke up, the gates of the fort
were thrown open, and the warriors allowed to depart.

Some writers have censured Giadwyn for not detaining the
warriors, and in this way prevented the terrible war which fol-
lowed, but as they had not, as yet, been guilty of open violence,
the commandant feared that, should he arrest them, the act
might be regarded as cowardly. On the other hand he was
ignorant as to the real nature of the plot. Regarding it as an
ordinary piece of Indian treachery, he supposed the whole affair
would soon pass away or bo forgotten.

Pontiac, baffled in his wicked design, retired to his own
village. No doubt the great chief was deeply mortified.
Nevertheless he was determined to persevere. He first attempted
to convince the English that the reports of his plot, which had
been carried to their ears, were false. For this purpose he vis-
ited the fort wjth throe of his chiefs, taking with him the sacred
calumet, or pipe of peace. Handing it to Major Giadwyn he
said : " My father, evil birds have sung lies in your ears. We
that stand before you are friends of the English. We love
them as our brothers, and, to prove our love, we have come
this day to smoke the pipe of peace." When the warriors left
the council room, Fontiac presented Capt. Campbell with this

THK MVKH of ■•►NTIAO AND TKfM'MHKItr

I i

hi^lily-pri/.t'd pipo, no doubt hoping to pciHiiado tim command*
unt tliat he whm Hinccn* in liin uHHiirunccH of tri«'ti<lt<liip.

This ilono, ho witlulrcw to t\w Pottawiitomio villiigo and
•timmoncd tlio ch'ivt'n to Hiiotlicr council. Kurly on the follow-
inj( morning, the ninth of May, the common hohind the fort
WHH once more thronged with Indiann, and Poiitiac, advanctin^^
iVom amon^j^ the multitu(K% \valkt><l up to the |;ate of the fort
and detnaii(h>d admixHion. The ^ate wm barred aguiimt him.
The great chief winhed to know why he could not enter, and
Gladwyn re[)lied that as for bh him (Pontiac) he might enter,
but the multitude he had brought witii liim munt remain out-
side. Being again thv.art«'d, the great chief turned from the
gate, and walked rapidly away, manifesting HJgns of anger. In
a few momentH the garrison observed the warriors running, in
great numbers, towards the house of a poor old English woman,
who lived, with her family, on the outskirts of the common.
It was now plain that the work of slaughter had begun. The
enraged warriors, reaching the wretched hut, beat in the doors,
and rushed in, as if eager to commence their bloody work. A
moment more and the shrill scalp yell told the story of the
first massacre of the Pontiac war. The flow of English blood
thus begun, increased day after day until the whole lake region
was stained with human gore;. Tlie threatening clouds gn^w
blacker. The anger of the Indians increased, and band after
band of wild, ferocious warriors roved east and west, north
and south, murdering every English man, woman and cliild
whom fate brought in their pathway. The pen refuses to
describe the scenes of horrifying massacre which followed.
Death, torture, adventure, hair-breadth escape, cannibalism,
treachery and untold suffering make up the heart rending
catalogue.

Shocking as it may seem, it is my aim, in this narrative, to
present these revolting outbursts of indiscriminate slaughter,
each in their turn, as they appear in the long, dark annals of
border warfare.

The breath had scarcely left the bodies of this unfortunate
family, when the blood-thirsty warriors, with bleeding scalps
fluttering from their sides, rushe<l furiously towards the river.

OR, TIIR HOKDKK WAKN OK TWO CKNTUKIKH.

H«rp« limping into their cnnouM, thuy putihud out into the ttrram
and paddlotl vi^orouHly in the direction of IhI» au Cochon,
where dwelt an KngliHhniaii hy the name of FiHher. Having
Hla>ady ohHervod the danger of hiit situation, ho hid hiniHelf,
and when the warriorH reached tiie Inhind \u<i \\h» not to Im)
Keen. They soon drag|i;cd him forth from hia inBceure aho<lo,
murdered him on the Hpot, and, titling hiH Hcalp, they Hent up
a thousand triumphant yells, which wore swiftly borne to the
ears of tlie terror-stricken garrison, upon the lake hroe/e.

Tradition relates a curious tale regarding the body of Finher.
On the day after his murder several Frenchmen of Detroit
went over to the Island and buried the body. A few dayg
after one of the party returned to the 8pot, wliere he behold the
death-cold «handi> ot' the dead man thrust above the ground in
an attitude of euger entreaty. Having once more buried the
corpse deep in the earth, he returned, tilled with awe and vvon<
der. A few days after he returned, with several Canadians,
and found the hands of the murdered man protruding as
before. Tliey now hastened, horror stricken, to the priest, and
related all that they had seen. The good father hastened to
the spot and sprinkled it with holy water, and performed over
it the neglected burial rites, and from thenceforth the body of
the murdered Englishman slept in peace. This tradition, I
believe, was preserved in the St. Aubin manuscript, and given
as undoubted truth.

It should be recorded that Pontiac bore no part in these
brutal murders. Seeing his plan to capture the fort defeated,
he strode off from his warriors towards the river, in great
anger. So enraged was the great chief that even his bravest
followers dare not approach him. He embarked in his canoe,
and, with a few vigorous strokes of his paddle, he crossed the
river to his own village. As he neared the river's bank he
shouted to the inmates of the village, and ail came quickly out
at the sound of his powerful voice. Pontiac pointed across the
river, and "ordered that all should prepare to move the camp
to the western shore, that the river might no longer interpose
a barrier between his followers and the English." All labored
diligently to obey him, and before evening everything was

48 TiiK i.ivioi uy i<uM'riAiJ amd iKtuMitKu:

rtMidy for utnbnrkation. Mcuinvhiln t\w witrriorit vv»n< nrriviiii;
from their hloody work of iiiiirdfr, until ul iii;(litfiill, iiunrl)' nil
hiut rotiiriuHi.

They now pru|mrt>«l for the wiir-daticu. Poiitiac, like n iiittd-
detiod lion, hideous with war puint, leaped Into the centre of
the ring, Htid with thrilling gesture und thundering v«»i(!«,
recounted Iuh own nuirtial exploitM imd donouueed the Knglioh.
He WRH Hoon joined by nenrly u thouMnnd wild followerM, who,
hy len)>ing and yelping, and cutting the tiir with their knivoo,
and relating their own deedH of i'iivi>ry, dettlured thoniHelveH
ready to follow the great Ottaw i war chief to hattlo against
the English. When thi« grand dcnioiiHtration was over, the
work of moving coinntencod, and when the morning dawned
tho whole Ottawa village wiih Kiiugly Mettled down on the
westem bank of the Detroit river, juHt above Parent'H Cret»k,
aftorwardti appropriately called Hloody Uiin, on account of the
terrible «laughter which it witnenHcd.

I^ut tho work of death and uuiHsacre, meanwhile, continued.
Two English officers, named Sir liobert Diivors and Captain
Kobortson, had been waylaid and murdered near lake St. Clair
and thoir scalpH had been borne in triumph to the camp of the
Ottawa chief. With the news of this nnisBacrc, tho garrison
also received information that Pontiac had been joined by an
immenso war party of tho Ojibvvas, who bad come from Sagi-
naw to assist in the reduction of Detroit. It was true, now,
tliat tho war had really begun, and Gladwyn, fur the first time,
realized bis perilous situatiim. Every EngliHhman in tho fort,
no matter whether trader or soldier, was mnlered \inder arms.
Sloop was banished from every eye, and iho nervous com-
mandant himself walked the ramparts throughout the entire
night. There was no sound of alarm until tho dawn, when,
breaking forth from the surrtninding forests, came an avalanche
of savage warriors, yelling the war whoop, naked and painted
for tho fight. There was no time to spare. Ottawas, Ojibwas,
Fottawatomies, and Wyandots, all had united, and tlieir
chances of success were a great source of terror to the haplcsM
garrison. The bullets rapped hard and fast against tho palis-
ades, as the soldiers hastened to their posts. The attack was

man, name

Ol, TIIK IKtRDKN WAfW (>f TWO nXNTUIinM.

4»

kept up till iiooi), whuii thu warriora, nooin^^ thu iitt»r folly of
tlioir titfort, n^tiriNl, louviii)( tht* f^urriMon oncu inort) in |K)Hce.
During tlu) hmmauU Hvo inuii wi*r(< wouiidiMi in thu tort, wliilo
tilt) cnutioiiH MHVHf^m h»cl itlinoMt L>titiri)ly <<M'a|MHl injury,
althougli H ntuudy tiru wuh kt^pt up by thu HohliurM.

(iliulwyii huMtunutl to Inku H(lvHtitu|;^ nt tliiM tuinporMry
cfKHution of hoHtilitiuM. KIh ^(arriMon whh in ^r(>Ht want of
HupfiliuH, und hu o|M«nu<l nugutiutionii for a {Rtacu with IVintiao.
hopiiifi^ to obtain nm'uMNariuH uiuior eovur of it. For thin pur>
pu80 hu diHpatohud thu intorprutur, Ia Uuttu, and two (Janadl-
aii8, nauiud GtKlfrcy and Cha[)uton, to hold a council with
I'ontiac;. On ruaching tho cunip thu duputation was rocuivud
withgruat kindnuHH by tho Ottawa chiof. La Hutto inforinud
liitu that tho Hritiith commandant was ready to redrotts any
rual grievance of which hu might complain. Tlie two Cana-
dinuB labored hard to di^Huade Pontiac from purHuing the war,
but to no purpoHO. Uo treated them with courtesy, but stood
as firm as a rouk in his determination to prosecute the siege.
At length the cunning war-chief declared that ho was in favor
of a lasting peace, and desired to hold a council with tho Eng-
lishmen themselves, with a view to this end. To the Canadi-
ans, Pontiac's propftsition appeared to be fair, and they returned
to tho fort with information accordingly. At first Gladwyn
suspected treachery, but Major Gampl)oll was of tho opinion
that no danger need be approhonded, and urged the command-
ant to comply with the request. After considerable reluctance
Gladwyn complied, and Campbell loft tlie fort, in company
with Lieut. McDougal and several Canadians, among whom
was the interpreter already mentioned. They had not gone
twenty yards from tho fort when they were mot by a French-
man, named Gouin, who informed them that they were advanc-
ing into tho lion's jaws, but Campbell, once sot out on his
mission, would not return.
4

CHAPTER VI.

PoKTIAO'B ThKACHBRT — CaMPBRLL AUD McDoUOAL made PRIBONBBft—
SOABCITY OF PnO VISIONS IN THK FORT — PekIIX)CB SITUATION OF

THE Garrison — Continuation of the Sieob — Pontiao Summons

THE GaRUTBON to SURRENDER — GlADWYN REFUSES— CoMPUAINTS

of the French — Pontiao's Polict.

Campbell and his wmpainions passed up the river road,
crossed the little bridge over Parent's Creek, and soon came in
full view of the Ottawa village. As soon as the Indians
observed their red coats on the summit of the little hill thej
sent up a burst of triumphant yells, as if they expected soon
to shed more English blood, and there can be but little doubt
that the officers would have been scalped, had not Pontiac
stepped forward, and, by his imperious voice, commanded the
savages to remain quiet. The great chief advanced and took
Campbell by the hand and welcomed him; and then, turning
round, led the way to his lodge, followed by the officers and the
interpreter. The chief halted at the entrance of a large lodge,
and, pointing to some mats at the farther end, he signalled the
officers to enter. As soon as they had been seated the lodge
was thronged with warriors. Campbell and McDougal were
now in the hands of their enemies; their lives depended alone
upon the generosity of Pbntiac. All the savages present were
eager to kill them on the spot, but the Ottawa chief, perhaps,
remembered that when he and his warriors were in the hands
of the garrison, a few days previous, detected in their treach-
ery, *.hey were treated in mercy, and protected from injury and
insult. The garrison waited, with much anxiety, the return of
the officers, until quite late in the evening, when the interpreter
returned to the fort with the information that Campbell and
McDougal had both been made prisoners by Pontiac.

(50)

OR, THE BORDER WARS 0¥ TWO 0KMTUKEE8.

The Ottawa chief, resolved on continuing the war, inaugu-
rated a reguhir system. Having secured the full co-operation
of the Wyandots, he made an improved disposition of his forces.
A detachment of the Pottawatomies were sent down the river
a short distance, where they were to surprise and capture any
reinforcements or supplies that might be advancing to the
relief of the fort; others was ordered to conceal themselves
in the woods in the rear of the fort, to prevent any advance
from that direction; another band were directed to conceal
themselves as near to the fort as possible, and to shoot down
any soldier or Englishman who might expose himself when no
general attack was in progress. This work of detail and pre-
paration was continued until the twelfth of May, when the
warriors, under the immediate direction of Fontiac himself,
surrounded the fort and made another desperate assault, which
was continued, without intermission, from dawn till evening.

Leaving the events outside, let us look in upon the condition of
the little garrison. Their commander was now fully convinced
tliat a general Indian outbreak had begun, and, in the^face of
the danger which presented itself on every hand, he was forced
to ask the advice of those around him. Therefore, on the
evening of the twelfth, all the officers in the fort met to con-
sider what course of action was best to adopt. It was a des-
perate moment. Only the darkness had forced the savages
from the attack, and with the dawn of the following day, the
assault would be resumed with increased vigor. Such, how-
ever, was the conviction of the weary garrison.

Major Gladwyn was a brave officer, well qualified for this
emergency. Should the fort be taken, every Englishman
within its palisade would be tomahawked; and, in the light of
the probable success of the Indians in their attempt to capture
the place, it would seem that there would be but one opinion
in this council — that of the expediency of embarking and
sailing for Niagara. Indeed, all, except the courageous Glad-
wyn, advised this course; but that officer, although half con-
vinced that the savages would succeed, was unwilling to desert
his post.

But there were other considerations of great importance,

THK LTVKS OF I^OMTIAO AND TROUMSKH:

! ■ , :i^

which, no doubt, had their weight in advising the garrison to
abandon the fort. Their provisions were nearly exhausted,
and, at the tartlierest, would not last more than three weeks.
In this short space of time, since a multitude of infuriated
warriors had surrounded the place, there could be but little
hope of succor. Tlie danger of their situation was also
increased from the fact that all the buildings within the fort
*' being of wood, and chiefly thatched with straw," might be
set on fire at any moment, by burning missels.

Perhaps there was no consideration which rendered their sit-
uation so desperate as that the Indians would make a general
rush against the fort and burn or cut their way through the
palisades — a mode of attack which would be sure to accomplish
the reduction of the weak fortification. This manner of
attack was, however, foreign to every maxim of Indian war-
fare. 1

Resolved to defend the fort while defence was possible,
Gladwyn made the best possible disposition of his little gar-
rison, and otherwise prepared to withstand the foe. Time
passed on. Day after day the warriors continued the siege,
and yet there were no signs of assistance for the hapless gar-
rison. The provisions rapidly decreased. For many long
days and nights no man attempted to sleep, except in his
<jlothes, with his weapons by his side.

When an opportunity presented itself, the soldiers ran out
and leveled the outhouses to the ground, and removed every-
thing that would serve as a shield or covering for the warriors.
This done the Indians could find no shelter, and, being unwill-
ing to expose themselves to the fire of the fort, they seldom
approached very near to it. The two vessels that lay in the
river guarded the north and south corners of the fort with their
fire, and thus considerably strengthened Gladwyn's position.
The Indians next attempted to set fire to the buildings within
the fort by shooting arrows tipped with burning tow, upon
their roofs, but the fort being well provided with water, their
efforts were futile.

Pontiac next summoned the garrison to surrender. He said
the officers and soldiers would be allowed to embark in their

were now

OB, THE BORDER WARS 07 TWO 0ENTDRIE8.

veBsels and depart uninjured, but in the event they reAiaed to
comply, and the fort should be taken, they would all be slaught-
ered. Major Gladwyn's reply was short and decisive, and, it is
believed, convinced Pontiac that hin British foe was still firm,
and determined to hold possession of the fort. " The attacks
were now resumed with increased activity, and the assailants
were soon after inspired by the arrival of a hundred and twenty
Ojibwa warriors from Grand River." In the fort, every effort
for its defense was put forth. The soldiers slept upon the ram-
parts, and a constant vigilance was maintained.

Meanwhile every possible effort was made to obtain a supply
of provisions for the garrison. , At length negotiations were
opened with a Canadian named Baby, who, for ample consider-
ation, supplied the fort with cattle, hogs and such other
necessaries as he could command. These were carried from the
east side of the river, where M. Baby resided, to the fort, in

oes, which crossed the river with their preci'^us freight under
wver of the darkness. Being thus supplied with food, the
wearied garrison took new courage.

About this time the Indians, who had hoped to capture
Detroit by a single assault, were beginning to suffer for food.
Tliey had rushed into the war with a recklessness character-
istic of their race, and were now sorely perplexed in their
endeavors to continue the siege. Want gradually compelled
them to apply to the Canadians for assistance, but this was
granted only in cases where threatened violence advised it.
When this had become a source of trouble and annoyance to
the Canadian settlers, they appointed a deputation from among
their number, instructing them to visit the camp of Pontiacj
and lay their grievances before him. This they did, meeting
the Ottawa chief at the house where Capt. Campbell and Lieut.
McDougal were confined. Wlien the sachems of the various
tribes had been convened, one of the deputies rose and said:
" You pretend to be friends of the French, and yet you plun-
der us of our hogs and cattle. You trample upon our fields
of young corn, and when you enter our houses you enter with
tomahawk raised. When your French father comes from Mon-
treal with his great army, h^ Mrill hear of what you have done?

TIIK LITES or FONTIAO AMD TnCUlWEH :

and, instead of shaking hands with you as brother*, he will
punish you as enemies."

Pontiac replied in the following words: "We have never
wished to do you harm', nor allow any to be done you; but
among ns there are many young men who, though strictly
watched, find opportunities of mischief. It is not to revenge
myself alone that I make war on the English. It is to revenge
you, my brothers. When the English insulted us they insulted
you also. I know that they have taken away your arms, and
made you sign a paper which they have sent home to their
country. Therefore you are left defenseless; and I mean now
to revenge your cause and my own together. I mean to destroy
the English, and leave not one upon our lands. You do not
know the reasons from which I act. I have told you those only
which concern yourselves; but you will learn all in time. You
will cease then to think me a fool. I know, my brothers, that
there are many among you who take part with tlie English. I
am sorry for it, for their own sakes; for when our father arrives,
I shall point them out to him, and they will see whether they
or I have most reason to be satisfied with the part we have
acted.

" I do not doubt, my brothers, that this war is very trouble-
some to you, for our warriors are continually passing and
repassing through your settlement. I am sorry for it. Do not
think that I approve of the damage that is done by them; and,
as a proof of this, remember the war with the Foxes, and the
part which I took in it. It is now seventeen years since the
Ojibwas, of Michilimackinac, combined with the Sacs and
Foxes, came down to destroy you. Who then defended you?
Was it not I and my young men? Mackinac, great chief of all
these nations said, in council, that he would carry to his village
the head of your commandant; that he would eat his heart
and drink his blood? Did I not take your part? Did I not
go to his camp, and say to him, that if he wished to kill the
French, he must first kill me and my warriors? Did I not
assist you in routing them and driving them away? And now
yon think that I would turn my arms against you? No, my
brothers; I am the same French Pontiac who assisted you

OK, TIIK BOKDKK WAKH OF TWO OKMTURIK8.

uin a Frenchman and I wish to
now repeat to you that you and

)uble-
and

)onot
and,
the
I the
and
youl
of all

seventeen years ago. I
die a Frenchman; and 1
I arc one; tliat it is tor both our interests that I should be
avenged. Let me alone; I do not ask you for aid, for it is not
in your power to give it. I only ask provisions for myself and
men. Yet, if you are inclined to assist me, I shall not refuse
you. It would please me, and you yourselves would be sooner
rid of your troubles; for £ promise you that as soon as the
English are driven out, we will go back to our villages, and there
await the arrival of our French Father. You have heard whi»t
I have to say; remain at peace and I will watch that no harm
shall be done to you, either by my men or by the other Indians."
Pontiac immediately took measures to prevent a continu-
ance of the outrages, of which the Canadians complained. He
also adopted a new policy in procuring supplies for his army.
He visited the Canadian inhabitants personally, and, after
inquiring into their financial conditions, informed each of
the amount he would be required to donate. Without a
single exception, the taxes so levied were paid to the OttawR-
chiefs collectors, and by them carried to the Ottawa village
at Parent's Creek. Pontiac, being compelled to repeat his
demands for provisions, and wishing not to offend the French,
adopted a singular mode of paying them. He issued prom-
issory notes, drawn upon birch bark, and signed with the
figure of the otter, the totem to which he belonged. It should
be mentioned here, to the credit of Pontiac, that these notes
were all faithfully redeemed.

heart

not

lithe

1 not

now

CHAPTER VII.

TiiK SiKOE OF Detroit— Fatk of Cctleb'b Dbtachmrnt — Bbavtjry
OK TUK Wtakootb — Indian Cahouse— MASBAoitB and Mukdbh —
HouKiiii.B Fate of the Western Odtpostb — Pau. of Sandusky,
Pkrsqub Isle, etc.— Tbe Forests Orowino Black with Indiav
Warriors.

While Detroit was tlius haraased ar^d besieged, a strong
detachment was advancing up the lake with general supplies
for the western outposts. The garrison, being aware of its
approach, was filled with anxiety for its welfare. Time passed
on. Matters at Detroit continued to grow more alarming to
the garrison every day. The warriors renewed the attack daily,
and seemed to become more confident of success with every
assault. Fontiac had sent messengers to M. Neyon, command-
ant at the Illinois, earnestly requesting that a force of regular
troops be sent to his assistance. Gladwyn, on his part, had
ordered one of the vessels to proceed down the lake to meet
the approaching convoy. The schooner set sail, but was
becalmed at the entrance to Lake Erie, where she was com-
pelled to lay for some time. Wliile in this unfortunate situation
a " multitude of canoes suddenly darted out upon her from the
neighboring shores." In the prow of the foremost canoe sat
Capt. Campbell, whom the Indians had placed there for the
purpose of securing themselves against the fire of the English.
But the resolute Captain called out to the crew to do their duty
without regard to him. At this moment a stiff breeze swept
down the river, and the schooner sped on her course, leaving
the disappointed warriors far behind.

Matters continued at the fort without important change until
the thirtieth of May, when at an early hour the garrison espied
the long-expected convoy advancing slowly up the river. The

(56)

OK, THK fiOKDKK WARS OF TWr> OKNTURIEf).

'Aii

gurrison broke into three Iicarty cheers, for now, it would seem,
their sufforinga were at an end. A cannon '' Bont its loud voice
of deiiauce to the enemy and welcome to tho approaching
friends." But alas I the joyous faces of the soldiers and offi-
cers grew deathly pale. Upon careful examination, the boats
were found to be full of savages. The convoy had fallen into
the hands of the enemy. The boats and supplies had been
taken, and the soldiers of the detachment slaughtered or made
captives.

Eighteen boats were now approaching, and in each were two
or more of the captured soldiers, acting as oarsmen, and guarded
by several armed savages. Hundreds of warriors were also
following the boats along the shore. In the foremost boat, it
80 happened that there were four soldiers and only three Indi-
ans. In the river, just opposite the fort, lay one of the British
schooners, already mentioned, her companion having gone
down the lake to hasten this very reinforcement. As the boat
came near to this vesuel, one of the soldiers seized the largest
Indian and threw him overboard. The Indian held fast to his
enemy's clothes, and, drawing himself up, stabbed him several
times with his knife. The bieeulag soldier gave way and was
dragged overboard by the Indian. They w^^ro both borne swiftly
down on the current of the river, and perished grappled in each
other's arms. The two remaining Indians leap'^'^ '^nt o*" tLc
boat, and the prisoners seized the paddles and pulled vigor-
uusly towards the schooner. The 8a\age8 on the shore fired
upon them, and several canoes were paddled swiftly in pursuit.
The soldiers were struggling for life. They called aloud for
aid, and strained every nerve to gain the vessel; but their pur-
suers were gaining rapidly upon them. In another moment
one of the men was wounded. He dropped his paddle, falling
to the bottom of the boat. Tlieir chances of escape were now
lessened, but they struggled on. As the savages were almost
upon them, the report of a cannon burst from the side of the
vessel, and the ball, passing close to tlie foremost canoe, cut the
water into a line of foam. Being thus greeted the savages
turned back in dismay. The prisoners soon reached the vessel.

THK LIVKH or PONTIAO ANt> TKCUMIIKIi:

and were greetod with rounds of liunrty cheurH. Tho other
boat!) passed slowly up the river towards tho Ottawa village.

The soldiers who had thus escaped, now related the adven-
tures and sufferings of their detachment. Tho following is
their story, as told in the " History of the Conspiracy of Pon-
tiac:" Lieut. Ouyler had lolY Fort Niagara as early as the
thirteenth of May, and embarked from Fort Sclilosser, just
above the falls, with ninety-six men and a plentiful supply of
provisions and ammunition. Day after day ho had coasted
along the northern shore of Lake Erie, and had seen neither
friend nor foe amid those lonely forests and waters, when, on
the twenty-eighth of the month, he landed at Point Pele6, not
far from the mouth of tho River Detroit. The boats were
drawn on the beach, and tho party prepared to encamp. A
man and a boy went to gather firewood at a short distance from
the spot, when an Indian leaped out of the woods, seized the
boy by the hair and tomahawked him. The man ran into
camp with tho alarm. Cuyler immediately formed his soldiers
into a semi-cirde before the boats. He had scarcely done so
when the Indians opened their fire. For an instant there was
a hot blaze of musketry on both sides. Then the Indians broke
out of the woods in a body, and rushed fiorcply upon the centre
of the line, which gave way in every part, the men flinging
down their guns, running in a blind panic to the boats, and
struggling with ill-directed efforts to shove them into the
water. Five were set afloat, and pushed off from the shore,
crowded with the terrified soldiers."

Lieut. Cuyler, being thus deserted by his men, waded up to
his neck in the water and climbed info one of the retreating
boats. The savages pushed two more afloat, and went in pur-
suit of the soldiers, three boat loads of whom gave themselves
up without resistance; but the remaining two, in one of which
was Cuyler himself, made their escape. " They rowed all night
and landed in the morning upon a small island. Between
thirty and forty men, some of whom were wounded, were
crowded into these two boats; the rest, about sixty in number
being killed or taken. Ouyler now made for Sandusky, which,
on his arrival, he found burned to the ground. Immediatelj

OK, TIIK HOUDKU WARS OP TWO CRN'l'UBIKi.

fit)

leaving tho spot, ho rowod aloii^ tho Bouth Bhore to PruHquu
IbIo, from whenco ho proceodod to Niagara and reported hiH
loBB to Major Wilkins, tho commanding ofticor."

Ihit lot 118 return to Detroit and to the Indian villages in its
vicinity. Tho Indians who had thuB interrupted tho convoy
and slnnghtertHl or captured the Boldicrs, were tho WyandotB.
Among tho Hupplies which they had captured waB a large
quantity of licpior, which tlioy Bcized and carried to their viU
lagCB, which, throughout the following night, preucnted a beaHtly
Bcone of drnnkcnncBB. What shall we say of tho fate of the
unfortunate Boldiers takon priBoners in thiB affair? Tliey met
thoir death during the drunken carouse on that same night.
B.it it was more than death — more than torture. Thankful,
indeed, were the three escaped soldiers — oven ho who was suf-
fering from a severe wound — when, during that dark and
gloomy night, while secure within tho desolate fort, tho moans
of their dying comrades wore borne to their ears on the breeze,
from the distant camp-fires of the Wyandots. Not one was
Bpared. No white man witnessed their fate; but, on the fol-
lowing day, as the mangled corpses floated down on the clear
waters of the Detroit, one after another, tho horrified garrison
beheld awful evidences of savage cruelty. In the ghastly train
were many charred trunks, tho result of tho slow fires of death.

There was but little time to reflect on this horrible massacre,
for with the next day came the news of another — the fate of
the garrison of Sandusky. Thus it will be seen, while that
part of tho work which Pontiac had intrusted to his warriors
in neighboring villages was going forward with intoxicating
success, he himself was, as yet, unable to capture Detroit,
although assisted by his bravest warriors. Tlie massacre at
Sandusky was full of horror. Ensign Paully, commandant at
this fort, was informed, on a certain day, that several warriors
were waiting at the gate to speak with him. Most of them
being well known to him, he gave orders to admit them. The
Indians passed in, and, arriving at his quarters, they seized,
disarmed and bound him. The next moment he heard the
work of massacre without. Shrieks, yells, the firing of guns,
and the hurried tramp of feet fell ominously upon his ears. A

THB IJVn or FOMTIAC Aim TKiniMHKIi:

iiiuiiient more, and he wan led forth hy \m captors " to Inshold
the parade ground Mtruwn with tliu corpHUM of liiH murdered
garriHon." With the approach of night he waH taken to the
lake where oevoral canoes lay in readineitH. He waH placed into
one of them under a strong guard, and the little fleet puithed
out upon the placid hooom of the waters. Ix)oking hack an
the canoes were itaddled away, Paully heheld " the fort lately
under his command, bursting on all sides into sheets of flame."
While a number of warriors thus bore their captive to the
lodge of Pontiac, a humlred warriors, adorned with the scalps
of the slaughtered garrison, rushed madly through the margin
of the woods, towards the same point. Tlius every day the
great Ottawa chief was gratitied with the return of a band of
his warriors loaded down with English scalps. On landing
near the camp of Pontiac, Pfiully was surrounded by a crowd of
savages, chiefly squaws and children, who pelted him with stoneh
and sticks, and sot up a burst of wild yells of triumph. The
captive bore this with great fortitude, expecting the next act
in the drama would find him bound to the stake and sur-
rounded by the fuel of death, but he was happily disappointed.
An old woman, whose husband had lately died, decided to
adopt him in place of the dead warrior, which Paully gladly
agreed to. Having been plunged in the river for the purpose
of washing the white blood from his veins, he was conducted
to the lodge of his voluntetn' wife, and from that day treated
with all the respect due an Ottawa brave. It was through a
letter from him that Gladwyn received the particulars of this
horrible butchery.

Amid all this gloom that was thickening around Detroit,
and terrifying the hearts of the sleepless garrison, came the
news that Pontiac's forces had been reinforced by two very
strong bands of Ojibwa braves. The great chief now stood at
the head of a thousand warriors, consisting of Pottawatomies,
Wyandots and Ojibwas. This force was judiciously distributed
tinder chiefs Ninivay, Takee, Wasson and Lekahos. All the
warriors brought their families with tliem, and the number of
eavages congregated in the vicinity of Detroit, probably,
exceeded four thousand. The siege of Detroit was continued

• )U, TIIK HoKrtKM WAKM (>r TWO HI' N'ri;KII«.

(lay atl«r duy, and thv ititiiutiun of tlii* ^rriitoii whh r«>ii(U'rtHl
alinoMt liopuloHH. With iivurly uvory hour chiiiu thu iivwNot' Home
diHHRtor. Tho proviBioiiH were ahiio«t gone, uml th<* eUmds of
infnrintiHl warriorB wuro growing hlaukor and hiaekor in the
vicinity of Pontlac'n villaf(0.

On the tii^oenth of Juno a numl)er (»f IndianR ramo to the
furt, hriufi^ing with thoni four En^lirih priHonurH, who proved
tu ho tho coinuiundant of Fort St. iloHoph, witli throo of hiii
garriHon. Aftor oonie delay these were oxchanj^ud for Movoriil
Indian priBonerH who had l)een confined wit)iin tho fort for
lome time. Again Gladwyn liHtcned to tlio terrible account
of tnasBacre nn brought to bin earn by Ennign SchloHHor, late
oominandant at Fort St. Joii)e])h. The Htory ran thuH: Mil
poBtVas nituated at the mouth of tlie river St. JoHoph, near
the hoad of Lake Micliigan, a spot which, for mony years, had
been the Bite of a Cat}iolic miBsion. lie Iiad apprehended no
danger, but on tho twonty-iifth of May, early in tho morning,
he was informed that a large number of PottHwatomiot) had
come to pay a visit to the Indian village near the fort. Close
upon this intelligence he was informed that tlic savages wore
preparing to attack the fort. At this the commandant ran out
of the fort, and crossing the parade, which was filleii witli
Indians and Canadians, hastily entered the barrncks. Hiese
were also tilled with Indians, very insolent and disorderly. He
ordered the garrison under arms, but he had no sooner turned
away than he heard the terrifying scalp shriek, which notiticd
him that the slaughter had already begun. In less than ten
minutes the fort was plundered, eleven men were killed, and
the commandant and three survivors made prisoners, and
securely bound. The Indians then conducted tho command-
ant to Detroit, where he was released as already explained.

Next came the news of the massacre at Fort Michilimacki-
nac, located on the extreme northern point of the southern
peninsula of Michigan. This, of all the bloody narratives that
shocked the trembling garrison of Detroit, was, perhaps, by far
the most thrilling; but I will pass over it at present in order
to give place to other reports of the war which were daily
pouring in at Gladwyn 's headquarters. In a succeeding chap-

TIIK UVKM or l1)N-rU0 AMD TKHlIIWKIi:

tcr, tho ruHtior in conduotod Uy tho ii{K)t, and tho nwful tn»gc«ly
oiiHt'toil botbru him.

Following tliid drvHilAil m^WM caniu tUvi ri>|M>rt tlmt Onutnnon,
a sninll tort on tho WulxiMh, hud iMtun cu|iturt!d uiul thv f^urri-
ion niudo priHonum. Following in thu l«itt(*r uddrt*MMMl to Major
Gladwyn hy tho connnnndiint of thin poitt, giving a full account
of itM cApturi!:

"OUATANON, Jtini* Ut, WW.
"Hin: I huvH li«»ril uf your tltuitlion, which g\vt'n m« urt-nX pnin;
indvcd, wo aru not In much lM*tt>T, Tor thU morning tin* IndlnitH iinnt for
mo to MiHsak to uiu, ami Imnv diatcly bound in<>. Whun I got to their
cabin I T'lund tomo of my noldlom In the Mmo condition. They told me
Detroit, Miami, and all those poHta w«tu cut o(T, and that it waN a lolly to
make any rciilitanco. They thercforudeaired me to make tho Tew Noldlem In
tho fort lurronderiOthrrwIiie they would put uaall to duath, In cave one man
waa killed. They wore to have tell on u» and killed uh all laiit niffht, bm
Mr. Maliongville and Lorain g^vo them wampum not to kill ua, and when
they told the Interpreter that we were all to be killed, and he, knowing
tho condition of the fort, beKK"d of them to make ur |iriHoni>ra. They
have put an into French houHcii, and both Indians and French use nii
very well. All these nations say they are very sorry, but that they were
obliged to do it by tho other nations, Tho belt did not arrive here till last
night about eight o'clock. Mr. Lorain can inform you of all. I have Just
received tho news of St. Joseph's being taken. Eleven men were killed
and three taken prisoners with tho officer. I have notiiing more to say,
but that I sincerely wisth you u speedy succor, and that wi> may be able to
revenge ourselves on thoHO that deserve It. I remain, with my slncerost
wishes (or your safety.

" Your most humble servant, Edw'd Jrnkiks."

Tills letter was written by Mr. Jcnkinn while in the custody
of the savages, and just before his departure with thetn to the
niinois. Ghidwyn had suarcoly time to read this letter before
the news of tho lo8« of F«)rt Miami burst upon him. This post,
standing situated on the river Muumee, was imder tlie com-
mand of Ensign Elolmes. He suspected tlio treachery of the
Indians, and was consequently on his guard, when on tlic
twenty-seventh of May, a young Indian girl, with whom he
had maintained an intimacy for some time, came and told him
that a squaw, in a neighboring hut, lay dangerously ill, and
urged him to come to her relief. Being moved by the girl's
representations, he followed her out of the fort towards the

OK, lilK IhmOli'M WAMI uir TWO OKM I llMlli>t.

lii«iiiiii villAf^«. IIw liAtl not |»r<Kw««l(Ni iWr wIkmi two gnni
tiuMlxHl tVoin IkjIiIikI noimu Nlirul)bi)r^, niul ho lull lit'i'lmii on the
f^ruM. Th«) n)|N)rti« of th«t )(uiiii witrtt huanl in thu tort, nnd tho
M>r^«iiiiit ran out to fiiM>i>rtiun tho uienning of thi) Hh(H>ting. lie
WHM iniintMlintuly tukon prinonur, and Niirroundud hy a iicoro of
MHvafftm. Till! turritlttl Mohliont of thit KiirriiioM wuro now lum*
inonod to Hurrundor tho tort, and tho IndiiuiM haviri^^ proiniHod
to protect thoir livim, thuy niadily ooinpliod. TUoy wore all
taki'ii priMotiorh.

Thu full of l*roH(pio Ul» In ni^xt In ordur. Nowi of this dii-
MHtor ruiuthed (lladwyn on thu twentieth of Junu, and, two days
Attur u hordu of rtuvaguM piuttiud by thu fort with MmlpH tluttur-
in^ from thuir itidoH, on thuir way to thu Ottawa vlUago. Thoy
w(!ro on thuir way to tho gri'ut chiuf, to pruMunt him with the
Hculpri of tho unfortunato HoldiurH of PruH(|iio lalo. This fort
wiiH iindor thu command of Ensign (yhrintlu, a bravo and f^nl-
lant otH(«r. Iloatllu IndlniiH wuru dUcovurud In thu vicinity
of tho fort on tho tiftoonth of Juno. Ah noon ati tho garrison
liud i>u(>n nwaro of tho unumy's prorionco, thoy rutirod into
thtt blockhou8o, abandoning tho main body of tho fort, l^ut,
at this point, in ordor that thu rcadur tnay bottor understand
tho different phases of thu attack, I will give a vury brief
description of tho fort. Pn!H(juu Islu stood near to tho site of
the present city of Erie, on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
At one of its angles was a largo blockhouse two storios high,
and sub8tantially built of massive timber, the dimensions of
thu upper story exceeding that of the lower by several foot.
''The roof being covered with shingles, might easily bo sot on
tire; but to guard against this, there was an opening at tho
riummit, through which the garrison, partially protected by a
covering of plank, might pour down water upon the flames.
This blockhouse stood on a projecting point of land, between
the lake and a small brook which entered nearly at right angles.
Unfortunately, tho bank of tho brook rose in a high, steep
fidge, within forty yards of tho blockhouse, thus afibrding a
cover for assailants, while tho bank of tho lake offered similar
facilities on another side.'*

Tlie Indians who had now assailed the fort, crowded together

«4

THE LIVBS OF lX)N'nAO AND TKUUMHUH:

in great numbers, under cover of the rising ground, and kept
up a brisk fire. They not only sent their bullets into every
loop-hole and crevice, but shot tire-arrows upon the roof, and
threw balls of burning pitch against the wall. Several times
the building took iire,>anda8 often the flames were extin-
guished. "The Indians now rolled logs to the top of the
ridges, where they constructed three strong breastworks, from
behind which they could discharge their shot and throw their
fire-balls with still greater effect. Some of them tried to dart
across the intervening space, and shelter themselves in the
ditch which surrounded the fort, but all of these were killed
or wounded in the attempt. BafHed in this efixjrt, the Indi-
ans began to throw up earth and stones, behind one of the
breastworks, for the purpose of undermining the blockhouse —
a plan that would be sure of success, and against which there
could be no resistance oflfered. But there was no time to reflect
on this new danger, for now, another more horrible threatened
them. The barrels of water which had been used for extin-
guishing the flames were now exhausted, and there was no way
to procure water without going out of the blockhouse, and this
could not be done without incurring certain death. The only
alternative was to dig a well within the blockhouse. The floor
was torn up and work commenced immediately. A few of the
soldiers stood at the loop-holes discharging their muskets to
keep the savages in check, while the others labored with des-
perate energy to procure water by sinking a well. Before any
signs of water made an appearance, the roof was again on fire,
and the last drop of water within the blockhouse was poured
down to extinguish it. In a moment more the cry of fire was
again raised, when a soldier, at the risk of his life, leaped upon
the roof, and tore away the burning shingles, and thus extin-
guished it. It was now evening. The little garrison had
fought hard all day and hoped that, as the darkness set in, they
would be temporarily relieved, but they were doomed to a sor-
rowful disappointment. The guns flashed all night long from
the Indian intrenchments. However, before the night passed,
the diggers had finished their well. This was an important
accomplishment, for, with the dawn of the following day,

upon
extin-
had
tlicy
a 8or-
from
assed,
ortant
day,

OK, TMR BORDKK WAK8 OF TWO CKMUIUI<:8.

«ft

llames burst forth from the deserted house of the command-
ant, which fttood near to the blockliouse. The flames ascended
high and became hotter and hotter. The corner of tlie block-
house grew black, and, at length, burst into a sheet of flame.
With this a hundred Indian yells pealed forth in triumph, and
the naked warriors stood ready to tomahawk the wretched sol-
diers as fast as they were driven forth. But still the garrison
held out. Passing up water from tlie well which now held an
ample supply, they poured it down upon the flumes, and soon
extinguished them. By this time the burning house, from
which the tire had caught, settled into smouldering embers, so
that nothing further was apprehended from that source.

The soldiers were now quite exhausted, but still they con-
tinued their defense, " toiling and fighting without pause, where
the close and heated atmosphere was clogged with the smoke
of gunpowdei'." The contest was continued throughout the
second day and extended into midnight. It was a long and
hopeless struggle. At about twelve o'clock on the second
night, the garrison heard a voice call out in French from the
enemy's en-'-enchments, warning the garrison that further
resistance would be useless since full preparations had been
made for setting fire to the blockhouse, both above and below
at the same time. Christie, the commandant, then inquired
if there was any one among them who could speak English,
whereupon a man in Indian dress, appeared from behind the
breastworks, and said that if the garrison gave themselves up
their lives should be spared, but if they continued, they would
all be burned alive. Christie, having resolved to hold out as
long as a shadow of resistance could be maintained, told him
to persuade the Indians to wait till the following morning for
his answer. They assented, and suspended their fire, and
while some of the garrison watched, the rest sank exhausted
into a deep sleep. On the following morning the commandant
sent out two of his soldiers under pretext of treating with the
Indians, but, in truth, to learn the real situation. On reaching
the breastwork, the soldiers made a signal by which Christie
knew that the representations of the Englishman were correct.
The soldiers told the chiefs that their commandant desired two

«6

THE MVKH OF PONTIAd AND TKClHrtHKH:

of their principal men ti) meet him midway between tlio block*
house and the breastwork. They appeared as requested, and
Christie went out and delivered them formal possession of the
little fort, which he had so ably defended, on the conditions,
however, that he and his garrison should be allowed to depart
unmolested. Notwithstanding this stipulation, the fort was no
sooner surrendered, than the whole garrison were surrounded,
seized and made prisoners. They were sent as such to the
Ottawa village near Detroit, when Christie soon after made his
escape in safety to the tort.

The next to share this horrifying fate were the neighboring
forts of Le Boeuf and Venango. These posts were poorly
garrisoned, and fell an easy prey to the savages in their vicinity.
But still farther south, around Fort Pitt, and along the whole
frontier, clouds of warriors were animating the forests with
their restless forms and hideous yells, preparing to burst forth
in an indiscriminate slaughter upon the English settlements.
In the course of the narrative these points will receive proper
attention. Leaving the the fort of Detroit and the camp of
Pontiac, for a little season, let us turn onr attention to Michil-
imackinac, and observe the events that were transpiring there.

M .

CHAPTER VIII.

Dbbcriftion or Fort Miohiumackinao — Thb Indians in thb
Vicinity — I*reparation8 fob thb Mabsacbb— The Warning-
Adventures 09 Engubb Traders — The Niout Before thb
Blauohter.

Before giving an acconnt of the terrible massacre at Fort
Michilimackinac, I will briefly run through a description of
that distant outpost. It was situated on the northern extrem-
ity of the southern peninsula of Michigan, standing upon the
margin of the lake at the eastern end of the Strait of Mackinaw.
A little beyond the fort was a cluster of white Canadian
houses, roofed with bark and protected by fences of strong,
round pickets. As one entered the gate of this fort ho would
see beyond him an extensive square area, surrounded by high
palisades. Numerous houses, barracks, and other buildings
formed a smaller square within, and in the vacant space which
they inclosed, appeared the red uniforms of the British soldiers,
the gray coats of the Canadians and the gaudy Indian blankets,
mingled in confusion. Such was Fort Michilimackinac in
1763. Although buried in a dense wilderness, it was one of
the oldest outposts in the lake region. The Jesuits had estab-
Ushed a mission there as early as 1671, and in the following
year the French established a military post in the same place.
Besides this fort there were two others in the vicinity called
Green Bay and the Saut Ste. Marie. These were also founded
at an early day, and, although considerably smaller, were, in
general characteristics, similar to Michilimackinac. Tlie latter
contained thirty families within the palisade enclosure, and
about as many more without. This post was important chiefly
for being the centre of the fur trade. During the greater part
of the year, the garrison and the settlers were completely iso-

(67)

TIIK LIVK8 OK PONTIAO AND TWI'MWKIi:

lated — cut off frotn all coiitiectioii vvitli tlio outer world; and,
indeed, the three posts hwt mentioned were 80 remote t'rotn
each other, ami the journey from one to the other attended
with HO many «hin^erH, that often, through the whole wiuter all
intercourse hetween them was entirely cut off. The IiidiauH
in this section were the Djibwas aiul Ottawas, between whom
the territory was nearly equally divided. The principal village
of the Ojibwas contained over a hundred warriors, atul was
located upon the picturesqtie Island of Mackinaw, which has,
in late years, become a favorite summer resort. The same
nation had aiu)ther large settlenuMit at Thunder Bay. The
largest northern village of their brethren, the Ottawas, was
situated at L'Arbre Croche, at the eastern end of the strait on
the margin of Lake Michigan. This place, at the period of
which [ am writing, was the seat of the old Jesuit mission of
St. Ignace, originally established by the great and good Mar-
quette, on tlie northern side of the Straits. It is said of the
Ottawas that they had become partially <:ivilized, while on the
other hand, their neighbors, the Ojibwas, "were not, in the
least degree, removed from their primitive barbarism." These
tribes, as also all of the neighboring Indians, were hostile
towards the English. Most of their warric)r8 had fought on
the side of France in the late war, and now, being goaded to
fury by the indignant Canadians, they were ready to raise the
tomahawk against any Englishman who might venture within
their territory. At this period Fort Michilimackinac was in
the hands of the French settlers, the French garrison having
been withdrawn in accordance with the capitulation of Mon-
treal, and the English garrison having not yet arrived. I will
here cite an incident or two, illustrating the state of feeling
which prevailed among the Indians and French at this place
soon after the close of the war between the English and French
colonies. In the autumn of 1761, an Englishman named
Alexander Henry, in company with one or two others, came to
Michilimackinac for the purpose of trading with the Indians.
On the way these Englishmen were more than once wai ed to
turn back, and told that they they would meet certain death if
they pursued their journey. At length, to insure safety, Mr.

OR, THK ItOKDKU WAKH OK TWO OKNTUI<ll<».

)lace
jiieh
med
le to
ians.
[dto

Ihif
Mr.

Uenrj ussumed the diR^iiine of ii (yantidiiui voyageur. At
length his canoes, laden with goods, reached the distant tbroHt
lort, but lie received a cohl greeting from tlie Frencli inhabit-
ants. Tliey Haid everything they coidd calcuhited to alarm and
discourage him. Soon after his arrival, he was notified that a
band of Ojibwas were on their way from their village to pay
Lim a visit. But this did not disturb him. It was an Indian
custom to pay such visits to a new-comer with a view of receiv-
iug presents, and Henry believed that by distributing a few
articles among them, they would depart in peace. Following
is an account of the alfair in Mr. Henry's own language: " At
two o'clock in the afternoon, the Ojibwas came to the house,
about sixty in number, and headed by Minavavana, their chief.
They walked in single file, each with his tomahawk in one
hand and scal])ing knife in the other. Their bodies were luiked
from the waist upward, except in a few examples, where blank-
ets were thrown loosely over their shoulders. Their faces were
painted with charcoal, worked up with grease; their bodies
with white clay, in patterns of various fancies. Some had
feathers thrust through their noses, and their heads decorated
with t)ie same. It is unnecessary to dwell on the sensations
with which I beheld the approach of this uncouth, if not
frightful assemblage. The chief entered first and the rest fol
lowed without noise. On receiving a sign from the former,
the latter seated themselves on the floor. Minavavana appeared
to be about fifty years of age. He was six feet in heiglit, and
had in his countenance an indiscribable mixture of good and
evil. Looking steadfastly at me, where T sat in ceremony, with
an interpreter on either hand, and several Canadians behind
mti, he entered at the same time into conversation with
Campion, inquiring liow long it was since I left Montreal, and
observing that the English, as it would seem, were brave men,
and not afraid of death, since thev dared to come, as I had
done, fearlessly among their enemies. The Indians now
gravely smoked their pipes, while I inwardly endured the tor-
tures of suspense. At length the pipes being finished, as well
as a long pause, by which they were succeeded, Minavavana,
taking a few strings of wampum in his hand began the fqjlowing

THE LIVKH OF PONTIAO AND TKCUMBKIi:

•poech: ' KTip^liBliinan, it is to you that I Hpuak, and I demand
jour attention. Englishman, you know the Frcnbh King is
our father; lie promised to be such, and we, in return, prom-
ised to be his children. This promise we have kept.
Englishman, it is you that have made war with this our
father. You are his enemy, and how, then, could you have
the boldness to venture among us his children. You know
that his enemies are ours. Englishman, we are informed that
our father, the King of France, is old and infirm, and that
being fatigued with making war upon your nation, he has
fallen asleep. During his sleep you have taken advantage of
him, and possessed yourselves of Canada. But his nap is
almost at an end. I think I hear him already stirring and
inquiring for his children, the Indians; and when he does
awake, what must become of you? He will destroy you
utterly. Englishman, although you have conquered the
French, you have not yet conquered us. We are not your
slaves. These lakes, these woods and these mountains were
left to us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we
will part with them to no one. Your nation supposes that we,
like the white people, cannot live without bread, and pork, and
beef; but you ouglit to know that He, the Great Spirit and
Master of Life, has provided food for us in these spacious lakes
and on these woody mountains. Englishman, our father, the
King of France, employed our young men to make war upon
your nation. In this warfare many of them have been killed,
and it is our custom to retaliate until such time as the sp'-'ts
of the slain are satisfied. But the spirits of the slain are to
be satisfied in either of two ways. The first is by the spilling
of the blood of the nation by which they fell; the other by
covering the bodies of the dead, and thus allaying the resent-
ments of their relations. This is done by making presents.
Englishman, your king has never sent us any presents, nor
entered into any treaty with us; wherefore, he and we are still
at war, and until he does these things we must consider that
we have no other father nor friend among the white men than
the King of France. But for you, we have taken into consid-
eration, that you have ventured your life among us, in the

OK, rilK IIOKDKK WAKH OK TWO CKNTUKIKN.

expectation that we Hhoiild not inoluHt you. You do not come
armed, with uny intentions to ninku war. You come in peace
to trade with us, and to supply us with necessaries of which
we are in much want. We shall regard you, therefore, as a
brother, and you may sleep tranquilly without fear of the
Ojibwas. As a token of our friendship, we present you thin
pipe to smoke.' As Minavavana uttered these words, an
Indian presented me with a pipe, which, after I had drawn the
Bnioke three times, was carried to the chief and after him to
every person in the room. This ceremony ended, the chief
arose and gave me his hand, in which he was followed by all
the rest."

Mr. Henry made a suitabo reply, after which the chief
requested him to distribute some whisky among his men,
which he did. After giving them a few presents, they departed
to the great joy of the Englishman. They had Imi'dly disap-
peared when Henry was summoned to meet two hundred
Ottawa braves, in council near the fort. They hud also come
to pay him a visit. This time two other English traders —
Goddard and Solomons — were also invited to be present. Obe-
dient to the wishes of these new-comers, the Englishmen
repaired to the house where they had seated themselves. Here
they were informed that they must distribute their goods
among the Indians on credit, on the promise of receiving pay
in the following spring. The Ottawas threatened force in case
of refusal. Being permitted to reflect on this demand till the
following morning, the traders met together and resolved on
resistance, and, accordingly, arming about thirty of their men
with muskets, they barricaded themselves in the house occupied
by Henry, and kept strict watch throughout the night. The
Indians, however, did not disturb them. On the following
day, several Canadians came to Henry and advised him to give
up the goods, and saying that if he did not, both he and his
companions would receive no mercy. The Englishmen would
not listen to this advice. They kept possession of the house
and their goods until evening, when, to their happy surprise,
news came that a body of English troops were advancing to
take possession of the fort. Another night of anxiety passed,

TIIK LIVKH OK lltNTIAC AND TMJUUHKir.

but with tlie dawn of the tullowing rauriiing the Ottawu
departed. IinintMliattily after the hoatti of the Eii^liith detach-
ment were Heeii to approach tiie hiiidin^ place. The fort whh
now btroii^ly garriHoned hy Britirth HoldierH, and II(>iiry and
hJH coiupanionrt were, for a time, at leaut, prot«ct«><l in a {xtacc-
ful prorteciition of the fur trade. Hut with the htpHe of a few
motithn the peril of their HJtuation wan without a panillel.

Time pari^ed on, when in thenpringof i7()li, Pontiac'o light-
footed inoHHengerH arrived at Michilimackinac. liearing iu
their lumda the war-belt of hiauk and purple wampum, they
appeared before the aurtembled warri«)rs, flung at their foot a
hatchet painted rad, and delivered the upeech according to the
dictation of their Ottawu chief. The auditors, on every occa-
Hlon, took U]) the blood-red hatchet, and thuH pledged themuelves
to aid in the war.

Ijite in the month of May, news was retreived among the
Indians at Miuhiiimuckiuiic, that Pontiac had already begun
the war, and, anxious to win glory for themselves, the Ojibwas
resolved to attack the British fort in their neighborhood with-
out inviting their brethren at L'Arbre Croche to aid them.
At this time the fort was garrisoned by about thirty-flve sol-
diers besides the officers. They had been warned, time and
again, that the Indians were preparing to destroy tliem, but
(-aptain Ktherington, the commandant, refused to listen to any
such reports.

Mr. Henry, who was in the fort at this time, received warn-
ing of the ap])roaching calamity in a curious way, and as his
adventures enter largely into that part of the narrative imme-
diately following, I will relate the circumstance here: An
Ojibwa chief, called Wawatam, had become stnmgly attached
to him. One morning he entered his house, and, placing
before Henry, on the floor, a large preseiit of furs and dried
meat, delivered a speech to the following efi'ect: Early in life,
according to the ancient usage of his people, he had retired to
fast and pray in solitude, that he might learn the future career
marked out for him. In his visions and dreams on this occa-
sion, it was revealed to him that, in after years, he should meet
a white man who should be to him a friend and brother. Aa

• )|{, nil': ll«i|(J)KK WAKH OK IWu ri:N'H-KIH>.

Hooii HH ill) liiul Hooii Ilcnry, lie wan HiitiHtK>McntH in rutnrn, 8inok«>.t a pipe with the
Indian, and, aH Wawatani soon after lott the tort, liu Hoon for>
got liiin. Hut had he then known that this singular man was
to Huve him, in a near future, from a iiorrihht death, he would
liiiv*^ Ween Iohh eareleHs about returning his avowed friendship.
Many months had elapsed since thu incident to which I have
just made reference, occurred, when on the second of June,
17<(B, l[unry*s door was opened without ceremony, and the
iliirk figure of Wawatam appeared. After thinking carefully
for a few moments, Mr. Ilenry remembered him, invited him
tu a seat, and inquired as to the success of his winter's hunt.
Without replying, Wawatam sat down, and manifested great
8iirprise at finding the Englishman still in the fort. He said
that on the day following, lie was going to the 8aut Ste. Marie,
and that he wanted ilenry to go with him. lie next inquired
if his friend had not heard bad news, and continued, that he
himself " had been much disturbed by the singing of evil birds."
Henry took but little notice of the Indian's warning, and
Wawatam departed with a sad countenance. On the following
morning Wawatam again returned, and pressed Ilenry to leave
the fort. "When Henry demanded his reason for such
urgency," says Parkman, " he asked if his brother did not
know thi» ...any bad Indians, who had never shown themselves
at the fort, were emcaniped in the woods around it. To-mor-
row, he said, they are coming to ask for whisky, and would all
get drunk, so that it would be dangerous to remain." Wawa-
tam continued to advise Henry to leave the fort and accompany
him to the Saut, but to no purpose. The Indian, seeing that
he could not induce his friend to escape the danger which
threatened him, departed with tears in his eyes. On this same
afternoon, Henry says that the fort was filled with savages
moving about among the soldiers with many appearances of
friendship. Many of them came to his store to purchase
knives and hatchets. The squaws moved about within the
fort, asking to see silver bracelets and other ornaments, not for

TUB uvn or foMiiAC ▲^D tJcciUMMKii.

tlio pnrpoio of purclioMiiig thuin, but, as it afturwun! apiNsarod,
of loarniiig whore thv) wuru kupt, that thuy might tho mom
oattily lay hiiitdit upon thum whon tiiu MJaughtur bvgan. Night
camo on and thu Indianii rotirvd to tliuir lodguH. Thu garrison
untorod tho harraclcH, and Kottlod into a Hound sluep, not know-
ing that on the morrow many of them would fall l)enotttlt tho
tomahawk.

■\

CHAPTEU IX.

TiiK Mamaurh — Tkk Uamh ok UAi.r. — Hi.auuiitrh or tiik Oahki-
■ON — Imuianh I)i(inkin(» tiik Hrooit or Knoi.ihiimkn - lUin-

BUKADTII KiOAI'K or AN ENOLIHU TkaDEH. *

On tiik following morning, the fourth of .hiiie, muny Ojlb-
wtus cunio to thu fort, inviting otHcort iind 8oi<li(>rH to coiiiu out
and HOC h gniiul giiine of ball, which wns to he pluyt'd hutwcen
their niition iind the Sues. In n few nionicntH thu fort wtu)
half dosurttil. The gates were luft widu open, and the soldiers
were eollceted in groups under the shadow of the palinades
watching the Indians piny bail. They were all without arinB,
nuHpeuting nothing. The game in which the Indians were
engaged was called haggattaway. " At either extremity of the
ground, a tall post was planted, marking the stati(»ns of the
rival parties. The object of each was to defend its own post,
and drive the ball to that of its adversary. Hundreds of lithe
and agile llgures were leaping and bounding upon flio plain.
Each was nearly naked, his loose black hair tlying in tiic wind,
and each bore in his han<l a bat of a form peculiar to thia
game. At one moment the whole were crowded ti)gether, a
dense throng of combantants, all struggling lor the ball; at
the next they were scattered again, and running over the
ground like hounds in full cry." The ])articipant8 yelled and
shouted at the tops of their voices. Suddenly the ball soared
high from the midst of the multitude, and fell near the pickets
of the fort. " Tliis was no chance stroke. It was ])art of a
preconcerted stratagem to insure the surprise and destruction
of the garrison. As if in pursuit of the ball, the ])layer9
rushed towards the gate of the fort, and yelling the war-whoop,
they snatched the hatchets which the squaws had concealed
ander their blankets. Some of the Indians sprang upon the

(75)

TiiK MviM or hJrrriAo anu rMrMKMi:

v )

i«p<'ctiititrri witlMMtt, while otliom riiMliinl into the tort, niul, in a
iiioiiiciit ull WI114 ciiriiu^tt urid coiit'iiMioit. At tli<* cotiitniMicc-
iiictit, Ktlicriri)(toii iin«l LcMJii) w(*nt N«>i/.c(l iind Inj awiiy iVoiii

tllU HCt'lH' of mill*i»IUM't'."

Mr. Akjxiimli'r Ilfriry, tVorii wlioiri I Imv*- jiiHt qiiottMl, j^ivcii
tli<> tollowiii^ lU'coiiiit of tli(< iiiuriHiu'.rr iinii liiM u<iv(tntiiritit in
(•oiiti«><'tioii with it: " I diil not ^o invHcIt' to m«<(i tho mutch
wliicli wuH now to l)«* pln\('<l without tin' tort, htH'uuMi^ tlit'rr
ht'in^ u I'linot! prcimrcW to ilt>|)urt on tliif to|lowin|(<lay tor Mon-
fniii. 1 rni|)loy('(l niyKcIf in writing lottiTK to my tVit'iuJH; and,
(tven winni u tollow-trudiT, Mr. iVucy, liappctied to ciill upon
mu Hiiyin^, tliiit iinotluT ciinot) liad jiiHt arrived tVoin Detroit,
ttn<l propoHin^ that t HJiotdd ^o witli liiru to tlit> lii'ucli, it ho
hiip|M>ned tliat I Htill runniincd to tiniMJi my IctterM, promiHin^
to t'olluw Mr. Trucy in tlie courHi' ot" a tew iiiintiteH. Mr.
Tracy hud not ^onu moro than twenty paccK t'rom my door,
when I heard an Indian war cry, and a iioiHe of ;;etieral con-
fu»<i(»n. (foin^ inntantly to my window, I huw a <'rowd of
Indiana witliin the fort furioUHJy <'uttiu^ down and sculp-
in^; every Kn;^li>'hnnin they found; in particular, I witnuHHud
the fate of Lii>ut. Jamette. I had in the room in \vhi(;li I wu8,
a fowling piece louded with Hwan Hhot. Thin I immediately
Beixed and held it fur a few niinutcH waiting to hear tho drum
beat to arniH. In this dreadful interval, I naw heveral of my
couMh'ymen fall, and more than om* Htruj^^lin^ Uitween the
knees of an Indian who, holdinn^ liim in thirt manner, Hcal|)tid
him while yet living. At length diHuppointed in tin? hope of
8eein«; resistaiu'c made to tho enemy, and Hensiltle, of course,
that no etfort of my own unasHiHted arm (ton Id avail against
four hundred IndiauH, I thouj^ht only of neekin^ shelter amid
the slaughter which was ra^injf. I observed many of the
Canadian inhabitantH of the fort calmly looking on, neither
opposing the Indiana nor 8utl'erin|? injury, and from this cir-
cumHtance I conceived u hope of finding se(;urity in their
houses. Between the yard door of my own house, an<l that of
Mr. Langlade, my next neighbor, there was oidy a low fence,
over which I easily climbed. At my entrance I found the
whole family at the windows, gazing at the scene of blood

OK, TUK IKkKHKH WAKM oy IWO OKNTIi Kl !;;(•.

h4>t(>rt* thotii. I nil(lr(*HHt<4| iiiyMclf iiniiKKliMtcl^ t4> Mr. \,m\g'
luil«'. Ix'KK'")? t'"^^ ''*' would put inu itittt moiiim \Ani'v of mfvtty
until tli(* lifiit of lUv iiMitir nliould Ih) ovur, tui HCt of uluirity hy
wliii'li liu inlKlit, |K>rliu|>H, |ir«!M«>rv» iim« from tliu ^'uorul niniiMH.
cro. Hut wliili> I uttc*n!»K '''** MliouldiirH iind iritinuitiri^ tiuit li» could do n(»th-
in^ for me. 'lUix wuit h momiuit of di'Mpuir, Wut tliu ix'xt b
I'liiii womun, H nlnvo of Mr. liiui^ludi)*M, l)ut;koiiud mu to follow
bor. She brought me to u d(»or, wliicli hIio o|K!iu!d, d(iitirinf< me
U) (Uitor, Hiid telling mo it led to the ^iirrot wlieru I muHt ^)
tttui coiiccul mvHulf. I joyfully otwytKl hur direct Ioiih, and hIio,
liiiviii^ followed me up to tliu f^iirrut door, locke<l it ufter me,
and with ^reiit pri'Heiico of mind took Hwuy tlie key. This
gliolter ohtuiiied, if nhelter I coidd hope to find it, 1 wiih nutu-
rnlly mixioiiM to know whiit might still he puMsing without
Through rtn aperture which uHorded me a view of the area of
the fort, 1 heheld, in Hhapen, the fouloHt and tnoHt terrible, the
ferocious tritimpliH of hurharian conquurora. The dead vvf>ro
Hciilped and numgled. The dying were writhing and MJirieking
under the iuHatiato knit\> and tomahawk, and, from the lM»dieM
of rtotne, ripptMl open, their butchers were drinking tlie blood,
scooped up in the hollow of joined hands, and (piaffed amid
shouts of rage and victory. I was shaken, not only with hor-
ror, but with fear. The suHcring wiiicli I witnesHe<l, I seemed
on the point of experiencing. No long time elapsed before
every one being destroyed who coidd be found, there was a
general cry of all is finished. At the same instant I heard
fiiomo of the In<lianH enter the liouse where I was. The garret
was separated from the room below, only by a layer of single
boards, at once the flooring of the one and the ceiling of the
other. I could, therefore, hear everything that passed, and
the Indians no sooner came in than they inquired whether or
not any Englishmen were in the house. Mr. Langlade replied
that he could not say. He did not know of any, answers in
which he did not ex(«ed the truth, for the Pani woman had not
only hidden rae by stealth, but kept my secret and her own.
Mr. Langlade was, therefore, I presume, as far from a wish to

THK I.IVI->* OK l-ONTiAO AND TKOUMSKH :

destroy me, as ho was cai iless about saving me, whon he added
to these answers, that they might examine for themselves, and
would soon be satisfied as to the object of their question. Say-
ing this he brougiit them to the garret door. The state of my
mind will be imagined. Arrived at the door, some delay was
occasioned by the absence of the key, and a few moments
were thus allowed mo, in which to look around for a hiding
place. In one corner of the gari-^t was a heap of those vessels
of birch bark, used in maple sugar making. The door was
unlocked and opened, and the Indians, ascending the stairs
before I had completly crept into a small opening, which pre-
sented itself at one end of the heap. An instant after four
Indians entered the room, all armed with tomahawks, and all
besmeared with blood upon every part of their bodies. The
die appeared to be cast. I could scarcely breathe, but I thought
the throbbing of my heart occasioned noise loud enough to
betray me. The Indians walked in every direction about the
garret, and one of them approaclied me so closely that at a
particular inoment, had he put forth his hand he must have
touched me. Still I remained undiscovered, a circumstance to
which the dark color of my clothes, and the want of light in
the room which had no window in the corner in which I was,
must have contributed. In a word, after taking several turns
in the room, during which they told Mr. Langlade how many
they had killed, and how many scalps they had taken, they
returned down stairs, and I, with sensations not to be expressed,
heard the door, which was the barrier between me and my
fate, locked for the second time. There was a feather-bed on
the floor, and, on this, exhausted aa I was, by the agitation of
my mind. T threw myself down and went to sleep. In this
state I remained till the dusk of the evening, when I was awak-
ened by the second opening of the door. The person that now
entered was Mr. Langlade's wife, who was much surprised at
finding me, but advised me not to be uneasy, observing that
the Indians had killed most of the English, but that she hoped
I might, myself, escape. A shower of rain having begun to
fall, she had come to stop a hole in the roof. On her going
away, I begged her to send me a little water to drink, which

OB, THE BOROKR WAB8 UF TWO (WNTCRIEB.

Bhe did. As night was now advancing, I continued to lie on
the bed, ruminating on my condition, but unable to discover a
resource from which I could hope for life. A flight to Detroit
had no probable chance of success. The distance from Mieh-
ilimackinac was four hundred miles, and I was without
provisions, and the whole length of the road lay through
Indian countries — countries of an enemy in arms, where the
tirst man whom I should meet would kill me. To stay where
I was threatened nearly the bame issue. As before, fatigue of
mind, and not tranquility, suspended my cares and procured
me further sleep. The respite which sleep afforded mo during
the night was put an end to by the return of morning. I was
again on the rack of apprehension. At sunrise I heard the
family stirring, and presently after, Indian voices, informing
Mr. Langlade that they had not found my hap' -s self among
the dead, and they supposed me to be somewhere concealed.
Mr. Langlade appeared, from what followed, to be, by this
time, acquainted with my place of retreat, of which, no doubt,
he had been informed by his wife. The poor woman, as soon
as the Indians mentioned me, declared to her husband in the
French tongue, that he should no longer keep me in his house,
but deliver nae up to my pursuers, giving as a reason for this
measure that should the Indians discover his instrumentality
in my concealment, they might revenge it on her children, and
that it was better that I should die than they. Mr. Langlade
resisted at first, this sentence of his wife, but soon suffered her
to prevail, informing the Indians that he had been told that I
was in his house; that I had come there without his knowl-
edge, and that he would put me into their hands. This was no
sooner expressed than ho began to ascend the stairs, the Indi-
ans following upon his heels. I now resigned myself to the
fate with which I was menaced; and regarding every effort at
concealment as vain, I arose from the bed, and presented
myself full in view to the Indians, who were entering the
room. They were all in a state of intoxication, and entirely
naked, except about the middle. One of them named Wen-
niway, whom I had previously known, and who was upwards
of six feet in height, had his entire face and body covered with

TUK IJVBS OF PONTIAO AND TKClIMSkli:

charcoal and grease, only that a white spot, of two inches in
diameter, encircled each eye. This man, walking up to me,
seized me with one hand by the collar of the coat, while in the
other he held a large carving knife, as if to plunge it into my
breast; his eyes, meanwhile, were fixed steadfastly on mine.
At length, after some seconds of the most anxious suspense,
he dropped his arm, saying, 'I won't kill you I' To this he
added that he had been frequently engaged in wars against the
English, and liad brought away many scalps; that on a certain
occasion, he had lost a brother, whose name was Musinigon,
And that I should be called after him. A reprieve upon any
terms placed me among the living, and gave me back the sus-
taining voice of hope; but Wenniway ordered me down stairs,
and there informed mo that I was to be taken to his cabin,
where, and indeed everywhere else, the Indians were all mad
with liquor, death again was threatened, and not as possible
only, but as certain. I mentioned my fears on this subject to
Mr. Langlade, begging him to represent them to my master.
Mr. Langlade, in this instance, did not withhold his compas-
sion, and Wenniway immediately consented that I should
remain where I was, until he found another opportunity to
take meaway." , ^ ,

CHAPTER X.

AnVBNTURBS OF EnOLIBH TrAOBRB at MiCHIIilMACKINAC — ThBT ARS
llESCCBD BT THB OtTAWAB — TREATMENT OF THE PRIBONERB —

Henry's Ebcapb—Cannibalibm — Reduction of au, the Wkbtbbn
Odtpobtb except Detroit.

Hbnbt had not enjoyed an hour's peace when an Indian
came to the house where he was and ordered hin^ to follow
him to the Ojibwa camp. Henry knew this man, and suspected
treachery, but there was no alternative. Following him through
the gate his suspicions were soon confirmed. The Indian,
instead of proceeding to the camp, turned in the direction of
the woods. At this Henry refused to follow, and openly charged
him with his design. The Indian acknowledged that his inten-
tion was to take 'his life, and at the same moment drew his
taife to strike the fatal blow. At this instant the trader stepped
aside, and escaping the stroke he ran for his life. Entering
the gate of the fort he observed Wenniway standing in the
centre of the area, and he called out to him for assistance. The
chief ordered the Indian to desist ; but the enraged savage
would not obey him, and continued the pursuit, striking at him
with his knife as they ran round and round the chief Observ-
ing the door of Mr. Langlade's house open, Henry ran, escaped
through it, and once more found himself alone in his garret
prison. Early in the night, as he lay asleep on his rude couch,
the door was opened, and he was ordered to descend. He did
80, when, to his great joy, he found in the room below, Capt.
Etherington, Lieut. Leslie and Mr. Bostwick, a trader, together
with Father Jonois, the Jesuit priest from L'Arbre Croche.

The Indians being now about to enjoy a drunken carouse
upon the liquor they had seized, and the chiefs, fully aware of
the danger to which the prisoners would be exposed during
6 (81)

TilU LIVBS OF FOMTIAO AND TKOUMHifili:

these revelb, had cuiiveyed them all into the tort and placed
them in charge of the (vHuadiane. '^ Including ofticerH, soldiers
and traders, they a>nt»unted to ahout twenty, this handful beinj;
all that escaped the massacre." When Henry entered the room
he found his three companions discussing a very important
questipn. The Indians had already retired to their village, and
the fort was actually in the hands of the white people — twenty
Englishmen and about three hundred French Canadians. To
close the gates and take possession of the fort would be au easy
matter, and it would have been attempted had not the Jesuit
discouraged the plan. lie represented that perhaps the Frencli
would prove treacherous, and that, should they fail in their
plans, every Englishman in the place would meet certain death.
The idea was therefore abandoned. The night passed in quiet,
and in the morning several warriors came to tiie house and
summoned Henry to follow them. He was led to a house in
which two traders and a soldier were imprisoned. These were
released and ordered to join the company. They were then
led to the lake shore, where they were to embark for the Isles
du Castor. " A chilling wind blew strongly from the north-
east, and the lake was covered with niists and tossing angrily.
Henry stood shivering on the beach, with no other upper gar-
ment than a shirt, drenched with the cold rain. He asked
Langlade, who was near him, for a blanket, which the latter
with cold-blooded inhumanity refused to furnish unless security
was given for payment. Another Canadian proved more mer-
ciful, and Henry received a covering from the weather. Witii
his three companions, guartled by seven Indians, he embarked
in the canoe, the soldier being tied by his neck to one of the
cross-bars of the vessel. The thick mists and the tempestuous
weather compelled them to keep along the shore, close beneath
the wet, dripping forests. In this manner they had proceeded
about eighteen miles, and were approaching L'Arbre Croche,
when an Ottawa Indian came out of the woods and called to
them from the beach, inquiring the news and asking who were
their prisoners. Some conversation followed, in the course of
which the canoe approached the shore where the water was
very shallow," At this juncture a loud yell was heard, and a

OK, THK UOUDKU WAUK UK I'Wn (!KN'1'IIKIK8.

hundred Ottiiwas, rining from the shrubbery, rushed into the
wuter uud dui/ud upon the cuiioe uud priHoners. The astonished
Ojibwas reuioustratecJ, but to no purpose. The prisoners were
all taken from them, and conducted to the shore in safety.
Thirt interference was the result of a jealousy which the Ottawaa
entertained against their bretiiren, tlio Ojibwas, for entering
into the war witliout consulting them and giving them an
opportunity to share in the plunder.

The Ottawas now assured the rescued prisoners that the
Ojibwas were carrying them to the Isles du (Castor merely to
kill and eat them. They were then placed in Ottawa canoes,
and were soon on their way back to the fort. They were accom-
panied by a large fleet of canoes and a strong band of Ottawa
warriors. Before the day was overall had arrived at Michili-
mackinac. Landing their canoes, the Ottawas marched, in
Indian file, into the fort, and took possession of it, while at a
short distance hundreds of Ojibwa warriors looked on in aston-
ishment. The night passed without any important event, but
on the following morning the Ojibwa chiefs invited the prin-
cipal men of the Ottawas to hold a council with them in a
building within the fort. A valuable present of goods wao
placed upon tlie floor, it being a part of the plunder they had
taken ; and their great war chief, Minavavana, who had con-
ducted the massacre, rose and addressed the Ottawas. " Your
conduct," he said, "has greatly surprised me. You have
betrayed our common cause, and opposed the will of the Great
Spirit, who has decreed that every Englishman must die.
Excepting you, all the Indians have raisetl the hatchet. Pon-
tiac has ta'ceu Detroit, and every other fort has also been
destroyed. The English are meeting with destruction through-
out the whole world. The King of France has awakened from
his sleep." In conclusion he exhorted them no longer to
espouse the cause of the English, but, like their brethren, to
lift the hatchet against thera.

According to the Indian custom, when the Ojibwa chief
concluded his speech, the council adjourned till the next day,
when it was again convened. At this meeting the Ottawas
expressed a willingness to settle the afair, which they did by

TIIK I.IVKs OK h^NTIAc; ANI» TK«'ir.M8KII :

dividing the prirtoiuirn uiid tlic plunder. The Ottawas retained
the officers and tht; soldiern while the traders were given up to
their conquerors. Tho prisoners taken by the Ottawas were
treated with kindness.

The prisoners that were given bacrk to the Ojibwaa were
taken by the latter to one of their villages in the vicinity of
Michiliinackinac and imprisoned in the council houHC. They
were securely bound together and to the posts that supported
the lodge, No sooner had the traders been thus confined than
the building was tilled with savages who seemed to take great
delight in jeering the captives. At the head of the lodge sat
the great war chief of the Ojibwa nation, with Wenniway at
his side. Henry was among the prisoners. Turning round
he noticed Wawatum, his friend, entering at the door. This
was the same Indian who visited Henry on the day before the
massacre and endeavored to persuade him to leave the forti
He now passed Henry, stopping only to shake him by the
hand, and took a seat beside Wenniway at the head of the
lodge. After he had smoked with them a while in silence he
rose and went out again, but soon returned, followed by his
squaw, who brought with her a valuable present, which she
laid at the feet of the two chiefs. Wawatam then addressed
them in the following language : " Friends and relations,
what is it that I shall say? You know what 1 feel. You all
have> friends, and brothers, and children, whom as yourselves
you love; and you — what would you experience did you, like
me, behold your dearest friend — your brother — in the condi-
tion of a slave; a slave, exposed every nutment to insult, and
to menaces of deaths This case, as you all know, is mine.
See there, (pointing to Henry) my friend and my brother
among slaves — himself a slave! You all well know that, long
before the war began I adopted him as my brother. From
that moment he became one of my family, so that no change
of circumstances could break the cord which fastened us
together. He is my brother, and because I am your relation
he is therefore your relation, too; and how, being your rela-
tion, can he be your slave? On the day on which the war
began, you were fearful lest, on this very account I should

. OB, THE BDUDKK WARH OF TWO OENTURIKH.

reveal your aecrot. You requested, therefore, that I shonid
leave the fort, aud even croHH the lake. I did so, but I did it
with reluctance. I did it witli reluctance, notwithstanding^
that you, Minavavatia, who hnd the command in this enter-
prise, gave me your promise that you would protect my friend,
delivering him from all danger, and giving him safely to me.
The performance of this promise I now claim. I come not
with empty hands to ask it. You, Minavavana, best know
whether or not, as it respects yourself, you have kept your
word; but 1 bring these goods to buy off every claim which
any man among you all may have on my brother as his
prisoner."

The great Ojibwa chief replied to this speech in a favorable
manner. Hin presents were accepted and Henry was released.
Wawatani conducted hiiii to his lodge, which was only a few
paces distant, and there treated him as his brother. Hero
Henry enjoyed once more peace of mind and a night's rest,
lioth of which he had been deprived of for several days. On
the following day, as he sat comfortably within Wawatam's
lodge, he heard a great noise in the prison-house, which stood
near by, and, raising up, he beheld the dead bodies of seven of
the prisoners dragged forth. They had been slain by a noted
chief, who had just returned from the winter's hunt. Having
(!ome too late to take part in the gran<l achievement of his
tribesmen, he took this method of signifying his approval of
what had been done. With this design lie had entered the
prison-lodge and murdered seven of the soldiers with his knife.

Now came the scenes of canibalism. The Indians sought
to increase their bravei y by feasting on the bodies of their
slain enemies, I shall not shock the reader with a description
of this sickening feast. It was conducted in the presence of
the few remaining prisoners, and ir.ust have been a painful
sight to them.

It was now about one week since the massacre occurred.
The Indians began to fear the approach of the English, and
determined to remove to some place where they would be able
to defend themselves against an attack. Accordingly three
hundred and fifty warriors, with their families and household

TIIK MVM or l-DNTIAO AND TCCUMHKM I

effect*, tJtnbarketl in their cunoeH for the itthiiid «>t' Mackinttw,
which tliey reached in natety. Hero they ereetiHl their U)d^s
and planted their little viliagt^ Henry and hin friend Wawa-
tani were among the nunil)er.

The OjibwaH had no Booner nettled down on thiH beautiful
island than they were virtited by Pontiac'n iiu'sseiigerB, who
represented that the Ottawa chief was still besieging Detroit
and desired them to hasten to liin assistamte. The Indians
listened to the invitation but tlu\v would not accept it.
Already they were beginning to fear the consequences of thoir
onset against the garrison at Michiliinackinac, and they w«'re
now more anxious tt) secure a place of safety than to continue
the war.

The fort at Green Hay, and the Saut Ste. Marie, did not share
the fate of Michilinia(!kinac. During the winter previous the
.atter fort had been partially destroyinl by fire and was there,
fore abandoned, the garrison withdrawing to Michiliniackinac
wlu're most of them j)erishe<l in the massacre. The fort at
Green Bay was iirst garrisoned in 1761. The force (consisted
of seventeen men, commanded by Lieut. Garell. This officer,
by his judicious policy, gained the friendship of all the Indians
in the vicinity of his fort. On the fifteenth of June, 17(53, he
received the following letter from Captain Etherington, wh»>
had lately commanded at Fort Michilimackituie, and was now
a prisoner at the Ottawa village of L'Arbre Croche :

" MicHiuMACKiNAC, Juiie 11, 1768.

"Dkar Sra: — Th la place waa taken by surprise on the fourth Insfiint

by the Ojibwas, at whicli time Lieut. Janiet and twenty (fifteen) more were

killed and all the rest taken prisoners; but our good Mends, the Ottawas,

have taken Lieut. Lesley, me, and eleven men out of their hands, and have

promised to reinstate us again. You'll, therefore, on receipt of this,

which I send by a canoe of Ottawas, set out with all your garrison and

what English traders you have with you, and come with the Indian who

^ivCvS you this, who will conduct you safe to me. You must be sure to

follow the instruction yon receive from the bearer of this, as you are by

no means to come to this post before you see me at the village twenty

miles from this. I must once more beg you'll lose no time In coming to

join me ; at the same time be very careful, and always be on your guard.

I long much to see you, and am, dear sir, your most humble servant.

"Geo. Ethbbinotoh.
"J. QxRELii, Roya) Americans."

OK, TIIK HOKDKH WARH or TWO OKN'rUKIKM.

Immediately on reoeiviitfj^ thiH, Ourell Hutont with hitt ^nrri-
gon, acoompnnit'd by ninety wjirriorH in canoes. Garoll'H party
were in bateaux. Arrivinjf at I/Arbre Crocho, tlie Ottawa**
ciinio out to njoet thoni and prcsenttKl tlieni with t)\v pipe of
police. Capt. Etheriufj^ton and Lietit. Lenlio, and eleven men,
wore detainwl in thii* viilap^e a8 priHonors, but wen' treated
with kindnertH. Scvt^nil Indian councilH were now lield, after
which theOttiiwas roUiUHod tlieir j)riHonerH. On the ei^Iitconth
of J»lv the Enf(li8h. eHcorte<l l>y a fleet of Indian canoes, left
L'ArbreCroohe t\>r Montreal, where tliey arrived in the follow-
iiijf August. Excepting the garrison of Detroit, not a British
Huldier now remaine<l in the region of the lakes.

CHAPTER XI

COMIiNITATIoN or TIIK HlKOK or DlCTHOIT — AdVKNTIJHBI OF A
H('M1M>NKH ON TIIK DkTIIOIT KiVRK— DKKKAT UV TIIK IlfUIAMt —
I'ONTIAC Al'I'BALH TO TIIK FitKNOII KOH AbHIHTAMC'K — lIoUHIBLI
DkaTII OK CaIT. I'/'AMfBRIX — TuK WyANDOTI AND I'oTTAWATOMIU
HUR KOH PkAOB. .

liicr U8 unce more return tu tho cninp of I'uiitiau and the
gurriHoii at Detroit. It will bu remembered tbat Homo time
before the arrival of the news of the slaughter of CuylorV
detachment, one of tlu; veuHelH had left the fort, pasDed do\vn
the river, and proceeded towardu Niagara to hapten up thin
same reinforcement. The schooner had pasned Ctiyler's
detachment, probably while it was encamped near tho mouth
of the Detroit river, and had sailed down to Niagara, whore it
remained until the return of Cuylor, as already explained, to
report his loss. This officer, and the survivors of his party,
with a few other troops spared from tho garrison of Niagara,
were now ordered to embark on board of tliis vessel, and make
their way to Detroit as sjon as ])08sible. Thoy Iiad done so,
and were now almost within sight of the fort. However, the
most dangerous part of tlie journey was yet to be performed.
In many places the channel of the river was narrow, and a
thousand infuriated warriors lay in ambush to interrupt her pass-
age. Several days passed and notliing further was heard of the
expecte<l schooner. On the twenty-first, a great commotion
was noticed among the Indians, and soon after a Frenchman
came to the fort with the intelligence that the vessel was again
attempting to ascend the river, and that a thousand warriors
had gone down to capture her. Two cannon were immediately
discharged so tliat the distant schooner might know the fort
was still in the hands of the English. Not long after she

(»8)

UN, TIIK IIOKDICM WAKM OV TWO dCNTITRini.

81>

it|)|H'iirc4i, iMlvuiicin^ nIdwIv tip t)i«t river. Tlu<ri< woru hIkxii
sixty men on iMwrd, but otil}' u tV>w of thuiii won) vii«iblo on
ticck. Tlii*y IiimI Interi unlvrt)! Inflow, in tlii; liopt'N thnt tlu*
IiKiiiitiH, cncoiiru^iHi by thin nppttrfnt vvciikiu'KM, might ninkc an
t)[K<n iittiutk. iIiiHt l)etor(t ruiicliirig tl>«i niirrowtsMt part of tlu*
(■liiiniiui, tlid wind diud nwiiy utid thtt imoiior whh dropped.
"JuHt iibuvis and within gun nhot of thu vohhcI, thu IndiuuH
had made u hruatttwork of htgn, ciirufidly (uiiic4>ale<l by biiHheH,
on tlio Hhorc of Turkey iHJand." Jiuhind thin the IndiaiiM hiy
ill great nunibem waiting ft)r her to paHH. The men on board
were Hot aware of thin, but, ex{H!(;ting nn attack, they kept ti
cniiHtant lookout. Late in the night the Hcntinel gave the
the ahirni. On the bhiek Hurface of thu water he naw, advanc-
ing, a tleet of Indian eanoen, lilUul with navagoH. 'I'he men
In low were calh-d up, and every nuin ntood at Iuh poHt. When
ihc IndiaiiH liad a|)proaehed within a few yard» of the nchooner,
a volley of eannon and muHkotry burnt forth from her black
gideH. Grape and muttket nhot iU;w tearing among the canoed,
desttoying Heveral of them, killing fourteen Indianu, wounding
UH many more, and driving the rent in confuriion to the ^hure.
Art Hoon art those who nurvived reached the Hhore, they began
to Hre uj)on the schooner from behind their breastwork. The
vesHel, thereupon, dropped down the river l)eyond their reach.
A h'W days after she again attempted to ascend the river.
Tliirt time sliu met with good success. There was a brisk wind,
and, although the tire from the savages was kept up constantly
from both shores, she r«'a(;hed the fort in safety.

This schooner brought the much needed supplies for the
garrison, and the important news that peace had \>een con-
cluded between France and England. The F'ronch settlers,
however, pretended to disbelieve the news, declaring that it was
manufactured by Major Gladwyn, and telling tlie Indians that
the King of France was then approaching up the St. Lawrence
with a. mighty army to destroy their enemies. The savages
fully believed these false representations, and remained firm in
their position. Pontiac was not at all pleased with the rein-
forcements which Gladwyn had received, and he now resolved
to terrify his British foe into submission. He once more sum-

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716)873-4503

4^ 4^^

TIIK LIVRH OF PONTIAO AND TKCUMIflCH:

I <. !

moned Gladwyn to surrender, declaring that eight hnndrod
Ojibwa warriorB were now approaching to aBsiet him, and rep.
resenting that, shonld tlie garrison hold out till their arrival, no
resistance which they could offer would prevent these braves
from taking the scalp of every Englishman witliin the fort.
Gladwyn replied in a decisive manner, assuring him that he
cared nothing for his threats.

Being thus thwarted, Pontiac summoned all the principal
French settlers to meet him in coimcil. "In the Ottawa
camp," says Francis Parkman, " there was a vacant spot, fjuite
level, and encircled by the huts of the Indians. Here mats
were spread for the reception of the deputies, who soon con-
vened, and took their seats in a wide ring. One part was
occupied by the Canadians, among whom were several, whose
withered, leathery features proclaimed them the patriarchs of
the secluded little settlement. Opposite these sat the stem-
visaged Pontiac, with his chiefs on either hand, while the
intervening portions of the circle were filled by Canadians and
Indians promiscuously mingled. Standing on the outside, and
looking over the heads of this more dignified assemblage, was
a motley throng of Indians and Canadians, half-breeds, trap-
pers and voyageurs, in wild and picturesque, though very dirty,
attire. Conspicuous among them were the numerous Indian
dandies, a large class in every aboriginal community, where
they hold about the same relative positions as in civilized
society. They were wrapped in the gayest blankets, their
necks adorned with beads, their cheeks daubed with vermilion
and their ears hung with pendants. They stood sedately look-
ing on, with evident self-complaisancy, yet ashamed and afraid
to take their places among the aged chiefs and warriors of
repute." Several pipes were passed round from hand to hand,
but, beyond this, all remained silent, until Pontiac rose and
threw down a war belt at the feet of the Canadians and deliv-
ered the following speech:

" My brothers, how long will you sufier this bad f esh to
remain upon your lands? I have told you before, and I now
tell you again, that when I took up the hatchet it was for your
good. This year the English must all perish throughout Can-

' !(

OH, THR fiORDKR WAR8 OF TWO 0ENTURIB8.

ada. The Master of Life commands it, and you who know
Him better than we, wish to oppose His will. Until now I
have said nothing on this matter. I have not urged yon to
take part with us in the war. It would have been enough had
you been content to sit quiet on your mats looking on, while
we were ii^hting for you, but you have not done so. You call
yourselves our friends, and yet you assist the English with
provisions, and go about as spies among our villages. Tliis
must not continue. You must be either wholly French or
wholly English. If you are French, take up that war belt and
lift the hatchet with us; but if you are English, then wo
declare war upon you. My brothers, I know this is a hard
thing. "We are all alike children of our great father, the King
of France, and it is hard to tight among brethren for the sake
of dogs, but there is no choice. Look upon the belt, and let ua
hear your answer."

One of the Canadians, who had brought with him a copy of
the capitulation of Montreal, and who had determined not to
confess that they were no longer children of the French King,
but that he waslhen approaching with a vast army to win back
Canada, rose and replied to the Ottawa chief, confessing great
love for the Indians, and manifesting a desire to aid them in
the war. He concluded with these words: " But, my brothers,
you must first untie the knot with which our great father, the
king, has boimd us. In this paper — the capitulation — he tells
all his Canadian children to set quiet and obey the English
until he comes, because he wishes to punish his enemies him-
self. We dare not disobey him, for he would then be angry
with us, and you, my brothers, who speak of making war upon
us, if we do not do as you wish, do you think you could escape
his wrath? If yon should raise the hatchet against his French
children, he would treat you as enemies and not as friends, and
you would have to fight both English and French at once. Tell
us, by brothers, what can you reply to this?"

The Frenchman then took his seat, and, for a time, PontisA
sat like one cAjnfounded, but he was not wholly disappointed.
From among the number of half-breeds and trappers present,
one stepped forth and snatched up the war belt, and declared

THK UVBB or VOmikO AMD TKCUMSKTI :

that he and his companions were ready to raise the hatchet
against the English. Pontiac was much pleased with theae
volunteers, and on the following day he made a great feast to
welcome them to the ranks of his army. For this entertain-
ment a large number of dogs were killed and served up to the
guests, "none of whom, according to the Indian custom on
such occasions, were permitted to take their leave until they
had eaten the whole of the enormous portion placed before
them." It is hardly necessary to say that Pontiac derived but
little beneiit from these auxiliaries. On the night succeeding
the feast, a party of these renegades, together with about an
equal number of Indians, approached the fort and entrenched
themselves, for the purpose of firing upon the garrison. At
daybreak they were observed by the garrison. The gates of the
fort were therefore thrown open and a small detachment of men
under the command of Lieut. Hay, marched out and routed
them. The Canadians ran off with such rapidity that they
escaped injury, while among the Indians who made an attempt
to oppose the enemy, two were shot.

No sooner had Lieut. Hay and his party returned to the fort,
when a white man was seen running towards it closely pursued
by the Indians. When he had come within gunshot of the
fort, the Indians gave way, and he reached it in safety. This
man proved to be the commandant of Sandusky, who^as I
have already mentioned — having been married to an old squaw,
had now made good his escape. He brought sad news to the
fort — the intelligence that Capt. Campbell had been killed. It
appears that one of the Indians killed by Lieut. Hay's detach-
ment, was a nephew to Wasson, chief of the Ojibwas. As
soon as he became aware of what had happened, Wasson black-
ened his face in token of revenge, and, gathering around him
a band of his followers, repaired to the house of Meloche,
where Campbell was kept a prisoner, and murdered him in the
most cruel manner. The other captive, McDongal, had escaped
some time before.

It was now about three months since the siege began. From
the beginning, the Wyandots and Pottawatomies were less
zealous in prosecu Jng the war than their brethren, the Otta-

OR, THE BORDKR WARS OF TWO CENTDRIK8.

was and Ojibwas, " and now, like children, they began to tire
of the task they had undertaken." The Wyandots asked for
peace which the oominandant granted them, but when the Pot-
tawatomies came on the same errand, Gladwyn demanded that
the English prisoners in their village should first be given np.
After considerable delay these savages yielded to his request,
and a peace was concluded.

CHAPTER XII.

Apphoacu ok Dalzbll'b Dktacumknt— The Battlu of Bloodt Run —
8LAnaiiTBR or tub Enolibii— Tub Fatal Ubtukat— Adventvrki
or TUB ScuooNBit Gladwtn — Uhavkky or UBR Chkw — Tub
Inoiams Sub roR Pbacb.

Whilk events were thus pasHing in Detroit a strong rein-
forcement was advancing to their assistance. Capt. Dalzell
had left Niagara with twenty barges, bearing two hundred and
eigiity men, with several small cannon and a largo supply of
ammunition and provisions. This convoy was observed acK
vancing up the Detroit river on the twenty-ninth of July; but
it no sooner reached a point midway between the villages of the
Wyandots and Pottawatomies than these Indians, although
bound by a treaty made less than two weeks previous to abstain
from the war, opened a hot lire upon the boats from either
bank. It was answered by a swivel from the barges, but in
the contest the English lost about twenty men, killed and
wounded. When the villages were passed the convoy landed
safely at the little dock near the fort. Tlie detachment con-
sisted of soldiers from the lifty-fifth and eightieth regiments,
with twenty independent rangers under Major Rogers.

Captain Dalzell had rendere<l gallant service by the side of
Israel Putnam, but had more recently acted as aid-de-camp to
Sir Jeffery Amherst. On the day of his arrival he held a con-
ference with Major Gladwyn, urging the policy of going out
with a strong detachment and attacking the camp of Pontiac.
Gladwyn objected, but the officer pressed his plan so urgently
that the commandant at length gave a reluctant consent.

Pontiac's camp at this time was located several miles above
Parent's Creek, it having been removed to escape the fire from
the vessels in the river. On the evening of the thirtieth of

(94)

OK, TIIK BOKDRK WAKH OF TWO <?KNTURIK8.

July urdcr8 were issued and prupurations made tor the attack ;
and about two oV'lock on the following morning the detach-
ment, two hundred and fifty strong, passed out of the gates of
tlie fort. Through tlie carelessneus of some of the garrison the
plan became known to tlie French, and wum by them commu-
nicated to the Indians. Having thus received knowledge of
the atfair, the Indians were on their guard. The soldiers pass«'d
up the river road, while two large bateaux rowed up the rivur
abreast of them.^ Lieut. Brown led the advance guard of
twenty-live men; the center was commanded by Capt. Grey,
and the rear by Capt. Grant. The night was warm, and the
soldiers marched in light attire. On their right lay the waters
of the Detroit, while on their left a succession of (Janadian
bouses, barns and orchards greeted them at every hundred
paces. As the soldiers passed along the dogs barked furiously
and the inhabitimts, roused from sleep, looked from the win-
dows of their dwellings in astonishment. Thus the English
proceeded to the attack, little thinking that behind every barn
or in every corn-field Indian warriors lay in ambush, ready to
slaughter them when an opportunity was presented; much less
did they suppose that Pontiac himself, having heard of tlieir
intention, was at that moment advancing upon them at the
head of a thousand savages.

Parent's Creek, since that night called Bloody Run, ran
through a wild hollow, and entered the Detroit about a mile
and a half above the fort. Only a few rods from its mouth the
road crossed it by a narrow wooden bridge. " Just beyond this
bridge the land rose in abrupt ridges, parallel to the stream.
Along their summits were rude intrenchments made by Pon-
tiac, to protect his camp, which had formerly occupied the
ground immediately beyond." In this place were huge piles
of wood, tall picket fences, and many other things that served
as a shelter to the Indians. Behind all were crouched countless
savages, with their muskets ready, for now they could hear the
steady tramp of the approaching enemy. The night was
exceedingly dark, and as the soldiers approached this dangerous
pass a horrible burst of yells rose in their front, and at that

* Parkman's " Conspiracy of Pontiac."

THK uvw or HiirnAc ani> 'rKr'UMSKu:

ft;

moment thoy were greeted with a volley of musketr}*. Fnlly
half of the udvuiiue party toll dead upon the npot, and the rent
fell back in disorder. In a few moments the main body of the
troops broke into confusion. But now the dear, shrill voice
of Dalzell broke upon the midnight air. He advanced to the
front, rallied the men, and led them forward to the attack. Ah
the troops returned to battle, another volley of musketry from
the Indians poured forth, and again the soldiers hesitated; but
Dalzell shouted to them, and with this brave ofttcer loading the
way, the detachment, " in the madness of mingled rage and
fear," made a desperate charge, crossing the bridge at a brisk
run and moimting the heights beyond. Here the soldiers found
no one to oppose them. The savages had fled. Capt. Grant
^ith his company recrossed the bridge, and took a position in
the road. The main body of the troops followed, a small party
only remaining, to hold the savages in check while the dead
and dying were being placed on board the two bateaux, which
had come up to the bridge during the assault. Before this task
was completed the savages renewed the attack, and volleys of
musketry were also heard in the direction of Grant's position.
A large force of Indians had tired upon him from their secret
intrenchments. These had remained quiet during the action,
with a view to surprise the troops on their retreat. Grant pushed
forward and dislodged them at the point of the bayonet.

The English now received intelligence that the warriors had
formed a design to cut off their retreat, and for this purpose
bad gone in great numbers to occupy the French houses which
commanded the road below. The order for the homeward march
was immediately given, and the soldiers fell into marching
order and moved forward. Grant now led the front, while
Dalzell brought up the rear. A few scattering Indians followed
them, discharging their muskets and harrassing Dalzell's com-
mand at every turn. At intervals the rear party faced about
to throw back a volley of musketry at their pursuers. In this
way they proceeded for half a mile, when, reaching a point
opposite a thicket of orchards and pickets, the Indians rose
from their hiding places and poured a hot fire of musketry
among them. Again the soldiers broke into confusion, and,

UK, rilK HOKDKK WAKM oK TWO (IKNTHKIKII.

crowding upon ohcIi uthor, attenipte<l to Hee for their livuM; but
thu Htrong voicu ot' DhIzuII ngmn roitu above the din. lie beat
thfl soldierM with the Hat of hiM Hword and tliruatened thuin itn
edge. In t)ii8 way he partially retttored order, and charged
upon the Indians, dislodging thuni and putting them to Hight.
A little farther on the IndiauH had taken {X)t»He(iHion of a
Canadian house, and as the soldiurs advanced the Havages tired
down upon them. Major Rodgers advanced witli his provincial
nuigurs, bntku in the door and expelled them. Gapt. Grey
now attempted to diHlodge a party of savages from behind a
cluster of buildings, but fell, mortally wounded, in the attempt.
The savages, however, gave way, and the retreat was resumed;
but the Indians pursued them, shooting down the rear and
scalping the fallen. The soldiers hastened on towards the fort,
the rear now and then turning back to check their pursuers
with a discharge of musketry. At nearly every step one or
more fell dead or wounded. Dalzell observed at a little dis*
tanue, in the rear, a sergeant of the fifty -tifth regiment lying
upon the ground, helplessly wounded. The dying man raised
himself up upon his hands and looked after his retiring com-
rades in desperation. The sight was too much for Dalzell. In
the true spirit of heroism he ran out amidst the brisk fire of
the Indians, atid, while attempting to assist the bleeding Her-
gcant to his feet, a ball pierced his breast, and he foil dead upon
the body which he had risked his own life to rescue. "^^'iHi
this sad event the Indians rushed upon them, and had not Mai )r
Rogers taken possession of a ( ^anadian house and covered the
relroat with the fire of his rangers, the loss would have been
much more severe. Ri>gers entered this house with his own
men, but was soon followed by many of the regulars, who ran
in to secure a temporary shelter. The house, which was owned
by Jacques Campan, was filled with the women of the neigh-
borhood, who had taken shelter in the cellar, garret, or where-
ever a room promised safety froTn the fire of the soldiers and
Indians. The soldiers who had now entered the house, tired
and warm, placed the furniture against the windows, and run-
ning their muskets through the openings, they opened an
effective fire upon their enemies; but this was sharply returned
7

TMK i.ivnt or ii»N'HAC ani» tw hmmiiim:

by tliv iiHvu|i^«». Tlio biillutM rnppud Imnl Hnd tHKt ii^iiiiiMt tin
outer walU, hikI now uiid thun one would tly tluirply wliixziii;:
tlirou^h Aunivitw, utrilcing down a man or UarmluMljr pioruiiiy
the parti tiontt.

In the nioantinie ('apt. (Inuit had niovod
hiniKeU' until thu (t>ntru and ruar arrived. Kn»ni thi* point
he detached all the men he could spare tii occupy the Holdirnt
below. In thin way he eBtahliidioti a ctMiiplete line of com-
mnnication with the tort, and the retreat wait effeotuallv
secured. In leMs than an hour the whole party, except Rogtn«
and liit) men, had arrived to Grant's new poHition. The prt.
vincialH were unable to leave the Iiouhc of (/ampau, being com
pletely HurrcMinded by thu Huva^'H. The two armed bateaux,
wtiich had now arrived at the fort, with the dead who fell itt
the char^t of Blor.dy liun, were ordered to proceed up the
river U) a point opponitu the houoe in which Rogers wAh
being bexieged, an<l open fire upon the savagCH. Tliis whk
done with good eHuct, enabling liogerrt and hiit men to leuvt-
the houHe and cotitinue their retreat. The bateaux followtxl
them down the river, protecting their roar from the fire of the
IndiaiiH. Uogers had no H(X)ner left the house at one dour
than the Indians entered it at another, for the purpoBc of
scalping the corpses of the dead soldierit. Foremost among
these was an old squaw, who rushed in, with a wild scream,
and slashing open one of the dead bodies with her knife,
scooped up the blood with her joined hands and drank it
down greedily.

About eight o'clock in the morning the detachment readied
the fort and entered once more within the palisades, but not
without losing tifty-niiie tnen killed and wounded. Tlie lose
of the Indians did not exceed twenty.

Pontiac was much gratified with his success in routing the
English, and messengers were sent out for hundreds of miles
around to announce their victory. Reinforcements soon began
to come in, and in a few days Pontiac's forces were nearly
doubled. The English, however, were now well prepared to
meet any force which the Indians might be able to muster.

nR, Till BOlinKN WAIW OV TWO (iKN-rHllKt.

»9

• :f

Th« ijptrriMon coiiM now bouiit of thrtMt liiindrud ofToctive men,
and lM)inf( wull pruviiiud with pn>?iiiioriM und Hrninunition, ihej
tuu)(ht with ho|)e aiul oourtKo. Day «tlur dny pMitod on.
The btMui^rM continuod the war, hut nothiiif^ ocoiirrud of
great itii|H)rtnnco uutil the fourth of HupttiiiilHtr. On thii day
the Huhuoiit'r (iladwyn, tho ttinaller of the two vumhoIm already
mentioned, whiuh had been nent to Niagara with diipatolios,
watt returning up the Detroit river, having on board* Capt.
UurHt, ilaeohi), the mate, and a crew of ten men and six
IriHjuuiii Indians, believed to be friendly to tlie English. As
icon aH the schooner entered the river the Indians desired to
be placed on shore. This was granted them, and it it
believed they proccede<l at once to report the approach of the
schooner and the weakness of the crew to Pontiac. On the
evening of the fourth she was becalmed in the river, about
nine miles below the fort. "The men on board," says Park>
man, ''watched with anxious vigilance, and as night came on
they lintened to every sound which broke the Htillncss, from
the fltrange cry of the night-hawk, wheeling round and round
sl>ove their hendH, to the bark of the fox in the woodn on
shore. The night set in with darkness so complete that at the
dJHtance of a few rods nothing could be discerned. Mean-
while* three hundrtHl and fifty Indians, in their birch canoes,
^liiUnl silently down with the current and were close upon the
vcHHul before they were seen. Tliere was only time to fire a
single canon shot among tliem before they were beneath her
bowH and clambering up her sides, holding their knives
clenched fast between their teeth. Tlie crew gave them a close
iire of musketry without any efioct. llien flinging down their
guns, they seized tlieir spears and hatchets, with which they
were all provided, and met the assailants with such furious
energy and courage, that within the space of two or three
minutes they had killed and wounded more than thrice their
own number. But the Indians were only checked for a
moment. The m ter of the vessel was killed, several of the
crew were disabled, and the assailants were leaping over the
bulwarks, when Jacobs, the mate, called out to blow up the
schooner. This desperate command saved her and her crew.

100

till I.IVI4I OV HiiNTUf? AND TtWUMMKIi:

Somo Wjnnriotw whu liiul |{aiiiiNl thit ilook, (•nii^lit tho tn«Aning
of hJM w«mU mikI fptvu tho «Urtn toth»!r c«>ni|»uiiionii. IiiMtHiitlj
every Indinii linkfMKl ovurlKiani in • ftttnic aikI the whole were
Men divinf( »nU iwimining otf in nII direetionii to «Nca|)e th«
threiitene<i exploaion. T)ie Rohootier whm clennNi of her mmIU
•nt«, who did not dnre to rtniew the attitok, Hnd on the follow,
ing morning the ii»ilo<l for the fort, whioh nlie reuehed without
moloNttttion. Hixof her cmw eMciiped unhurt. Of the remain-
der, two were IcilltNl nnd four ierioualy wounded, while th«
Indianii had Hovon men killed upon tho gpot nnd nearly twenty
wounded, of whom eight were known to have died within a
few dnyH after. A« tho whole action laMted hut a few minutei,
tlie rtercenuMH of the Htruggle in nutHdently apparent from tli«
loM on l)oth Hideit. The HurvivorH of the little crow were atW*
wanls rewanhnl hm their undaunted bravery deserved." Thii
ichooner brought to the fort a much needed nupply of pro*
viRiona, for by thin time their Hupplios had become Hhort. Ft
was not, it will be Keen, how««ver, HufHciont for the wants of the
garrison, and the whole were now put U|)on the Bhortest poMi-
ble allowance.

September waa now drawing to a close. The savages having
prcBHod the siege fiim« the Itoginningof May, wert» now becom-
ing tired of their ill-success, and hearing that Major Wilkinii
was now approaching with a large army to destroy them, us well
as becoming shaken in their faith regarding the advancing
army of the king of France, they sued for ))ence.

Tho different triljos around Detroit who now, weary of the
siege, came to the fort for jwiace, were by no means sincere in
tlieir desires. Fearing the advance of the English from Niag-
ara, and knowing that with the approach of winter their
sniferings would be increased, and, their ammunition being
nearly spent, they had resolved to conclude a peace, retire to
their wintering grounds, and renew the war with increased
vigor in the spring. Accordingly, on the twelfth of October,
Wapocomoguth, great chief of the Mississaugas, a branch of
the Ojibwas, living east of the Detroit Eiver, visited the fort,
bringing with him a pipe of peace. He declared to Gladwyn
that he and his people were fast friends of the English, and

OK, rilK NiiKliKM WAN*! or TWO t KNTI'KIKN.

101

now tluMiitNl to coiicliidt* a lMtiiif( piu'o with tlioin. Ho t\ir-
thiT imI(Ii<(1 tliiit li«> \m\ Ih'imi r(M|Uuiit(Hl hjr tht> I'ottMWKttiniiuii,
OjibwiiM ttiul WyuiiilotM, to Muy thnt thtwu trilHM worn now Horrj
(or t»kiiiK ixtft i» t^>*' ^i*'*; thnt tlitiy r'>|H«nt<>(l of tlioir Imd
(ttruluct, aiul hIiui Minccritly dcMinMl to coiivlutiu a trviity of
iM-ncu, which thuy hud roMolvrd on, it' iimdu not to hruttlc. Tlio
jtritith uontnmndiint whm now ttni wtdl iu!i|uuint<<d with the
Indian (diarnutur, and nioro i)M|Mtcially with tliu triclcM o( thoio
trilN)«, to holiuvu tliuMu n^prcMontationM; but, tlio fliruuinntanoot
ill whicit lie wai placttd niado it nvitwary tor him to adopt any
riicHituro that would cnahlo him to |»r(N'ur(> t'urtlicr Mupplica.
Iliit garriMon wim on thu uvu of famine, and evory attempt to
i«i>(!urH proviHionti whiltt hin fort wait MurroundHl with hoHtilo
Indianti, hud httun Htti>nilfd with uvil rvHuItH. He ropliu<l,
tlierufore, that ho v/m not oinpoworod to f^rant poaco, hut ho
would cotiMont to a truco. Thu (Jjihwa chief \vi\ tho fort with
tliJH mcHHu^, and Gladwyn, favored with a lull in tho Htorm,
hiiHtened to collect proviHionn among tho French ttottlers. lie
ttiet with many ditticulticH, m the CaiuulianH were fearful loMt,
hIkuiUI they bo inntrumontal in supplying the garriHon with
food, they would incur the wrath of the Huvages, and, perliapH,
|)eritfh under the tomahawk. But he '^u.-.coeded in collecting a
a very good supply, ButHcient to ^*i» i- (uu ^arriiHH) through the
winter.

It should 1)6 rememb«»rwl, \\^\i., li u! the OttuwuH hud not yet
MHked for pence, (loaded on by their great leader, Pontiac,
they would not humble themeelveH ub their brethren had done,
but, continuing their hoetile uctH, they harrauHcd the fort con-
tinually. With the end of October, however, Pontine received
H Hovore blow to IiIa eiiergioH. A French meBnenger came to
hit) camp with a letter from M. Neyon, commandant at Fort
Chnrtere, the principal poKt in Illiuois. Tho letter assured
Pontiac that all the stories which had been told him regarding
the approach of his French fnthor, with a great army, were
false; that the French an<l the English were now at peace and
regarded each other as brothers, and that they had better aban-
don the siege. This letter broke the pride of the Ottawa
leader, and he departed from Detroit, accompanied by hie prin-

loa

THR MVICH OF TONTIAO AND TKOUMMCn t

cipal chiefs. Deucendiiig the Detroit, he encamped on the
Manmee, when he began to stir up the tribes in that place,
with a view of renewing the war in the spring.

A few day's after Pontiac's departure, two friendly Wyan-
dot Indians came to the fort. One of them handed Major
Gladwyn a letter. It proved to be from Major Wilkins, and
contained the disastrous news that his detachment had been
overtaken by a storm ; that many of the boats had been wrecked,
and that seventy men had perished; that all the stores and
ammunition had been destroyed, and he, and the remnant
of his men had been forced to return to Niagara. Tliis news
had a bad effect upon the cheer of the garrison, but, delighted
at the departure of Pontiac, and with the temporary peace which
they were enjoying, they took courage, and looked forward to
the dreary winter, with hopeful hearts.

Detroit, and the territory for miles around was now almost
deserted. The besiegers had departed for the chase. Some
crossed Lake Huron to the north, others advanced far west-
ward into tlie wilds of Michigan, while, as already observed,
a large number went southward to the Maumee.

Detroit, as we have seen, had been the central point of
Indian operations. Around it they had concentrated their
greatest forces. Its capture had been their favorite project.
It was the only barrier which prevented them from carrying
out the original plan of uniting in one mighty onslaught
against the frontier settlements. With the failure of tjiis
part of the work, the savages become discouraged, and, for the
time being, they retired from the siege.

CHAPTER XIII

PrONTIBB SETTIiEMENTS AND F0KT8 — Al.AKMS AT FOUT PiTT —
81.AOQHTEB OF TUADKUS — NaRIIOW EsCAI-K OF A GAHniSON —

DE8TIIUCTION OF Foutb — Thb Wah Uaoing to the Hiohebt
Pitch— Danokb Thickening Around Fout Pitt.

While the clouds of Indians were blackening aroiiHcl Detroit,
a tempest was gathering which was soon to pour a iorrent upon
the whole frontier. In 1763 the British settlements did not
extend beyond the Alleghanies. The German Flats on the
Mohawk might have been regarded as the extreme verge of the
frontier of the State of New York. The same could have
been said of the town of Bedford, in Pennsylvania, while the
settlements of Virginia extended to a corresponding distance.
Through the wilderness immediately west of these places, ran
chains of forts, for their protection. One of the most import-
ant of these passed through the country of the Six Nations,
and guarded the route between the northern colonies and Lake
Ontario. The route was by the way of the Hudson, the
Mohawk, Wood Creek, the Oneida Lake and the River Oswego,
and was defended by Forts Stanwix, Brewertown, Oswego and
two or three smaller forts. Fort Niagara stood near the west-
ern end of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the river from which
it derived its name. This was a strong and M'ell supplied fort,
guarding, as it did, access to the whole interior country, both
by way of the route just mentioned, also by that of the St.
Lawrence. From Fort Niagara the trader would make the
portage past the great falls to Presque Isle, now the city of
Erie, Pennsylvania. Thence he would pass, by an overland
route, to Fort Le Boeuf, on a branch of the Alleghany; thence
by water to Yenango, and thence down the Alleghany to Fort
Pitt. This last-mentioned place stood on the site of the present

(103)

104

THK LIVES OK IHiNTIA*! ANU IUOUMHKH:

proHperous city of Pittsburgh. Before the forests had been
leveled to the earth, at the period of which 1 am writing, this
was a beautiful spot. Everywhere for miles around, the land-
scape was rich and (^ptivating. On the right the waters of
the Alleghany, bordered by high, steep banks, Howed onward
towards the Mississippi. On the left, the winding Mononga-
hela came in and emptied its gurgling waters into the former,
or both united to form the broad Ohio. For a long distance
down this placid stream, on either side, the picturesque hilU
and declivities presented a scene of rare beauty. The place,
too, had its historic associations. It was on this spot where
the French had erected Fort Duquesne. Near by the same
place, Braddock had been defeated, and on the hill, in the rear
of the fort, Grant's Highlanders and Lewis' Virginians had
been surrounded and captured after a long and desperate
resistance. ,

General Stanwix erected Fort Pitt in 1759, upon the ruins
of Fort Duquesne, which General Forbes bad destroyed. It is
needless to say that the walls of this strong fort have long
since been leveled to the ground, and that on its site has arisen
the populous city of Pittsburgh. But in 1763, Fort Pitt stood
alone in the dense forest, being over two hundred miles from
the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania. Tliere were two
routes leading from this post to the settlements, one of which
had been cut out by General Braddock, in his disastrous march
in 1755 ; the other, and, perhaps, the one most frequented, was
by the way of Carlisle and Bedford, and was first traversed by
General Forbes in 1758. Leaving Fort Pitt by the Forbes
route, the traveler, after journeying fifty-six miles, would reach
the post of Ligonier, whence he would soon reach Fort Bed-
ford. This post was about one hundred miles from Fort
Pitt. It was nestled among the mountains, and surrounded
by several log cabins, the huts of the first pioneers. Contin-
uing on and passing several small posts, the traveler would
come to Carlisle, which was nearly one hundred miles further
east, a place resembling Fort Bedford in its surroundings.
From Carlisle, the traveler would proceed to Harris' Ferry ^

OK, TIIK BORDKK WAB8 OF TWO dtMTUKlUS.

lOfr

liuw Harrisburg, on the Suaquehunna. From the latter place
the route led directly into the settlements.

It would be a diffloult matter to give any correct description
of the border settlements of Virginia and Pennsylvania at this
early day, or even the scattered forts that were intended to
protect them, nor, indeed, would the reader bo deeply inter-
ested in it, could an accurate one be produced. There was
nothing in their character widely different from any other
border towns.

The inhabitants of these places had for some time enjoyed
peace with the neighboring tribes, but in May, 1763, news of
the Pontiac war reached them, and in the dusk of the evening
of the twenty-seventh of the same month, a party of Indians
were seen from Fort Pitt, descending the banks of the Alle-
ghany, with pack horses. They encamped on the bank of the
river till daybreak on the twenty-eighth, when they all crossed
over to the fort. They brought with them a great quantity of
valuable furs. These were exchanged for hatchets, muskets,
bullets and gunpowder. Their peculiar conduct excited sus-
picion, but they were permitted to depart. Not long after they
had gone, news was received at the fort that Col. Olapham,
with several others, had been murdered and scalped near the
fort. Soon after it was discovered that all the inhabitants of
an Indian village, not far up the river, had abandoned their
cabins. Following this came the intelligence that two soldiers
belonging to the garrison had been shot down near the fort. A
messenger was sent out to Venango to warn the garrison there of
danger, but he had not gone far when he was twice fired at and
severely wounded. He returned almost immediately and
reported the situation. The clouds now began to thicken
around Fort Pitt, as we have seen them around Detroit. A
trader named Calhoun, came in from the Tuscarora village
with the following account: " At eleven o'clock on the night
of the twenty-seventh, a chief and several of the principal
warriors of the Tuscarora village, had come to Calhoun's house,
and earnestly begged him to depart, declaring that they did
not wish to see him killed before their eyes. The Ottawas and
Ojibwas, they said, had taken up the hatchet, and captured

106

TRK LIW8 OF FUMTIAC AND TKOUMMRH:

Detroit, Sandusky and all the tbrtis of the interior. The Del.
awares and ShawanouB of the Ohio were following their example,
and were murdering all the traders among them. Galhouu
and the thirteen men in his employ lost no time in taking
their departure. The Indians forced them to leave their guns
behind, promising that they would give them " three warriors
to guide them in safety to Fort Pitt; but the whole proved a
piece of characteristic dissimulation and treachery. The three
guides led them into an ambuscade at the mouth of Beaver
Creek. A volley of balls showered among them ; eleven men
were killed on the spot, and Calhoun and two others alone
made their escape." The reports which Calhoun had received
concerning the slaughter of English traders, was only too true.
Tliey were scalped everywhere without mercy. A boy named
McCullough, who had been captured during the French War,
and who was now a prisoner among the Indians, relates i
in his published narrative, that he witnessed the killing
of a trader named Green, which was conducted in the most
cruel manner. Everywhere throughout the vast wilder-
ness, wherever an English trader had ventured, he was scalped,
and, in many instances, no white man survived to tell the hor-
rible news. I^ot less than a hundred were thus murdered and
scalped, along this frontier. Their goods were all plundered,
and the savages exulted in their bloody work. Among the
villages of the Hurons and Wyandots, the traders were so
numerous that that the Indians were afraid to attack them
openly. They, therefore, adopted the following ingenious
plan : " They told their unsuspecting victims that the sur-
rounding tribes had risen in arms, and were soon coming that
way, bent on killing every Englishman they could find. The
Wyandots averred that they would gladly protect their friends,
the white men, but that it would be impossible to do so, unless
the latter would consent, for the sake of appearances, to bee<jme
their prisoners. In this case, they said the hostile Indians
would refrain from injuring them, and they should be set at
liberty as soon as the danger was passed. The traders fell into
the snare. They gave up their arms, and, the better to carry
ont the deception, even consented to be bound." No sooner

OK, THB BORDKR WAK8 OP TWO OKNTUUIiM.

lOT

bad these crafty Indians thus secured the Englishmen, than
they fell to and murdered them in cold blood. This was one
of the most cruel massacres in the whole catalogue.

Among the horrifying incidents that were now desolating
the border forests of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia,
there were, now and then, scenes which were not altogether
void of romance. An Englishman by the name of Chapman,
who lived near Detroit, was made prisoner. For some time he
was protected by the humane interference of a Frenchman.
At length, however, his captors resolved to burn him alive.
For this purpose they tied him to a stake, placed fuel around
him, and started the fire. When the fiames became unbearable,
they gavo him a bowl of broth scalding hot. He snatched it,
and, in the rage of thirst, raised it to his lips and began to
drink. Bursting into a rage, he flung the bowl into the face
of the Indian. In a moment the crowd shouted, " He is mad!
He is mad!" and in another they unbound him, and set him at
liberty. Such was the superstitious respect which the Indians
entertained for every form of insanity.

While the war clouds were thus hovering over Fort Pitt,
the war cry burst forth at Fort Ligonier. This came in the
form of a volley of musketry, killing a number of the horses
belonging to the fort. In the neighborhood of Fort Bedford,
several men had been murdered, and many more had narrowly
escaped. At this place the inhabitants were mustered together
and organized for the purpose of assisting the garrison. A
number of woodsmen formed into a company, dressed and
painted like savages; they decoyed several bands of warriors
within rifle shot of them, and soon became the terror of every
Indian in the neighborhood.

The commandant at Fort Pitt had made every preparation
to receive the enemy. All the buildings in the vicinity were
leveled to the ground, nothing being left to serve as a shelter
for the Indians. The garrison, which was commanded by Oapt.
Ecuyer, consisted of three hundred and thirty soldiers, traders
and backwoodsmen. There were also in the fort about one
hundred women and about one hundred and fifty children.

The outrages which were every day being committed aroond

108

TIIR I.IVKM OP l>C)N'riAO AND TKOUMBKii:

,;;i,'*

these forts were fur the must part the work of the ^^ young men,"
Hg they are called among the Indians. It would seem that
there was no chief among them of sufficient power to check
their reckless conrse. Had Pontiac been among them these
petty hostilities would have been concentrated into a well,
directed general attack. But now, as it was, it was highly
dangerous for the soldiers of the garrison at Fort Pitt to ven-
ture outside of the gate, and the few who attempted it were
murdered and scalped by these savages. The surrounding
woods were now alive with prowling warriors, and their number
was daily increasing.

On the twenty-second of Juno a party of warriors appeared
upon the plain, at some distance behind the fort. They drove
off the horses which were grazing there, and killed a number
of cattle. This done, they opened a brisk Are upon the fort,
from which two men were killed. The garrison replied by a
discharge of howitzers, from which the Indians fled in confu-
sion. They soon appeared at another quarter, and re-opened
their fire, which they kept up steadily throughout the following
night.

About nine o'clock on the following morning several Indians
approached the fort and took up a position close to the intrench,
ment, when one of them, a Delaware, called Turtle's Heart,
addressed the garrison as follows :

" My brothers, — we that stand here are your friends; but we
have bad news to tell you. Six great nations of Indians have
taken up the hatchet and cut off all the English garrisons
excepting yours. They are now on their way to destroy you
also. My brothers, we are your friends, and we wish to save
your lives. What we desire you to do is this : you m'lst leave
this fort, with all your women and children, and go down to
the English settlements, where you will be safe. Ther^ are
many bad Indians already here, but we will protect you from
them. You must go at once, because if you wait till the six
great nations arrive here you will all be killed, and we can do
nothing to protect you."

The commandant, fully understanding their design, made
the following curious reply : "My brothers, we are very grate-

OR, THK BORDER WARS OF TWO ORNTURim.

109

fnl for your IcindnettH, though we are convinced that you must
be iniHtakon in what you have told us about the forts being
captured. As for ourselves we have plenty of provisions, and
are nble to keep this fort against all the nations of Indians that
may dare to attack it. We are very well olf in this place, and
we mean to stay here. My brothers, as yon have shown your-
selves such true friends, we feel bound in gratitude to inform
you that an anny of six thousand English will shortly arrive
here, and that another army of three thousand is gone up the
lakes to punish the Ottawas and the Ojibwas. A third is gone
to the frontier of Virginia, where they will be joined by your
enemies, the Cherokeos and Gatawbas, who are coming here to
destroy you ; therefore, take pity on your women and children
and get out of the way as soon as possible. We have told you
this in confidence, out of our great solicitude, lest any of you
should be hurt, and we hope that you will not tell the other
Indians, lest they should escape from our vengeance."

The story of the three armies, which Capt. Ecuyer invented,
had a very good effect upon the Indians. They returned with
this story to a large band of warriors wfco were advancing
agaiTist the fort, and were the means of their abandoning their
purpose. On the twenty-sixth a soldier named Grey came in
with the sad story of the fall of Presque Isle. On his way to
the fort he passed the ruins of Le Boeuf and Venango. During
the same day Ensign Price, the oflScer commanding at Le Boeuf,
was seen approaching, followed by seven of his half-starved
soldiers. He reached the fort in safety and reported his loss.
On the evening of the eighteenth a great multitude of Indians
had surrounded his post. His only available defense consisted
of one blockhouse. Showering bullets and fire-arrows against it,
they soon set it in flames ; and at midnight, in spite of every
effort, the upper part of the building burst into sheets of flame.
The Indians now gathered in a serai-circle before the entrance,
prepared to scalp the unfortunate garrison as fast as they should
be driven out by the flames. But the commandant and his
men with great efibrt hewed an opening through the back wall
of the blockhouse, and escaped into the woods. For some time
they could hoar the reports of the Indian guns, "as these

TiiK i.ivw or K)i«rnAo anh TKri'MHKii:

pnintod domonft wen^ tttill leaping and ytOlin^ in front of tlie
blazing Wnildinjur, tiring into tho loopholtM, and exulting in the
thought that their eneniiet) were sutfuring in thu agonies of
death within." The trembling garrirton preHiied onward
through the whole of the night and the following day, and at
one o'clock on tho succeeding night they came to the spot where
Fort Venango had Htood. All that now remained were hu^
pilert of Huiouldering embers, among which were the charred
bodien of the unfortunate garrison. They continued their
journey; but six of the party, exhausted fmm hunger, gave
way. and were left behind. The rest barely reached Fort Pitt
alive. No man lived to tell the fate of the garrison of Ven-
ango, but some time after the destruction of that fort an Indian
who was present at the atiair related tho circumstances to Sir
William Johnson. The story was short, but full of horror.
'' A. large body of Sonecas gained an entrance under pretence
of friendship, then closed the gates, fell upon the garrison and
butchered them all except the commanding ofHcer, Lieut. Gor-
don, whom they tortured over a slow lire for several successive
nights, till he expired. This done, they burnt the ])lace to the
ground and departed."

While Forts Le Boeuf and Venango were thus dispatched,
Fort Ligonier was furiously assailed, but atler a day's hard
lighting drove the savages away. Fort Augusta, on the Sus-
quehanna, was also besieged, but having received large rein-
forcements on the day previous were able to hold out. Forts
Bedford and Carlisle did not escape the war, but being on their
guard they survived the assaults.

But this desperate war of detail was by no means confined
to tho military posts. All along the whole fronting of Virginia,
Pennsylvania and New York, the slaughter raged with great
fury. No pen can ever tell all the suliering these unfortunate
settlers endured. ^

At Fort Pitt the preparations for the expected attack were
continuing. A line of strong palisades was erected along the
ramparts; the barracks were made shot-proof, to protect ite
inmates. Preparations were also made for extinguishing any
fire that might be produced by burning missels from the

OS, TUK BORDKM WAKM OK TWO (TKNTITKIKR.

Ill

ent'my. Time passecl on, but nothing of importance ooourred.
On the twenty-Mixth of July a Hmall party of IndiauH approached
the fort, and wen; admitted. Among the number were Chiefs
Shiiigas, Turtle*!) Heart, and others, who had hitherto appeared
to l)e friendly to the EngliMh. A council waH held, at which
BhingnH made the following B{)eeuh: " Brothers, what we are
about to say comes from our hearts, and not fVom our lips.
Brothers, we wish to hold fast the chain of friendship — that
ancient chain which our forefathers hold with their brethren,
the English. You have let your end of the chain fall to the
groun<l, but ours is still fast within our hands. Why do you
cDinphiin that our young men have fired at your soldiers and
kilNid your cattle and your horses ? You yourselves are the
cause of this. You marched your armies into our country and
built forts here, though we told you again and again that we
wished you to remove. My brothers, this land is ours, and not
yours. My brothers, two days ago we received a great belt of
wiiinpum from the Ottawas of Detroit, and the message they
8eiit us was in these words : ' Grandfathers, the Delawares by
this belt inform you that in a short time we intend to pass in
a very great body through your country, on our way to strike
the English at the forts of the Ohio. Grandfathers, you kno'vv
us to be a headstrong people. We are determined to stop at
nothing, and as we expect to be very hungry we will seize and
eat up everything that comes in our way.' Brothers, you have
heard the words of the Ottawas. If you leave this place imme-
diately, and go home to your wives and children, no harm will
come of it; but if you stay you must blame yourselves alone
for what may happen. Therefore, we desire you to remove."
Capt. Ecuyer replied, saying the forts were built to supply
the Indians with necessaries. He refused to leave the place,
and closed his remarks as follows : " I have warriors, pro-
visions and ammunition to defend it three years against all the
Indians in the woods, and we shall never abandon it as long as
a white man lives in America. I despise the Ottawas, and am
very much surprised at our brothers the Delawares for pro-
posing to us to leave this place and go home. This is our
home. You have attacked us without reason or provocation.

lit

TIIK LIVM or lllNIIAd AMI) riMlUMMKH:

I! <

You have niiirdortHl uiui plundcrpd (»ur wnrrion* ami treclflm.
You have taken our liorHOH and cuttU% and at tlut Mamu timu yoii
tell us your luwrtH are good towanlH your brethren the Kngliidi.
How can I have faith in you? Tlieret'ore now, brothers, I will
advise you to go home to your town, and take i-are of your
wiveH and children. Moreover, I tell you that if any of you
appear again almut this fort I will throw lM)inb ithelU, which
will burst and blow you to atoms, and fire cannons among you,
loaded with a whole bagful of bullets ; therefore take care, for
1 don't want to hur*. you."

The chief departed in wrath, and on the night of the follow-
ing day the Indians appeared before the fort in groat numbers
aod began a general attack.

»?

.».,:

OUAPTEn XIV.

i 1

Tub Wab on tiir Bohdrmh— Th« MAHcn or Death— Tnic TBHiiirtKD
[niiabitanth Pi.RKimi to thb Oi.drr Town«— Hoiiqukt'b Armt

AT OARMHr.R — AnVKNTITHKH or Voi.ITNTBKRi— HirUNINO SETTLK.

MKNTB— Tiir Hatti.k ok Rubiit UtrN — Dihtrkm and Danokr vr
rnK Troop*— TiiK Victory.

Lravtng Fort Pitt for the preBPnt, let n» turn to ohaerve the
cventH that were trftiiKpirinjf in other quarterH. All along the
wef«torn t'ronticrH of Virginia and Pennsylvania, slaughter and
Hiiffering held full Hwny. Indian Bcalping parties were pasBlng
t(» mid fro through the country, murdering men, women and
children. It will be seen that nearly all the tribes east of the
Mi>)8issippi had now engaged in the war ex(%pt the Six Nations,
and oven the Senecas, the (^ayugas, and the Tuscaroras, l)eIong-
iiig to this confederacy, took part in it. Had it not been for
the timely influence of Sir William Johnson, in quelling the
spirit of the other nations of the Iroquois confederacy, the
war would have been very much more disastrous.

News of the war now spread to the older eastern settlements
and created great alarm. It soon bettame known that nine
forts had fallen into the liands of the Indians. Sir Jeffery
Amherst now, for the first time, saw clearly that all the
western tribes had united against the English. He had but
few soldiers at his command, and those who could be mustered
were required to strengthen the garrisons that still held out.
A reinforcement was therefore sent to Niagara, and a detach-
ment under Capt. Dalzell was added to the garrison of Detroit,
as we have already seen.

Col. Bouquet, who commanded at Philadelphia, mustered a
force of five hundred men, and with a large supply of provis-
ions and ammunition, he set out for Fort Pitt. He reached
8 (113)

114

TIIK I.IVm or ntNTIAO ANI> tKrHMMKIi:

OnrlUIn on t\w Hmt of July, whcm li» t'oiind tlio whole coiintrj
in n iHinic. Kvury Mlioltor in t\w nottlitinunt whm crowdod with
thu fHtnilictot'Matlorv who hml iUnl (Voin thuir hoinet to CRrape
the «uvu^*«. No hoHtilo Indiiiiiit hiul yiit npiM'tinnl in tliii
noi^hlntrhocxl, hut on 8uii<lny, th» third ot' July, u Holdiur catiie
ridinf( into t\w town witii th» inti'lli^nictt thut I'n*B({U» Ulo,
U^ Hocut' iiud Vunun^o had lN>(>n tukon, nnd thiit tho warrion
w«ru then udvHnRing on CarliHio. ThiH nowM throw thu Hottlu-
niont into connturnation. The crowded houMw and harnii pro-
oented a Hcenu of lively (M)mmotion. From every quarter the
■ettlem iK)urod in until the country had Imhmi deitertod for
miles in every direction. Soon the rumor wan net on foot that
the Indians had come. Some of the fugitiveH had seen the
tmoke of burr)in|f( dwellings rising from the distant valioyi,
others came breathlessly in from the very scene of massacre.
A party of the inhabitants went out to warn the living and
bury the dead. Arriving at Sherman's Valley they found
fields laid waste, stacks of wheat on Hre, and the houses still
in tliimcs, and they grew sick with horror at seeing a group uf
hogs tearing and devouring the bodies of the dead. Every
where in this broad valley the work of destruction was com.
plete. They marched on and on, but as far as the eye could
•ee the smoke was curling upwards from the smouldering
rnins of settlers' houses. The Indians ha<l made a clean sweep,
and it was only now and then that one escaped to tell the
liorrifying story of the massacre of his family. One came in
with the report that he and seven others were setting at the
table in a cabin of a settler on the Juniata. Four or five
Indians burst the door and fireil among them, and then beat
down the survivors with the butt of their rides. One of the
men leaped from his seat, snatched up a loaded gun that
chanced to be standing in the corner, and discharged its con-
tents into the breast of an Indian, and then leaping through a
window made good his escape. He fled through the tbretits
to a settlement, where he related the news, and immediately
twelve men volunteered to cross the mountains and warn the
settlers of the Tuscarora valley, but upon reaching it they
found that tlie enemy had been there before them. Many of

ON, TIIK IIOKhRR WAK8 (>f TWO crKNTrKIKN.

115

thu hoiiicii W(>ro ittill on Hr<>, (/then w«<r^ Htamlinf(. Upon
vnturin^ thoM« » f^linKtly t^O'^tie whn pr^fMiUHl. Tito dtwd mid
iiinn^U'd iNHlioM wura >truwn npon the flo(>r«« And tho t'lirnituro
WAN Htflinod with huiiinn hUnHl. T\i*<y tnrnctl awa^, f}|l(Hl with
horror. Tho ndvoiitiiruri cntno upon ont^ htMiHu where tho
IndiiuiM had h«tld h tmitt only n fow hourM prcvluus. A lar^u
nunilKjr of cnttlo hud \wimi killfd, thu iru'ut roiiMtud, aiid, tittiT
t)i(>y had i'at(>n to their Nutitd'action, they liacl tied. l*umuiiif(
thoir uoiirM), the white men noon came within a tew ro<lii of tho
cnoiiiy. Tliey here holdly rcnolve<l to ovorUike them and too,
if poHiiihIo, what dir<w<!tion they were purauliiK. Tlie trail led
tliein into a thicket, where, as Ho<m as they had entered it, they
won« nurprl»ed hy a volU»y of munketry, and fotir of thoir
uiitnher were nhot down. Tliirty warriont rose tVom thoir
hi<iinf; places and rmthod upon them. The white men returned
their fin> and then fled in all directions. A hoy named Chariot
Eliot waH among tho numl)cr. As he ran, plunging through
the thickets, ho heard his pursuers close Miind. lie seized
his powder horn and poured the contents into his gun, drop-
ping a hullet in after it without using a ramrod, and wheeling
ahout he discharged his gun into tho hreast of tho Indian who
had now advanced to within three or four yards from him.
He then continut><l his flight, leaving tho Indian in the agonies
of death, but at tho next moment a faint voice earnestly called
uut his name. Turning to the spot he beheld one of his com*
panions stretched helplessly on tho ground. Ho had boon
mortally wounded by the first shot from tho Indians, but had
advanced thus far before his strength gave out. Eliot
approached him but could offer no assistance. Tho dying man
looked up into t)ie face of his comrade, saying: *' Here, Charley,
take my gun, whenever you see an Indian kill him with it, and
then I shall be satisfied." Eliot and several others of tho party
escaped to the settlement. They reported what thoy had seen
and experienced, which added another cloud of liorror to tho
desolating news that was hourly coming in from all points on
the frontier. Several other parties went out, and one of thorn,
commanded by tho sheriff of the place, encountered a band of
Indians, defeated them, and brought away many scalps.

116

THE LIVKfl OF I'ONTrAf) AND TKCHMflKli:

The aettlerH now became frantic with iihinn, and many of
them left Carlisle and ])U8hed rapidly towards Lancaster and
Philadelphia. "Carlisle," says a reliable author, "presented a
most deplorable spectacle. A multitude of refugees, unable
to find shelter in the town, had encamped in the woods or on
the adjacent fields, erecting huts of branches und bark, and
living on such charity as the slender met. .8 of the townspeojjle
could 8up])ly. Passing among them, one would have witnessed
every form of human misery. In these wretched encamp,
ments were men, women and children, bereft, in one stroke, of
friends, of home, and the means of supporting life. Some
stood aghast and bewildered at the sudden and fatal blow,
others were sunk into the apathy of despair, others were weep-
ing and mourning with irrepressible anguish."
' The multitude s/ere now threatened with famine, and crowds
of them flocked to the tents of Bouquet soliciting food, which
he gave them.

In the meantime, the march of the little army had been con-
siderably delayed. This was owing to the fact that, the
necessary horses and wagons could not be procured, without
returning to the older towns. After a delay of eighteen days
Bouquet broke up his camp and marched towards Fort Pitt.
As the little army passed through (Carlisle, the frightened
inhabitants crowded around them, and, no doubt, fervently
prayed for their success. Bouquet's march was truly a bold
adventure. In his front lay a vast wilderness, filled with fero-
cious warriors, who, from their secret shelters, would shoot
down his soldiers at every turn. Tlie meinories of former days
came up to weigh upon the stout heart of this gallant officer.
He was about to march through a wild country upon whose
bosom slept the ])ones of Braddock and the hundreds of brave
soldiers who fell around him. The numbers of the latter far
exceeded Bouquet's whole foi'ce, while, on the other hand, there
were now a hundred warriors prowling the lonely woods to one
when Braddock penetrated them. With one or two exceptions,
the soldiers under Bouquet's command were wholly inexpe-
rienced in the perils of border warfare. To say the least, the

<■ V

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO OENTURira.

117

great end which he had set out to accoinpliBh could not,
apjHirently, be achieved with so small a force.

Let us, for a single moment, glance at this brave officer who
waH now, in the eyes of all around liim, leading his army into
tlie jaws of death. Henry liouquet was a Swiss by birth,
ills military career began when a boy. Previous to the war
between France and England, he held a commiHsion under the
King of Sardinia, but when tliat struggle began, in 1755, he
was engaged in the service of the King of Holland. At this
time the Duke of Cumberland formed a plan to organize a
corps to serve in the provinces, and to be called the Eoyal
Americans. Bouquet accepted a position as Lieutenant Colonel
in this regiment, and his services soon proved of great value.
" His person was line, his bearing composed and dignified."
Ev(U"yvvhere in the provinces, and more especially in Pennsyl-
vania, he was regarded with profound respect. He was a good
English scholar, and could write with ease, and in a style of
great purity. As a soldier, he was active, courageous and
faithful. Withal, he had acquired a practical knowledge of
Indian warfare. Brave as a lion, he would often, when the
most dangerous passes were to be made, advance to the front
of his men, and, With no other guard than his musket, lead
the way like the boldest Indian warrior.

The army marched along the beautiful valley of the Cum-
berland. On every hand could be seen ruins, marking the
deeds of savage cruelty. At length they reached Shippens-
burg, about twenty miles from Carlisle. Here, as at the latter
place, were congregated a large number of pioneers, who had
fled in terror from the scene of blood and slaugliter.

From the latest advices, it now appeared that Fort Ligonier
was about to fall into the hands of the Indians who were
besieging it, and Bouquet resolved to send a detachment to its
relief. For this purpose, thirty of the best men were selected,
and ordered to force their way over the desolate mountains.
Accordingly the party set out. Marching day and night, they
at length came in sight of the hapless fort. It was surrounded
by savages who were firing upon it. The adventurers made a

118

THE lilVKH OK 1H)NTIA0 AND TEHUMSEH:

rush for the gate, and, although liotly charged upon by the
Indians, entered it without losing a man.

Biit, meanwhile, the bulk of Bouquet's army moved slowly
on towards Fort Pitt. Thoy had now entered a country where,
up to this time, no Englishman had over ventured — the honje
of the fiercest warriors. '' Far on their right stretched the
green ridges of the Tuscarora, while, in front, mountain beyond
mountain rose high against the horizon. Climbing heights,
and descending into the valleys, passing the two solitary posts
of Littleton and the Juniata, both abandoned by their garri-
sons, they came in sight of Fort Bedford, hemmed in by
encircling mountains."

Bouquet's arrival was a happy event for the tired and worn
garrison. They had long been besieged by a swarm of Indi-
ans. Around this post, the work of scalping and murdering
the settlers had been carried on until the forests rang with tlie
Bcalp yells of a thousand savages. All had been killed
who failed to escape within the gates of the little fort. The
commandant, Capt. Ourry informed Bouquet that for several
weeks he had been unable to hear from the garrison at Fort
Pitt. The last accounts left it closely besieged by a thousand
warriors. Aller resting his men for three days at this post,
Bouquet continued his march, and was soon buried in the wil-
derness. The forest was dense, affording a good opportunity
for ambuscades. In the advance were the provincial rangers,
closely followed by the pioneers. The wagons and cattle were
in the centre, guarded in front, flank and rear by the regulars.
Tlie rear was guarded by another company of rangers. The
riflemen, acting as scouts, ranged through the woods far in
front and at either flank. In this order the courageous army
marched on; up, up the rugged side of the Alleghany Moun-
tains. It was in the middle of July, and the heat was intol-
erable, but they toiled on, crossing the mountains, and, at
length, reaching Fort Ligonier. At their advance the Indians
fled in disorder, and Bouquet marched quietly up to the fort.

At this place he left the cattle, and some of the heaviest
luggage, and resolved to make forced marches towards Fort
Pitt. Thus relieved, the army pursued its course. At no

OR, THU BORDUR WAR8 oK TWO 0KNTURIIC8.

119

great distance in their front were the dangerous passes of the
Turtle Creek. At this point Bouquet expected to encounter
tiic enemy, and he therefore pushed on towards Bushy Run,
hoping to cross Turtle Creek during the night. They toiled
oil, weary and foot-sore. At length the tired army was within
Imlf u mile of Bushy Run. Here they were to rest, preparatory
to making the forced march through the dangerous defiles of
Turtle Creek, but, when within a few rods of the coveted spot,
the report of rifles from the front surprised the army. Alas I
they had met the enemy. As they listened the reports become
quicker, and now the fierce war-whoop resounded through the
woods. The advanced guard was hotly engaged. Two com-
panies were at once ordered to its support, but as the firing
increased, indicating that the enemy had appeared in a large
force, the army halted, the troops formed in line, and a charge
was ordered. " Bearing down through the forest with fixed
bayonets, they drove their yelping assailants before them, and
swept the ground clear." But no sooner had this been done
than a volley of musketry poured in upon them from either
flank, and from the rear. Charging upon the enemy in the
rear, they routed the savages in that quarter, and immediately
surrounded their teams. In the distance, on every side they
could hear the whoopings of the savages, and at every moment
the report of their guns sounded out through the trees. Again
and again, now on this side and now on that, a crowd of Indi-
ans rushed up, pouring in a heavy fire, and striving with
ferocious outcries to break into the circle. At every attempt
a well directed charge met them, putting them to flight. Few
of the Indians were hurt, while the English suffered severely
Thus the fight went on, without intermission, for several hours,
until the darkness of night gathered round them. Now the
Indians slackened their fire, withdrawing from the scene of
action.

The soldiers now encamped on the spot where the battle had
taken place. Numerous sentinels were stationed at a suitable
distance from the camp in every direction.

Bouquet now feeling confident that they would be attacked
on the following morning, and fearing that he would not sur-

120

IIIK MVKH OK IX»NT1A(! AND TKCUM8KII :

vive the battle, wrote a short letter to Sir .left'ery Amherst,
>fiving an account of the dnyV events and dosing as t'oUows:
•' Wiiatever our fate may l)e, 1 tliought it necessary to give
your excellency this early inforimition, that you nuiy, at all
events, take such measures as you nuiy think ])n>i)er with the
provinces for their own safety and the effectual relief of Fort
Pitt, as, in case of another engagement, I fear insurmountahle
ditHculties in protecting and transporting our provisions,
being already so much weakened by the losses of this day in
men and horses, besides the additional necessity of carrying
the wounded, whose situation is truly deplorable." In this
action about sixty soldiers and several officers had been killed
or wouTided. During the fight the wounded were brought
into an open space in the centre and surrounded by bags of
flour to ward ofi' the bullets. In this situation they were com-
pelled to lay helpless, suffering the agonies of thirst, for there
was no water near at hand. Should their comrades be defeated,
a fate inexpressibly terrible would immediately follow. The
c<mdition of those who still survived was but little better.
They were surrounded by a large number of savages, who were
leaping from tree to tree in the full hope of success. Eight
years before, in these very forests, they had destroyed nearly
twice their number of British soldiers. They were now thirst-
ing after the blood of Bouquet's army.

No fires were built in the camp of the English; nothing to
break the thick darkness that hovered over them. All was
still as the grave throughout the night, but with the dawn of
the following day a burst of Indian yells went up on every
side. In another instant they opened fire upon them. The
bullets now flew thick in every direction and the soldiers fell
dead on every hand. Volley after volley poured in until many
had perished. As on the previous day the 1 nclians would rush
up, endeavoring to bi'eak the ring, but in every such attempt
they were driven buck in disorder. The troops were now
suffering from thirst as well as from the deadly fire of the
enemy, while in the interior of the camp the scene was all con-
fusion. The horses became mad with terror as the bullets flew
among them. They would break away by scores, and leaping

o|{, TJIK liOKIHiIK WAK8 OK TWO ('KNTUKJKH.

through the rin^ and paHsiiig the HHvngeH in their mad course,
tliev wouhl Kooii (lisapijear in the thickeHt of tlie woods.

At ten o'cl(»ek the ring wiiich encircled the convoy began to
wuvi-r. The Holdiers were falling fast. Houquet looked on in
mkIik'ss for a* moment, and then, conceiving a stratagem, he
l»iiy;htened with hope. It was plain that if the Indians could
be brought together in a l)ody anil be made to stand their
ground that he would soon gain the day. To eti'ect this he
resolved to increase their confidence. Two companies were
onlered to fall back into the interior of the camp, while the
troops on either hand joined across the vacant space, as if to
cover the retreat of their comrades. The orders were no sooner
olteyed than the Indians, seeing that the line had weakened,
leaped from behind the trees and rushed headlong to the Rssault.
The shock was unbearable. The men struggled to maintain the
line, but the Indians seemed on the point of breaking their
way through it, when the situation of affairs took a sudden
change. The movement is described in a thrilling manner by
Mr. Parkman:

" The two companies who had apparently abandoned their
positions, were in fact destined to begin the attack, and they
now sallied out from the circle at a point where a depression
in the ground, joined to the thick growth of trees, concealed
them from the eyes of the Indians. Making a short detour
through the woods they came round upon the flank of the
furious assailants and discharged a deadly volley in their very
midst. Numbers were seen to fall; yet, though completely
surprised and utterly at a loss to understand the nature of the
attack, the Indians faced about with the greatest intrepidity
and boldly returned the fire; but the Highlanders, with yells
as wild as their own, fell on them with the bayonet. The shock
was irresistible aiid they fled before the charging ranks of this
tumultuous throng. Orders had been given to two other com-
panies occupying a contiguous part of the circle to support
the attack whenever a favorable moment should occur, and
they had, therefore, advanced a little from their position and
lay close, crouched in ambush. The fugitives, pressed by the
Highland bayonets, passed directly across their front, upon

i "It

.'V

laa

TIIK LIVK8 OF PONTIAO AND TECUMHKIl :

which they arose atid poured among them a second volley.no
less destructive than the former. This completed the rout.
The four companies uniting drove the flying savages through
tlie woods, giving them no time to rally or reload their empty
rifles, killing many and scattering the rest in hopeless coq.
fusion."

In another part of the field both t le soldiers and the In-
dians maintained their positions during this movement, but
when the Indians saw their comrades totally routed they lost
their courage and fled. In a few moments the whooping ceased
and the Indians had all disappeared, leaving behind many
dead. In both battles the English had lost eight officers and
one hundred and fifteen men.

Owing to the loss of many of the horses, they were now
unable to transport all the stores. The surplus was destroyed,
and again the army, broken and haggard, moved on towards
Fort Pitt, which they reached on the tenth of August. The
fort, which had been closely besieged for nearly a month, was
now deserted and Bouquet entered it without opposition.

CHAPTER XV.

DiRABTKR AT THE DeVII/8 HoI-B— FaTK OF WiI.KINB' DkTACIIMKKT —

The FnoNTiEiis ok Viuoinia and Pknnbvlvania — SiiAUoiiTER or
THE Settlkmentb — Teuuihi.e Bcknes anu Inoiobntb of Boudeb
Wahkaub — Desolation — The Defenseb.

Bbfokk leaving the provincial frontier and passing along
with the events of border warfare towards the far west, I must,
in order to perfect the narrative, mention briefly the events
that compelled the savages in all quarters east of the Missis-
sippi to sue for peace. While Dalzell was marching against
the strongholds of Pontiac, and Bouquet forcing a bloody way
to Fort Pitt, Sir William Johnson was laboring judiciously to
Becure the friendship of the tribe« of the Six Nations. For
this purpose he sent deputies to all the villages in the lake
region, and indeed in the whole northwest, to invite the war-
riors to meet him in council at Niagara. The council was
largely attended by the people of the Six Nations, and, although
with reluctance, the Indians promised friendship for themselves
and also to make war on those tribes who were still in arms
against the English. The tribes of Canada were induced to
send a deputation to the western Indians, requesting them to
lay down the hatchet. The Iroquois also sent deputies among
the Delawares for the same purpose.

Notwithstanding these conciliatory measures, the frontier
settlements of New York suffered from the continued attacks
of the savages, for while one force was on foot to quell their
fur}', another was actively engaged to irritate it against the
English.

On the fourteenth of September, 1763, a train of wagons
and pack-horses was proceeding on a return trip from Fort
Schlosser, whither they had gone with supplies. When they

(123)

124

TIIK I.IVKN t\h |t)N'riA(1 ANI> TKCIiMHKIC

p ' fi

n'licluMl 11 point opjwjHiU) tliu DovH'h lIoUi tlu^ were grootod bj
u hlii/u of iniirtkvtry. T\\v ItorHott loiipod iiuully. On tho left
of tlio tmin, fur down tho uwfiil procipiw, liiy tho bhiek ^nlf,
whiln o\\ its right tho HiivagoH woro loupiiig from troo to tree
towiirdrt them, yolpiiig liko hloodhouudn. Tho twonty-tour
HoldiorH wiio giiiinioil tho tniin hohold dotitli on oithor Hide,
and propiired thoniHolvoH to niottt it. In u nioniont tho uwt'nl
ovi'ut WI18 ovor. Tho horsow phingo<l blindly int»> tho fih}sH,
tuid tho whole train foil, crurihing npon tho Khiirp rookH fur
bolow. Oidy thrwi oKcaptnl, among whom was Stodman, the
condnctor of tho train. Iloholding tho approacliing fato of tlif
convoy, he whoolod his horno and bravely Hpnrrod thro\igli the
crowd of IndianH. Flying through tho foroHtH at a high Hpood
he 80on reached Fort Schlossor, where he reported his loss. At
no great distance wore a party of soldiers, who had fortified a
cam}) near tho laixUng place. Those, hearing the report of
Indian riHes, and snspocting the real sitnation, hastentKl to the
relief of the convoy ; but tho Indians, having prepared for
their approach, soon routed them with great slaughter. As
they rushed along a party of savages leaped from their ambus-
cade and poured a volley of musketry among them, shooting
down fully half their number. Pursuing them hotly, the
Indians picked them oft', until only a few escaj)ed. These fled
to Niagara with the terrible account of their adventures.

Major Wilkins, on hearing it, immediately nuirched his wliole
garrison to the spot, but the Indians had gone. They gathered
the dead bodies of the scalpless soldiers together, to the number
of seventy, and beheld with inexpressible horror the awful
results of tlie ambuscade of the Devil's Hole.

The fury of the Senecas, who were the actors in this bold
attack, did not end with this. Not many days after, as Major
Wilkins was advancing to the relief of Detroit, on the river
above the great falls of Niagara, he was jtoimced u|)on by a
handful of these fierce warriors and driven back with disorder.
Recovering from this shock, Major Wilkins again started for
Detroit, but this time he was overtaken by a severe storm.
Nearly all the bateaux were overset, over seventy men perished,
and the few surviving boats returned to Niagara.

OK, TIIK IH)KI)KK WAKH or TWO CKNTUKIW.

126

Tlu< midor will \n>w obHorvo tlmt all th« troiitior settleinuiita
of the Kii^UhIi ciilonioM, and alno tlioHu of Canadu, wure in a
d«|»loriil)lo condition. Evurywhoro the slaughtor reigned with
unultiitiid fury. Scarcely au hour paHHed in which the newH of
80int> liorrihle inaHHacre did not Htartle tlie inhahitantH fioni
tbi'ir rtui:urity. Day and night tiiu war whoop sounthMl along
the outakirtriof the woodtt, and every moment a l>and of Indiaim
could bo w.'cn Hying acroHH Home open Hpace, with scalpH flut-
tering from their loins. Everywhere the people now Hed to
the forts for safety. The dwellings were deserted iiy their
owners, and btirned to the ground by the Indians. Hut happy
were those who escaped. Hundreds and thousands received
DO warning, and perished beneath the tomahawk. The ranging
parties who visited the scenes of slaughter beheld, in shapes
too horrible for description, the half consumed bodies of men,
women and children, still securely bound to the trees where
they had prayed for death amid tiery tortures.

While strong bands of warriors were daily besieging tlie
forts and harrassing the garrisons of the western forests, smaller
bnt no less fierce war parties were skulking among the border
woods, leaping out upon the settlements whenever an oppor-
tunity was presented, and murdering every Englishman, woman
and child who came in their way. It was, perhaps, from the
latter source that most of the suffering came upon the settle-
ments. Among these bands there was none more destructive
than one, about sixty in number, which ascended the Ken-
awhaand ravaged the settlements along the banks of that river.
From valley to valley they carried the bloody work, until every
English person in their course was scalped. Sometimes they
would take the unsuspecting families by surprise, but as often
they would slaughter them under the guise of friendship. Thus
they continued their march until they reached the little town
cf Greenbrier, where all the inhabitants, having received warn-
ing of their approach, had fortified themselves into the house
of Archibald Glendenning. Nearly one hundred people were
now crowded into this house. The savages appeared, and at
first seemed to be friendly. Some of them were admitted to
the house while others gathered in clouds outside. In one

TIIK I.IVM oil' l<i»NTIA(! AND IKCUMNKIi:

cornor of tho hotmo mit lut old ludy wlio hud rucuntly rocolvcd
aiili^lit injury. 8hn iiuiuii'ctl of onu of tliu wurriont whetlior
or not liu (!ould ciiru hur. llu ruplifxl by plun^in^ n knifu into
thu wound, killing hur inHtiintly. At thiH tho work of shui^h-
tur begun. Nunrly ull were killed und Moulped on the H[Nit.
Thu owner of thu house Hnutchcd up one of liiH children Hrul
rushed from the house, but meeting a bullet from one of the
Buvugeti on the outside, he fell dead in his trncks. A negro
woman leaped out of one of thu win<Iowri und run to a place
of uoncealment. She was followed by hur screaming children,
and fearing lest they should betray her to tho Indians, she
killed them on the spot. Such was tho awful liorror of the
moment !

Among those taken prisoners at this affray was ir.lie wife of
Olendunning, the mistress of tho house. She was a woman
of great fortitude, and far from allowing hur fears fiom over-
coming her, she began to abuse her captors for acting as thoy
had. "Neither the tomahawk which they brandished over
her head, nor the scalp of hur miirdered husband, with which
they struck hur in tho face, could silence the undaunted virago."

When the massacre had been finishc.l, the Indians captured
all the horses, and packing u]) the plunder, they started with a
large number of prisoners. Mrs. Cllendenning and her infant
child was placed among the ea])tive8. As they marched along
through the thick woods, she handed her child to a woman
who was walking beside her, and leaving it to a terrible fate,
she escaped through the woods. Before nightfall she returned
to the spot from whence they had started aTid beheld the
smouldering embers of her house. She found the dead body
of her husband and buried it beneath fence rails to protect it
from the wolves.

Not long after this butchery, a raan chanced to be passing
by a log school-house on the western frontier of Pennsylvania,
and being struck with its silence, he pushed open tho door and
looked within. "In the center lay the master scalped and
lifeless, with a Bible clasped in his hands, while around the
room were strewn the bodies of his pupils, nine in number,
miserably mangled, though one of them still retained a spark

OK, tni BoKniui WAKM or two oKirrt'KiKN.

IBT

oi lit'u.*' It wiiH utlurwiird* known that tlio horriblu dood had
btt'i) coiiiinittiHl liy itiiu ut' tlioMO buniU of Iiidiuni.

TliiiH I ini^ht ^o on until thu wholo vuluniu wum fillod with
liorrorM liitu tlu^Ho, hut 1 inuHt liBMtun to pUMh thu nnrrative
wcHtwiird to li latvr day. It will HutHcu, tliuruloru, to may that
evury dctiiil of thu war upon thu Huttluniunto wait lull of woo.
Evur^'whuru thu hand of thu Hurcu Indian was fult; uvur^^whuie
tlio {KHiplu full hack to tho oldur oitioH fur Hafuty or perished
bi)ii><ath thu Hculpinj^ knifu.

Gnu "t* tho gruat fuaturuH of tho sufferingB of thlH poriod
wax (>ridurud hy thoBu who wuru taken priHonuri) and conducted
to tlio Indian villagos. Thu torture whicli those unfortunate
porHouH endured will nuvcr Ihs told. Indeed, at this late day,
it is hotter that theso torinentH be paHHud over. Many of these
imrriitivos aru too full of horror to recuivo crcdenue, while
inoHt of thuni aru of a charauter that cannot fail to shock the
reader beyond endurance.

Ah thu nuwR of increasing disaster, as. well as flocks of refu-
gees, rea(;liud the eastern towns and cities, measures were taken
for tho relief of tlie frontier. Private contributions were made
for the relief of the suifurers, and the several provincial gov-
eriiinotits adopted such measures as tho situation scorned to
re([«iire. In this matter, however, Pennsylvania was rather
slow. There was a majority of Quakers in the assembly, and
therto singular persons wore unwilling to beliovo that tho out-
break of the Indians was not based upon good reasons. Thoy
however ])U88dd a bill for " raising and equipping a force of
seven hundred meti, to be composed of frontier farmers, and
to be kept in pay only during tho time of harvest. They were
not to leave the settled parts of the province to engage in
offensive operations of any kind, nor even to perform garrison
duty, their sole object being to enable the people to gather in
their crops unmolested." This force was distributed along
the whole frontier of Pennsylvania. Two companies assigned
to the defense of liancaster county were placed under the com-
mand of a clergyman, Rev. John Elder, pastor of the Presby-
terian church of Paxton. He is said to have discharged hi»
military duties in a highly satisfactory manner.

12H

TIIK I.IVM or |l>N-riA(. AND riMUtMftKli:

Tlio tVmhlo nii^Mnn^t iido]»twl by tho iiii«»mhly of Pnnnnyl.
vnriiii ('hIUmI out loud iliMApprovnl lM)tli uinoii^ tlit> {H'opU* cit'
thut {troviiuu^ iirid in tlio nfifj^hU)rin^ colotiittM. In Vir^inJH
thu Governor hiuI council lit oncti cull«><l out u tlHUiMund of tli«>
inilitin, Hv» liiintlriKl l>tuiif( pluciHJ uiuler (<olonitl StifpliuiiH uml
Hv» hun<lr(«(l undur Major \Aim*, T\h'M) forccH niurcluHl a^uiiiHt
the hoHtiU^ trih<>M on tht> Itordi^rx of Virginiu tind did ^^omj
iMTvice. Tluiy rout<*d tin) hhvii^dh nt «!very |M>int nnd r('*»tont|
c'ontidiMU'c tunoii^ the HvttU*rH.

Hut with lu>r f»!«'hlo (Icfonni'M PunnKvivtiniii cotitinuod t(»
mirtbr. 'V\\cy now no lon^tr wnitod for th<* action (^f their
govonimont, hut nrtnin^ tlunuMilvoH, they or^iini/tNl f<>r their
own dofonse. Thc«i) now forct^H w«r« directed u^aiiiHt tlin
SuM(|uehannn villn^uH, and after ^ivat (daughter tlci y were
dcfltroyud. An «xpc<lition wan ni>w Kct on foot ii^uiiiHt tli«
HottlurH of Wyoming on the caHt hranch of the SuH(|nehaiiiiu.
Tlio ohjcct of the expedition waH to remove thene Mettlerw who
had corne there contrary t4» the lawH of PenuHylvania, and to
destroy their corn and provihionn, which tni^ht otlierwine full
into the handrt of the enemy. The party started from llarrih'
Ferry under tho ctmimand of Major Clayton, tand reached
Wyoming on tho eeventeenth of ()ctt)l)er. They were too late.
Tho Indians had heen there before thom, and ii'(»w the settle-
ment was reduced to ashes. Tho bodies of its unfortunate
inmates were brutally mutilated. Twenty had boon killed or
captured. Having buried the dead botlles of those who had
perished in tho massacre, Clayton returned witli his party to
Pennsylvania. Notwithstanding these evidences of danger,
and that petitions from the borders were daily arriving, tho
Quakers remained firm in their inactive policy.

Sir Jeffery Amherst liad now resigned his office of Com-
mander-in-Chief, and General Gage was appointed in his place.

Before Amherst sailed for Kurope he had made a requisition
upon all the provinces for troops to march against the Indians
early in the spring of 1764, and as soon as Gage arrived he
contirmed this course. The retjuisition was complied with
and the troops were raised.

Cfl A VTKU XVI.

TitK MoHAViAN MiMioNa — TiiKiH Kkmovai. — Dimcui.TiM IN Hita
AUitU'iiiA — Advanok orTiiK I'axton Mkn -OnicAr Kxcitkimknt —

TllH (JUAKKIIM Voi.UNTItKHINU TO KnTKHTHK A HM V — 'I'll K DirVI-
CUI.TY HKTTI.KU.

In tiik autumn of 1708, tlio wur liml Mprciul from thu Curo-
liiiiM on tho Houth U> Novn Hcotiti on thu north txn<\ uiiMt.
Kvrrywhero in the ittterv(>ninf{ provinct'H thiMr honli-r Hottle-
nicntp worn Dorcly liurniHiMHl. Ovur two thouHtuui {MTHonH h»d
bc(!n killud, or (;nrrifld off, and nuiirly that numhor of f>imili«H
had h«HMi driven from thoir homeo. On th»' hordorn of Wmn-
Bylvunia, the outtlerH were now fighting the IndiiinH on the one
iiuiid and tho QuakorH on t)»o other. They deehired thuf the
latter would go fiirtiior to befriend a murdering Dehiwiire than
to protect tho borders. Thin feeling agaiuHt the QuiikerH wuh
not confined to the low. The magiBtrateH and tlu^ <ih»rgv wen
its principal votarioH. Tlie borderers in this section were now
placed between two firea, and they resolvt^d on vent. The Pax-
ton men, who, as we have already ween, were commanded by a
clergymen, led the way in this work. The slaughter of tho
Indians at tho Manor of Canestoga, and tho breaking of the
jail and murder of Indians at Fiancastcr, wore among the atroc-
ities which these fierce borderers, now goaded to desperation,
o|)enly committed. Mr. Elder, their leader, however, romon-
Btrated with them, but failed to dissuade them from their
dcHign. The tidings of his massacre threw the country into
excitement. Few regai-ded it as a willful and deliberate
crime, while many looked upon it as the mistaken act of rash
men, fevered to deB]>eration by wrongs and sufferings. Imme-
diiitely following these events, the war upon the borders
increased in violence, and the excitement, thmngliout the
9 (129)

i:iO

TItK MVKH OF fdNTIAO AND TKCUMHKli:

pntvinc'CH, hccoine deeper on account, of tlie circum8tance&
which, in tht? coiirrte of these thrilling events, now took pluce.
One of the most important of tliese was the policy pursued l)y
the provincial government towards the Indians belonging to the
Moravian Missions. The rea<ler no doubt remembers that, for
immy years previous to these events, the Moravians had
labored with good success among the Indians of Pennsylvania,
and had established several missions among them. Tliese
missions had been infested during the war of 1755. During
this struggle, the mission at Gradenhutten was besieged by
both English, French and Indians, and totally destroyed. The
other missions were permitted to remain undisturbed until the
opening of the Pontiac War, when they soon became objects of
distrust to the English. Therefore, soon after the massacre at
Canestoga, a party of drunken rangers, fired by the general
distrust of the Moravian Indians, murdered several of them,
whom they found sheltered in a barn. Not long aft^r this,
the same rangers were surprised and murdered by Indians,
supposed to be from the Moraviati villages, Nain and Wecque-
tauk, near the Lehigh, and from Wyalusing, near Wyoming.
The two former were, however, the objects of the greatest
hatred. The borderers now resolved to destroy these missions.
Accordingly, on the tenth of October, 1763, a party of armed
men encamped near Wecquetauk; for the purpose of making
an attack under cover of darkness. Before night had set in,
a severe storm came on, wetting the ammunition and defeating
the plan. On the following day, the (Christian Indians hear-
ing of the attempt of the previous evening, broke up and took
their flight.

Meantime, charges against the Moravian converts, had been
laid before the Assembly of Pennsylvania. It was therefore
resolved to disarm these Indians, and to remove them to a point
where it v-ould be impossible for them to commit further dep-
i»:dation8. Tlie order reached them on the first of November,
and the Indians, yielding up their arms, prepared to depart.
When assembled together for the march, their whole number
iid not exceed one hundred and twenty. On reaching Phila-
delphia, and, indeed, throughout the whole march, they were

OR, TMK liOKDKK WAKH OF TWO CEMTURIE8.

131

greeted with threatening mobs, whose fury it was difficult to
restrain. Here they were conducted to the barracks, which
had been intended to receive them, but the soldiers refused to
admit them, saying that they cared nothing for the order of
the Governor. All day the savages remained in front of the
barracks, surrounded by a multitude who continued to treat
them with abuse. As the soldiers could not be persuaded to
admit tliem, they took up their march for Province Island,
below the city. Here they occupied some waste buildings, and
received the friendship and attention of the Quakers, As they
marched through the city, the crowd followed them, hooting
at them from every corner.

The Paxton men now threatened that they would visit Phil-
adelphia and slaughter the Indians who had thus been placed
under government protection. Indeed, the threat was partially
carried out. Having increased their numbers, they resolved
to march on Philadelphia. But this had not been done unti)
every possible effort to elicit the protection of the government
had failed. On one occasion they sent a wagon load of the
scalped and mangled corpses of their friends and relations, who
had fallen at a recent Indian onset, but even the presence of
the awful spectacle failed to elicit decisive measures. They
now organized under Matthew Smith, and towards the last of
January took the road for Philadelphia. Their numbers
exceeded one thousand men. A part of their purpose was to
kill the Indians who had been placed on Province Island.
" They pursued their march in high confidence, applauded by
the inhabitants, and hourly increasing in numbers."

The news of this movement soon reached Philadelphia, and
the alarm spread among the Quakers like wild-fii*e. They sus-
pected the Indians to be the object of their mission, and, after
considerable parley, it was resolved to send thepi to New York,
where they could receive the protection of Sir William Johnson.
They were immediately removed, and escorted out of the city.
Arriving at Amboy, N. J., word was received that they would
not be permitted to enter the State of New York. A few
(lays after, the Governor of New Jersey ordered them to leave
tliat province. The distressed Indians therefore retraced their

THE MVKa OK IHINIIAO AND TKOrMHKIi:

Bteps to Philadelphia, where they arrived on the twenty-
fourth of January. This time the soldiers permitted them to
enter the harracks. Escorting those Indians came a detach-
ment of a hundred and seventy soldiers, which had been sent
by Gen. Gage from New York in compliance with the request
of Gov. Penn,

The situation in Philadelphia was now full of danger. No
time could be lost. The Quakers in the Assembly concurred
in a measure looking towards the most decisive defense, and
everywhere in the once pacific city, the greatest excitement
prevailed. Franklin was the moving spirit, and "under his
auspices, the citizens were formed into military companies, six
of which were of infantry, one of artillery, and two of horse.
Besides this force, several thousands of the inhabitants, includ-
ing many Quakers, held themselves ready to appear in arms at
a moment's notice." * i

But these preparations had not been completed when news
came in that the Paxton men were advancing within a short
distance of the city. Arriving at Germantown, and hearing
of the preparations that had been made for their reception,
they concluded to advance no further. Meanwhile Philadelphia
was t\ill of excitement. Cannon were placed before the bar-
racks, the soldiers called out, the citizens armed, and everything
made ready. At length a deputation, headed by Franklin,
went out and interviewed the Paxton boys. The result of this
conference was that Matthew Smith and James Gibson were
appointed on the part of the borderers to lay their grievances
before the Assembly. Redress was promised, and the frontier-
men retired. The Indians remained secure within the garr son,
although before the end of the year more than one-third of
their number died with small-pox.

CHAPTER XVII.

Bradbthket'8 Expedition — The Council at Ntaoara — Pkaob
Treaties — Bradbtreet at Detroit — Counoil with tub Indians —
Peace Concluded — Canadians Punished — Miohilimackinao Oar-
BisoNED— Fate of Capt. Morris — Bradbtreet Returns.

Eably in the spring of 1764 it was resolved to send two
armies into the Indian country to " beat them into submis-
sion " and bind them as firm as possible by treaties. The
coii^mand of the first was entrusted to Col. Bouquet, who, as
we have seen, was now well acquainted with the mode of Indian
warfare. He received orders to advance to Fort Pitt, and from
thence to penetrate the wilderness as far as the Delaware and
Shawanee villages and destroy them. The other army, which
Col. Bradstreet was to c nmand, was to ascend the lakes and
force the tribes around Detroit into complete submission.

I shall not stop here to give any details as to how these
armies were raised or equipped, but enter at once into an
account of their fortunes and failures. The army under Brad-
street left Albany on the first of June and moved toward Nia-
gara over the usual route. Arriving at this place they found
the plains beyond thickly dotted with the wigwams of the
Indians. Not many months previous, in the autumn of 1763,
Sir William Johnson had sent his messengers to the tribes in
all parts of the Northwest, warning them that in the spring a
large army was coming to destroy them, and urging all who
desired peace to meet him at Niagara. The defeat and sufier-
ings of the Indians during the early part of the winter com-
bined to urge a hearty acceptance of his proposal, and many
warriors now set out for the council at Niagara.

Alexander Henry, of whose adventures at Michilimackinao
the reader has already been informed, was at the Sant Ste.

(133)

TIIK MVKH OK HONTfAO ANH TK(1UM8KII :

Harie with a party of OjibwaB when a canoe tilled with the
deputies of Sir Williatn Johnson arrived. A council was held
at wliich one of the deputies delivered the following speech;
" My friends and brothers, I am come with this belt from our
great father, Sir William Johnson. lie desired me to oome to
you as his ambassador and tell you that he is making a great
feast at Fort Niagara; that his kettles are all ready an<l his
fires lighted. He invites you to })artako of the feast in com-
mon with your friends the Six Nations, who liave all made
peace with the English. He advises you to seize this oppor-
tunity of doing the same, as you cannot otherwise fail of being
destroyed, for the English are on their march with a great
army, which will be joined by different nations of Indians. In
a word, before *,he fall of the leaf they will be at Michilimack-
inac, and the Six Nations with them."

The Ojibwas had just received a message from Pontiac, at
Detroit, urging them to join him against that post, and now
the messenger from Sir William Johnson caused them to waver.
Many of them were in favor of act jpting the last invitation
to go to Niagara; but, unwilling to depend upon their own
judgment in the matter, they sought to be guided by the
spirit of the Great Turtle, the chief of all the spirits. For
this purpose they erected a large wigwam, quite large enough
to accommodate all the inhabitants of the place. Within thih.
in the centre, they built a sort of tabernacle, covering it with
hides. With the approach of night all the warriors gathered
into the wigwam and waited for the coming of the spirit. The
magician, stripped almost naked, now entered the little tent in
the centre. This was only large enough to receive him. At
once the curious demonstration began. The little tent began
to shake and a hideous voice sounded from within. This was
supposed to be an evil spirit. Presently this ceased and a
whining cry was heard in its place. The warriors sent up a
cry of joy, declaring it to be the voice of the Great Turtle. It
being now declared that the spirit was ready to answer ques-
tions, the principal chief asked if it would be wise to accept
the invitation of Sir William Johnson. "Sir William John-
son," said the spirit, " will fill your canoes with presents, with

OB, TIfK BORDER WARS OF TWO rENTURIKH.

135

blankets, kettles, guns, gunpowder and sliot, and large barrels
of rum, such as the stoutest of the Indians will nut be able to
lift, and every man will i*eturn irt safety to his family." To
this the cry was sent up from the multitude, " 1 will go, 1
will go!"

Accordingly they set out on their journey for Niagara, to
wlilch point hundreds of savages were now traveling. Thus
they gathered in from all quarters until around Fort Niagara
tlie assembly increased to at least four thousand Indians.
Among them were the Menomonies, Ottawas, Ojibwas, ^.ns-
sissaugas, Oaughnawagas, Wyandots, Iroquois, Such, Foxes and
Osages. With this large force of savages, many of whom were
hy no means friendly, it was necessary to observe the greatest
ciintion to prevent a rupture.

Notwithstanding the tribes were fully represented, there
still remained many hostile Indians, who were already moving
towards the frontier settlements with uplifted hatchets. Among
these were the Delawares and Shawanoes, against whom Bou-
quet was now marching. These were already moving against
the settlements on the borders of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Before the council could proceed Johnson sent for the Senecas,
who, it would seem, were not disposed to put in an appearance.
The messenger was told to inform them that unless they came
to Niagara immediately, a strong army would march against
them and destroy them utterly. This message had full effect.
The Senecas sent a full deputation, accompanied by several
prisoners. Tlie council now began. A treaty was made with
this nation in which they agreed never again to lift the hatchet
against the English. They also, by this treaty ceded a strip
of land between Lakes Ontario and Erie, bordering on the
Xiagara river. A treaty was next made with the Wyandots,
from Detroit. They were to deliver up their prisoners, and
for the future continue peaceful. Councils were now held with
each tribe in turn and treaties made. This occupied several
days, during which the ground around Fort Niagara presented
a lively appearance.

During all this time Bradstreet's army had been detained at
Niagara. It was feared tliat some of the warriors would

186

THU I.IVKH or lltNilAt; AND TKCHMHKIi:

attack the fort, uiid that, nhonid the troops leave, the vast
number of suva^eM in the neigliborhood might form a dodign
to Hiaughter the garrison. On the sixth of August, Johnson
departed for OHwego, and, soon after, the Indians disappear-
ing, Bradstreet proceeded on his way towards Detroit. About
tliree hundred Canadians and as many Indians accompanied
the army, in arms. It was believed that the Indians would be
discouraged at seeing the French on the side of the English.

Alexander Henry, who accompanied the Ojibwa deputies
from the Saut Ste. Marie, commanded the Indian forces. He
iiad received the appointment on account of his extensive
acquaintance among the savages to whose country Bradstreet
was now marching.

Reaching Presque Isle, the command was met by a strag.
gling band of warriors, who styled themselves deputies from
the Delawares and Shawanoes. They said they had been sent
to sue for peace in the name of these nations. They were
suspected as spies by all but tlie commanding ofiicer, who, not
only foolishly entered into a treaty with them, but sent a mes-
senger to I^uquet, informing him that tlie Delawares and
Shawanoes had been reduced to submission without his assist-
ance, and that he might discontinue his march towards Fort
Pitt. Bouquet was indignant at this message, and took no
notice of it. Everywhere on the border slaughter reigned
almost undisputed.

Passing on to Sandusky, Bradstreet was met by a deputation
. from the Wyandots, Ottawas and Miamis dwelling in that
neighborhood, and, although he had been instructed to destroy
their villages, he now entered into a treaty with these Indians,
promising not to injure them, on the conditions that they
would never again lift the hatchet against the English. At
this place Bradstreet dispatched Capt. Morris, with a few
friendly Canadians and Indians, to persuade the Indians in the
country of the Illinois to treat for peace with the English.
The fate of Morris' detachment will be seen in the course of
the narrative.

On the twenty-sixth of August, the army undpr Bradstreet's
command arrived at Detroit, where it received a most hearty

OR, TIIK nOKDKB WARH OK TWO (iKNTruiKS.

18T

welcome. At the earliest postiihle inottietit the garrison watt
relieved, and tresh troops substituted iu their place. The
Ciinadiaiis who had ai<led Pontiac in the war were next tried,
t'uinid guilty, and j)unished. Many of them, however, had fled
tu Illinois, and thus escaped punishment.

Hrudstreet next summoned the surrounding tribes to a
council, which was held in the open air, on the seventh of
S'^ptcniher, and at which a general peace was concluded. He
next despatched Capt. Howard, with a strong detachment, to
take possession of Michilimackinae. Howard performed this
duty, meeting with no resistance whatever. He also sent
parties to garrison the posts at Green Bay and Saut Ste. Marie.

Let us now see what had become of Capt. Morris and hi»
expedition. Soon after leaving the army at Sandusky, he
arrived at the camp of Pontiac, on the Maumee. Here the
Ottawa chief plundered the expedition of everything except
their arms and clothing, and suffered them to depart. On
every liand Morris was treated with contempt, and being men-
aced with death should he attempt to continue his journey
towards Illinois, he set out for Detroit, hoping to find Brad-
street there. In this hope he was disappointed. Morris was
informed that his commander had gone down to Sandusky^
but he refused to follow him.

While at Sandusky, Bradstreet received a letter from Gen.
Gage, disapproving of the course he had taken, and ordering
him to march against the Indian village on the Scioto. This
intelligence, together with the news of Capt. Morris' failure
was too much for the temper of the commander. Kefusing ta
obey the orders of his superior officer, on the pretext that the
season was too far advanced, he returned home, with his
broken and J isheartened army. ^ t

CHATTEIl XVIII.

Bouqitet'h Ahmt in tiik Indian Counthy— Hk Himiimikh tiik Dru-

WAKKH AND SlIAWANOKH — 8cKNKH AT TIIK KnUI.IMII CaMP — TwO
IIUNDRKU 1*KI80NKI18 GiVKN UP— RkTUUN OK TIIK Kxi'KlHTKHll.

Turning our attention once more to the borders of PenuByl-
vania, we find Indian war-parties active in the work of deso-
lating the Bettlemente. 80 de8))erate had the Bavages now
become that the English Governor of Pennsylvania issued a
proclamation offering a high bounty for Indian scalpt*, whether
of men or women. As might be Buppose<l, this measure pro-
duced additional butcheries. Among thewe I will cite that
perpetrated by David Owens. Several yeai-s previous he had
deserted and joined the Indians. One day early in the spring
of 1764 he came to the settlements, bringing with him a young
man recently taken prisoner by the Delaware^. While living
amon^ the Indians Owens had formed a connection with one
of their women, who had borne him several children. He now
resolved to return to the settlements, and to carry with him a
number of scalps. One night he had been encamped on the
Susquehanna with a party consisting of four Shawanoe warriors,
a boy of the same tribe, his own wife and two children, and
another Indian woman. The prisoner already mentioned was
also present. In the middle of the night Owens arose, and
finding all fast asleep he awakened the prisoner and told him
his intentions, requesting him to go out a little way and lie
quietly concealed until he had finished his bloody work. Owens
then removed the weapons from the sides of the savages, and
hid them in the woods. Returning he knelt on the ground
between two of the unconscious warriors, and pointing a rifle
at the head of each, touched the triggers and shot both dead
at once. The two surviving warriors sprang up and ran for

(138)

OR, TIIK BOKr)l<:U WAKM «)F TW<» CKNTntlKH.

189

their Hvch, whilu the wuiiiun und children, heiiuinhud with ter-
ror, had no power to OHcupe, and one und hU died, Hhrieking
beneath the tomahawk. Having completed the Hlau^hter he
gat down among the dead and waited patiently for tiio dawn.
Art moon as it waH light he scalped the dead, excepting the two
cliildren,and left for the settleinentH, which he reached in nafety,
ill company with the young man who had been held a priHoner
in the camp.

BoiKpUit WU8 now on the march with Iuh army. On the tifth
of AugUHt he readied CarliHle. Hit) force coiiMinted of five
imndred rcgularB, mo»t of whom had fought with iiitn at the
battle of Bushy Run, a thousand Penn sylvan ians, and a corps
of Virginia riflemen. The army now advanced to Fort Loudon,
where Uouquet received a letter frotn Bradstreet, informing
him that he could return with his army, as peace had already
been concluded with the Delawares and Shawanoes. As before
mentioned, Bouquet took no notice of the communication, but
pushed forward towards Fort Pitt, where he arrived on the sev-
enteenth of September. Immediately after his arrival a party
of Delawares appeared on the opposite bank of the river, pro-
fessing to be sent as deputies from their nation to treat of peace
with the English. After some hesitation three of them came
to the fort, wliere they were held as spies. The remainder fled
in haste to their villages. Bouquet, however, released one of
the captives and sent him home v/ith a message as follows :
*' I have received an account from Colonel Bradstreet that your
nations had begged for peace, which he had consented to grant
upon assurance that you had recalled all your warriors from
our frontiers, and in consequence of this I would not have
proceeded against your towns if I had not heard that in open
violation of your engagement you have since murdered several
of our people. I was therefore determined to have attacked
you, as a people whose promise can no more be relied on ; but
I will place it once more in your power to save yourselves and
your families from total destruction, by giving us satisfaction
for the hostilities committed against us. And first you are to
leave the path open for my expresses from hence to Detroit ;
and as I am now to send two men with dispatches to Col. Brad-

140

illK I.IVKM OK lltNtlAfl AM) rKrckLSKII :

Mtroot, wlio uoiiiiimiKlri on thu lukcH, I iliwira to know w)u!thcr
)'oti will Hund two of your puoplu to bririfj^ tli«)rn mt'v Ituok with
an iihriwur; and it' tliuy ruuoivu nny injury, uithur in Kt>in^ or
coming, or it' thu lutturH itru Uikun from thcni, I will iintiicdi-
Htuly put the Indiantt now in my power to duutli, and will hIiuw
no mercy, for the future, to any of your nation tluit HJiall tall
into my handH. 1 will allow you ten days to have my lott«n
delivered at Detroit, and ten daytt to bring me baek an auRwer."

TIiIh Indian repaired tohin village and delivered the mcBHo^
in good faith. The warriorw wore singularly impreH8ed with
its deciHive tone, and they wore now ready to sue for pcnct
8oon after some Iroquois Indians appeared near the fort, and
endeavored to discourage Bouquet from penetrating the coun-
try any further. They represerited the great numbers of the
savages, and the dangerous passes which ho would have to
encounter; but to all Bouquet made but one reply — that be
was determined to move against them with his whole armv
immediately.

Accordingly he set out early in October, and in ten days
reached the river Muskingum. As they passed along through
the lonely forests the Indian cabins were all deseited. But
now Bouquet was iu the heart of the Indian country, and
within a few days' march of the strongest Indian villages. He
continued his march down the river until he came to a favorable
spot for encamping. Here he erected a small palisade work,
as a depot for the stores and baggage; but before the task was
liaK completed a deputation of chiefs arrived, saying that the
warriors were encamped in great numbers about eight miles
distant. They desired Bouquet to appoint a Mme and place
for holding a council. The colonel complied, telling them to
meet him on the next day, near the margin of the river, a little
below his camp. A rude tent was erected on the spot, to
accommodate the assembly. In the morning Bouquet moved
his little array in marching order to the spot. Soon after the
Indians arrived, and the great chiefs of the Delawares and
Shawanoes took seats upon mats prepared for them. Except-
ing Pontiac, these two men stood unequalled in the American
forests. A full deputation was present. When all had been

OK, TilK ll«)KnKK WAKH OF TWO (^KNTIIUIM.

141

i(>uU)*l, uti*l tliu (uniiulitios of Binukiiifi^ thu pipo cikUmI, Tiirtlu
Ilcurt, » chiot' of tliu Dolawarofl, and thu luoMt notixl orator
proHviit, luldroHHod the Engliiih cominandur »m follows, dulivur-
in^ li l>t>lt of wampum at thu oiid uf uvury claiiHu of hiH Hpiutdi :

" Brother, I Bpuak in huhalf of tliu thruu nutiont« whoHe
chictH iiru huru pruHont. With thiu hult I opun your uiirH and
your hctirtH, that you may lititun to my wordH.

*' Brother, tliiri war waH noithur your fault nor ourH ; it waM
till' work of the nations wlio live to the wcHtward, and of our
wild youn^ men, who would have killed um if we ha<l reHiuted
them. We now put away all evil from our heartn, and we hop©
that your mind and ours Avill once more he united together.

"Brother, it is the will of the Great Spirit that there should
be peace between us. Wo on our side now take fast hold of
the chain of friendship, buc as we cannot hold it alone, we
desire that you will take hold also, and wo must look up to the
Great Spirit Miat he may make us strong and not permit this
chain to fall from our hands.

" Brother, these words come from our hearts and not from
our lips. Y'ou desire that we should deliver up your Hesh and
blood now ca])tivcs among us, and to show you that we are
sincere, we now return you as many of them as we have at
present been able to bring. [Here he delivered up eighteen
prisoners.] You shall receive the rest as soon as we have time
to collect them."

The council now adjourned till the following day, in accord-
ance with the Indian custom, but a heavy storm coming up, it
was postponed two days. On the third day, the weather being
fair, the army again moved down to the rude council-house.
Here all the warriors were assembled, and here, on this occa-
sion, Bouquet delivered his reply as follows:

"Sachems, war-chief, and warriors, the excuses you have
offered are frivolous and unavailing, and your conduct is
without defense or apology. You could not have acted as you
pretend you have done, through fear of the western nations,
for, had you stood faithful to us you knew that we would have
protected you against their anger, and as for your young men
it was your duty to punish them if they did amiss. You have

148

TMK IIVKM or |1»NTIA<' AND TKI IMNKIi:

HrHwn down our jimt reMMitinunt hy your violuitco nnd pr
tldity. l<AHt Humrnnr, in oold 1>IimmI, nnd in h tinio ot' proitixind
{K>nco, you rtdilHMl and mnrdcrod thu tnwiont who Im^l rortui
iiinonf( you Rt your own c^preMM dtwirt!. You Httackud Kort
I'itt, wliioli WHM built by your coniMint, nnd you dtittroyctl our
tbrtM itnd ^irriHoni whnnMvnr treachery could platu* thcrti in
your pow(*r. Vou amwiltHl our tn>o|)«, th« mhiiiu wlio now tttiwul
iH^tbre you, in thu wtMKli at HuRhy Kun, und when wt> litul
routed iiml driven you otf, you Hent your Hcalpin^ partit>K i)
the frontier and murdered many hundr«MiH of our fMU)ple. \A*t
July, when the other nationit came to aHk for |)eHce at Niuf^nt,
you not only refuHed to attend, but nent an inM«>l('nt moHHa^'
instead, in whieh you expressed a pretended contempt for the
fc)n^lish, and at the same time told the surrounding nation*
that you would never lay down the hatchet. Atterwards, wh»ii
(yolonel Bradstreet came up Lake Krio, you sent a dcputntion
of your cltiefs and concluded a treaty with thetn, but yiviir
engagements were no sooner made than broken, and from that
day to this yon have scalped and butchered us without min-
ing. Nay, I am informed that when you heard that tliis armv
was penetrating the woods you mustered your warriorH to
attack us, and were only deterred from doing so when you
found how greatly we outnumbered you. Tliis is not the only
instance of your bad faith, for since the ))eginning of the laitt
war you have made repeated treaties with us and promised to
give up your prisoners, but you have never kept theHe engage-
ments nor any others. We shall endure this no long(^r, and I
am now come among you to force you to make aftonement tor
the injuries you have done us. I have brought with me the
relatives of those you have murdered. These are eager for
vengeance, and nothing restrains them from taking it, but my
assurance that this army shall not leave your conutry until
you have given them an ample satisfaction. Your allies, the
Ottawas, Ojibwas, and Wyandots, have bogged for peace.
The Six Nations have leagued themselves with us. The great
lakes and rivers around you are all in our possession, and your
friends, the French, are in subjection to us, and can do no
more to aid you. You are all in our power, and if we chooie

OR, Til It mmorK wakh or two okntiiririi.

148

wf ('tin «>xtnrniinnt«> you tVoiii tlii« t'nrtli. Hut t\w Kuf^liiih Mr«»
tiii>rciful an<l ^•imrouH |h>o|>Ii>, nvt<rM< to mImmI tlit! McmmI vvim
of their ^n*ntti«t uiuiimU^m, mu\ it' it wtirtt |N)itNihlu thut yon
nxiM iuinviiu!u UN tlint you Hiiictfntjy reptuit of your |N<rt{iiy,
luid tliHt wi> could (io|M>nil u|n>u your ^nnI lH«)ii»v'or tor th«)
future, you nii^lit yet Iio|n) tor iiiurcy Miid \mioia. If I Hud
thnt you faithfully ttxecutc the voiiilitionM which I iihall yn-
icrilie, I will tiot treat you with tho Hoverity you dniervo. I
will f^ivu you twelve duyn from thiH date t4) deliver iiitxt my
IihimIh idl the priMonera in your posMesMion, without exception,
EnKl>>*l>'»<''i« Frenuhmeu, women atid children, whether adopted
in your triitcH, married or living umon^ you under any denom-
iiiAtion or pretence whatever; and you are to fumiMh thoite
prittonerH with clothiuf^, proviHions and lioriieH to carry them
to Fort Pitt. When you have fully complied with thege Cvon*
ditionri, you Mhall then know on what teriuH you may obtain
tin- jMjace you huo for."

Tliin Hpeetth had the doHired efTeot. The connoll broke up
Htid the Indians fully believing that they would all be destroyed
8Jioiiid they fail to comply with Bouquet's demands, hastened
to gather in the prisoners. Meanwhile Bouquet, wishing to
perptuate the fear in which he had ])laced them, moved down
with his army in the midst of their villages, where he could
punish them whenever they deserved it.

Tlie savages now departed to collect tho prisoners, and in a
few days over two hundred had been delivered to l^uquet.
Tliis was by no means all who had been captured, but it was
all thnt could bo obtained within tho time allowed. The
others had been carried into Illinois and were for the present
beyond their reach.

It will not be proper to pass over these prisoners witlioTit
noticing their condition and the circumstances by which they
had been surrounded while in the hands of their captors. In
the ranks of Bouquet's army, were the fatliers, brothers and
husbands of these unfortunate persons, for whose rescue they
had volunteered to march into the wilds of the Indian country.
" Ignorant of what had befallen them, and doubtftil whether
they were yet among the living, these men had joined the

144

THK IdVVSi OV I1)MTIA0 AND TUCUMSEii:

army in the feverish hope of winning them back to home and
civilization." No doubt many whom they now sought had
perished by the elaborate torments of the stake or the hatchet,
while, on the other hand, many still lived among the savages.
In many instances whole families had been carried off. In
Buch cases the old and the sick were tomahawked, while the
rest, divided among the warriors, were scattered among the
various tribes. It was, indeed, a thrilling sight, when troop
after troop of prisoners arrived at the camp of Bouquet. The
meeting of husbands with wives, fathers with children, brothers
with sisters, who had long been separated, was full of dramatic
situations. Some were groaning beneath agonies on hearing
of the horrible death of their relatives. Frantic women were
flying to and fro, amid the throng, in search of those whose
bodies, perhaps, had long since been thrown to the wolves;
others were pausing in an agony of doubt, unable to identify
their long lost children. Again, others were divided between
delight and anguish;- joy of unexpected recognition, on the one
hand, and doubts not yet resolved, on the other. Not a single
spectator could look on unmoved. The scene was full of
impressive features. Among the children brought in were
those who had been captured several years before while infants.
These, of course, were unable to understand why they should
be placed into the hands of strangers, and were deeply terriiied
at parting with their adopted mothers. But, sadder than all,
there were young women who had become the partners of
Indian husbands, and now, with their strange hybrid offspring,
were led reluctantly into the presence of fathers or brothers,
whose images they had forgotten. Agitated and bewildered,
they stood, painflilly contending with passions that bound them
to their tawny lovers, and trying to overcome the shame of
their real or fancied disgrace. These women were compelled
to leave their sorrowing husbands, and, with their children,
return to the settlements. It is true, however, that they pro-
tested against it, and that afterwards several made their escape,
eagerly hastening back to their Indian husbands.

Perhaps the most touching scene of all was this. A young
Virginian, robbed of his wife but a few months before, had

OR, THBT BORDER WARS OF TWO 0BNTURIK8.

145

yoluntcered in the expedition, with the faint hope of recovering
her, and, after long suspense, had recognized her among a tr^op
of prisoners, bearing in her arms a child born during her cap-
tivity. The joy of their meeting was marred by the absence
of an older child who had been captured with her mother, but
soon taken from her. At length, however, the child was
brought to the camp in the arms of a warrior, and the mother,
recognizing it, sprang forward and snatched it in frantic
delight.

When the army reached Carlisle on its return, hundreds
flocked hither to see, if among the prisoners, they might not
find some lost relative. Among these was an old woman, whose
daughter had been carried off nine years before. In the crowd
of female captives, she discovered one in whose countenance she
decerned the altered lineaments of her daughter; but the girl,
having almost lost her command of the English language, and
forgetting the looks of her mother, took no notice of her. At
this the old lady wept bitterly, saying that " the daughter
whom she had so often sung to sleep on her knee, had forgot-
ten her in her old age." Bouquet, hearing her complaint,
said: "Sing the song that you used to sing to her when a
child." The anxious old lady obeyed, and as her trembling
voice ran over the air, the tears rushed to the eyes of her
daughter, for she now recognized and remembered her mother's
voice.

Having finished its work, Bouquet's army returned to Fort
Pitt, and from thence to the settlements, where the prisoners
were distributed to their homes. Bouquet had fully accom-
plished the mission for which he had penetrated the forest, and
now he received the praise of every good citizen in the prov-
inces. At the next session of the Pennsylvania Assembly, it
lost no time in voting the country's thanks to Col. Bouquet.
The Assembly of Virginia passed a similar vote, and both houses
concurred in recommending Bouquet to the King for promotion.
But the news of his success having reached the throne before
the intelligence of this just recognition, the King, without
provincial advice, had promoted him to the rank of Brigadier,
10

TIIK IJVKH DF PONTIAO AND 'rKt)L'M8Kli:

and the command of tlic Southern Department. Bouquet died
three years after.

One condition of the treaty which this gallant officer had
made with the Indians was that all the tribes were to send
deputies to Sir William Johnson, with whom they were to con-
clude a permanent treaty. Having given hostages for the
fuimiment of this engagement, they were up to their promise
and the nations were fully represented. In the treaty which
they now made with Sir William Johnson, it was stipulated
that they should all join the English army in its march into
Illinois, for the purpose of aiding the British in getting pos
session of the forts in that country.

CHAPTER XIX.

Groohan'b Expedition — Muhder of Indians — Expedition aoainbt
THE Indians — Battle of Point Pleasant — Dunmore Retires
FBOM THE West — Fort Erected :.: Boonsboroooh — CoNSprnAOT
TO Unite the Indians.

After the peace which was conchided between the Indians
and Sir William Johnson in 1764, Col. George Groghan, a
cominis.!. ^er under the latter, was sent to explore the country
adjacei . e Ohio river and to conciliate the Indians in that
quarter. Accompanied by the deputies of the Senecas, Shaw-
anoes and Delawares, he left Fort Pitt on the fifteenth of May,
1765, and in two bateaux proceeded down the Ohio river. On
the fifth of June he reached the mouth of the Wabash, and
from this point he dispatched two Indian runners with letters
to Lord Frazer, a British officer commanding at a post in Illir-
nois, and to M. St. Auge, the French commandant at Fort
Charters. On the eighth of the same month his party was
attacked by eighty Indian warriors. They killed two white
men and three Indians, wounded Col. Groghan and made him
and all the white men prisoners, and plundered them of all
the valuables in their possession. After a perilous route, in
which Groghan visited many Indian villages, he made his way
to Niagara, reaching that fort in October. So matters stood
in the West in 1765. All beyond the Alleghanies, with the
exception of a few forts, was a wilderness, until the Wabash
was reached, where dwelt a few French, with some fellow coun-
trymen not far from them, upon the Illinois and Kaskaskia.
The Indians, a few years since, undisputed owners of the
prairies and broad vales, now held them by sufierance, having
been twice conquered by the arms of England. They, of
course, felt both hatred and fear; and, while they despaired of

(147)

148

THK LIVES OF PONTIAO AND TP30UM8EH:

holding tljeir lands and looked forward to unknown evils, the
doopost and most abiding spirit of revenge was roused within
them. They had seen the British coming to take their hunt-
ing grounds upon the strength of a treaty they knew not of.
They had been forced to admit British troops into their
country; and, though now nominally protected from settlers,
the promised protection would be but an incentive to pas-
sion, in case it was not in good faith extended to them.

And it was not in good faith extended to them by either
individuals or governments. During the year that succeeded
the treaty of German Flats, settlers crossed the mountains and
took possession of lands in western Virginia and along the
Monongahela. The Indians, having received no pay for these
lands, murmured, and once more a border war was feared.
Gen. Gage, commander of the king's forces, issued orders for
the removal of the settlers, but they defied his power and
remained where they were. But not only did the frontier men
thus pass the line urged on, but Sir William Johnson himself
was even then meditating a step which would have produced,
had it been taken, a general Indian war. This was the forma-
tion of an independent colony south of the Ohio river. It
was the intention to purchase the lands from the Six Nations
and then to procure from the king a grant of as much territory
as the company would require. Other schemes were also on
foot for a similar purpose, which resulted in a good deal of
rivalry and speculation. Franklin, however, was in favor of
making large settlements in the West, and as the system
of managing the Indians by superintendents was then in bad
odor, it was thought changes should be made in this respect.

The discussion of the boundary line between the Indians
and the settlements now began to receive attention. Sir Wil-
liam Johnson was authorized to treat with the savages on this
eubject, and, accordingly, he summoned them to meet him in
council at Fort Stanwix. The council was held in the followinfr
October and was attended by representatives from New Jersey.
Virginia and Pennsylvania, by Sir William Johnson and his
deputies, by the agents of those traders who had suffered iu
the war of 1763, and by deputies from all the Six Nations,

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO CENTIIRIKM.

149

the Delawares and the Shawanoes. The first question that
came np was that of the boundary line whicli was to determine
the Indian lands of the West from that time forward, and this
line the Indians claimed, upon the first of November, should
begin on the Ohio, at the mouth of the Cherokee river; thenco
up the Ohio and Alleghany to Kittaning; thence across to the
Susquehanna, etc., whereby the whole country south of the
Alleghany was ceded to the British. A deed for part of this
land was made in November to William Trent. The tract thus
conveyed lay between the Kanawha and Monongahcla, and was
called Indiana. Tv/o days afterwards a deed for tlie remaining
wcBteni lands was made to the king and tlie price agreed upon
paid down.

Other grants were also made and now the white man could
quiet his conscience when driving the native from his forest
home, and feel confident that an army would assist him, if
necessary. The work of settlement now began to revive, and
in a few years scattering colonies had been planted along the
Ohio and in Kentucky, as well as in Indiana. The savages
now became jealous at seeing their best hunting grounds
invaded, and notwithstanding the treaty at Fort Stanwix, they
were not disposed to give up the territory without a struggle.
Widespread dissatisfact'on prevailed among the Shawanoes and
Mingoes. This was fostered by the French traders, who still
(laine among them, and now a series of events followed well
calculated to ranew the hostility of the Indians. Everywhere
emigration flowed in and the best ground j of the savages were
occupied. In addition to the murder of several single Indians
by the frontier men, in 1772, five families of the natives on
Little Kanawha were killed in revenge for the death of a white
family on Gauley river, although no evidence existed to prove
who committed the last named outrage. It would now seem
that the settlers were foremost in raising a quarrel.

In April news was received that the Shawanoes could no
longer be trusted, and when Capt. Michael Gresap, who was
now at Wheeling speculating in lands, heard that three Cher-
okees had attacked a canoe in which were three white men,
killing one of them, he went out with a party, and attacked

160

THK LIVKH OK l-ONTIAO AND TKlTUMHKIi:

a band of t'ritMidly SlmwanueH, killing two of tht>m,and throw-
ing tlieir bodies into the river. This event occurred near
Wheeling, and was soon followed by other atrocities committed
by the same party. During the same day, hearing that there
was an encampment of savages at the month of the Captina, thej
went down the river to the place, attacked them and killed
several. In this affair one of Gresap's party was severely
wounded. In a few days another massacre of Indians occur-
red about forty miles above Wheeling by a party of frontiernion
led on by Daniel Greathouse. In this affair twelve Indiiing
were killed and several wounded.

These outrages increased the fury of the savages against the
settlers, and it was now evident that a general war would fol-
low. The Virginia frontiermen deemed it advisable to assume
the offensive, as soon as it could be done, aiu', accordingly,
an army was gathered at Wheeling, which, in .Inly, 1774,
under Colonel McDonald, descended the Ohio to the mouth of
Captina (Fish) Creek, when it was proposed to march against
the Indian town of Wappatomica, on the Muskingum. The
march was successfully accomplished, and the Indians having
been frustrated in an expected surprise of the invaders, sued
for peace, and gave five of their chiefs as hostages. Two of
these were afterwards set at liberty for the ])urpose of calling
the tribes together to ratify the treaty, and thus put an end to
the war. It was now ascertained that the Indians were merely
trying to gain time in which to prepare for a general outbreak,
and the Virginians, therefore, proceeded to destroy their vil-
lages and crops, and then retired to Williamsburg, carrying with
them three of their chiefs as prisoners. But even these decis-
ive acts did not discourage the savages from pursuing their
designs. The Delawares, however, vere anxious for peace.
Sir William Johnson sent out word to his Hock to remain quiet,
and even the Shawanoes were prevailed on by their great leader,
Cornstalk, to exercise their influence to prevent a war; indeed
they went so far as to protect some wandering traders from the
vengeance of the Mingoes, whose relatives had been slain at
Yellow Creek and Captina, and sent them with their property

* Perkins' N

OK, TIIK HnUDKK WARH (H' TWO 0KNTURIK8.

161

safe to Fort Pitt, now P'ort I)iuiinort>. Hut Loj^an,* who had
been turnwl by the imirderH on th« Ohio tVoni a friendly to a
deadly foe of the whiter, came stuldenly upon the Monou^a-
hela riettlemcnts, and while the other Indianu were hesitating
a8 to their courHe, took hiH thirteen ricalpH in retaliation for the
miinler of his family and frien<lH by the party under Gresap,
and returning home, expressed hiiUHelf satirttied, and ready to
listen to the Lonjs^- Knives. But it was not, apparently, the
wiflh of Dunmoro or Connolly to meet the friendly spirit of
the natives, and when, about the tenth of Junj, three of the
Shawanoes conducted the traders, who had been among them,
safely to Fort Pitt, Connolly, who had possessed liimself of
this post and called it Fort Dnnmore, had even the meanness
to attempt first to seize them, and when foiled in this by Co\.
Croghan, his uncle, who had been alienated by his tyranny, he
sent men to watch, waylay and kill them; and one account
says that one of the three was slain. Indeed, the character
developed by this man, while commandant at Fort Diinihore,
was such as to excite universal detestation, and at hift to draw
down upon Lord Dunraore the reproof of Lord Dartmouth.
He seized property, and imprisoned while luon without warrant
or propriety; and, in many cases beside that just mentioned,
treated the natives with an utter disregard of justice. It is
not, then, surprising that Indian attacks occurred ai'miv^ the
frontiers from June to September; nor, on the other hand,
need we wonder that the Virginians became more and more
excited, and eager to repay the injuries received.

To put a stop to these devastations, two large bodies of troops
were gathering in Virginia; the one from the soutliern and
western part of the State, under General Andrew Lewis, met
at Camp Union, now Lewisburg, near tlie White Sulphur
Springs; the other from the northern and eastern counties, was
to be under the command of Dunmore himself, and, descend-
ing the Ohio from Fort Pitt, was to meet Lewis' army at the
mouth of the Great Kanawlia. The force under Lewis,
amounting to eleven hundred men, commenced its march upon
the sixth of September, and upon the sixth of October reached

* Perkins' Narrative.

162

TllK UVKH or l-ONTIAU AND 'IWiUMHKII I

the spot agreed Jipoii.** Ah Ixnti Duiimorc wug not there, and
ae other troopH were to follow down the Kunuwhii utider Col.
Ohristian, General LewiH (linptitchud runnerK towards Fort Pitt
to inform the Cointnandor-in-Chiot* of his arrival, and pro-
ceeded to encamp at the point where the two rivers meet.
Hero he remained until the ninth of October, when dispatchefl
from the Governor reached him, informing him that the plan
uf the campaign was altered; that he (Dunmoro) meant to
proceed directly against the Shawanoes towns of the Scioto,
and Lewis was ordered at once to cross the Ohio and meet the
other army before those towns. But on the very day when
this movement should have been executed, the Indians in force,
headed by the able and brave chief of the Shawanoes, Corn-
stalk, appeared before the army of Virginians, determined then
and there to avenge past wrongs and cripple vitally the power
of the invaders. Delawares, Iroquois, Wyandots and Shawa-
noes, undoi* their most noted chiefs, among whom was Logan,
formed the army opposed to that of Lewis, and with both the
struggle of that day was one of life and death. Soon after
sunrise the presence of the savages was discovered; General
licwis ordered out his brother. Colonel Charles Lewis, and
Colonel Fleming, to reconnoitre the ground where they had
been seen ; this at once brought on the engagement. In a
short time Colonel Lewis was killed, and Colonel Fleming dis-
abled; the troops, thus left without commanders, wavered, but
Colonel Field with his regiment coming to the rescue, they
again stood firm; about noon Colonel Field was killed, thid
Captain Evan Shelby (father of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Ken-
tucky in after time, and who was then Lieutenant in hiB
father's company,) took the command; and the battle still con-
tinued. It was now drawing toward evening, and yet the
contest raged without decided success for either party, when
General Lewis ordered a body of men to gain the flank of the
enemy by means of Crooked Creek, a small stream which ran
into the Kanawha about four hundred yards above its mouth.
This was successfully performed, and resulted in driving the
Indians across the Ohio. The Virginians lost in this battle

* Peck's Narrative.

(IK, THK UOKDKK WAKH OF TWO (1KNTUKIKB.

isa

ievcnty-Hve men killed, and one hnndred and forty woundod —
nearly onu-titYh of tlieir entire nninber. Among tiio elain^
wore Colonels Charles Lewis and Field, and Captains Bufurd,
Morrow, Wood, Cunditt', Wilson and Robert McClanaImn and
others. The loss of the iiemy could not be fully ascertained.
Next morning. Colonel Christian explored the battle ground,
and found the dead bodies of thirty-three IndiatiH. It is prob-
able that many others had been carried off before the savages
were routed.

In the meantime Lord Dunmore had descended the river
from Fort Pitt, and was, at the time he sent word to Lewis of
bis change of plans, at the mouth of the Hocking, where he
built a blockhouse, called Fort Gower, and remained until after
tbe battle at that point. Thence he marched to the Scioto,
while Lewis and the remains of the army under his command,
strengthened by the troops tmder Colonel Christian, pressed for-
ward to the sanie place, with the full hope of annihilating the
Indian towns, and punishing the inhabitants for all they had
done. However, before reaching the enemy's country, Dun-
more was visited by the chiefs asking for peace. He listened
to their requests, and, appointing a place where a council was
to be held, sent orders to Lewis to discontinue liis march against
the Shawanoe towns. Lewis, however, saw fit to disobey these
orders, and proceeded on. Dunmore now set out in person,
and, overtaking Lewis, compelled him to return.

Dunmore remained for some time at Camp Charlotte, upon
Sippo Creek, near Westfall, where he met Cornstalk, who, being
satisfied of the futility of any further struggle, was determined
to make peace and arranged with the governor the prelimi-
naries of a treaty. This action created great dissatisfaction in
Virginia, as it had been hoped that the army would strike an
eflfectual blow.* It is believed, however, that the governor of
Virginia, foresaw the contest between England and the colonies,
and desired to gain the fi'iendship of these savages. When
Lord Dunmore retired from the West, he left one hundred
meu at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, a few more at Fort
Pitt, and another corps at Wheeling, then called Fort Fincastle^

• Western Annals, p. 152.

154

TIIK I.IVM OK lltNTIAtl ANIt IKl UMHKIi:

Tlufw were diHiniHiKMl m th« ])rort|H»ct of war (waned. I/)r(i
Duiiiiian) H)(r(H>(l to roturn to I*itt8l)iir^ in thu npriii^, inf!<!t thi>
Indians and t'onn a dotinitu peace; hut the coninteiu'iununt ot
the revolt of the colonies prevente<l.

During " DuninoreV War," att thene IiofttilitieH were eiilld,
the militia waH called out and Daniel Huont; waH appointed hy
tlie(^)vernor to the coinniaiid ot tiireo ^arriH«»nH on the frontier.
Peace Inung now concluded, Hoone and hin conipanioUH turned
tlu'ir attention towanU the ptirchane of laiuJH. Several com.
paniert were organized, and ne^otiatioUH hegan with a view to
purchasing landn from the Iiidiung. Thene com])anieri, however,
failed to ^ain the support of the government, and their plans
were in a great nioaHure thwarted.

From the day of the unpopular treaty at Camp Oliarlotte,
the western Hettlers had been apprehenhive of another Indittn
outbreak. The tribes were now every day being wrought op
to fury by agents of the Engiirth who readied their villu^eK
tlirough Canada. It was not long before all the inhabitants
of the Eastern colonies saw the dangers that were accuinulatin|f
from this source. Early in the spring of 1776 the AwHenibly
of Massachusetts wrote to a missionary among the Oneidus,
informing him that having heani that the English were trvinji;
to attach the Six Nations to their interest, it liad been thoii;;ht
proper to ask the several tribes, through him, to stand neutral.
Steps were also taken to secure the co-operation, if possible,
of the Penobscot and Stockbridge Indians; the latter of whom
replied that though they could never understand what the
quarrel between the Provinces and old England was about, yet
they would stand by the Americans. They also offered to do
what they could towards winning the Irocjuois over from the
support of the English.*

But it is not within the scope of our narrative to set forth
the important part which the savages took in the war of the
Revolution. Confining myself to the war on the borders — the
result, in almost every instance, of the encroachments and
insolence of English and American settlers — we will follow its
desolating train as it retreats before the power of civilization

* Stone's Works— Spark's Washington.

I! . I

OK, tllK BUKDKK WAMI OT TWO (.KMTUKJKH.

106

bojond tlip Hocky MountiiitiH tiiul Into tliu tiir WkhI. Yot, how-
over, Hotnu of thu tiioHt MimmIv Htni^^lt'H of tlio lixliHtiri ugniiist
th« oiiHtit of civilizHtioii, «>f which w« hiivu next to trnit, wor«?,
in n>;rutit inenHuru, cotiHo<{iiui)t upon tho war of tliu Itovolution.
Tlio Huvn^uM ha<l, to a gruut oxtvnt, bfttn t'ligu^tMl <tn thu Hi(h*
of Kii^land, und in n7i\ nu»Ht of t\wu\ wvre ri'^rirde*! hy tht»
cnloiilHtrt M boing onpi^ud in thi^ war. Thu natioiiM n«>aruHt thu
AiiiiTicunH, and, piirliupH, intcrcHtod in thuir hnlialf, found
tlit'iiiHi-lvog prcHMHl upon and harraHHud hy th(^ more dintant
baiK^K, and through tho wholo wintor of 177«r 7, rutnorn were
flying alon^ tl>c frontiern of Virginia an<l I^!nnhylvania of
approaching trouhlcH. Nor wer« the |)eopU5 of New York \e%»
fearful. Ahxig the Mohawk and up[H)r 8uri<|uehanna the «et-
tlerH were standing in coiiHtant dread.* However, tlio winter
and Hpring of 1777 pasued without an outbreak. At length
tho blow was struck. It was brought on by the murder of
Cornstalk, tho heading chief of the Shawanoes, of the Scioto.
This truly great man, who was liimnelf for peace, but who found
all his neighbors, and even those of his own tribe stirred up to
war by the agents of England, went over to the American fort
at Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Groat Kanawha in order
tu discuss tho situation with Capt. Arbucklc, the commandant.
Tlii« was in the beginning of the summer of 1777. The Ajiier-
icans, being aware that the Shawanoes liad taken up arms for
England, decided to retain Cornstalk and Uedhawk, a young
chief of note, who was with him, and make them hostages for
the good conduct of their people. The old warrior, accordingly,
after he had finished his statement of the position lie was in,
and the necessity under wliich he and his friends would be
of joining in with the popular voice of his people unless the
Americans would guarantee protection, found that in seeking
council and safety, he had walked into a snare and was secure
there. However he did not com[)lain but waited the result
with great composure.f On the following day EUinipsco, the
son of Cornstalk, came to the fort and was also made prisoner.

• Doddridge's Indian Wars— Stone's Wr)rk8.
t Withers' Border Warfare.

TIIK MVKM OK l^ltniAO AND TKtM'MNKIi:

The tlirot^ ti(it(*(| ItidiunM now Mat down ciiliiily und wHitrd the
coiinio of uvontii. Tli(*y hnd not lN>«n contltiiHl hut tlir(<<^ dityi
wlion two Hnviif^it in tlit) ni*i^hl)orhoo<i, unkiutwn to tlu^ wliifcn,
Mliot n whitu Imntur towurdH ovunin^. ItiHtu'itly tlut tVicniU
of thu iniirdurcd iiiitn ditrlurffl their .iit«*ntion of killing; the
thruo chiefrt within th(> fort. Tho coininiiiKhint rndnivort'd to
pr«v»!nt thiMM, hut thi\v w«'r« too furioun to lintiMi to hirt wordn,
nn<l hiii «»wn lifo whk thn>Htt>n<M|. 'Wwy ruHhud to thu h'Mue
whcru tiu> euptivt'H were contlnud. < oriiHtiilk met thutn iit thi>
untrunco hut fell pii'rcvd with m'\v,\ hulU>trt. IJiHHon iitid Uiij.
hawk Rhared hit* futo. " Front that hour,** unyti Dmldridge,
"peace wan in)t to he hoped for."

Meanwhile throu^^hout the Deattered rietth^mentR of Ken-
tucky, Indian horttilitiutt had heen raging, hut I have no npace
for the detaiirt of th(<i»e. At tiinoM the ntatiouH were aisHiiiled
by UiVfj^M hodieH of tiavagCH, and aj^ain ninn^le KettlerH wore
picked ort' hy Hkulkin^ warriorH. The nuinherrt of the H«'ttlerK
became fewer and fewer, and from the cdder HettU'ineuts litllf
or no aid camt! to the frontier HtatiotiH, until ('ol. Ilowman, in
AuguHt, 1777, came from Virginia with oiu' hun<lred iiicti.
Thirt, aH the reader will remember, wa« a period of great diritress
througlutut all the colunien, but of itourtte none Huttercd more,
or evinced more courage and fortitude, than the Hcttlers of the
West. On the other hand, these men bore an important bunion
of the war for indepcndeiu'c. What might have become of tlie
reaiHtance of the colonies had Knglaml been allowed to pour
her troops upon the rear of the Americans, through Canada,
jiBsisted as they would have been by all the Indian tribes? No
doubt the contest before the stations of Kentucky and ('lark'8
bold incursions into Illinois, and against Vincennes, had much
to do in deciding the fortunes of the great struggle.

• Western Ai

(MIAI'TKK XX

TiiK (^ONQUKHT or li.i.ii«()iH — CoLONRi. Ororok Uookhh (7|.AHK — Hit

KXPKDITION AOAI>ttT TIIK ToMTM IN Il.l.lNOIH ~ A |{|.0()l)l,KMII ('ON*
gi!KIT — 8lNOUI.AU HTUATACtKM - CULUNKL Ci.AUK'M HfKKCU TU TUB
INDIANH— iNTKHKHTrHO iNriDKNTII.

TiiK pioneorH of thn woHt, ulthoii^h surroiiiuhxl by thoito
dnn^cra and ilitHnulti'^H in 1777, huld fuHt to thvir purpoHUH. In
the utituinn of this year tlio ucttlorin of Kentucky Ix^gun to
orjjanizo, and Geor^o Rogers Clark, her cliiof npirit, ho that
had reprcBonted her hoyond tlio niountuinH the year before, wa«
meditating a trip to Williainshurg, for the purpoHo of urging
a holfier and more decided ineaHure than any yet propoHed. lie
understood the whole game of the Hritihh.** He saw that it
was through their possession of Detroit, VinconncH, Kaskaskia,
and the other western posts, which gave them easy and constant
access to the Indian tribes of the northwest, that the Hritish
hoped to effect such a union of tiie wild men as would annihiU
Bto the frontier fortresses. He knew that the Delawares were
divided in feeling, and the Shawanoes but imperfectly united
in favor of Englan<l ever since the murder of Cornstalk. He
was convinced that could the British in the northwest be
defeated and expelled, the natives might be easily awed or
bribed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, and
who wore absent from the twentieth of April till the twenty-
second of June, he had satisfied himself that an enterprise
against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed.

George Rogers Clark, whose portrait appears on another
page, was tndy the founder of Kentucky, and the most emi-
nent of the early settlers of the west. He was born November
19th, 1752, in Albemarle county, Virginia, f In early life he

* Western Annals.

f Clark's Papers.

(187)

THE IJVK8 OF WNTIAO AND •nOl^UM8KH:

bad been, like Waebington, a surveyor, and more lately hud
served in Dunniore's war. He first visited Kentucky in 1775,
and beld apparently at that time tbe rank of major. ReUirning
to Yirfjinia in tbe autumn of 1775, be ])repared to move per-
manently to tbe west in tbe following spring. Having done
this eai'ly in 177(), Clark, wbose views reacbed mucb fartber than
those of most of tbe pioneers, set himself seriously to consider
the condition and prospects of the young republic to which he
had attached bis life and fortune.

As we have seen, be was now preparing to move against the
British posts in the west; and accordingly, on the first of Oc-
tober, 1777, he left llarrodsburg, Kentucky, and reacbed the
capital of Virginia on the fifth of November. Telling no one
of his ptirpose, he diligently watched the state of feeling among
those in power, waiting for the proper moment to present his
plan. Fortunately, before bis arrival Burgoyne had surren-
dered, which animated tbe Americans with new hope. On the
tenth of December Colonel Clark presented his scheme to
Patrick Henry, who was still governor. Henry received the
idea with favor. Already the necessity of securing possession
of the western outposts had been presented to Congress, and
many events that had taken place on the frontier combined to
urge tbe expediency of tbe plan. Clark having satisfied the
Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the
second of January, 1778, two sets of instructions — the public
one authorizing him to enlist seven companies to go to Ken-
tucky, subject to bis orders, and to serve for three months from
their arrival in the west ; tbe secret orders provided for the
expedition against Kaskaskia, the British post in Illinois.*

* "Virginia: Sbcrbt. In Council — Williamsburg, January a, 1778. Llout. Colonel
George R. Clark : You are to proceed, with all convenient fpood, to raise oevon conipauies
of soldiers, to consist of Afty men each, officered in the usual uianner. and armed moat
properly for the enterprise, and with this force attack the British force at Kaskasky.

" It is conjectured that there are many pieces of cannon and military Htores to consider-
able amount at that place, the taking and preservation of which would be a valuable
acqiisltion to the State. If you are so fortunate, therefore, as to succeed in your expedi-
tion, you will take every possible measure to secure the artillery and stores, and whatever
may advantage the State.

"For the transportation of the troops, provisions, etc., down the Ohio, you are to apply
to the commanding officer at Fort Pitt for boats; and during the whole transaction yon
are to toke especial care to keep the true destination of your force secret. ItSBUCcesB

OR, THE BORDKR WARS OF TWO OKNTDRIES.

16&

With these instructions and twelve hundred pounds in the
depreciated currency of the time, Colonel Clark started for
Fort Pitt, As the country was in need of all the soldiers that
could be mustered east of the Alle^hanies, Clark therefore pro-
posed to raise his men in the neip^hborhood of Fort Pitt, while,
for the purpose of hurrying up the enlistments, Major "W. B.
Smith went to Holston, and other officers to other points. They
did not succeed, however, as they had hoped to. At Fort Pitt
Clark found the people unwilling to forsake their own homes,
which were in imminent danger, to defend Kentucky. At
length Clark, with three or four companies, which was all he
could raise, descended the Ohio, which he navigated as far as
the falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island,
opposite the sight of the present city of Louisville. At this
place Colonel Bowman was to meet him with additional troops.
At this point he told his army their real mission. Having
waited until his arrangements were all completed, he departed
on the twenty -fourth of June, and descended the river. His
plan was to follow the Ohio down as far as Fort Massac, and
thence to go by land direct to Kaskaskia. But little .baggage

depcndfl npon this. Orders are therefore given to Captain Smitti to secure tliu two men
from Kaeknsky. Similar conduct will bo proper in similar cases.

" It Is earnestly desired tljat you show humanity to such British subjects and other per-
sons as fall in your hands. If the white inhabitants at that post and ncii;hborhood will
give undoubted evidence of their attachment to this State (for it is certain they live within
its limits), by talking the test prescribed by law, and by every other way and means in their
power, let them be treated as fellow citl/ens, and their persons and property duly secured.
Assistance and protection against all enemies whatever shall be afforded them, and the
Commonwealth of Virginia is pledged to accomplish it. But if these people will not
accede to these reasonable demands, they must feel the miseries of war under the direc-
tion of that humanity that has hitherto distinguished Americans, and which it is expected
you will ever consider as the rule of your conduct, and from which you are in no instance
to depart.

" The corps you are to command are to receive the pay and allowance of militia, and to
act under the laws and regulations of this State now in force, as militia. The Inhabitants
at this post will bo informed by you, that in case they accede to the offers of becoming
cltl/ens of this Commonwealth, a proper garrison will be maintained among them, and
every attention bestowed to render their commerce bcueflcial, the fairest prospects being
opened to the dominions of both Prance and Spain.

" It is In contemplation to establish a post near the mouth of the Ohio. Cannon will
be wanted to fortify it. Part of those at Kaskasky will be easily brought thither, or other-
wise secnred, as circumstances will make necessary.

" You are to apply to General Hand, at Pittsburgh, for powder and lead necessary for
this expedition. If he can't supply it, the person who has that which Captain Lynn
brought from New Orleans can. Lead was sent to Hampshire by my orders, and that may
be delivered you. Wishing you success, I am, sir, your humble servant, P. HENRY."

160

TIIK rJVh-S OK IH)NTrA<i AND TKi'l'MSKII

wa« taken. He depended tor success entirely upon surprise.
Should he tiiil, he intended to cross the Mississippi and escape
into the Spanish settlements. Before he commenced his march
he received two pieces of information of which he made good
use at the proper time, by means of which he conquered the
west without bloodshed. One of these important items was
the alliance of France with the colonies. This at once made
the American side popular with the French and Indians of
Illinois and the lakes , France having never lost her hold upon
her ancient subjects and allies, and England having never
secured their confidence. The other item was tlvat the inhabit-
ants of Kaskaskia and other old towns had been led by the
liritish to believe that the "Long Knives" or Virginians were
the most tierce, cruel and blood-thirsty savages that ever scalped
a foe. With this impression on their minds Clark saw that
proper conduct would readily force them to submit from fear,
if surprised, and then to become friendly from gratitude when
treated witli unexpected kindness.

After some time the party landed at Fort Massac, and
secured their boats in the mouth of a small creek. From tills
point their route lay through a wilderness without a path a
distance of over one hundred miles. After a tedious journey
they approached, on the fourth of July, 1778, near the town,
and secreted themselves among the hills east of the Kaskaskia
river. Colonel Clark sent forward his spies to watch the pro-
ceedings of the people, and after dark put his troops in motion
and took possession of a house, where a family lived, about
three-quarters of a mile above the town. Here they found
boats and canoes. The troops were divided into three parties,
two of which were ordered to cross the river, while the other,
Tinder the immediate command of Col. Clark, took possession
of the fort. Kaskaskia then contained about two hundred and
fifty houses. Persons who could speak the French language
were ordered to pass through the streets and make proclama-
tion, that all the inhabitants must keep within their houses,
under penalty of being shot down in the streets. The few
British oiiicers, who had visited these French colonies since the
commencement of the rebellion of their Atlantic colonies, as

GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

thoy termed

stories about

that they wo

would butclu

cliildren I 1

minds of tlie

apprehension

fill and be pi

attempt be tni

Btimiilus to 1

guns, aminui

tions on the

Clark had

them says: *

fortunate enoi

cieved the grc

more sensibly

valuable fnen(

Clark's plai

then to captui

ity, he accomj

The two pa

and unsuspect

furious mann

Fn;.ch, ordei

instant death.

long Couteam

long knives!

Not more tl
the inhabitant
their eonqnero
complete. M.
in his chamb
either conceal
whole of the f
the streets, y(
This was a par

• Peck's narrat
11

OK, THE UOKDEK WAK8 OK TWO OKNTUKrKH.

161

thoy termed the Revolution, had told the most exaggerated
stories about the brutality and ferocity of the " Long-Knives;"
that they would not «>nly take the property of the people, but
would butcher, in a most horrible manner, men, women and
children ! Tiie policy of tliese stories was to excite in the
minds of these simple-hearted French people the most fearful
apprehensionn against the colonists, that they might be watch-
ful and be prepared for a determined resistance, should any
attempt be made on these remote posts. These stories were a
stimulus to the French traders to supply the Indians with
guns, ammunition and scalping-knives, to aid their depreda-
tions on the settlements of Kentucky.^

Clark had possessed himself of these facts, and respecting
them says: *' I was determined to improve upon this, if I was
fortunate enough to get them into my possession ; as I con-
cieved the greater the shock 1 could give them at first, the
more sensibly they would feel my lenity, and become more
valuable friends."

Clark's plan was to produce a terrible panic in the town, and
then to capture it without bloodshed, and with his keen sagac-
ity, he accomplished it in a perfect manner.

The two parties having crossed the river, entered the quiet
and unsuspecting village at both extremes, yelling in the most
furious manner, while those who made the proclamation in
FrtJ.ch, ordered the people into their houses, on pain of
instant death. In a few moments all were screaming, " Ze«
lojig Couteaux! lea long Couteaux/" — the long knives 1 the
long knives!

Not more than half an hour after the surprise of the town,
the inhabitants all surrendered and delivered up their arms to
their conqueror. No blood had been shed, yet the victory was
complete. M. Rocheblave, the governor of the place, was taken
in his chamber, but his public papers and documents were
either concealed or destroyed by his wife. Throughout the
whole of the following night the troops marched up and down
the streets, yelling and whooping after the Indian fashion.
This was a part of Colonel Clark's plan to terrify the inhabit-

• Peck's narrative.

162

rilK lA\h'» OK I'ONTIAC AND TK< DMMKIi:

ants. Iiulecd, he tuok every posHible nieuHure to raiHo the
t'eurB of the people. The town wiis hi posHUHHioti of uu eDiiny
the inhuhitantH had been taiij^ht were the tno8t ferocious and
brutal of all men, and of wiioui they entertained the nioHt
horrible apprehensions, and all intercourse was strictly pro-
hibited between each other, and the conquerors. After Hve
days the troops were removed to the outskirts of the town, iind
the citizens were permikte<l to walk in the fitreets. But tiD'ling
them engaged in conversation, one with another. Col. Clark
ordered some of the officers to bo put in irons, without assij,'!!-
ing a single reason, or permitting a word of defense. Tliie
singular display of despotic power in the conqueror, did not
spring from a cruel disposition, t)r a disregard to the princij)lt!i
of liberty, but it was the course of policy he had marked out
to gain his object.

At length M. Gibault, tlie parish priest, got permissioii to
wait on Co\. Clark. He was accompanied by several of the
ehlerly inhabitants of the place. When they came into the
presence of Clark and his soldiers, they were shocked at their
untidy personal appearance. Their clothes were dirty and
torn, their beards of four weeks' growth, and they looked m
frightful as native warriors. Finally, the priest, in a very
submissive tone and posture, remarked that the inhabitants
expected to be separated perhaps never to meet again, and they
begged through him, as a great favor from their conqueror, to
be permitted to assemble in the church, offer up their prayers
to God for their souls, and take leave of each other!

Colonel Clark I'eplied carelessly, saying that the Americans
did not trouble themselves about the religion of others, bnt
left every man to worship God as he pleased; that they niij^ht
go to church if they pleased, but on no account must a single
person leave the town. Thus saying, the C^olonel dismissed
them abruptly, hoping to raise their alarm to the highest pitch.

The priest and the Frenchmen hurried away and in a few
hours the whole population assembled in the church, where, as
for the last time, they mournfully chanted their prayers and
bid each other farewell, " never expecting to meet again in
this world." After the service, the priest and the old men of

OR, TIIU UORDKR WARM 0|i' TWO ('KNTUUIKS.

168

the town returned tu the lietidquartorB of the conqueror and
be^im to plead in helialf of their lives. Tiiey were willing to
give up all their property, but asked for sutticient clothing for
their preaent requirenientH, and prayed that they might not
be 8C])arated from their families.

Clark having now fully accomplished his purpose, addresned
them the following reply:

" Who do you take me to be? Do you think we are wav-
A^e» — that we intend to massacre you all? Do you think
Americans will strip women and children, and take the bread
out of their mouths? My countrymen," said the gallant
Oolouel, •' never make war upon the innocent ! It was to
protect our own wives and children that we have penetrated
this wilderness, to subdue these British posts, from whence the
savages are supplietl with arms and ammunition to murder us.
We do not war against Frenchmen. The King of France, your
former master, is our ally. His ships and soldiers are fighting
for the Americans. The French are our firm friends, (ro,
and enjoy your religion and worship when you please. Retain
your property — and now please to inform all your citizens
for me that they are quite at liberty to conduct themselves
as usual, and dismiss all apprehensions of alarm. We are your
friends and come to deliver you from the British."

The reader will hardly be able to imagine the sudden revul-
sion of feeling which this reply produced. In a few moments
the news had been communicated to all within the town, and
now the bells rang out merrily. The people, headed by the
priest, again repaired to the little church, where the Te Devm
was loudly sung. All now cheerfully acknowledged Col. Clark
as commandant of the country.

An expedition was next formed against Cahokia, and Major
Bowman, with his detachment mounted on French ponies, was
ordered to surprise that post. Several Kaskaskia gentlemen
offered their services to proceed ahead, notify the Cahokians
of the change of government, and prepare them to give the
Americans a cordial reception. The plan was entirely success-
fal, and the post was subjugated without the disaster of a

164

TIIK IIVIX OK IH>NTIAr ANI» TKCIMKKII

battle. Tndoed, tluTo wore not n lUr/.vu KritiHli HoUlierH in the
^rriHon.

TlicHP cunninfi^ Virf^lnlanH. in their talk with the towni.
people, reprewentetl that a lar/(o nrniy waH encanipe<l at the
i'nllH of the Ohio, which woukl soon suhjugate all the British
poHtH in the "West, and that Post Vincent would he invaded hya
dct4ichnu>nt from that army. He soon learned from the French
that Ahhott, the ('ommandant of that ]><>Ht, had fj^one to Detroit
and that the defense of the plaeo was left with the citizcim,
who were moBtly French. M. CJihalt readily undertook the
task of hrinpfin^ the iidiahitants of that place over to the
Americans, which he accomplislied without the aid of a mili.
tary force, and now the American fla^ was raised above the
fort, and Capt. Helm appointed to the command, much to the
disgust of the nei<j;h boring savages.

The three months term on which the soldier^ had enlisted
now expired, but Col. Clark, determined not to leave the
country half conquered, o])ened a new enlistment. lie also
issued commissions for French officers in the country to corn-
mand a company of the inhabitants.

A garrison was next established at Cohokia, commanded hv
Oapt. Bowman, and another at Kaskaskia, comnuuided hy
Capt. Williams. As we have seen Capt. Helm had been a|)-
pointcd to the command at Fort Vincent. Everywhere through-
out Illinois the French enlisted themselves warmly in the
support of the Americans. The French Governor, M. Roche-
blavc, was conducted to Virginia a prisoner of war.

Soon after the House of Burgesses of Virginia created the
county of Illinois* and appointed John Todd, Esq., then of

•The act containcdtho followlug provlglong: "All the citizens of the Cdinmonwcslth
of Virginia, who urc already settled, or shall horcnftor settle, on the western »ld<i of tht
Ohio, Hhall be included in a distinct county which shall bo culled IllinoU county; and
the Governor of this Conmionweolth, with tho advice of the Council, may appiiint a
county Lieutenant, or Commander-in-Chief, in that county, during pleasure, who shall
appoint and coninilRHlon so many deputy conunnndnnlH, militia and officers, and com-
missarics, as he shall think proper, in the dlfTcrent districts, during pleasure, hII of
whom, before they enter Into office, shall take the oath of Qdclity to this Common-
wealth, and the onth of office, according to the form of their own religion. And all
civil oflScers to which the inhabitants have been accustomed, necessary to the preserva-
tion of peace and the administration of Justice, shall bo chosen by a miOority of
cittzens in their respective districts, to bo convened for that purpose, by tho count;
Lientenant or Commandant, or his deputy, and aball bo commisaioned by the said
eoanty Lientenant or Commander-in-Chief. "

OR, TIIR BORDER WAR* OV TWO ORNTnRIKII.

106

Kentucky, lioutonant colonol and civil ooinriiandant. In No-
voiiilx^r tliu Ix>f(!Hlutiiro pasHvd a coinplitiiLMitary resolution to
Clark and hitt inuii for thu valuable Horviut^H riMidorud rn Hubdu-
ing tlu) HritiHli outpootH.

Atttjr orfi^anixin^ a civil j^ovcrninent and providlnpj for an
uluction of nia^iHtratCH by tlio people, VaA. ('lark (lirc(;tu<l Iuh
attention to thu Hubjii^^ation of the Indian tribcH. In tluH he
ultio (liK|)layed ^reat ability, [t haH been Haid that no com-
tnundcr ever Kubdned aH many warlike tribes in ho Hhort a time
Hiid at HO little expcnue of life. Ilin meetingH with them be^an
at ('iihokia in September, 177«, and \m principlctt of action
lire worlliy of comment. He never loaded them with presents;
never irumifeBted any fear of them, yet he alwayn reKpectted
their conra^e and ability. He always waited for them to make
the lirst advance of peace, and after they had concluded their
speeches and thrown away the bloody wamptim sent them by
tlie Knglish, Clark would coldly toll them that he would give
tlieni an answer on the following day, but at the same time
ctuitioned them against shaking hands with the Anutricans, as
j)eftce was not yet concluded Tlie next day the Indians would
come to hear the answ.i y ^ the " Uig Knife," as they called
Col. Clark, which they i.iways found full of decision and
firmness.

The following tc ♦ho speech he delivered to the tribes who
sued for ]>eace at the Council of Cahokia:

"Men nnd Warriors: piiy attention to ray words. You informed me
yusti'riluy,ttiatthc Great Spirit liad brought us togetlier, and tliat you lioped
timt us lie was good, it would be for good. I liavo also the same hope, and
expect that each party will strictly adhere to whatever niiiy be a^'reed
upon, whether it shall be peace or war, and henceforward, prove ourselves
wortliy of the attention of the Great Spirit. I am a man and a warrior,
not a counseller ; I carry war in my right hand, and in my left, peace. I
am sent by the Great Council of the Big Knife, and their friends, to take
possession of all the towns possessed by the English in this country, and
to watch the motions of the red people; to bloody the paths of tlioso wlio
ikttciiipt to stop the course of the river ; but to clear the roads for us to tho.se
'vliat desire to be in peace ; Mint the women and children may walk in thorn
without meeting anything to strike their feet against. I am ordered to
caII upon the Great Fire for warriors enough to darken the land, and that
the red people may hear no sound, but of birds who live on blood. I know

i I

166

TirK I.IVKH OK fONTMr AND TK<!| MRKII!

there Im « iiilHr bcl'drf your oyoM; I will diipi'l tlir rlrnidx, Hint you may
clearly 4u«) tli«< ctkiu«m ol' tli** WMr b<!twc«*n tlui lUg Kiiil't* itiul tho Eoffliglii
thvn you inny JudKo 'or yourHiilvvH, wlilcli party In Id tlitt right; and If
you nrv wiirrlora, iw you pri>li«tM yourm>iv«*H to !)(>, provti It by KilhorlDf
faitlil\illy t4i the party, which you iihall b«>llnvc to !)«< ontltli^cl to your
IVk'ndHhlp, and not ithow youriudv«)H to b« MquawN.

"Tito HIk Knlt'ti In vit) niurli likn the* rod proplr, they don't know huw
tu tUHkti blankftM, und powder, and cloth; thiiy buy tli«!M«* thIngH from thi
EnxlUh, tVout whom they an' itprung. Th«'y llvr by making corn, hunt-
ing and tradu, um you and your nolghborH, tho Krench, do litit the Hi^r
Knife, dally KuttinK nion* num<>rnuH, llko thi> trcoN in the woodM, the liitnl
b<!camc poor, and tint hunthiK Hcarc*;; and havhiK but lltlli* to trade with,
the women Ix'uian to cry at Hcclntf thoir (tliildrcn nak<Ml, and irlml to li>iirn
how to make clothuM i'or thcniHAlvoH; Home made bbinkelr* for their liiu.
bandH and children; and the men learned to miike ^uuh and powder In
thiH wuy we did not want to buy ho much tVoni the KtiKliHli; thoy tlien^^ot
mad with ua, and Hetit Mtron^ garrUonit throuKh our country (ait you »ee
tlioy have done among you on the lakeH, and among the French,) tlio}
would not lot our women wpln, nor <mr nutn make powtler, nor let us truik
with any body cIhc. The KngllHh said, we Hlioidd buy every tliinir from
them, and since wo had got saucy, we hIiouUI i;ive two bucks for a blaiiki-t,
which we UHed to get for one; we should do as they pleaHcd, and they killed
Borne of our people, to make the n^Ht fear them. This Is the truth, ami the
mil caUHO of the war between the English and us; which did not take place
for some time after this treatment. Hut our women l)e<M)me c!old and linn
gry, and continued to cry; our young men got lost for want of counsel to
put them In the right path. The whole land was d.irk, the old men lielil
d(»wn their heads for shame, because they could not see the sun, and tliiin
there wus mourning for many yiturs ovttr the IdikI. At last the (irciit
Spirit took pity on us, and kindled u great counctil Arc, that never u'ocs
out, at a place (tailed I'hiladelphia; he then stuck down a post, and put a
war tomahawk by it, and went away. The sun immediately broke out, the
sky was blue again, and the old men held up their heads, and asscimhled
at the Are; they took up the hatchet, sharpened it, and put it into the
liunds of our young men, ordering them to strike the English as loug ai
they could find one on this side of the great waters. The young luea
immediately struck the war post, and blood wus shed ; in this way the war
began, and the English were driven from one |)lacc to another, until they
got weak, and then they hired you red people to tiglit for them. The
Great Spirit got angry at this, and caused your old Father, the French
King, and other great nations, to Join the Big Knife, und flght with them
against all their enemies. Ho the English have become like a doer in the
woods; and you may see that it is the Great Spirit that has caused your
waters to be troubled ; because you have fought for the people ho was mad
with. If your women and children should now cry, you must blame
yourselves for it, and not the Big Knife. You can now Judge who is in
the right; I liave already told you who I am; here is a bloody belt, andi

OBf TIfK RllRDRR WARM OI> TWO rKNIUKIKM.

167

white oiiis titk« wlilcli you |)I<'un«>. Hifliiivi* llk<> iiini, und don't lot ynur
licliii; Hiirroiuidt'il Ity tlir iiiij; Kiill'c, I'UUMtt you to tiiki; U|i tlit* one belt with
yoiii' liitiuU, while your lieitrtM l:ike (i|» rtic other. It' you take the hhxidy
pKtli, you mIihII lettve the town lu miftity.niid uiiiy ^o and Join your trIendH,
till' KhkII**!); we will then tiy like wiirrlor?<, who ciin put the uiohI Mtumh-
lintt hliK'kM In viicli other'M wiiy, iinti keep our elothcM louKeiit iitiiliied with
hliiiid. Il, on the other hand, you Hhoultl take tln' puth of peace, iind bo
received un brotherH to the Ml)( Knife, with their frieihU, the French,
iihiiiild you then lUlen to bitd binU, that iiiuy be tlylii^ through the hind,
ymi will no |on((er deHerve to be counted uh men . but iim crciitureH with
two ton^ueii, thiit oU)(ht to be dcMtroyetl without llMteiilii;r to iinylhinK you
iniKlit «iiy. Am I luu convinced you never heard the truth before, I du not
\\\sU }ou to uiiHwer before you liave taken tlni>> to counHcl. We will,
tliinfore, jiitrt thU Dvenln^, and when tho Oreat Hplrit filiall britii; um
to^T'ther UKiii»< let UH Mpeak and think iiko men, with tuo heart and onu
unxjiMV."

This ripecch ])r()(lii('e(l tin' dcHirfni effect, and, uport the t'ol-
lowing (lay, the " IIlmI Pouple," mul the " Hig Kiiivet* " tuiited
in pcjico. It will !>«' IniposHibIt!, within tlu> Hcopo of thin vol-
iiiiu', to give a till! lu'iroiint of nil the intfroHtliig iiicideutB
which rtiuToiiiided the imtions of Colonel (Uiirk in the West.
Followinjjf i« one, however, whieh I cannot omit: A party of
IiidiaiiH, known as the Metidow Indianrt,* ha<l come to attend
the council with their neighhorn. TIichc, by some means, were
induced to attempt the mtirder of the invaders, and tried to
ohtiiin an o])portiinity to commit the crime proposed, by snr-
piising Clark and his otHcers in their qimrters. In this plan
they failed, and their jMirpose was discovered by tlie sagacity
of the French in attendance; when this was done, Clark gave
them to the French to deal with as they pleased, but with a
hint that some of the leaders would be as well in irons. Thus
fettered and foiled, the chiefs were brought dtiily to the cotmcil
house, where he whom they ])ropofeed to kill, was engaged daily
in forming friendly relations with their red brethren. At
length, when by these means the futility of their project had
heen sufficiently impressed upon them, the American com-
niandei" ordered their irons to bo struck off, and in his quiet
way, full of scorn, said, " Everybody thinks you ought to die
for your treachery upon my life, amidst the sacred deliberations

♦ Peck's Narriitive.

THK IA\¥> OV litNTIAfl AND TKmniRlli;

uf u couru'il. I Um\ (li*t«>rtninotl to inflict df>ntli u|H»n you tor
your l)aM<< atttMiipr, and yoti yoiir«olv«*ii niiiitt \w wunihU' tina
you Imvu jUHtly tort'vlted your Uvum; hut. on c'otiHi(|i>riii^ tin
nionnneMM of wiiU'ltin^ a Utar and catnhinf^ liitn aMlt*i>|), I Imvi'
tuun<l out that you nn\ not warriorit, only old woin«>n, ami Iki
nu'«n to Ix) kilh^l hy tho Big Knifo. But," continui'd he, "n»
you ought to ))o puniHhod tor putting on hruufh i-lotliH liku ntcn,
they "hall Im« taken away troiri you, ])l«nty of prt)viHion« t*lmll
he given for your journey home, as women don't know how to
hurtt, and during your stay you ithall he treate<l in ev»«ry
renpect a» itquawit/* TIicmu few cutting words conchultMl, the
Coloiu'l turne«l away to converau with otherri. The childrt'n
of the prairie, who had looked for anger, not contempt— pun-
iHhnient, not freedoni — were unaccountably utirred by thin
treatment. They took wjuubcI together, and prenently a cliiit'
came forwanl with a belt and |)ipo of |)eace, which, with proper
wordH, he laid upon the table. The interpretiT Htood ready to
trauHlate the words of friondHhip, but, with curling lip, the
American Haid he did not wiuh t4^> hear them, and lifting' a
Bword whicli lay before liim, he Hhattored the offered pipe, with
tlie cutting expreHHion that " ho did not treat with women."
The l)ewildered, overwhelmed Meadow Indiana, next asked the
intercession of other red men, already admitted to friondHliip,
but the only reply was, " The Big Knifo has made no war uiwn
these j)eo])le; they are of a kind that we shoot like wolves when
wo meet them in the woods, lest they eat the deer." All this
wrought more and more upon the offending tribe; again they
took counsel, and then two young men camo forward, and, co7.
ering their heads with their blankets, sat down before the
impenetrable commander; then two chiefs arose, and stating
that these young warriors offered their lives as an atoneinent
for the misdoings of their relatives, again they presented the
pipe of peace. Silence reigned in the assembly, while the fate
of the proffered victims hung in suspense; all watched the
countenance of the American leader, who could scarce master
the emotion which the incident excited. Still, all sat noiselesfi,
nothing heard but the deep breathing of those whose lives thus
hung by a thread. Presently, he upon whom all depended,

UN, TIIK IMmOKH WAMK or TWO ('(CNTUNIM.

I6»

ftriMd, liixit up|>roiu;liiii|( tli«i yoiiii^ mm, lio l>tt(lu thciin be
urtcoviri'd uikI Htutid up. Tlixy Hpmii^ to tliitir tViut. '* I am
^hid to tiiitt,** Huitl (Hiirk, wiiniily, " that tluTo uro iiiun Hinong
ull tiiitioriH. With you, who uloiir uro tit to l)u chiid'n of your
tril)«% 1 liiii willing t«> tri>ut; throuj^h yon I niii rtwiy to ^rnrit
IM'iict) tu your brotluTH; 1 tuku you l>y tho liaixU um chivtM,
worthy of Ihmm^ Huch." Horo nf(uiii tho ftMirh>MH gunoroiiity,
t\w ^(MicrouH fourlcMnuRR of (JIurk, proved purtcctly iiucceiiBful»
and while the trilio in (|uuMtion hvcHinu tliu alliuM of America,
till! tamo of tlio <H!eurreni!o, wliieli Mpreiid fur and wide tlirough
tliu NorthweHt, mode tlio naino of the white negotiator evorjr-
wliere renpected.

CHAPTER XXI.

'%'

CON<iUE8T OF IMJNOIB CONTINUED— BUAVEUY OF GkOUOK IlOOKIlH
Cr.ARK— Uk TAKING OF P08T VINOENNK8 BY Coi,. HAMILTON -
COUKAQE OP CaI'T. HrT.M — ClARK'8 EXPEDITION AGAINST HaMIU

TON — Hamilton taken Pkisonkr — Kbsults of Clark's Cam-

PAIGN.

It was not long before Vincennes (Vincent) was recaptured
by Henry Hamilton, the British Lieiit.-Governor of Detroit.
He collected an army ot thirty regulars, fifty French volun-
teers, and four hundred Indians, and went down from Detroit,
to the Wabash, and thence to Vincennes, where he appeared on
the fifteenth of December, 1778. The people did not attempt
to defend the place, as Capt. Helm and a man named Heurv
were the only Americans in the post. Helm, however, placed
a cannon in the open gateway, and stood beside it with a
lighted match, and as Col. Hamilton's party approached witliin
hailing distance, the bold captain commanded them to halt,
whereupon the British commander stopped and summoned the
garrison to surrender. " No man shall enter here until I know
the terms," said Helm. Seeing this firmness, Hamilton
replied: "You shall have the honors of war." The fort was
then surrendered, liiid the one officer and the one soldier
received due marks of respect for their bravery. Helm was
held in the fort as a prisoner, the French were disarmed, and,
bands of hostile Indians began to appear around the other
posts. Col. Clark's situation now became dangerous. He
ordered Major Bowman to evacuate the fort at Cahokia, and
join him at Kaskaskia. " I could see," says Clark, " but little
probability of keeping possession of the country, as my num-
ber of men was too small to stand a seige, and my situation
too remote to call for assistance. I made all the preparations

(170)

OK, TIIK IU)|{|)KK WAKS OF TWO OKNTURIfX.

171

I possibly could for the atta(!k, and was necessitated to set Are
to some of the outhouses in the town to clear them out of the
way." At this timo Clark was trying to conceive a plan for
capturing C'ol. Hamilton, and retaking Post Vincennes. He
engaged Col. PVancis Vigo, then a wealthy resident of St.
Louis, to go to Vincennes and investigate its strength. At
Clark's request this brave Spanish officer, with a single attend-
ant, started for Vincennes, but was captured at the Embarrass
by a party of Indians, who plundered him and brought him to
Col. Hamilton. Being a Spanish subject, Hamilton had no
power to hold him i)risoner, but, set him at liberty only on the
condition that he would return direct to St. Louis. This Vigo
did, but remained only long enough to change his dress, when
lie returned to Kaskaskia, and gave Col. Clark fullinfor ition
of the condition of the British post at Vincennes, the pro-
jected movement of Hamilton, and the friendly feelings of the
French towards the Americans. From him Col. Clark learned
that a portion of the Jiritish troops were absent on marauding
parties with the Indians, that the garrison consisted of about
eighty regular soldiers, three brass field pieces, and some
swivels, and that Gov. Hamilton meditated the re-capture of
Kaskaskia early in the spring. Col. Clark determined on the
bold project of an expedition to Vincennes, of which he wrote
to Gov. Henry, and sent an express to Virginia. As a reason
for this hazardous project. Col. Clark urged the force and
designs of Hamilton, ^^aying to Governor Henry in his letter,
" I knew if I did not take him he would take me."

A boat was prepared, carrying two four pounders, and four
swivels, and commanded by Capt. John Eogers, with forty-six
men, and provisions, was dispatched from Kaskaskia to the
Ohio, with orders to proceed up the Wabash as secretly as
possible to a place near the mouth of the Embarrass. Two
companies of men were raised from Cahokia, and Kaskaskia,
commanded by Captains McCarty and Charleville, which, with
the Americans, amounted to one hundred and seventy men.
The winter was exceedingly wet, and all the streams and low
land in that section of the country were overflowed, but not-
withstanding this, the fragment of an army, on the seventh of

- Jl

172

THE L1VK8 OF PONTIAO AND TKilUMSEH!

February, 1779, commenced its march from Kaskaskia. Their
route lay through the prairies and points of timber east of th«
Kaskaskia river — a northeasterly course, through W^ashington
and Marion counties, into Clay county, where the trail, notice-
able as late as 1830, crossed the route from St. Louis to Vin-
cennes. "This was one of the most dreary and fatiguing
expeditions of the Revolutionary War." After inexpressible
hardships, the little army reached the Little Wabash, the low
bottoms of which, for many miles, were covered with water
from three to four feet deep. On the thirteenth of February
they arrived at the mouth of " Muddy River," as it was then
called, ^ There they made a canoe and ferried over their bag-
gage, wiiich they placed on a scaiFold on the opposite bank, to
keep it out of the water. Rains fell nearly every day, but the
weather was not extremely cold. Up to this point they had
borne their hardships with great fortitude, but now the spirits
of many began to flag. Among the party was an Irishman
will! could sing many comic songs, and as the party were
wading in the water up to their waists, this curious fellow sat
upon liis large drum, which readily floated him, and enter-
tained the half ])erishing troops with his comic musical talents.
On the eighteenth of the same raontii they heard the morning
gun of the fort, and on the evening of the same day they were
on the Great Wabash, below the mouth of the Embarrass.
Tliis is the spot where, as we have seen, they were to meet the
boat with supplies. But now there were no signs of it, and
the troops were in the most exhausted, destitute and starving
condition. The river had overflowed its banks, all the low
gi'ound was covered with water, and canoes could not be con-
structed to carry them over before the British garrison would
discover and capture the whole party. On the twentietli of
February they captured a boat from Post Vincennes, and from
the crew, whom they detained, they learned that the French
population were friendly to the Americans, and that no sus-
picion of the expedition had reached the British garrison.

The remainder of the march is so full of incident, and so
worthy of preservation, that I will permit Col. ( 'lark to give
the narrative in his own peculiar language :

OR, THK BORDER WARS OF TWO C1*JSTURIKH.

173

"Tlii« last day's march,* (February 2lBt,) through the water,
was far superior to any thing the Frenchmen had any idea of;
thoy were backward in speaking — said that the nearest land to
us was a small league, called the sugar camp, on the bank of
the slough. A canoe was sent off and returned without finding
tliat we could pass. I went in her myself and sounded the
water; found it deep as to my neck. 1 returned with a design
to have the men transported on board the canoes to the sugar
camp, whi(jh I knew would spend the whole day and ensuing
night, as the vessels would pass slowly through the bushes.
The loss of so much time, to men half starved, was a matter
of consequence. I would have given now a great deal for a
day's provision, or for one of our horses. 1 returned but
slowly to the troops, giving myself time to think. On our
arrival all ran to hear what was the report. Every eye was
fixed on me. I unfortunately spoke in a serious manner to
one of the officers; the whole were alarmed without knowing
what I said. I viewed their confusion for about one minute —
whispered to those near me to do as I did-»-immcdiately put
some water in my hand, poured on powder, blackened my
face, gave the war-whoop, marched into the water, without
saying a word. The party gazed, fell in, one after another,
without saying a word, like a flock of sheep. I ordered those
near me to give a favorite song of theirs; it soon passed
thr ,h the line, and the whole went on cheerfully. I now
intended to have them transported across the deepest part of
the water, but when about waist deep, one of the men informed
me that he thought he felt a path. We examined and found
it so, and concluded that it kept on the highest ground, which
it did, and by taking pains to follow it we got to the sugar
camp without the least difficulty, where there was about half
an acre of dry ground, at least not under water, where we took
up our lodgings. The Frenchmen that we had taken on the
river appeared to be uneasy at our situation. They begged
that they might be permitted to go in the two canoes to town
in the night; they said they would bring from their own houses
provisions without the possibility of any person knowing it;

• Clark's Journal.

174

rilK t.lVKH OF TONTIAO AND TKOUMSKII'.

that Bonio of our men should /,'o with them us a surety of their
good conduct — that it was impossible we could march trnin
that place till the water fell, for the plain was too deop to
march. Some of the [officers?] believed that it might be d(»ne.
I would not huti'er it. I never could well account for this piece
of obi^tinacy, and give riatisfactory reasons to myself, or atiy
body else, wliv 1 denied a projiosition apparently so »'aHV u,
execnff. and of so much advantage; but something seenicd to
tell me it flionld not be done, and it was not done.

"The most of the weather that we had on this nuirch was
moist and warm, for the 8eaH(»n. This was the coldest iii<rht
we had. The ice in the morning was from one-half to three-
quarters of an inch thick, near the shores, and in still Wiiter.
The morning was the finest we had on our march. A little
after sunrise I lectured the whole. What I said to them I forget,
but it may easily be imagined by a person that could possess
my affections for them at that time; I concluded by informing
them that passing the plain that was then in full view, iiiid
reaching the opposite woods would put an end to their fatigue-
that in a few hours they would have a sight of their long
wished for object — and immediately stepped into the water
without waiting for any reply. A huzza took place. As we
generally marched through the water in a line, before the third
entered I halted and called to Major Bowman, t)rdered him to
fall in the rear with twenty-five men, and to put to death any
man who refused to march, as we wished to have no such per-
son among us. The whole gave a cry of approbation, and on
we went. This was the most trying of all the difficulties we
had experienced. I generally kept fifteen or twenty of the
strongest men next myself, and judged from my own feelings
what must be that of others. Getting about the middle of the
plain, the water about mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing;
and as there were no trees or bushes for the men to support
themselves by, I feared that many of the most weak would be
drowned. I ordered the canoes to make the land, discharge
their loading, and play backwards and forwards with all dili-
gence, and pick up the men; and to encourage the party, sent
some of the strongest men forward with orders, when they got

cases. It w£

OR, TBK BORDER WARS OK TWO C^NTURIKB.

to a certain diHtanee, to pass the word back that the water was
getting Bhallow; and wlien getting near the woods to cry out
'Land I' Tins stratagem had its desired effect. The men,
encouraged by it, exerted tliemselves ahnost beyond their abil-
ities, the weak iiolding by tlie stronger. * ^ * The water
never got shallower, but continued deepening. Getting to the
woods where the men expected land, the water was up to my
bhoulders; but gaining the woods was of great consequence;
all the low men and weakly, hung to the trees, and floated on
the old logs until they were taken off by the canoes. The
strong and tall got ashore and built fires. Many would reach
the shore and fall with their iKxiies half in the water, not being
able to support themselves without it.

"This was a delightful dry spot of ground of about ten acres.
We soon found that fires answered no purpose; but that two
strong men taking a weaker one by the arms was the only
way to recover him; and, being a de 'ghtful day, it soon did.
But, fortuTuitely, as if designed by Providence, a canoe of
Indian squaws and children were coming up to town, and took
through part of this plain as a nigh way. It was discovered
by our canoes as they were out after the men. They gave
chase and took the Indian canoe, on board of which was near
half a quarter of buffalo, some corn, tallow, kettles, etc. This
was a grand prize, and was invaluable. Broth was immediately
aiade and served out to the most weakly with great care ; most
or the whole got a little; but a great many gave their part to
the weakly, jocosely raying something cheering to their com-
rades. This little refreshment and tine weather, by the after-
noon, gave life to the whole. Crossing a narrow deep lake in
the canoes, and marching some distance, we came to a copse
of timber called the 'Warrior's Island.' We were now in full
view of the fort and town, not a shrub between us, at about
two miles distance. Every man now feasted his eyes and
forgot that he had suffered anything — saying that all that had
passed was owing to good policy, and nothing but what a man
could bear ; and that a soldier had no right to think, etc.,
passing from one extreme to another, which is c :>mmon in such
cases. It was now we had to display our abilities. The plain

176

Tlll£ UVK8 OF PONTIAO AND TKOUMMKU:

between us aiui the town was not a perfect level. The sunken
grounds were covered with water full of ducks. We observed
Boveral men out on horseback, shooting them, within hail' a
mile of us, and sent out as many of our active young French-
men to decoy and take one of tlieso men prisoner, in such a
manner as not to alarm the others, which they did. Tlu^
information we got from this person was similar to that wiuch
we ^ot from those we took on the river, except that of the
British having that evening completed the wall of the fort, and
that there were a good many Indians in town,

"Our situation was now truly critical; no possibility of
retreating in case of defeat, and in full view of a town that
had at this time upwards of six hundred men in it, troopB.
inhabitants and Indians. The crew of the galley, though not
fifty men, would now have been a reinforcement of immense
magnitude to our little army, (if I may so call it,) but we
would not think of them. We were now in the situation that
I had labored to get ourselves in. The idea of being made
prisoner was foreign to almost every man, as they expected
nothing but torture from the savages if they fell into their
hands. Our fate was now to be determined, probably in a few
hours. We knew that nothing but the most daring conduct
would ensure success. I knew that a number of the inhabitants
wished us well, that many were lukewarm to the interest of
either, and I also learned that the Grand Chief, the Tobacco's
son, but a few days before openly declared in council with the
British, that he was a brother and a friend to the Big Knives.
These were favorable circumstances, and as there was but little
probability of our remaining until dark undiscovered, I deter
mined to begin the career immediately, and wrote the follow-
ing placard to the inhabitants :

To THE Inhabitants of Vincennes. — Oentlemen: Beinfj; now witliin
two miles of your vilhigo, with my army, determined to taicc your fort this
niglit, and not being willing to surprise you, I take this method to reqiiost
such of you as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty I brinp
you, to remain still in your houses, and those, if any there be, that are
friends to the king, will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-buyer
General and tight like men. And if any such as do not go to tin; tort
shall be discovered afterwards, they may depend on severe punishment.

OK, TIIK UOKDICK WAKH oK TWO (iKNTUKriOI.

On tho contrary, tliosu who are true I'riondi to lltH'rty rnny dcpiiii'.! on being
well troHtod, and I oncv more roquevt thorn t() kcop out of the streets. For
every one I find in urnm on my arrival I shall treat )>ini as an enemy.

(Higned) G. U. Cimiik.

Tliis notice had the desired effect, it iiiHpired tliu friendly
inhabitants witli confidence and filled the enemy with terror.
On the same day about sunset the little army set off to attack
the fort. In order to convince Hamilton that the invwlers
consisted of a large army, Col. Clark divided his men into
platoons, each displaying a different flag, and after marching
and counter-marching around some mounds within sight of
the fort, and making other demonHtrations of numbers and
strength till dark, Lieut. Bayley, with fourteen men, was sent
to attack the fort. This party secured themselves within thirty
yards of the fort, defended by a bank and safe from tlie enemy's
fire, and as soon as a port hole was opened a dozen rifles were
directed to the aperture. One soldier fell dead, and the rest
could not be prevailed upon to stand to the guns. On the
morning of the twenty-fourth. Col. Clark sent a Hag of truce
with the following letter to Col. Hamilton, while his men, for
the first time in six days, were provided with breakfast:

Sir: In order to save yourself from tho impending storm that now
threatens yt)U, I order you immediately to surrender yourself, witli nil your
j^arrison, stores, etc., etc. For if I am obliged to storm, you may dei)end
upon such treatment as is justly due to a murderer. Beware of destroying
stores of any kind, or any papers or letters that are in your possession, or
hurting one house in town, for, by ifeavens, if you do, there shall be no
mercy shown you. 6. R. Clabk.

To Gov. Hamilton.

Col. Hamilton replied as follows:

Gov. Hamilton begs leave to acquaint Col. Clark that he and his gar-
rison are not disposed to be awed into any action unworthy British

subjects.

The attack was renewed with great vigor, and soon after
Hamilton sent another message to the invader, as follows:

Gov. Hamilton proposes to Col. Clark a truce for three days, during
which time he promises that there shall be no defensive works carried on
12

178

THK I,IVh> UK |>ON'riAr ANI> TKI'I'MMKII :

III Mii> unrritkon, on conilitinn tliul Col. Cliirk will ohMorvt', on IiIh part, it
llkf (■••MMiitloii of iilifiiHivc work: Hint U, In* wUIii'h to coiitVr with Cul
('lurk, iiH Modii Its run Im>, hikI pnuiilHus tliut wliuli-vcr iiiuy piiMH lit'twccn
tlit'in two uiiil iiiioMii>r iktnoii iiiiitiiully u»;rfc<l on to Im- pn*M«>nt, mIikH
ri'inuiii M*'cn-l till iimtt«ri« Ih> tliiislii'd ; as Iw nvIhIich ll'ut wliutt'vi'r Iht-
result of till' coiit'i'micc iiiuy lie, It iimv tend to the honor und (Tcdii of
I'licli party. It' ('ol. (lurk iiiaki'H a dlDlctilly of coming into the tort,
Meiit. Oov. Hainlltoii will Mpeak with liiiu by the gate.

Hkmky IIamii.ton.

This mcHsii^e wan written on the 24tli of Ki'lirimry, 177l),
Hiid iiiaiilft'rttt'd a t'erliii;; tluit (Hark liiul «'X|M'ct«'<l. His rcjily
was: *'('ol. (Mark's {'ntiipliiiu'iitH to (^ov. Iliiiiiilton, and l«'ifn
leave tt> way that lu' will not a^ree to atiy teriiiB otlior than Mr.
iramiltoii surnMnlcriiiiii: himsflt' and garrison jiriHoni'rw at dis-
crt'tion. It' Mr. Hamilton wai\trt to talk witli Col. (-lark, lie
will meet him at the church with (!aj)t. Helm."

A cont'erence was held as |u. (posed, when (Mark would aiijrt't'
only to u surrender, and tlireatened to mtissaero the leading;
men 4.. the tort tor siij)|)lying tlio Indians with the means ot
annoyivnce and purchasin";; seal]>s, it* his terms were not
accepted. In a few moments atlerwards Col. (Mark dictiitetl
terms ot sur ^ ider which were accepted.'*'' On the twenty-tit^li
of Fehruary Fort Sackvillc was surrendered to the Americiiii
troops and the <j^arrison treated as prisoners of war. The stars
and stripes were unfolded ahove its battlements and thirteen
guns celebrated the victory. Seventy-nine prisoners and stores
to the amount of fifty thousand dollars were captured by this
bold enterprise, and the whole country along the Mississijipi
and Wabash remained ever after in the peaceful possession of

* Ist, Llentenimt-GovDrnor Itnmllton agraoR to dullvur up to Col. eiiirk Port Suck-
vlllo, B» It In at prt'Heiit. with Its «tore§, etc.

•M\. Thu giirrlHon lire to (iKliver MinmaulvoB ax prlHonem of wnr und march oat with
their arniH 1111(1 accoiitriMnciitb.

:W. Tho fiairisoii to bo dcllvurt'd up to-morrow, at ten o'clock.

4th. Thrt'i! days" time to be allowed the KHrrioon to gettlo their accounts with the
InhabitiiiitH mul traderw.

Sth. The (ifUeerM of the garrison to he allowed their necoHHury bagK'^K**' otc.

Signed 111 PoHt St. Vini'cnneB. the 24th day of Feliruary, ITVil; auruod to for the fol-
lowing reuKoiiH: iHt. lieinotencBB from succor ; ad. Thf Htiitc und quantity of provisioni;
8d. 'i'hC HHun'nnlty of the oftlcerB and men in itn expediency; 4th. The honorable termJ
allowed: and, lastly, the couftdeuce in a generous eutMuy.

Hknry Hamilton,
Litul«nant-Ouvenior and S uperinUndwt.

OK, TilK BOKUKK WAKN Of TWO (IKNTURIIM.

179

till' Atnorlcani. In the uliort contcHt only one of tlie Arricricnni
wiiH woun<li>d. Thu MritiHli hud onv kiWvd and uix Huvorcly
wniiiulHd. (iuv. Iliiuiilton WHH Hftnt prinoncr to Virginia,
wlii'i'i) h(^ WHM confinttd in jail, tettcrc*! and alorus an a pnnish-
merit for hiH wicked |M(Iiey »)f otU'iin^ rewardn for American
H(iil):H, hut aH thiH ])uniHhinent was not in aecordaneo with the
U-riuH of wtirrender, ho wa^* ulitM-wanlH net at lilKtrty.

(\»1. (Mark returned to Kaska^kia, where he found hJB paper
iiiuiiey /^rejvtly depreciat«(l, aiwl where h<! was forced to ])Ied^e
]m own credit to procure what he needed to an extent that
injured his tliumcial jtrospectH.

It i« dirticiiit to estinuite the true vahie of Chirk's campaign
to American itulependence. "But for hin Hmall army of drip-
piiij;, hut fearicHH Vir^inianH," Hays Mr. Peck, " the union of
all the trihes from (ieorgia to Maine aj^ain«t the colonies,
tni^'lit iiave heen effected and tlie whole current of our history
changed. Tlie conquest of Clark changed the face of affairs
in relation to the whole country north of the Ohio river, which,
in all prohability, w<ndd have been the boundary between
Canada and the United States. This conquest was urged by
the American commissioners in negotiating the definite treaty
of 1793."

CH.VPTKR XXir.

DoitDRIlH OK KKNtm^KY -H<M»NK'H MaLT Kxi'l'lDn'MlN — IFi« ('AI"rURB-~
IIlH DkKKNNK tlK ItiMlNMIUUlordll - InVAMIiiN <!»' TIIK C'UUMTKY (ir

TiiK Hix Nationh— Indian Tuocmi.kb.

\jvn: »H now rtstuni iiikI hriiijij torwurd the evetitu in tlu' Itoi'.
der scttloiiu'iits (it' IvotUiu'ky. Tlio pioiu'tM'H wtTo now (1778)
stitturin^ itiiicli tVotii the want ut' Hult, und the lubor niui risk
of hriii^iiifjf it (»vei' the inountiiiiirt woro too groat. It was now
resolved hy the Hottlern that tliirty u'on, under the j^iiiduiico
of Captain Daniel Hoone, one of the earliest and uiont active
Bottlers of Iventutrky, and the toiMiderof nooi'shoroii^h, hhould
proceed to the " Lower Hlne Liekrt,'' on f.ickin^' river, uimJ
manufacture salt. T\n' enterpriHe was coniinencod on N«»w
Year'8 day, 177S.'* IJoone was to hv. guide, hunter and Hcout;
the others were to cut wood and attend to the nnvnufacturing
department. They rtiusceeded well, and on the Heventii of the
following month enough had been made to lead to the "etum
of three of the party to the stjitionn with the pn^-iourt com-
modity. While Boone was ranging the woods in the vicinity
of the salt works he was disscovep'd aTid captured hy n large
party of Shawanoes. Boone's com]>anif)ns were nextiiapturcd,
and all were now taken to the Indian villuge on the Little
Miami, f It was no part of the plan of the Shawanoes, how-
ever, to retain tiiese men in captivity, nor yet to scalp, slay or
eat them. Under the iiirtuence and rewards of Governor Ham-
ilton, the British comnuvnder in the northwest, the Indians liad
taken up the business of speculating in human beings, both
dead and alive, and the Shawanoes meant to take Boone and

* Western Annals.
f Peck'8 Narrative.

I \

(180)

OK, riih: iii>Ki>Ku WAKM or two ukntukika.

hU coinrndeM to thu Dt^troit iiinrk<>t. On t)w tenth of March,
Hcciinlin^ly, uUivuri of tint party, itichidin^ DaiiielhiniHolf, \vi>ro
(liwjHiUlied f«>r tho north, titnl iiftrr twiiity duyM of jt)urneyiti^
wrri' prcHontod to thu Kiij^liHli ^ovuriior, who treated tliem,
Kuoiie M»y8, with ^r(!Ut hiiiiiiihity. To Hoone himself IluiniU
tun and Hoverul other |{i>t it lumen Heein to have tuketi an eapecial
tiiiu'V, and offered lar^CNiiniH for hin ri'k*aHo, hut the Sliawanoet
would not part with him ; lie nturtt ^o home witli them, they
KHJd, and he one of them, and hec.ome a ^reat ehi ' So tiie
pioneer found hiH very virtnen heeomin^ the caune - \ pro-
joMj^ed eaptivity. In April the red men, with llieir one white
captive, about t«» he converted itJto a j?eniiine mm of nature,
returned from tho flats of Miehij^an to the rolling valley« of
tlic MiainiH. And now the white hjood was waHhed out of tho
Kentucky niti^er, and he wan made a Hon in the family of Hlaek-
fisli, a Sliuwanoes chief, and wan loved and ean!«Hed hy father
1111(1 mother, brothers and «iHters, till hu waa thoroughly wiek
ui' them. But dis^uHt he could not show, ho he was kind and
uH'ahle, and kiniw how to allay any suHpicions they might liar-
bor Icrtt he should run away. For some time the newly nuide
Indian, Hoone, entered into tlie savage life with a pretended
reliah. On tho first of June ho was returning with a jiarty
«f Indians to the village, and on arriving ho found four hun-
dred and fifty of tho choieeHt warriors of the west painted and
iirtned for battle. Upon Mupiiring he found that they had
formed a plan to destroy U(»onsborough and capture the
inhabitants. Bo(mo now eeerotly resolved to risk his lite to
save the little borough he had founded. And although over
one hundred and fifty miles from this town, he departed, on
the morning of the sixteenth of June, while all was quiet, and
without any breakfast, started on his long and dangerous
journey. He traveled at the rate of forty miles a day for four
successive days, and ate but one meal during the whole journey.
At last he reached the defenseless town, and with tho alarmed
inhabitants at once commenced repairing the fortifications.
But the foe came not. In a few days another escaped captive
came in and informed Boone that the Indians were unsettled

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182

TIIIi: UVKS OF FOMTIAO AND TKOUMSRH:

in their plans, knowing not what to do since he had departed.
Thus his favorite town was saved, at least for the time being.
Boone, with a small party of the settlers, now penetrated the
forests to surprise an Indian village; but meeting a small party
of Indians he discovered that they were marching on Boonsbo.
rough in full force. He had scarcely time to return when the
enemy appeared. The Indians, to the number of four hundred
and forty, were commanded by Chief Blackiish, and the (Cana-
dians, to the number of eleven, by Captain DuQuesne. The
advancing enemy displayed both the English and French flags.
The invaders demanded Boone to surrender in the name of His
Britannic Majesty, and promised a liberal treatment for the
prisoners. It was indeed a critical moment. Should they yield
there would be no mercy shown them; but, on the other hand,
there was but little chance for a successful resistance. They
had no provisions, and their cattle were abroad in the woods.
Boone asked for two days to consider the matter, and his request
was granted. He now set about bringing the cattle to the fort,
which was soon accomplished. Being thus supplied with food,
he announced the determination of his garrison to fight. Cap-
tain DuQuesne was sorely grieved at this, for he had hoped to
take the place without bloodshed. He now resorted to treach-
ery. He offered to withdraw his troops if the garrison would
make a treaty. Boone suspected all was not right, and at first
he refused to yield ; but then he did not wish to starve in the
fort or have it taken by storm, and he thought, as he ronieni-
bered Hamilton's kindness to him while in Detroit, that per-
haps he would be fairly treated by his representative, so he
agreed to treat. Boone and eight of his men now went out of
the fort, under cover of the guns of the fortifications, and opened
a council about sixty yards distant. The treaty was made and
signed, and then the Indians, saying it was their custom for
two of them to shake hands with every white man when a treaty
was made, expressed a wish to press the palms of their new
allies. Boone and his friends must have looked doubtful at
this proposal, but it was safer to accede than to refuse and
be shot instantly, so they presented e^h his hand. As antici-
pated, the warriors seized them with rough and fierce eagerness.

OB, THE BOBDBR WARS OF TWO 0KNTUKIB8.

188

The whites drew back, struggling. The treachery was appa-
rent. The rifle balls from the garrison struck down the fore-
most assailants of the little band; and, amid a lire from friends
and foes, Boone and his fellow deputies bounded back into the
station, with the exception of one man, unhurt. Now that the
treaty project had failed, the enemy opened a hot fire upon the
fortifications, which they continued ten days, though to no
purpose. On the twentieth of August the Indians were forced
unwillingly to retire, having lost thirty-seven of their number
and wasted a vast ainount of powder and lead. The garrison
picked up from the ground, after their departure, one hundred
and twenty-five pounds of their bullets.

Early in the summer of this year a fort was built upon the
bunks of the Ohio, a little below Fort Pitt, called Fort Mcin-
tosh. From this point it was intended to operate in reducing
Detroit, where mischief was still brewing. Indeed the natives
were now more united than ever against the Americans. The
Senecas, Cayugas, Mingoes, Wyandots, Onondagas, Ottawas,
Ojibwas, Shawanoes and Delawares were all in the league.
Congress now, perhaps for the first time, fully saw the difficul-
ties that were likely to arise fVom the native tribes.

In the north and west a new cause of trouble was arising.
Of the six tribes of the Iroquois, the Senecas, Mohawks, Cay-
ugas and Onondagas had been from the outset inclined to
Britain, though all of these but the Mohawks had now and
then tried to persuade the Americans to the contrary. During
the winter of 1778-9 the Onondagas, who had been for a while
nearly neutral, were suspected by the Americans of deception,
and this suspicion having become nearly knowledge, a band
was sent early in April to destroy their towns and take such
of them as could be taken pi'isoners. The work appointed was
done, and the villages and wealth of the poor savages were
annihilated. This sudden act of severity startled all. The
Oneidas, hitherto faithful to their neutrality, were alarmed lest
tlie next blow should fall on them, and it was only after a full
explanation that their fears were quieted. As for the Onon-
dagas, it was not to be hoped that they would sit down under
such treatment ; and we find, accordingly, that some hundred

I^v

184

THE UVES OF FONTIAO AIO) TRCDMBEU:

i'fi'.'

of their warriors were at once in tlie field, and from that time
forward a portion of their nation remained hostile to the
United Colonies.**

The Americans now determined to invade the country of the
Six Nations, which they did, defeating a large number of these
Indians at Newton. From this point they were driven from
village to village, and their whole country was laid waste.
Houses were burned, crops and orchards destroyed, and every
thing done to render the country uninhabitable that could be
thought of. Forty towns were burnt, and more than one ban-
dred and sixty thouBand bushels of com destroyed. This attack
was conducted by Gk)neral Sullivan He effected a complete
conquest of the Indian country, but passed Niagara without
attacking it.

On the twenty-second of March, 1779, Washington wrote to
Oolonel Daniel Brodhead, who had succeeded Mcintosh at Fort
Pitt, that an incursion into the country of the Six Nations was
in preparation, and that in connection therewith it might be
advisable for a force to ascend the Alleghany to Kittaning, and
thence to Venango, and having fortified both points, to strike
the Mingoes and* Munceys upon French Creek and elsewhere
in that neighborhood, and thus aid General Sullivan in the
great blow he was to give by his march up the Susquehanna.
Brodhead proceeded up the Alleghany, burned the towns of the
Indians and destroyed their crops.

The immediate result of this and other equally prompt and
severe measures was to bring the Delawares, Shawanoes, and
even the Wyandots, to Fort Pitt, on a treaty of peace. There
Brodhead met them on his return in September, and a long
conference was held to the satisfaction of both parties.f

During this summer an expedition was sent against the
Shawanoes of the Miami, but it failed to accomplish the end
originally designed, and the fierce Indians of . this tribe were
unsubdued.

In the following year, 1780, Kentucky was invaded by a large

* Stone's Works,
f Western Annals.

OBf THB BORDKR WAB8 OF TWO OENTURIBS.

185

force of Indiftns and Oanadians, commanded by Oolonel Byrd,
t British officer. To the number of six hundred, with two
field pieces, they marched up the valley of the Lioking, and first
appeared before Ruddle's Station, on the twenty-second of June,
demanding an instant surrender. As the stockades were pow-
erless against cannon, the demand was complied with; but the
invaders, for some reason, left the country immediately.

li I

CHAPTER XXIII.

Exi'RDmON AOAtNBT MOKAVIAIf INDIANS— ThR MaSRAOKR — TKUKtUI.K
PATE OF CouONKFi CRAWFORD— ATTACK OF BrYAMT'H STATION — De.
FEAT OF THE FRONTIER MkN.

Let us return once more to the villages of the Christian
Indians, commonly called the Moravians. In 1781 they suffered
from both Americans and from hostile Indians, and in conse-
quence were compelled to leave their home on the Muskingum
and go to Sandusky; but in February, 1782, they returned to
the number of about one hundred and fifty. This act revived
the hatred of the frontier men, who had now learned to sus-
pect them of treachery ; and Colonel Williamson in March
set out with a party of about one hundred men, without any
authority, and made a rapid march to the Muskingum. The
professed object was to capture and remove the Christian Del-
awares, and destroy their houses and fields. A number of peo-
ple were at work in their corn-fields when this hostile force
appeared, who ran to the village of Gnadenhutten. Several
men and one woman were killed. Tliey were told it was the
intention to take them to Pittsburgh, where they would be
protected, and were directed to enter two houses and remain
for the night. The commander of the party then proposed to
leave it to his men to decide by vote their fate, and orders were
given that those who were for sparing their lives should step
out in front. Of some ninety men present only seventeen or
eighteen voted to spare their lives I This sentence was then
announced to the people. They spent the night in prayer and
in singing hymns. In the morning the terrible slaughter com-
menced. No resistance was made. Guns, tomahawks and
hatchets were used. Two only escaped. One, a young man

(186)

OK, TIIK iiOKDKK WAKM OV TWO CKNTUKIMB.

187

kboat seventeen years of age, wouti<1o(l, bleeding and scalped,
crept into the buHJteH and lived ; another crawled under the
floor, where he lay until the blood of his murdered relations
poured in Btreams upon hiin.^ The buildingH wereHet on fire,
and the bodies partially consumed. Colonel Williamson and
hilt men returned to receive the exocrHtions of hib countrymen.
Both the civil and military authorities of the State and nation
reprobated the direful deed. Forty men, twenty-two women,
and thirty-two children were thus destroyed.

It was in March, 1782, that this great murder was committed;
and another expedition was at once organized to invade the
towns of the Moravian Delawares and Wyandots, upon the
Sandusky. No Indian was to be spared ; friend or foe, every
red nmn was to diel The commander of the expedition was
Colonel William Crawford. His troops, numbering nearly five
hundred men, marched in June to the Sandusky, uninterrupted.
There they found the towns deserted, and the savages on the
alert. A battle ensued, and the whites were forced to retreat.
In their retreat many left the main body, and nearly all who
did 80 perished. Of Crawford's own fate we give the follow-
ing account by Dr. Knight :

" Monday morning, the tenth of June, we were paraded to
march to Sandusky, about thirty-three miles distant. They
had eleven prisoners of us, and four scalps, the Indians being
seventeen in number.

"Colonel Crawford was very desirous to see a certain Simon
Girty, who lived with the Indians, and was on this account
permitted to go to town the same night, with two warriors to
guard him, having orders at the same time to pass by the place
where the colonel had turned out his horse, that they might,
if possible, find him. The rest of us were taken as far as the
old town, which was within eight miles of the new.

"Tuesday morning, the eleventh. Colonel Crawford was
brought out to us, on purpose to be marched with the other
prisoners. I asked the colonel if he had seen Mr. Girty. He
told me he had, and that Girty had promised to do everything
in his power for him, but that the Indians were very much

• Western Annals.

188

TBX UVHi (IF PONTIAO AMD TMnrMBBIi:

enraged against the prinonen, particularly Captain Pipe, one
of the chiefs. lie likewise tuld me that Girty had informed
him that his son-in-law, Colonel Harrison, and his nephew,
William Crawford, were made prisoners by the ShuwanocH, hut
had ))een pardoned. This (^aptain Pipe had come from the
town al)out an hour before Colonel Crawford, and had painted
all the prisoners' faces black. As he was painting me he told
me [ should go to the Shawanoes towns and see my friends.
When the colonel arrived he painted him black also, told iiim
he was glad to see him, and that he would have him shnved
when he came to see his fViends at the Wyandot town. When
we marched the colonel and I were kept back, between Pipe
and Wyngeniin, the two Delaware chiefs ; the other nine pris-
oners were sent forward with another party of Indians. As
we went along wo saw four of the prisoners lying by the path,
tomahawked and scalped ; some of them wore at the distniice
of half a mile from each other. When we arrived within half
a mile of the place where the colonel was executed we overtook
the tive prisoners that remained alive. Tlie Indians had caused
them to sit down on the ground, as they did also the colonel
and me, at some distance from them. I was there given in
charge to an Indian fellow, to be taken to the Shawanoes
towns.

" In the place where we were made to sit down, there was
a number of squaws and boys, who fell on the five prisoners
and tomahawked them. There was a certain John McKinij
amongst the prisoners, formerly an oflBcer in the 13th Vir-
ginia regiment, whose head an old squaw cut off, and the
Indians kicked it about upon the ground. The young Indian
fellows came often where the Colonel and I were, and dashed
the scalps in our faces. We were then conducted along
toward the place where the Colonel was afterwards executed;
when we came within about half a mile of it, Simon Girty
met us, with several Ij^dians on horseback; he spoke to the
Colonel, but as I was about one hundred and fifty yards behind,
could not hear what passed between them.

"Almost every Indian we met, struck us either with sticks or
their fists. Girty waited till I was brought up, and asked, was

OR, TIIK ROROKR WARi OF TWO CKNTUKIIi)*.

189

that thu D<M;tor? I told him yei, and went towardit him,
ruacliing out my hand, but ho bid me begone, and called me a
damned rascal, upon which the fellows who had me in charge
pnllod me along. Girty rode up after me and told me I waa to
go to the Shawanoo towns.

'« When we went to the fire the Golonel was stripped naked,
ordered to sit down by the tire, and then they beat him with
gticks and their fists. Presently after, I was treated in tlie
game manner. They then tied a rope to the foot of a poHt
aboat fifteen feet high, bound the Colonel's hands behind hit
back and fastened the rope to the ligature between his wrists.
The r(>i)e was long enough for him to sit down or walk round
the post once or twice, and return the same way. The ( Jolonel
then called to Girty, and asked if they intended to burn himi
Qirty answered, yes. The Colonel said he would take it all
patiently. Upon this. Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief, made a
epeech to the [ndians, viz.: about thirty or forty men, and sixty
or seventy squaws and boys.

"When the speech was finished they all yelled a hideous and
hearty assent to what had been said. Tlie Indian men then
took np their guns and shot ])owder into the (Colonel's body,
from iiis feet as far up as his neck. I think that no less than
seventy loads were discharged upon his naked body. Tliey
then crowded about him, and to the best of my observation,
cat off hie •'ra; when the throng had dispersed a little, I saw
the blood ni;' nng from both sides of his head in consequence
thereof.

"The fire was six or seven yards from the post to which
the Colonel was tied; it was made of small hickory poles, burnt
quite through ill the middle, each end of the poles remaining
about six feet in length. Three or four Indians by turns
would take up, individually, one of these burning pieces of
wood and apply it to his naked body, already burnt black with
the powder. These tormentors presented themselves on every
side of him with the burning faggots and poles. Some of the
squaws took broad boards, upon which they would carry a
quantity of burning coals and hot embers and throw on him,

190

TMK I.IVKN or h)NTlA«' ANIl TICiH MMKII

■(> that in a itliort tiiiiu liu liHtJ nothiiif( luit citulM of tir«> hihI hot
mIioi t<) walk ii|)on.

" In the mU\»t of thew) *xtrf»me torturPM, h« oalU'd to Hitnon
G\rty and In>^^I of him to ihoot him; hut Girty makiii)^ no
auHwer, he nille<l to him aj^iin. (iirty, tliun, hy way of derii.
ion, told the (yohmol that lie had no ^un, at the Hunu! time
turning alM>ut to an Indian who wait behind him, laii^luil
heartily, and hy all hiii geHturt'H Hcemed delighted at the horrid
neene.

"Girty then came up to mo and hade me prepare for <lt«ath.
Ho Miid, however, that I waM not to die at that place, hut to
be burnt at tho Shawanot) townn. Fie swore hy d — d I need
not expect to eitcapo death, but Hhuuld Hutfer it in all it8 oiiur-
mitioH.

"He then ohHerved that Home priAonerx had given him to
understand, that if our ^Hsople had him they would not hurt
him; for Iuh part, he said, he did not l)clieve it, hut deHirtMJto
know my opinion of the matter, hut IxMUg at the time in^reat
anguinh and diHtress for the tormentH the Colonel was nuifer-
ing l)eforo my eyes, at) well aH the expectation o£ undergoinj;
tlie same fate in two days, I made little or no answer. He
expressed a great deal of ill-will for Colonel Gibson, and Haiti
he was one of his greatest enemies, and more to the same pur-
pose, to all which I paid very little attention.

" Colonel Crawford, at this period of his suffering, besought
the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and
bore his torments with the most manly fortitude. He con-
tinned in all the extremities of pain for an hour and three-
quarters or two hours longer, as near as I could judge, when at
last, being almost exhausted, he lay down on his belly; they
then scalped him, and repeatedly threw the scalp in my face,
telling me " that was my great captain." An old squaw got a
board, took a parcel of coals and ashes and laid them on his
back and head, after he had been scalped; he then raised him-
self upon his feet and began to walk ronnd the post; they next
put a burning stick to him as usual, but he seemed more
insensible of pain than before.

" The Indian fellow who had me in charge, now took me away

OK, rilK HilHItKM WAKM <»» IWo rKN'ri'lilKN.

t() Ciiptuiii l'i|M)*i liouHt), niMMtt tlir«>t>-4|iinrU*rN nt' h iiiilu from
the pliM^M ot' tl>" ('oloiutlV vxtH'iitioii. I WHM IiouikI nil nlK^tt^
ami tliiirt [>r()vviiU)(l from MtMiiii^thu Imtt of tliu horrid N^Ksotiiule.
Next iiioriiii% \w\uif Juno twt^lfth, tliu Indlnii iintioii inu,
t>ainti><l uw hlnnlc, and wt> not off for t)i<* Hhnwnnot) town, which
he tuld inu WHM Koini'whnt U;hm thnii forty in! U^m dJHtHnt from
timt pittcu. We M<M)n cHniu to tho M|Hit whttru the Oolonel hm\
btfii hurnt, m It whh pHrtly in our wny; I muw hiti iMinoH lying
Mmup^t tho runmins of the tiro, HlinoHt burnt to iMhuM; I Bup>
nm utter ho wum dead they laid hiti Inxly on the fire. The
Iiuiiiiii told me that whh my hi^ (Captain, and ^ave tho Hcalp

halloo."

Siioh were dome of the more important incident!) of border
warthro in 17H1-82. Ihit xtill the fury of the Indiana waa by
no tiicuiiH H]K>nt. In the middle of Au|(UHt, 1782, tho atorm
burnt uround Hryant*a Station. About aix hundred Indians
appeared on tlie fifteenth and made a de8|)erate effort to cap-
turt' the fort. Tlie garriaon had heard, on the day previous,
of the defeat of a party of whitea not fur diatant, and during
that iii^ht were buay in making preparationa to march, with
daylx'i'ak, to the aaaiatance of their neighlH>ra. Mr. Jamea H.
Pt'ck, the compiler of the " Weatern Annala," infonna ua that
all night long their ])reparationa continued, and what little
n>m\([ the aavagea made aa they approached, waa unheard amid
the euniparative tumult within. Day atole through the foreat;
the woodamen roae from their brief alum()era, took their arms,
and were on the point of openings their gatea to march, when
the crack of riflea, mingled with yells and howla, told them in
an instant how narrowly they had eacAped captivity or death.
Rushing to the loop-holea and crannies, they saw about a hun-
dred red men, firing and gesticulating in full view of the fort.
The young bloods, full of rage at Estill's sad defeat, wished
instantly to rush forth upon the attackers, but there was some-
thing in the manner of the Indians so peculiar, that the older
heads at once suspected a trick, and looked anxiously to the
opposite side of the fort, where they judged the main body of
the enemy were probably concealed. Nor were they deceived.
The savages were led by Simon Girty. This white savage had

TIIK l.ivn or lltN-HAO ANI> TKCUMUlli:

propoMd, by %n ftttA<*k on one ilda of the iUtlon with a »tnt\\
p«rt of his fon^t), to drew out tlio gMriton, aiid thon intanueil,
with tlie inttiii IxMiy, to full ii|ioti tho otiiar sldo, Hixi Murura tht
fort; but lii« plan wm <i«fu»t«Nl by tite ovoraoting of hit nd
allietf and tlio Ukgtcity of lii* opponent*. Theee oppononu,
however, had ttill • lad dlttloulty to encoantor; tlie fott wm
not supplied with water, and the spring waa at •ome di«tAiK«,
and in the inimo<liato vicinity of tlie thioicet in whioh It wm
•up|x)ftod the main force of the Indians lay concealed. Tlie
danger of going or sending for water was plain, the aUolute
necessity of having it was equally so; and how it could b«
procured, was a question which made many a head shake, manj
a heart sink. At length a plan, equally sagacious and bold,
was hit upon, and carried into execution by as great an exer-
tion of womanly prosomro of mind as can, perhaps, bo fouod
•n record. If tho Huvagos were, as was supposed, coni«aled
near the spring, it whs l>olioved they would not show them*
selves until they had reason to believe their trick had succeeded,
and the garrison had left the fort on the other side. It wm,
therefore, proposed to all the females to go with their buekeU
to the spring, fill them, and return to the fort, before any miIIv
was made against the attacking party. The danger to which
they must be exposed was not to be concealed, but it was nrfi;ed
upon them that this must be done, or all perish; and that if
they were steady, tho Indians would not molest them; and to
the honor of their sex, be it naid, they went forth in a body,
and directly under live hundred riHes, tilled their buckets, and
returned in such a manner as not to suggest to tho quick-
sighted savages that their presence in the thicket was susptHtted.
This done, a small number of the garrison were sunt forth
against the attackers, with orders to multiply their numbers to
the ear by constant firing, while the main body of the whites
took their places to repel the anticipated rush of those in con-
cealment. The plan succeeded perfectly. The whole body of
Indiana rushed from their ambuscade as they heard tho firing
upon the opposite side of the fort, and were received by a fair,
well-directed discharge of all the rifles letlt within the station.
Astonished and horror-stricken, the assailants turned to the

OM, IIIK IKM iKN WAMM (!»' TWO (IKNTrNIKfl.

lua

forcot it^niii HH qiiickl}- hn tlicy liiul \vt\ it, Imviiiff liMt iimny of
their iiiiinlii'rK. In tlio iiiorniii);, an moom an thu proMuncu of tiir
liiiiiun* WAN AMocrtAiiuNi, aim! iM^fort) tiinir nunibpni woru mil-
IMH'tcd. two ini<itiM«nj(vni IiacI Itrckuii tliroii^li tliifir lino, IwAring
to Lcxiiif^ton tiilin)^ of thu nivgo of ltryAnt*« NtAtion, And
uniting HMccor. AMiatAnco (simo Almiit two in tlio AfliTniNin;
nixttfn ni«n iH^in^ niountoil. And thirty or nioru on fcN>t. Tito
ituvu)p>M ux|NK*t(Ml thoir ArrivAl, And pn^pArud to dvotroy thorn,
liiit tiio homoinon, by rapid ridin^i^, And cnvoUipod in dunt,
nwlifd tho fort nnhiirintHl, And of tlio f(K)tn)on, Aftur An honr'i
liani H);htin^, only two wore killo<l And four woundod. Tlio
ln(liiiii*i» conrAgo rAn^ly iup{K)rtii him through lon^continucd
cxrrtiori; And Oirty found hii men so fArdi8hoArt(>n«'d hy thoir
tHitiiroM, tliAt l)oforo night they tAlkod of AhAudonitig the siego.
At'tcr Httenipting to terrify thu gArrison into a nurronder, thoy
retired into the \vood« in tho hope titAt when further AHHititAneo
arrived At BryAnt'ii StAtion, a pArty would puntuc thont, And
till! into their AinhuHciideM. in this ho])o they were not
(iecoived. lioono And his pArty Arrived At tho StAtion on tho
eiglitecMith, iind ininuMlJAtoly stArtod After tho enemy. Tho
trail WAS phiin, And led thorn to tho I/>wor Dluo T^iokA, where
the Mivuges lay concoAlod in groAt numbers. Hero thoy
attiu<ke<l the IndiAns, but were routed with the loss ol Hoventy-
Rcvtii men killiMl And taken priHonors, And twelve wounded.
Tlie tew nil') escAjMxl tho slAUghtor fled in terror to tho sottle-

IIICMltrt.

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Nokthwkht TEiiuiTiniy — Skktcu of Autiiuu St. Claiu — Hkview

OF TIIKTREATIEa WITH TIIK INDIANS— INDIAN Si'KKCIIEB.

Leaving the frontier settlements of the provinces, or now
the united colonies, we will pass on to notice the events tlmt
transpired in the Northwest Territory, which was erected uixlcr
the ordinance of 1787. It is proper to state here, however,
that in making this pro<j;re88 in the narrative we are obli^'wl
to omit the (letails of many contests with the Indians in Oliio
and Kentucky, and the several treaties which resulted. Hut
these were of an ordinary character. Without any considerable
amount of bloodshed all the savages in these States were sub-
dued, the boundary lines of tlie'.r country were determined and
a treaty of peace concluded.

In the month of July, 1788, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, who had
been appointed the lirst governor of the Northwest Territory
by Congress, ai-rived /it Marietta and put the machinery of the
new government in motion. He organized the government
under the first "grade" of the ordinance,* the government

* I give the ordinance In fiUl as ToUowb, ns It Is the cornur-.^tono of Uie ConstitutionB
of the Northwestern Stntes, and Ib, therefore, worthy of preservation :

An OnoiNANCB fok tub Govbbnmknt of tub Territory of tub UNrTBn States,
NoBTHWKsT OP THE Ouio KivBR. — Be it ordained by the United States in Congress
assembled, That the said territory, for the purposes of temporary government, be ono
district, 8Ul)Ject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may,
In the opinion of Congress, make it expedient.

Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the estates, both of resident atid non-
resident proprietors In said territory, dying intestate, shall descend to, and be distribiUed
amonc; their children and the descendants of a deceased child, in equal parts; the
descendants of a deceased child, or grand child, to take the share of their deceased
parent In equal parts among them ; and where there shall bo no children or dcsccndniits,
then In equal parts to the next of kin In equal degree; and, among collaterals, the
children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among
them, their deceased parents' share; nnd there shall, in no case, be a distinction between
kindred of the whole and half-blood; saving. In all cases, to the widow of the intestate,
her third part of the real estate for life, and one-third part of the personal estate; and

(194)

OR, TIIR BOUnKR WARS OF TWO OENTURira.

195

coiifiirttlng of n governor, secretary niul three judges, who, con-
jointly, constituted the law-making power. Winthrop Sar-
gent was appointed secretary, and Samuel II. Parsons, James
II. Vernum and John Cleves Synunes judges. In September,
tiie governor and judges prepared and adopted a code of laws.
Arthur St. Clair was the first governor of the Northwest
Territory, and as his administration forms a conspicuous part
of the narrative, a brief sketch of his life, in this connection,-
will not be out of place. His portntit also appears on another
pivge. lie was a native of Scotland, from which country he
twne to the British colonies of North America in 1756. He

tbiB Inw, rolativo to doscdiitB and dowor, shall remain In Aill force until altered by the
I,ui:lHli)turo of the district. And, until the governor and Judges thall adopt laws as
luTclnnrtur mentioned, estaten In the said territory may bo devised or bequeathed by
wlllx In writing, signed and soaled by him or her, In whom the festuto may bo, (being of
fiill n<Te,;and attested by three witnesses: and real estates maybe conveyed by leas*
iiiul relunsu. or bargain and sale, signed, sealed and delivered by the person, being of
fiill iit,'"< 'i whom the estate may bo, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills
be duly proved and such c/inveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly
proved, and bo recorded within one year after, proper magistrates, courts and registers
slmll be appointed for that purpose; and personal property may bo transferred by deliv-
ery; siiving. however, to the French and Canadian Inhabitants, and other settlers of the
Kufikiixkias, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who have heretofore professed
themselves citizens of Vlrtj;inla, their laws and customs now In force among them,
relative to tho descent and conveyance of property.

He it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That there shall ho appointed, from time to
time, by Congress, a governor, whoso commission shall continue In force for three years,
unless sooner revoked by Congress; hn shall reside In the district and have a fk-eehold
estate therein in one tjioueand acres of land, while in the exercise of his office.

There shall bo appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a secretary, whose' com-
luiKHion sliall continue in force for four years, unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in
the district and have a freehold estate therein in live hundred acres of land, while In the
exercise of his office; It shall be his duty to keep ond preserve tho acts and lows passed
hy the Lojrislatnre, and tho public records of the district, and tho proceedings of tho
irovcnior In his executive department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and
priK'iH'diiigs, every six months, to the secretary of Congress. There shall also be
iippointed a court to consist of three Judges, any two of whom to form a court, who shall
have a common law Jurisdiction and reside In the district, and have each therein a free-
hold estate in live hundred acres of land while In tho exercise of their offices; and tholr
ooinmlssions shall continue In force during good behavior.

The governor and Judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and pnbllsh in the dis-
trict such lawH of tho original States, criminal and civil, as may bo necessary and best
suited to tho circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to
time; which laws shall bo in force in the district until tho organization of the General
Assembly therein, unless disapproved of by Congress; but afterwards the Legislature
shall have authority to alter them as they shall think flt.

Tho governor, for the time being, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia, appoint
and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general officers; all general
ofllcors shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress.

Previous to tho organization of the General Assembly, the governor shall appoint
inch magistrates and other civil officers, in each county or township, as he shall find

190

TIIK I-nHH OF 1N)NTIA0 AND TKOl'MHKH:

joined tlic lloyal Aiuoricaiis or Sixtieth Kegiment, and served
under Gen. Anilierst at the taking of ]x)ni8burg in 1758. He
carried a standard at the storming and eaptnre ol' Quebec,
under Gen. Wolfe, in 1759. Immediately after the peace of
1703, he settled in Ligonier Valley, in Western Pennsylvania,
where he continued to reside until the Revolutionary war.
Being a firm friend of liberty and the rights of the colonies,
he received from Congress the commission of cAlonel, and
joined the American army with a regiment of seven hundred
and fifty men. Having been promoted to the rank of major
general, he was tried by a court martial, in 1778, for evaeuat-

lUici'Mnni-v for tlio pruserviitl*!! of tho peace oiid good order In thu hhiiip. Aftur the Ocn-
oral Ai<»iMnbl.v uliiill bo orgnnlzud, thu powors and diillos of iiiii«l«trali'« and olhur civil
otHci'rH xliall bo ru;;ulatod and dollnud by t!iu said aH«iunil)ly; but all niiiuUtratuti and
other civil otlluerit, not hurelu otherwlnu directed, dlinll, during the coiitlnuauco of
this teiiipotary govorninont, be appointed by the governor.

For ilio preventlou of crimes and InJiiricH, the lawH to be adopted or inadu Hhall have
force in all partH of the diBtrlct, and for the execution of proceym, criminal and civil,
the governor xliall make proper divlHlonit thereof: and he ehall proci^ed, from time to
time, an circMmiiianceii may re(|iiire, 4o lay out the partn of the dlHlrict in which the
Indian titles Hliali havt* been extinguished, into counties and townHhips, enbject, how-
over, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the Legitiiature.

8u soon as thi^-c kIuiII be live thoiisand free male liihabitantH of full age in the dlntrict,
ai>on giving proof thereof to the governor, they shall receive authority, with time and
place, to elect representatives from thoir counties or townsliips to represent them in the
General Assembly: Proridml, That for every live hundred free male Inhabitants, thi're
shall bo ono representative, and so on progressively with the number of free male iiiliab-
Hants, shall the right of representation increase, until the number of representatives
shall amount to twonty-flvo; after which the number and proportion of representatives
shall bo regulated by tho Legislature: Provided, Tliat no |)orson bo eligible or qualitled
to act as a representative unless ho shall have been a citl/en of ouo of the United States
throe years and be a resident in the district, or unless ho shall have resided in the district
three years; and, in either case, shall likewise hold In his own right, in fee simple, two
uundrod acres of land within the same: Proridcdy also. That a ireehold In tlfty acres
of land in thu district, having been a citizen of ono of the States, and being resident in
tho district, or the like freehold and two years residence in the district, shall bo ncces-
aary to qualify a man as an elector of a representative.

Tho ropresenttttives thus elcctod shall serve for the term of two years; and, in case of
the death of a representative or removal from ofttce, the governor shall issue a writ to the
county or township for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for
the reeid'ie of the term.

Tho Qonoral Assembly, or Legislature, shall consist of the Governor, Legislative
Council and a House of Represontatives. The Legislative Council shall consist of five
members, to continue in ofllcc Ave years, uuloss sooner removed by Congress, any three
of whom to be a quorum; and the members of tho Council shall be nominated and
appointed in tlio following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives shall be elected,
tho governor shall appoint a time and place for them to moot together; and when met
they shall nominate ten persons, residents in the district, and each possessed of a free-
hold in five hundred acres of land, and return thoir names to Congress; five of whom
Congress shall appoint and commission to scr>-e as aforesaid; and whenever a vacancy
Shall happen in the Council, by death or removal ft-om otttce, the House of Represent*-

OR, TIIK nOKDKR WARS OF TWO CKNTURIKS.

197

ing TieoTulei'oga nrul IVfount Independence, und uimninionsly
ac(iuitted with the highest honors.

lie remained in the service until the peace. Mr. Peck, in
writing of this man, trutlit'ully says: "He was rigid, some
thought arl)itrary, in his government, and, therefore, unpop-
ular, hut ho was scrupulously honest — had no talent for
speculation, and died poor."

In a letter to a friend, St. Clair, in referring to himself,
remarks: " In the year 1780, I entered into the public service
in civil life, and was a member of Congress, and President of
that body, when it was determined to erect a government in

tlvcH shall nomlnato twu porHoiis, qiiuliUml iig nforcBaid, for each vacancy, und rutiirn
their nnmuH to CongrosM, ono of whom CongrusH alinll appoint and comnilsBion for tlio
residue of the term. And every live yoorn, four months at least boforo the expiration of
the time of service of th'! members of the Council, the said House shitlt nominate ten
perilous, (luulltled as aforesaid, nnd return their names to Congress, Ave of whom Con-
l^csB shall appoint and comnilHsion to serve as members of the Council flvo years,
unless sooner removed. And the governor, Legislative Council and House of Itepro-
lentatives, xhiill have authority to nial(C laws In all cnses, for the good government of
the district, not repugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established
and declared. And all bills, having passed by n majority in *.ho House und by a majority
In the Council, shall be referred to the governor for his assent; but no bill, or legisla-
tive act whatever, shall be of any force without his assent. The governor shall have
power to convene, prorogue nnd dissolve the General Assembly, when, in his o|)lnton,
it shall bo expedient.

The governor. Judges, legislative council, secretary, and such other olllcere as
Congress shall appoint In the district, shall take an oath or afllrmatlon of lldclity and of
ofllce; the governor before the President of Congress, nnd all other oftlccrs before tlio
Governor. As soon as a Leglsiatuni shall bo formed In the district, the Council and
House assembled In ono room, sh.iU have authority, by joint ballot, to electa delegate
to CiniL'ress, who hliall have a sent In Congress, with a right of debating, but not of
Voting, during this tempoinry government.

And, alter extending the fundamental principles of civil and religions liberty, which
form the bnsls whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to llx
and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments,
which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory; to provide also for the
establishment of States, and permanent government therein, and for their admission to
II share in the federal councils on an eciual footing with the original States, at as early
periods as may be consistent with the general interest :

It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following arti-
cles shall be considered as articles of compact between the original States and the
people and States in said territory, nnd forever remain unalterable, nnless by common
consent, to-wit:

AuT. 1. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable nnd orderly manner, shall
ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religions sentiments. In the said
terri tory.

Akt. 2. The Inhabitants of the said territory shall always bo entitled to the beneflts
of the writ of habeas i'or/nin, and of the trial by jury, of a proportionate representation
of the people in the T-cuislature; and of judicial proceedings acconling to the course of
common law. All persons sliall be bailable, nnless for capital oftenses, where the proof
shall be evident or the presumption great. All flnes shall be moderate; and no cruel or

198

THK lAVVJi Oh I'ONTI.U) ANO TKClMHKIi:

the countrv to tho wost, that had been ceded by Virginia to
the United States; and in tho year 1788, the otHce of Governor
wa« in a great nieacure forced on u»e. The losses I had sus-
tained in tlie revolntionary war, from the depreciation of the
numey and otlier causes, liad been very great; and my friends
saw in tliis new government means that might he in my power
to compensate myself, and to provide handsomely for my
numerous family. Tliey did not know how little 1 was qual-
itied to avail myself of those advantages, if they had existed.
I had neither taste nor genius for speculation in land, neither
did 1 think it very consistent with theotHce."

uiiUBUtil punlaliiiiuiiU hIiuII bu inlliutud. No niuii mIiuII bu iloprlvod of hlii liberty or
prupurty, but by thu juilijinuut of lilo pttora or thu litw ol' llio luiid; and should tho public
exlguuuluH iiiuko It uoctiHiiiiry, I'or thu uotunion pru«i'i'vutlon, to tiiko any porHon'o prop-
erty, or to iloiiiand hlit particular hltvIuoh, lull coinponoatloii Mhall bo inado Tor tlio Hame.
And, In tho JuhI proHurvntlon (>l'rl|{ht8 and property, It Ih undorHtoodandduclarod, that no
law ought over to bu made, or havu I'orco In 8aid territory, that Mhall, In any manner wliut-
evur, lutorforu with or niVuct private coutrauts or eugagomeutn, bonaJiUe, and without
IVaud, previously furniod.

Akt. 3. Kollgiou, morality and knowledge, being neceii8ary to good government aud
the happiness of mankind, scIiouIm and the moans of eduuallon shall forevur be encour-
aged. The utmost good laith shall always be observed towards the Indians; thoir landa
and property shall never be taken fl-om them without their consent; and, iu their prop-
erty, rights nnd liberty, they shall never bt! Invaded or dli<turbod, unless In just and
lawful wars authorized by C'oni^ross; but laws founded In Justice ami humanity, shall,
from time to time, bo made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving
peace and friendship with them.

Akt. 4. The said territory, and the Status which may be formed therein, shall forever
reniaiu a part of this confoderacy of the United StuteH of America, subject to the Articles
of Confederation, and to such a'' ..'ations therein as shall bo constitutionally made; and
to all the acts and ordinances of tho United States in Congress assembled, conformable
thereto. The Inhabitants and settlers In thesuld territory shall bo subject to pay a part
of tho federal debts coutractod, or to be contracted, and u proportional part of tho u-xpenses
of government, to be apportioned on them by Congress according to the same common rule
and measure by which apportionments thereof shall l)o made on the other States; and the
taxes, for paying their proportion, shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of
the Legislatures of the district or districts, or new States, as in tho original States, within
the time agreed upon by tho United States In Congress assembled. Tho Legislatures of
those districts or now States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil
by tho United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may Hnd
necessary for securing the title Id such soil to the bonaflile purchasers.* No tax shall be
imposed on land, the property of tho United States; and, in no case, shall non-resideut
proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading Into tho Mis-
sissippi and St. Lawrence, and tho carrying places between the same, shall be common
highways, and forever free, as well to the iniiabltants of said tc^rrltory as to the citizens
of the United States, and those of any other States that may bo admitted into tlie Con-
federacy, without any tax. Impostor duty therefor.

* Act of 25th February, 1811, provides tho same In Louisiana; and, also, that landt
Bold by Congress shull not bo taxed for live years after sale; in Mississippi, by act of Ist
March, 1817, and so of all others.

OW, TIIK HOKDKK WAIW oK IWo OKNTURIKrt.

199

With liis appi)iiitiiient, ho received iiiHtructionfl to ascertain
the feeliiigH of the Indian tribes in the IS^orthvvest, and, if j)o8-
sihle, to win their friendship for tlie future. iJut St. CMair
found deadly foes instead of friends atnon^ the natives, and
was soon surrounded by many dltticulties, growing out of a
jnoloiiged war with tljem.

{{('tore ^ivin^ an account ot these hostilities, it will he proper
to cull the attention to some nmtters that took place several
yeiirs before. By this means, the reader will njoro clearly
uiitieristand the causes which led to this struggle. Unfortu-
iiati'ly for the Americans, the French had nuide no extensive
purchases from the Western Indians, so that the treaty of Paris
in 1703, transferred to England only snudi grants about the
various forts, Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, etc. Then, as we
have seen, followed Pontiac's war and defeat; next we have the
grant by the Iroquois at Fort Stanwix, in 1768, of the lands
south of the Ohio; following came Dunmore's war, which ter-
minated without any transfer of Indian territory to the whites,

Aht. ft. Thoru Bhiill be formed in Uio Bald territory, not losa than three nor more than
five Sliitus; and the boundaries of the States, as soon as Virginia ohall alter hur act of
ccsHion, unduousent to the same, ehull t)ecome tlxud and eBtabiUlied as follows, to-wlt:
Tilt' wi^Ktern State in the said territory, shall bo bounded by the MlssisBlppi, the Ohio
and Wubash rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post St. Vincent's due
north, tu the territorial line between the United States and Canada; and by the said
territorial lino, to the Lake of the Woodj and Miseissippl. The middle State shall be
bull iidc'd by the said direct lino, the Wubash from Poet St. Vincent's, to the Ohio; by
the Ohio, by a direct line drawn due north from the mouth of the Groat Miami, to the
eaiii tt'iritoriul lino, Tho eastern State shall bo bounded ))y the last mentioned direct
liiu', tho Ohio, Pennsylvania and the said territorial line: Provided, however, and it is
fiirilu'i' understood and declared, that tho boundaries of these three States shall be sub-
Ji'ct !<o far to be altered, that if Oongress shall hereafter llnd it expedient, they shall have
uuihoi'ity to form one or two States In that part of tho said territory which lies north of
nil cast and west lino drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan.
And. whenever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein,
eiU'h State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of tho United States on
an eciiinl footing with tho original States \v. vll respects whatever, and shall be at liberty
to form a permanent constitution and State government: Provided, the constitution
and government so to be formed, thall be republican, and in conformity to the principles
contniiuMl In these articles; and so far as it can be consistent with the general interest
Of the confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when
there may be a lesti number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand.

AuT. (i. There shall be neither slavery or involuntary servitude in tho said territory,
othLTwIse than In tho punishment of crimes, whereof the party sliall have been duly
convicted: Provided, alwayg. That any person escaping into the same, from whom
labor orservice is lawfully claimed in any one of the original Stale', such fugitive may be
lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to tho person claiming his or her labor or service as
aforoenUI.

200

TIIK r.IVra OK I'ONTIAll AND TWlIMHKIi:

. I

and, therefore, wlicu at the clone of tlio Revolution, in 17S3,
Great Britain niado over lier Western claims to the United
States, she made over nothing more than she had received
from France, excepting the "iitlo of the Six Nations, and the
Southern Indians to a portion of the territory south of the
Ohio. But this, however, was not the view that the Congress
of the United (colonies took of the affair. This body conceived
that it had, under the treaty with England, a full right ^.o all
tlie lands thcrei)y ceded, and regarding the Indian title as for-
feited by f' hostilities of the Revolution, proceeded not to
purchase lands from the savages, but to grant them peace, mid
dictate their own terms as to the boundary lines of territory
allowed to the Fndians.

In October, 1784,* the Uniteil States acquired in this way
whatever title the Iroquois possessed to the western country
both north and* south of the Ohio, by the second treaty of Fort
Stanwix; a treaty openly and fairly made, but one the valiility
of which many of the Iroquois always disputed. The ground
of their objection appears to have been that the treaty was
with a part only of the Indian nations, whereas the wish of the
natives was that every act of the States with them should bo
as with a confedei'acy, embracing all the tribes bordering upon
the great lakes. It will be remembered that the instructions
given the Indian cominissioners in October,- 1783, provided for
one convention with all the tribes, and that this provision was
changed in the following March for one by which as many
separate conventions were to be had, if possible, as there were
separate tribes. In pursuance of this last plan the commis-
sioners, in October, 1784, refused to listen to the proposal
which is said then to have been made for one general congress
of the northern tribes, and in opposition to Brant, Red Ja'-ket,
and other influential chiefs of the Iroquoii, concluded the
treaty of Fort Stanwix. Then came the treaty of Fort Mcintosh,
in January, 1785, with the "Wyandots, Delaware, Ojibwa and
Ottawa nations. The third treaty made by the United States
was with the Shawanoes, at F'ort Finney, in January, 1786,
which, it will be remembered, the Wabash tribes refused to

* Western Annuls.

rniar, wii

OR, TIIK noKUKK WAUS o|' TWn CKMI KII->».

201

atteiul. The fourth ami Ht'th, which were uetH of conflrumtion,
wore miulo at Fort llanimr, in 1789, one with the Six NatiouH,
and the other with the VVyandots and their asHociatcs, namely,
the Dehiwares, Ottawas, Ojihwas, Pottawatoniies and Sacs.
Thif* last treaty the confederated nations of the hike refused to
acknowledge as binding, and in their council, in 17U3, they
explained the reasons in the following speech :

Brotlici's: A j^cnoriil council of all the Indian confedcrncy was held, 113
you will know, in the fall of the year 1788, at thiH place; and that K<'iici'al
council was invited by your commissioner, Governor St. Clair, to meet
him for tlie purpose of holding a treaty with regard to the lands men-
tioned by you to have been ceded by the treaties of FortStanwix and Fort
Mcintosh.

Brothers: We are in possession of the speeches and letters which
passed on that occasion between those deputed by the confed»)rato Indians
and Governor St. Clair, the commissioner of the United States. Tlieso
papers prove that your said commissioner, in the beginning of the year
1789, after having been informed by the general council of the preceding
tall that no bargain or sale of any part of these Indian lands would bo
considered as valid or binding unless agreed to by a general council,
ncvertiieiess persisted in collecting »ogetlier a few chiefs of two or three
nations only, and with them held a treaty for the cession of an immense
country, in whlcli they were no more interested than as a branch of tlio
general confederacy, and who were in no manner authorized to make any
grant or cession whatever.

Brothers: How then was It possible for you to expect to enjoy peace
and quietly to hold these lands, when your commissioner was informed,
long before he held the treaty of Fort Ilarmar, that the consent of a general
council was absolutely necessary to convey any part of tliese lands to the
United States.

ifassas, the Ojibwa chief, who signed the treaty at Fort
Harniar, was present at the council at Greenville, in 1795, and
declared that he did not fully understand the objects of the
compact he had signed, and that his people would not
acknowledge it The Wyandots, however, acknowledged even
the transfer on the Muskingum, and their chief, Tarke, con-
tiruied it, in behalf of his nation in the following words at the
council at Greenville :

Brothers: You have proposed to us to build our good work on the treaty
of lluskingum; that treaty I have always considered as formed upon the
fairest principles. You took pity on us Indians; you did not do as our

202

TIIK I.IVKH OK l-ONTIAO AND TKCPMSKIi:

fittlKTH, llio EiiKlixli, iiKrccd yi>it Hlioiild, Voii iniirht, liy Hint iiirn'oincm,
liHvc Ukuii nil iiiir liiiiils, Ixit you |)ltit>i| iih and let uh hold part. I itiwiiya
looked upon tliiit treaty to Iw bliullii); upon the United Htaten and ui
IndiauH.

The cofifedenited imtioim, uh h whole, did not Hunctum the
treaty at Kurt Ilurnmr, and in tlieir cohikmI in 177.S, theyi^ojild
not a^ret! concern inj^ it.

Such were the rehitions hetween the Indiann and the United
StatuH in 1789. Territory had heeii conveyed hy tlie Iroquois,
the \Vyan<h>trt, the Dehiwarew, and tiie ShawanocH, which could
not he ohjected to, but the Ojibwas, OttawaH, KickapooH, Weas,
PiankenhawB, Pottawatoniies, Eel River In<lian8, IvaskaHkias,
and the Mianiis, were not honnd hy any existing treaties to
yield their claims to the land north of the Ohio, and these
tribes wished the Ohio to be the perpetual western btnuKlnrv
of civilization, and would not therefore sell an acre north of it.
So strong was their fefiling in this determination that the more
reckless warriors of these nations could not be restrained from
warfare upon the invading Long Knives, and in this way the
many attacks tipon the settlers of the west took jilace. In
Peck's compilation we find the following: "Washington
expressed doubts as to the justness of an offensive war uiM)n
the tribes of the Wabash and Manmee; and had the treaty of
Fort Ilarmar been the sole ground whereon the United States
could have claimed of the Indians the Northwestern Territory,
it may be doubted whether right would have justified the steps
taken in 1790, '91, and '94 ; but the truth was, that before
that treaty, the Iroquois, Delawares, Wyandots, and Shawuiioes
had yielded the south of Ohio, the ground on which they had
long dwelt; and neither the sale to Putnam and his associates,
nor that of Symmes, was intended to reach beyond the lands
ceded. Of this we have proof in the third article of the
ordinance of 1787, passed the day before the proposition to sell
to the Ohio Company was for the first time debated; which
article declares that the lands of the Indians shall never be
taken from them without their consent. It appears to us,
therefore, that the United States were fully justified in taking
possession of the northwest shore of the Belle Kiviere, and that

OK, TIIK IU)KI>KK WAKH OK TWO CKNTI KIKK.

2oa

without rcti'renco to tin' tiviity iit Fort lliiriimr, which we will
allow to hiivu been, it' the liKliaiiH Hpoke truly, (uiid thoy wore
not I'oiitrndictetl hy t.iie IJiiitwl States com mi >siom!rri,) morully
wortlilt'Hs. Hut it hIho uppcurH tu uh tiiat in taking otti'iiHive
btt'ps iu '71X), niid I7l>l,tiie tuUcral govurnincMit acti><l unwirtcly,
iiiul that it tthould then, at theoutriet, have (h>iio what it (h'd in
17!);i, iil'tor St. Ohiir'b terrihlo defeat — namely, it nhoidd have
8eiit coinmiHHiunurd of the lii^heHt uharaeter to the lake trihes,
aiul iu the prenenco of the British, learnt their eauHCH of com-
pliiint an<l oftered fair ttTuiB of conipromirte. That sueh a
step wiiK wise ami just, the government acknowle<lged by its
iit'ter action;^ and surely none can question the position that it
was uiore likely to have been effective before the savages hud
twiw (lefeateil the armies of the confederacy than afterward."
According to instructions, Governor St. Clair now sent a
deputy into the Indian country of the Miamies and ShuwanocB,
but these Indians could not, for some reason, tell him the state
ot tiieir minds, being no doubt under English inlluence. They
re([UCrtted thirty days iu which to send an answer to Fort
Knox, (Vincennes) and gave the messenger but litflo reason to
believe their answer would be favorable to the speeches which
he liiul delivered to them. No sooner had the messenger
returned to Fort Knox than news came that all the Indians of
the Wabash, with many tribes from the lake region, had united
agtiinst the Americans, and that an American captive had been
bunit'd in the village of the Miamies only a few days after the
de})uty from St. Clair had left. It was now evident that a new
tro\ible was breaking, upon the frontier, and St. Clair hastened
to Fort AVashington (Cincinnati) to consult with Gen. Ilarmar
in reference to another campaign into the Indian cou^itry of
the hostile tribes.

* Tlic fair luinilod Btudcnt cannot fall to admit of the truthfulness of
this comment.— En.

(MIAPTKU XXV.

TlIK F.NfJt.tHIT, TIIK. fNOTANH AND TIIR AMKIlirANB — TTAnMAU'tl V.XVr.-
OITinN — ilAUMAIt'H DkKKAT — MkAMUIIKH l-'Otl SnilUJINtl rilK iNDtvSs
— l'l(t)CT<m'M MiMHION A FaILUKK — .1 KAl.tlUHY OK* TIIK KnOURII,

Bkkokk giving an accitnnt nt' Ilurmar'n campaign, wliiih
now tollowH, tlio n-adcr i« liivitotl to look in upon tin* oiHrii.
tions of tho Ktiglirth in their socret mcaHurt'rt to keep up Imliim
hostilities atVer the peace ot' 1783. Ah the narrative has sIkwii,
most of the trihefl of (lie Nortii west adhered to England during,'
tho [{evolutionary conteHt, hut when the war cloyed, (iivat
Ilritain nuido no provinion for tho Havage« of the Nortliwtvt,
but transferred them, territory and all, to the Americans. The
United States now began to make treatiert of peace with the
Indiana, ce<ling them tracts of their own latulrt, regardiiii^ the
country of the hostile tribes as con<inered and fort'citcd. This
producwl discontent, and led to the formation of the great
Indian confederacy under Hrant.*

In order to accomplinh tho ends for which this league wnj
formed, it was necessary that the Hritish should retain ])osses-
Bion of the forts along tho lakes. These would bo ro([iiiivil
both for the protection of supplies and for defense. On tiie
other hand, tho British claimed that they had a right to lioM
those posts, as the Americans ha<l broken tho treaty of I'vi,
Agaii^^he trade with tho Indians, oven though England imM
be at war with tho United States^ they regarded as perfectly
fair and just. "Having thus a sort of legal right to the iHX'i-
tion thoy occupied, tho British did, nndoubtedly and pmposely,
aid and abet tho Indians hostile to the United States.'' In
1785, after tho formation of his confedoracv,. Brant wont to
England, and his arrival was thus announced in tho Lontion

♦ Stone'a Lifo of Urant.

(204)

OR, Tlir IKtUUKU WAItH OK TM'O CKNTI KIKK.

205

miMTit ; "Tliln «»xtriior«limirv ikthohuj^i* in hhmI to liuvi* pro-
»i(|i'il lU tli(> liitif gruiitl ('Oti^rt'HH of ('oiiti>(li>mt(t cliioti* of tlio
Iniliiiii iiatioiiA ill Aiiittrieu, utid to Ik« hy tliuiii iippoiiittHi to
tli(<coii<luL't iiiid cliiuf coininuiul in tlio war wliicli t)u>y now
ititditiitc iipiitirtt the llnittHl StiitfH of Aiiipi'Icii. lie took lii«
(|t'|)Hi'tiir«< for Kni^liuid iiiiiiKNiiutiily qh tluit uKHiMiiMy liroku up;
itiul it Im conjitotiircd timt IiiH LMiil)Ur«Hy to tlio HritlHli Ooiirt is
,if gmit iniportiincf. Thin country owoh iiiiiph to tlit; HtTvicea
of Colonel nraiit during tliu lute wiir in Ainerieii. He wum
iiliu'iitctj tit I'liiliidelpitiii; iri i\ very Hhrewd, intelligent ]>erHon,
jMisM'HHeH greiit courage iind ahilitiert an a warrior, and irt invio<
liil)lv uttuelied to the HritJHh nation."

Hmiit vinitid Lord (Sidney, the Colonial 8(^crotary, on the
fourth of January, 17mO, and boldly «tated the trouble in
America. Me closed h in reniarkrt with these wtjrds: ''This
^iiicuiiing war,) we ehall uv(»id to the iitiiioHt of oiir])Owcr, au
dearly as wo lovo our lan<lrt. JJut should it, contrary to our
wishes, liapi)en, we desire to know whether we are to bo con-
(iiilcied as His Majesty's faithful allies, and have that support
8ii<l coiinteimnce such as old and true friends expect."

The ('oloiiial Minister answen^l him indeiinitely, and when
the Mohawk chieftain returned, he could give but little assur-
ances, to his brethren, that in the event of war, they would
receive aid from England. On the other hand, John Johnson,
♦Jie Indian Su])erintendent, wrote to him in these words: " Do
no*; Hiilfer an idea to hold a })laco in your mind, that it will be
for your interest to sit still and see the Americans attempt the
posts. It is for your sakes chieily, if not entirely, that we hold
them. If you become indiffereiiT about them, they may per-
liai)s be given up; what security would you then have? You
would be left at the mercy of a ])eople whose blood calls aloud
for revenge; whereas, by supporting them, you encourage us
to hold them, and encourage the new settlements, already con-
Bidenible, and every day increasing by numbers coining in, who
tind they can't live in the States. Many thousands are pre-
paring to come in. This increase of His Majesty's subjects
will serve as a protection for you, should the subjects of the
States, by endeavoring to make further encroachments on you,

i06

rilK I.IVM i*K hiNTIAt! ANI» TMt MMKiri

cliMtiirh your cinli't." Tlii«« U'ttiT wiw writtrn In ^Ai'p!i», ijj*^

niMi two iiiiMitliK iiltiTwitnlit, Major Miittiu'WH, who \,i\4 dti^

ii|>|M»iiitiHl to tilt) 01111111111111 at Detroit l>y KonI i>'>rvlu>iiU'r

wroto to Hnitit, ill tlio luitiiK ot' tlitt )fovi>ni(»r, hm t'ollown; ")|i«

i.of<lHlii|> wim Horry tlmt wliilo tlio liidiiuiM wi^rti wolioitinj^ (,J4

aHHirtfiimtu ill tlivir |>i-<'|HtrutionM lor war, Mornu ot' tliu Six

NutioiiH liad M'lit (li'piitirM to Allmiiy to trwit with tlio Aimr-

icuiif*, who, it Ih Hiiid, litivu iiiiult! u treaty with them, ^r)ii>tiii,f

periiiiriMioii to niako roaiU for tho piirpoHo ot' coiiiiti^ to Niiiir.

ara; hut that, iiotwithHtniidin^ theHo thiti^H, the IiidiaiM hIioiiM

hiivt! their preneiitH, iih they are tnarkii ot' the kiii^'n approha.

tioii of their former eoiiduet. In future hin lordHliip wiithoit

tluMu to act an Im lM>Ht for their iiiteretit; he caiinot itegiii ii w;ir

witli tho AmorieaiM, hej'aiiHO mmie of their pettple eiicntiuli

and make ilepreiiatiotiH upon partH of the Iu<lian country; lint

they miHt rtee it in IiIh htrcUhip'n iiituiition to defend the puotM;

and that while tlieHo are prenerved, the IndiaiiH murtt Hud pfmi

Heciirity therefrom, and conHe<juently tho AmericauH ^rtiittt

dilHculty in takiiij< poHHeHbion of their landn; hut hIiouKI tlin

once hecoino masters of tho postH, they will Kurnnind tlif

IndiauH, and accompliHh their purpoHo with littlo ti-oiilik

From a coiiHideration of all which, it therefore remaiuK with

the IndiauH to decide what Ih most for their own interenf, atui

to let hirt lordrthip know their dotormination, that ho may take

his measurcH accordingly; hut, whatever thoir resolution i«, it

8houl<l ho taken as hy one and tho name peopio, hy whiili

meaiirt thoy will ho roHpected and hocome strong; hut if tlii'v

divide, and act one part against tho other, they will hoconit'

weak, and help to dostroy each other. This is a suhstancc ot

what his lordship desire<l me to tell you, and I re(|uest)(m

will give his sentiments that mature consideration which their

justice, generosity and desire to promote the welfare and

happiness of the Indians, must appear to all tho world to

merit.

" In your letter to me, you seem apprehensive tliat the Eng-
lish are not very anxious ahout the defense of the posts. You
will soon he satisfied that they have nothing more at heart,
provided that it continues to be the wish of the Indians, and

ON, TIIK INiUil^.M UAMM or TWO < KNtt NIM

•J07

thitt ttioy n'iiialn Hnn in <loiii^ tlicir |>Hrt of tin* l>iiiilnt»Mi», hy
^r»*v<'tititi^ tint Anii'iiciuiM tVom coiiiiii^ into tlu>ir country,
and ('••unci (ucntly trorn nnircliin^ to tlif poMtH. On tli«> ollirr
\-j\i], it' tli» lihliimM tliiiik it nion* tor tlittir intiu'CHt tlmt tlio
Aiiu>rifnhi; =^lM>ultl liiiVi' |MMiM<iiMi)Mi of tliu |HmtM, lUld Ih) i>Ht»l)<
lUlifil in tlioir country, tlicy ou^lit to Ueclnru it, tliiit tlio
Kti^li»i* iiitMl no loiii^tr Ih* put to the vaf>t *»m1 nniu>c(>MMury
i.\|>«'ii«c uiid in<'onvi'nii'nc»i of kccpinf^ |M»j*tn, tiif (^h'\t>i' olijoet
ot wliit'li iit to |>rot<>c't tlutir Imliun ullioM, n\u\ tlii> loyiilistA who
liiivc HiitrcriHl with tlu!tn. It ii« well known thut no imutoucIi-
inciitrt i!Vt*r hiivi) or itvcr will liu nuuiu hy tlu- Kngliitji upon thu
litiiiirt or property of the IntiiuuM in conHo<|Ui>ii(>t< of |M)HH(>HMin^
till' |H>rttK; how fur tlmt will Ito the chhu if nvv.r thu AnicriciuiM
gt't into tliiMn, nuiy very uuMily he iniuginiHl, fruio their hoHtilu
jNTttevrritnce, even without thut udvahtugCi in driving the
hidiiinri otf their IuikIh uikI taking poHHCHHion of theni."

Tiiirt iiHHurunce from thu liritiHh uuthoriticM und the delnv of
('uii^rcHH in uUHwering the uddreHrt of thu cotdedi'ruted trihei,
led to the ^enerul eouneil which wum held in I7H8. In this
iiHttoiniily the IndiuiiK were divide<l, und Hrunt, who wu8
thoroii^ddy KngliHh, fur the time ^uve up hin intereHt in the
ert'oitH of WcHtern trihcH. From tluH day the Miutnirt were the
ImdorH uiuoii^ them. TIiuh I nu^ht go on through the whole
voliiiiic, giving evidencea thut the Indiunn were excited to
hostility uguiurtt the Anu'rieutiB hy the EngliHh. liut if the
Kiij^liHli ucted deceitfully, the Americans met the aggreHH(>r8
iiiiwipicly. Had the proper j)er8oim heon Bent among the wiv-
ii^crt to teach them their reul situation, a prolonge<l war would
have been averte<l; but they did not chooHe to adopt this course.
St. ('liiir called u|)on Virginia for one thou(*und, and upon
IViuiHvlvania for live hundred militia. Of these three hun-
drwl were to meet at Fort Steuhen, ( Jefferson vi He) to aid the
troops from Fort Knox, (Vincennes) against the Indians of the
Wabash. Seven hundred were to gather at Fort Washington,
(Cincinnati) and five hundred just below Wheeling; the two
latter bodies \mi\g intended to nuirch witli the federal troops

208

Till', MVha OK I'ONilAO AND TKOL'MSKIi:

from Fort Wjvshin^ton, under Gen. Ilnrinnr, Ji^uinst the towiiii
at the junction of the St. Mary and St. Joseph.^

The troo])8 were orgaiiizcd and moved forward in the follow.
inti^ order: The Kentuckians composed three I)attalions, uiidor
Majors Hall, McMuUen and liay, with Lieut. Col. Trotter ut
their head. The Pennsylvanians were formed into one battalion,
under Lieut. Col. Tnibloy and Major Paul, the whole to be
cominanded by Col. John Hardin, subject to the orders of (nn.
llarmar. This was the detachment sent a<jfain8t the Miami
villages when the main army was within thirty-live mi leti of
their forts. On the thirtieth of October, 1700, the Genoml
moved out with the federal troops, formed into two small bat-
talions under the immediate command of l\Iajor Wyllys and
Major Doufifhty, together with Capt. Ferguson's conipuuy of
artillery, and three pieces of ordnance. On the third of Octo-
ber (ten. ILirinar joined the advanced troops early in the
morning; the remaining j)art of the day was spent in foniiing
the line of march, the order of encamjiment and battle, and
cx])laining the same to the militia field ofticers. On the fonrtli,
tlie army took uj) the cider of inarch. On the fifth, a rein-
forcement of horsemen and mounted inl'antry joined from
Kentucky. The dragoons were formed into two trooj^s; tlie
mounted riflemen made a com]>any, and this small battalion of
light troops was put under the command of Major Fontainc.f

On the fourteenth this party marched forward, and u]>on the
next day, about three o'clock, reached the villages, but tliey
were deserted. On the morning of the seventeenth the main
army arrived and the work of destruction commenced; by the
twenty-first, the chief town, five other villages, and nearly
twenty thousand bushels of corn in ears had been desti-oyed,
When ILirmar reached the Maumee towns and found no enemy,
he thought of pushing forward to attack the Wea and other
Indian settlements upon the Wabash, but was ju-evented bv
the loss both of pack liorses and cavalry horses, which the
Indians seem to have stolen in quantities to suit themselves,
in consequence of the willful carelessness of the owners. The
Wabash plan being dropped, Col. Trotter was dispatched with

American State Papers.

f Western Annals.

OR, TIIK ItOKDKK WAIM OF TWO OKNTUKIKS.

"209

three liun<lre(l men to Hcoiir the woods in search of an enemy,
as the tracks of women and ehikiren had been seen near by.

Tarties were sent out in different directions; but through
the ntter want' of discipline but little was accomplished, and
in one instance the militia was badly defeated. A few scatter-
ing Indians were killed, while on the other hand the invaders
lost heavily. The campaign was a complete failure, causing
much sutfering among the Indians, but in no degree subduing
them. Perha])s the most trathful report of this campaign was
ji^iveu by the Indians themselves to the English. It was this:
"Tiiere have been two engagements abont the Miami towns
between the Americans and the Indians, in which it is said
the former had about five hundred men killed, and that tlie
rest have reti^eated. The loss was only fifteen or twenty on the
side of the Indians. The Shawanoes, the Miamis and the
Pottowatomios were, I understand, the principal tribes who
were engaged, but I do not learn that any of the nations have
refused their alliance or assistance, and it is confidently reported
that they are now marching against the frontiers on the Ohio."
Nor was the report of the invasion of the settlements on the
Ohio short of the truth. On the evening of the second of
January, 1791, the Indians surprised a new settlement at a
phice on the Muskingum called Big Bottom. In this disaster
eleven men, one woman and two children were killed; three
were taken prisoners and four otliers made their esca})e.

At this time the situation of the settlements north of the
Ohio was truly deplorable. At Marietta were about eighty
houses, in a distance of one mile, with scattering dwellings
about three miles up the Ohio. There were a set of mills at
Duck (reek, four miles distant, and another mill about two
miles up the Muskingum. " Twenty-two miles up this river,"
says Bufus Putnam, writing to the President, " is a settlement
consisting of about twenty families; about two miles from
them on Wolf Creek, are live families and a set of mills. Down
the Ohio, and opposite the Little Kanawha, commences the
settlement called Belle Prairie, which extends down the river,
with little interruption, about twelve miles, and contains
between thirty and forty houses. Before the last disaster, we
14

' \

210

THE UVKM OF IHtNTFAO ANH TWUTMSKIi:

hud rievenil o*;liei' settlements, which Jire ah-cady broken uj-. I
liave taken the liberty to inclose tlie proceedings of the Ohji,
«oinpany and justices of the sessions on this occasion, and heif
leave, with the greatest deferencre, to observe, that unless tlit;
government speedily send a l)o<ly of troo])s for onr })rote('ti(»ii,
we are a mined people. The removal of the women and
children, etc., will reduce many of the ])oorer sort to tlic great-
est straits; but if we add to this the destruction of their corn,
forage and cattle by the enemy, wliich is very probable to onsiif,
1 know of no way they can i)e supporte<l; but, if this should
not happen, where these peo])le are to raise bread another voar
is not easy to conjecture, and most of them have nothing left
to buy with. But my fears do not stop here; we are ii jjt'ople
so far detached fnun all others, in point of situation, that we
can hope for no timely relief, in case of emergency, from any
of our neiglibors; aiul among the number that comjmse our
present military strength, almost one-luilf are young men.
hired into ♦.he country, intending to settle by and l)y; these,
under present circumstances, will probably leave us soon, unless
prospects should brighten; and, as to new settlers, we can ex])eet
none in our present situation, so that, instead of increasing in
strength, we are likely to diminish daily; and, if we do not
fall a ])rey to the savages, we shall be so reduced and dis-
couraged as to give up the settlement, unless government
sliall give us timely protection. It has been a mystery witli
some why the troops have been withdrawn from this ([uarter
and collected at the Miami. Tliat settlement is, I believe,
within three or four days' march of a very populous part of
Kentucky, from whence, in a few days, the}' might be rein-
forced with several thousand men, whereas we are not witliin
two hundred miles of any settlement that can probably more
than protect theniselves."

After the defeat Harmar marched to Fort Washington, and,
as we have seen, the tribes he expected to have conquered were
already upon the settlements with furious onslaught. "The
spirit thus manifested by the tribes which had just been
attacked," says Mr. Peck, " and the general feelings along the
frontier in relation to llarmar's expedition, made the United

OR, THK HOKDKK WAH8 (»F

TWO CKNTUBIKW.

211

States government Benfiible that their first step in the conduct
of backwoodrt wartlire had been a failure, and tliat prompt and
8tn»ii<,' measures, calcuhited either to win or force a state of
jtoiu'c, must be adopted." The phvn which was resorted to
was HH follows: Jst. To send a messenger to the Western
In<lians with offers of peace, to be accompanied by some of
the Inxiuois chieftains favorable to America. 2d. At the same
time to organize expeditions in the West, to strike the Wea,
Miami and Sliawanoe towns, in case it sliould be clear tiie peace
meHsenger would fail in his mission; and, 3d. To prepare a
grand and overwhelming force with which to take possession
of the country of tlie enemies and build forts in their midst.
( ol. Thomas Proctor was the person selected to carry mes-
sages of peace. He received his commission on the twelfth
of March, 1791, and immediately left Philadelphia for the set-
tlement of Oornplanter, or Capt. O'Beel, the chief warrior of the
Seneeas. This chief, who was a firm friend of Washington and
the Union, had promised to do all in his power to secure peace,
and now Proctor hoped to induce him to accompany him into
the west. He might have succeeded in this had not the British
commander at Niagara refused them a vessel to carry the
anrt»assadors up Lake Erie. Thwarted in this. Proctor's plan
was a failure. After Harman's campaign, the tribes of the
Northwest sent a deputation to Lord Dorchester to learn what
aid England would give in the contest that had now fairly
begun. Dorchester's reply was not definite, but indicated that
he was in favor of peace. It would now seem that the English
were anxious for peace, expecting it could be obtained while
they still held possession of the western outposts. Colonel
(rordon, the British commandant at Niagara, wrote a letter to
Brant, asking him to urge the western tribes into an honorable
peace, and Jiraut, in turn, wrote a letter to the agent among
tiie Miainies advising peace. Yet, with these views. Brant,
Gordon and other influential officers did but vei-y little to pro-
mote peace; but the reasons were probably these: First, the
Mohawk chieftain, Brant, was offended at the favor shown to
Coriiplanter, his greatest foe, I)}' the Americans, and by their
attempt to divide the Iroquois. Secondly, there is no doubt

213

TIIK UVKS OF l«i>NTIAO AND TKOl'MSEIi:

but that tho representativeH of England in (^unada were ott'endwl
at tho entire disregard shown by tho American govornntent
of their inHueneoa over the savages of the Northwest. Tiio«e
tribes were closely connected with the British agentH, and
under their control, and Lord Dorchester, Colonel Gordon and
Brant looked for an appeal to them as mediators in tho (quarrel
about to burst forth; or at any rate for an acceptance by the
Americans of their mediation, if asked by the IndiauH; an
acceptance of the kind given in 1793, after St. (Jlair's defeat,
and which was not, of course, dishonorable or degrading.
Thirdly, both the Indians and English were puzzled and
excited by the seeming want of good faith on the part of tlie
States ; which, at tho same moment almost, commissioned
Scott to war upon the Miamies, Proctor to treat of ])eace with
them, St. Clair to invade and take possession of their lands,
and Pickering to hold a council with their brethren for bury-
ing the fatal hatchet, and quenching tho destructive brand.

'' '■■ It

i < I

CHAPTER XXVI.

Pkoctou'm I'kac'K Mission — Its Pailuhk — Ordekb for St. Ci.aik'b
('AMrAioN — 8t. CiiAiii Makchkb into the Indian Country — Hib
Dkkkat — Account ok tiik Dibabtkr.

But the Americans were also deBirouB to enlist Brant as a
peace- maker, and steps were take u looking to this end, but
before he could be approached he had departed for the west.
His mission was unknown, although suspected to have been to
promote war. Measures were now taken to secure a council
of the Six Nations, on the sixteenth of June, 1791, at the
Painted Post, near the junction of the Coshocton and Tioga
rivers. The object of this council was to secure the neutrality
of the Iroquois by presents and speeches. This plan partially
succeeded. The council closed on the fifteenth of July, and the
Indians returned satisfied.*

It had been calculated that Proctor would return from his
mission by the fifth of May, and report the result of his journey
at Fort Washington, and upon this calculation had been based
the second part of the plan for the campaign. Accordingly, on
the ninth of March, 1791, orders were issued to Brigadier
General Charles Scott, authorizing him, in conjunction with
Harry Innis, John Brown, Benjamin Logan, and Isaac Shelley,
to organize an expedition of mounted volunteers against the
nations upon the Wabash, to start upon May the tenth, unless
countermanded, which would take place in the event of Proc-
tor's success. These orders were obeyed, and the troops M^ere
in readiness at the time appointed, but no intelligence of
Proctor having reached Fort Washington up to the twenty-
second of May, the detachment' took up its line of march from
the Oliio. Col. John Hardin led the advance party. On the

• American State Papers, p. 181.

(218)

214

TIIK I.IVK8 OK htNTlAi! ANI» ^^X"llM^»^;ll t

first otMuiie tlu- towns of tlu^ enemy were (liwoveriHl * (W'u.
Scott iiniiuMliutoly dctiu'lietl John Ilartlin witli sixty niouiiUil
intUntry, and >i trt»op of light-horse under (apt. McCoy, to
attack tlie vilhiges to the letY, and moved on briskly with the
main hody, in ohUm' of hattle, towards tlu! town, the smoki; of
which was disceniahle. The guides were deceived with respect
to the situation of the town; for instead of standing at tla'
edge of the phiin througli which they march«>d, they foni-.d it
on the K>w ground iiordering on the VVahash; on turning the
point of woods, one iiouse was presented in •".lieir front, ('apt.
Price was ordered to assault that with forty num. He executed
the comnuind with great gallantry, and killed two warridis.
Wlien Sc(»tt gained the sujumit of the eminence which over-
looks the villages on the bankh of the Wabash, he discovered
the enemy in great confusion, endeavoring to make their
escape over the river in canoes. lie instantly ordered Lieut.
Colonel-commandant Wilkinson to rush forward with the first
battalion. The order was executed with promptitude, and this
detachment gained the bank of the river just as the rear of the
enemy had embarked; and, regardless of a brisk tire kept up
from the Kickapoo town on the opposite bank, tliey, in a tew
minutes, by a well directed lire from their rities, destroyed all
the savages with which five canoes were crowded. To Scittt's
great mortification the Wabash was many feet beyond fording
at this place; he therefore detached Col. Wilkinson to a ford
two miles above, which the guides informed him was more
practicable. Wilkinson moved the first battalion up to the
fording place but found it impassable and returned. The
enemy still kept possession of Kickapoo town, but Scott deter-
mined to dislodge thejn, and for that pur})ose ordered Capt.
King and Logsdone's companies to inarch down the river
below the town, and cross, under the conduct of Major Barhoe.
Several of the men swam the river, and others passed in a
tr'al'i canoe. This movement was unobserved; and the men
had taken post on the bank before they were discovered by
the enemy, who immediately abandoned the village. About
this time word was brought to Scott that Col. Hardin was

* Peck's Coiupiliition

OK, TIIK IIOKMKK WAIW <>K TWO TKNTIRIKH.

215

etKiiiiilii'rcd with priKoiierH, and liiui diHcovcrud a ntroii^ur
villiij^t' further to his lett tlian thoHi; Scrott had olmcrvt'd, which
he wa« ])i'(>cetHlin^ to attack. Th»> (it'iu'ral imiiuMliately
(li'tiulu'd (Japtain Mrowu witli hit* (•(unjiany, to BUpport the
('()lt»ii«'l; hilt tlu' diHtaiice heing wix niile«, ln't'ore the ('a|>tain
arrived the hiiHineHti \vm done, aii*l (\)I. Hardin joine<l him a
little l)et()re bun-Hot, having kilh'd nix warriorH and taken fifty-
two prisoners, (ajttain Jiull, the warrior who liad diHcovere*!
the iinny in tlie morning, had gained the main town and given
tlie alarm a short time before the troops reached it, hut tlie
((tlier vilhiges were not aware of their approacli, and could,
therefore, nuike no retreat. The next morning (^en. Scott
(k'tuehed three hundred And sixty men under Col. Wilkinson,
to (k'stroy the important town of Tippecanoe, eighteen milea
from the cam]) on the Wabash. The detachment left at half-
past five in tlie evening, but returned at one o'clock on the
next (Uiy, having marched thirty-six miles in twelve hours and
destroyed the most important settlement of tlie enemy.

Although this expedition under Scott was successful, Gov-
enior St. Clair determined to seiul another against the villages
of Eel river, and Wilkinson was aj)pointed to the comnnmd.
He inarched from Fort Washington on the lirst of August,
and reached the Wabash on the seventh, just above the mouth
of the river he was in search of. At this point he received
word that the Indians on Eel Itiver had been warned of his
approach, and were preparing lt>r a flight. A general charge
was immediately ordered. The men, forcing their way over
every obstacle, plunged through the river and scaled the banks
beyond. The enemy was unable to nuike the smallest resist-
ance. Six warriors, two squawks and a child were killed, and
thirty-four prisoners were taken, and an unfortunate captive
released, with a loss on the side of the Americans of two men
killed and one wounded. Wilkinson encamped in the town that
nijrlit, and the next morning he cut up the corn, scarcely in the
milk, burnt the cabins, mounted the young warriors, squaws
and children, and leaving two infirm squaws and a child, with
a short talk, he commenced his march for the Kickapoo town
in the prairie. But this village was not reached. The horses

210

THK I.IVfclM MK IHtMIAr AMI> rK(!UMHKIi;

w«ro too 8ort», uikI tlio ho^i* too jlrcp; l»uf uh (Ji'iuTiil Wilkin-
Hoii rtuid, four Imiulrwi ucrcH ot' com wcio (Kwtroyed, uinl w
Kickapoo town ^ivcti to tlie tliimos; tor which tho Ciciicrul wiw
duly thauko«l hy hin country. NLountimo, whilo I'roi't.ir wuh
Htteinptin^ to hurry thu Kh)W-tnoviiig Inxpioirt, who told liim
it took thcni a^rciit while to think; an<l Wilkinnon waH tloimd.
ering up to hirt arin-pitn in mud and water, atnon^' tht)
tnoraHHOrt of the Wahasli; the needful preparationn wer«! con-
rttantly ^oinj< forward for the ^reat «\\pedition of St. Cliiir,
whicli, hy founding j)oritH throu»^ho»it the wcHtern country,
from tiie Ohio to Lake pj'ie, and CHpecially at the head (»t' tho
Maumee, was to give tho United iStaten ariure niean« of control
over tho savajfes.*

Governor St. (JIair received full instructlonHf for the cam.

* i'uck'* Comptlutlun.

t Tho inRtriu-tluiiii tu St. Cliiir for thti campaign wuro communlcntttd to him hy (iiu.
Knox, ill tht' followiiiif hiiiKUii|!<!: Tho Pr^gldi-nt of lli»! I'nitcd Mdiii'H havliii;, hy mid
wllli tho lulvloi! tind coiiHi'iit of th« SiMiiite, uppointud you a MiOor Oeiicrnl In the fvr-
viuo of thu United Htiiti'ii. and of conBiMiuunco invt>iiti!d you with tlio chlcT coiiiiniind h!
thrci|i(>r
tliiit yuu itliould bo poHiioffiod of thu vluvv^ of thu t;ov»riiiiiunt ruf>puctini; thi! oli|ri.'tR i>r
your coinmiind. I am, tliurorori', nuthorl/.t>d and comniundud, by thit I'ruHidi'iit of tlio
(Jnltrd ^tatuH, tu delivur you thu following ini<trucliun», in urdur tu nurvu an the j^'imumiiI
princlplua of your coiiduiU.

But, it Ih only uontTal princlpluM which can bu polntod out. In thu oxocutlon cii' tli>j
diitlod of your Htatlon, ulrcumHtancu* which cannot now he foroDucn iiiiiy arlnu to rrndir
iimturlal duviatioUB nucuHMary. .Such ulrcutiiiitancuR will r»><iulru tho uxurdsu oi' vmir
talcntK. Tlio (»ovurnmunt pohsuhbur tho Bocurity of your chaructur and niaturi! uxpiTl-
i-ncu, tliat your JudRniont will bu proper on all occailong. You nru wull iiifuriiiudor ilm
uiifavoral>lo iuipreHslonii which tho Ihruu of thu luRt oxpudition lian made on tliu |iilliilc
mind, and you aru alHO aware of tho oxpuctationa which arc forinod of thu huccuhh iifiliu
uni>uini{ campaign.

.\n Indian war, undur any circumstancuR, Ib regarded by thu i;i-(Mtt iiiiibH of thu pvipju
of thu United Status as an ovent which oui^ht, if poMilhlu, to bu avoldud. It Isi cmiHid-
orud that the Hacrittcu of l>lood and truaxuro In such a war oxcoud any advanlat^cs wliiili
can poBslbly bu ruapud by it. Thu (,'i'uat policy, thurcforo, of thu ^'un(•ral K'ovuninn'iil.i!'
to uMtabliHli a JUHt and libural pttacu with all tho Indian trll)uH witliiii thu lliiiitH and in
tho vicinity of tho territory of thu I'liltud Status. Your iiitlniatioiiH to thu hoHiile Iiidi-
and, linmediatuly after llio latu uxpuditlon, throui^h thu Wyaiidot.s and I)»^lawarc»; tlio
arrangoinuiitH with thu Sunecas who wuru latuly in this city, that part of thu Six ■Natimm
ithould repair to thu said hostllu MdianH, to Intluuncu thuin to imcillc niuamiruH; tn^'ctlicr
with thu rucuiil iniHHlon of Colonul Proctor to thuni for thu nainu purpodu, will Htroiiijljr
evincu thu duilru of thu gt'iiural Kovernmeiit to pruvunt thu utI'UHlon of blond, and 'o
quiet all diMturbanccB. And whun you hIuiII arrlvi! ii|io!i tho froutlurt<. If any otlior or
I'urtliur niuasures to uft'cct tliuHamo ol>juct Khuiild pruHunt, you will uagurly uiiihrufc
thoni, and thu rcuBonablu uxpenuoH thoruof nhall bu dufraycd t)y thu public. Huf, if all
tho lenient mcaiiuruH taken, or which may bu taken, ulioiild fall to brlnj,' thu hoHtllc Iiidi-
anB to u JUBt BunHu of thuir Hltuatlon, it will bu nucuHwtry tiiat you Bhould uhu xiicli
coercive nioHnB as you «ball posBUBB, for that pnrpoHo. You arc informed that, by an lict

mmmimmmm

^^-^^^>&^-

y-^w\c>^^'

BRANT, THE MOHAWK CHIEFTAIN

|)Hi^ri, HI

(•|l>Hl» (»!'

wliicli |Mi

IlifiiiM \V(

Oil thr

toll, tlllll
IUM<)llllU'<
ortilHTH a

tliiH iiiiin
in^ two I
Fort VViirt
(tvcotul ill

of ('iiiiKri'liH,
nillltiiry <<ititb

dF iIx IIIUIltllH

rc'i{iiliirii and
July. In thU
bcpilili'it li'iivin

hrrt'llllll'tiT Mil

mi'imcni,'i'rn of
thi'iiiMclvuii uU
'iiiUH III tlioir I
Hriilt, of Kcnti
tititti'ii, to ninki
miit'om, or nil!
"(Uci'm includti
it In < iinUdod (<
(lltlonN uf mum
t).v II m'cund doi
pri'pii'iit 1)0 forn
lii'uri'r, dvpund
liii»i' hi'un form
liiivi' iipon tlio 1
><•' Mill hoitllul
piirtlcH.

Villi will obi
iilmi'lH for the I
Hff to he troatiH
l(liiilii(,'i"g, nfterj
>"« urn makhiK
rwiiiliT, you will
the main oxpedl
if no di'ciglvo In
or t>.v the doniill
oniiTto ('Htablls
yiHi will estiiblli
you limy Jiul«o 1
•wini,' iind curbl
•IlitlcH. It Ollgll
IndlauH. The gi
for till! dufonse c

*>K, rilK llitKllKK «N

OK iW "(tXtrKIM.

217

piii^ii, uihI |>riMiT<h'«l at onct tu .m'j^hu'w IiIh iinny. At tlio
il.iHi' ot' April, 171M, lu( wiw in IMttMlMirj^li ( K<u"t l*itt,) tow»ir<U
wliicli point ti'ooprt tVorii nil <|Uiirturrt, hoi'HuH, ntoruH and uininu-
iiitit»ti w»'rt» ^oiii^ t'orwurd.

Om tliu fltt«'»'iitli of May, St. Cluir michod Fort WuHhiiij?-
toll, uikI lit tliut tiiiio, tliu 11 tiitt*<l StutcH troupM in tliu VVitHt
iitiiiiiintt>«l to lint two lintKJrcMl tind Hixty-t'onr non-coinrniHMii>ne<l
orilcciH uihI privut»'K Ht tor duty. On tlm tit'tcentli of Jidy,
tliiri ninnlior wum nioro tliun donMud, hm tlu> HrHt refill lucnt, run-
iiig two hnndred and ninuty-nine tnvn, on timt duy rcmrhud
Foit WuMliin^ton. (ioiM'rul Mntlrr, who hud iMfti appointed
dt'cotid in cutnnnind, wiirt employed through part uf April and

of CoiiKrcKii, |)a»ii4l thu vucdiiiI liint., uunthur ri'ulm)>rit li tu b« mlicd, anil addiul to tliu
mllltiiry t)»lublliliiii«iit, aiitl itrovlalon uiHtln fur rulnltiK two llioiiaHnil IotIu*, for Ihii torni
iif ilx iiiuiitliN, for thii it(>i'vli-ii of tliii frontli'ri. It l> coiiti>in|iliittMl that thu iiuii of th(>
ri'i{iil«rii and liivlo* inity Im rurriiltud mid rundojivoiiii at Fort Wu«hlnKton, by thatunthof
July. In tliUvntii, you will Imvu MmsniliUid « forcn of tliri<« thoumiiid ulfuctlvoa at Itinat,
holili'x li'iivlnit xniull KurrlHoim on thu Ohio, In ord<>r to pHrforni your main uxpudlttun,
hereinafter nicnlloniul, Hut, In thu nivnntlmu, If tlii< Indiana rcfiiau to llaton to tho
ini!M<'ni{i<ra of puiivu aunt to thoni, It la muat prohnhlii thny will, unloat prevoDtud, aproad
Ihi'inHi'lvui alouK thu llnu of frontlera, for thu purpoau of uoiiiiiilttInK all tho dopradu-
'iiiUH In Ihuir powur. In ordiT to avoid ao cnlninltoua an uvunt, BriKndlur Ui-noral Churlua
Hrittt, of KunUU'ky, haabuun atithorliiiMl by nu>, on Ihti part of thu I'rualduntof thu llnltud
Stiiti'ii. to iiiakit nn uxpi'dltlon axnlnat tho Wua, or Uulatunon towna, with niountud vol-
uiitt'orM, or inllltin from Kuiitucky, not oxceodlnit thu uumbur of anvvii liundrud and llfty,
iilUi'i'm Ini'ludud. You will purci-lvu, by tha Inatructluna to llrlKiidlurOoiiural Hcott, thiit
It Ih iDMtldud to your diarri'tlon, whuthur thuru ahould b« moro than ono of tho aitid uxpu-
illilonB of muiintod voluiitoura ornillltln. Yonr nearer vluw of the objocta to bu ctfurtod,
by a itirond duHiiltory I'xpodltlon, will untibln you to torm a butter Jiidh;ini>nt than can at
prvHcnt liu formed at tlila diatiincu. Tht; proprluty of aaucond opriutlon would, in aomo
ili'L'ri'e, dupund on thu alAcrlty and good compoaltion of thu troopx of which thu llratmay
liiive Ix'un formed; of Itn Mucciiaa; of the probable effiM-ta a second xlmlliir blow would
huvi' upon thu Indluna, with nvapuct toltii Inlluunclnit them to peace; or. If they ahould
be Ktill hoatlluly diapoaud, of pruvuntlnK thnm from duaolatinu thu ft'ontlura by their
piirtlcH.

Ydii will obaervn. In thu Inatructlona to Rrlttudler Ouiieral Hcott, which are to aurvo aa
iihiiniN for tho InalriictlonH of the communderH who may auccuud him, that all captlvua
ari'to lie treated with Kfcat humanity. It will be aound policy to attract thu Indiana by
kiiKliieiiR, nfturdumonatratlnL; to thum our power to punUh tliuni, on all orcualona. While
viiu are makini; auch uae of dcNultory operationa aa In your Judgment thu occasion may
rciiHJi'e, you will proceed vi^oroUHly, In every operotlon in your power, for the purpoau of
the main expedition ; and having aaaemblud your forcu, and nil thinitM buint; In readiness,
if no declalvu Indications of peace Hhould have beou produced, ulthcr by the mcaaengos,
or by tlio desultory operations, you will communcn your march for thu Miami vlliaijo. In
order to eatublish a stroni; and permanent military poat at thn», place. In your idvance,
yiiii will uatubilsh such poatit of communlcittlon with Fort W'ashlnKton, on tho Ohio, as
you may Jud){o proper. Thu post at the Miami villagu Is intended for thu purpoau of
awlnif and curbing tho Indians in that quarter, and as tho only preventive of future hos-
tillticH. It ought, therefore, to bo rendered Mucure atjalnst all attempts and Insults of the
IndiauH. Thu garrison which siiouid bo Ktatlouud thuru ought not only to bu sutllcluut
for thu dufuuse of thu place, but always tontlord a dutiiuhment of Qvo or six hundred

♦J IS

TIIM 1.1 VM or IHiNTIAtl \>>0 OU'lMH^Ji:

Mav in ohtitliilrt^ I'cfriiitM, Uut wlhtt <il)tiiliii>«l, tlM>r«* whm rii,
iiioru'v to |tiiv tlii'iii, nor to pi'ovitk ^lurvM lor > li«*iii. In tin
<|iiart«'riiiu^trr'i« <lt'|»urtiiM'nl, iiicutithprn, vvcrytliiii^ wirit nu
mIowIv iinti Itinllv; ti'titn, |)uck-Miul<ll/««s Kottlun, kiiupHurkH uinl
ciirtri*!^) lio\«>rt wi>ri> all "ilcHcit'iit in iiuuiititv uiid ijiiulitv."
Wuntu fimn tliiH, thi> powilcr wuh. )H»or or iiijiiriMl, tlu> urtiix
iitiil uci'oiitrcint'iitM out of r«<|)uir. uii*l not «>V(<n propfr tiHiU
to nu-iMl tlit'Mt. An«l iiH tlx' troops pitlicrol at Kurt
Wit.<«liiii^ton, utter wniriHointt )l«'t«'MtionH ut i'ittHhnr^h tmil
U|)on tlu> river, u new honrce of trouMeh iir«me, in the liul)ir<.
ot' int«'ni|K'ninfe induljjjed un<l iH'(|uiri'»| l»y the Idlern. Ti'
witlitliuw tlieni from teniptiition, St. Cliiir uuh forced to

iitt'ii i'ii|i<rtii I'lmnilxi' iiiiy of lhi< Wiiliii'*li, i>r ollnT hoailli' tiullnnii, tr tomM-iiru nii) r.iii
viiv lit |iriivli)|(itii). 'rill' rutnlillaliiiii'tii lit ■iH'li II poiit li I iiiiiilili'ri'il in iiii liii|iiiriitiii
iihji'i't it Ihi' LMiii|iiilt{ii, mill la til tiiki' pliii'i' III nil I'M'iiiii, III rii«ii lit II |irrvliiii> iri'iui
till- IkiiIIiiiik iiri> to Uv I'luiillliiti'il iipoii tlil* |ioliil. If piHrnllilf; Mini It U pri'iiiiini'il. i^inni
urumiii'iit* limy lie ntti'ml, to ltiiliiri< llii'lr nri|iili'iiri'iii'it, Thi' iiXuutliin, iiiitiir<' uml am
ulrurrliiii iif till' wiirkH )iiii iiiiiy itlrn I, mIII iIi'IH'IhI ii|iiiii your nwii Jmlitiiii'iit Mnjur
Ki'ruiiniiii. iiT till' iirtllli'ry, »lll Im' lillly rii|iiilili' of tlii' I'Xi'ciitliiii. Mi' yi\[\ lio riiriil>li<'i|
Willi ttiri'i' tl\i' mill II liiiiriiirli liiiMlt/iTN. tliri'i' hIx |Hiiiiiili'ri<, miil iliri'K iliri'i'iiimiulirv
nil i^rnMM. vvlili ii xiiltlili'iil i|iimillty iil' Kliut iiiiil ulu'lln, for tlii' piiriioii' uf thu vx|iii(lltliin
Till. ii|i|iro|irliiiliiii III' tlii'Hi' pli'i'i'ii will ili'pi'iiil iipuii ymir iiriliTK.

Iliivliii; uoiiiiiiviiri'il your iiinri'li. iipmi ttin iiiitlii rxpi'illtlnii, iiiiil tlii' liiilliiiiii ciiiiliuii'
lllli liimtllis you will ilMi' I'Vi'ry piixnliilf rXiTtimi to iintki' llii'lii I'nt'l lln' i'tri'rti> of \iiiir
miliiTliirlty ; uml iifti'i- liiivliiu nrrlvi'il ut llii' Mluiiii vIIIuki', uiiiI put ymir workM in nili'ii'u
■ I tile Htiitt', Villi Mill Hii'k till' I'lii'iny witli tliii wtioli' iif your ri'iiiui ill iii^ rorii', niiil ■'iiii<'iit>ir
l>v nil piiMiillilu iiii'iiiiN, In Mlrlki' tliciii witli ({ri'iil Hi'Vi-rlty. n will tir li'ft In ymr i||<
I'Trtliiii wlii'tliiT to I'tiiploy, it' iitlnliinlili'. niiy niillniiii of tlif Mix NuIIoiim. uimI iIk
i'liirkiiMUMii or otliiT Soiitlii'rii iiiitliiiiii. Moiit pmliulily tlm miipinviiii'tit or iilioiit lUty .it
I'lirli. iiiiiliT till' ilir'Tlioii of Niiiiii' illiirrri'l uiiil itliii' rlili'f, woiilil lii> uilvuiituci'iiim, luil
tlii'Ki' iiiiulil not III III' nmii'tiiliU'd lit'lorn tlio lliii' of iiiarch Ik tukrii up. Ih'iuiihi' tiioyjiri'
Noiiii tiri'il uikI will not In' iIi'IiiIik'iI. 1'Iii' fori'u rnntriiipliiti'il for t hi' uitrrlniiiiii nf tin'
Miiiinl Yillui(i', uml tlir riiinniiiiiUuitloiiN, Iiun lin'ii rnnii u tlioiiKuml to twi'Ki' liiiiiilr"4
lion I'omiiiiHNioiii'il iitllnrH uml privuti'ii. 'riiln In ui>'iitioni'il nx i\ ^''txTuI Idi'u. to whidi
ymi will uilliiTi'. Ill' I'riiiii wlili'li vmi will ili'vluti'. iih clrriiiiii'tHnri'H may iiiiulru. Tli"
KurriHoii Htiitiiiiii'il lit tint Miniiii vlllut{i'. uml ItH oiiiiiiiiinlcutionH. niiint linvi' in Kturi'.ii
li'iiHt Mix imintliH i;iioil huIIi'iI iiii-iit. ami tloiir In proportion.

It Ik liiirilly pni-Kllili'. it' tliii InilluiiK loiitliiiii' liontiii', that yoii \\ill hr hiiIVitciI i|iili'tlt
to cHtalillHli u poBi at thr Mriinii vlllu);i'; lonttlitp, tlii'ri'fori', may lir I'XpiTti'd ; 'inil ll I-
to III' pri'HUini'il thai iliHt'lplincil valor will triiiiitph ovvr iimliHcipliiii'd liidlunii. In ihl<
event It in prolialilr that thi' IndianH will kiii' I'nr prni'i'; If tliNHhoiild lie the ('ai4i<, tlh'
dl;{iill< of the I'lilted Slatim will ri'<|iilre t lull the terinx mIioiiIiI be lilieriil. In nrilcrin
avoid fnltire war", ll niiulit lie proper to make theWuliaHh, tlieneeover to the Mlninl. 'iiil
down the Nanic to itn iiioiith at l.uke Krie. the hoiimlary. exeeptilii; ho t'ur iih the hiiiih'
ulinnld relate to the \V;'andolH and DelawureH. on the MiippoHltinn of their ennlliiii'ii.'
railhrnl to the treatii'H. lint, if they iihonid join In the war au'ainiit the I'nili il Stiilir
nnd yoiir army he vletorlmiH, the huIiI IiIIiik oiiu'ht to lie removed wilhonl the tioiiiiiliir>
niL'iitioiiud, Von will alno Judue whether ll wniildlie proper to extuiid the iioniiiUrv
from the innlith of the Klver aii Punne of the WuliaKh, In a due west line to the Mli'iii'
nippi. F(iw imliaiiH, lieHiden the Klckapoon. wonlil he ulfected liy hiu'Ii u line; thin iiiiuht
tobu tenderly nmnageiL The niudltluutlonuf the huundary intut bu cuiiildud to your dli

OH, iilK ttiiiniKli WAIM oy TWO CIKN'lt KIM.

2n»

rrniovr l>i» iiu^ii, ii<»w tniiiil><>riii^ two tlioiiHiiiitl, to l.ii«llow'rt
Station, ulNMit Mix iiiiUw tVorii tlm tort. Ilcru tliv urtiiy ii>ii*
tiiiii«'<l until tliu Mtviiiittu'iitli ot' St'pti'iitlHT, wlifti, living two
tlioiimiiiil tlirtti* liiiii(||-(!il Htroii^, exclusive ot' niilitiii, it iiiovrd
t'ltrwuni to II point upon tin* (^ri'ut Miunii, wIhti! Tort llitinil*
tun wu-t luiiit, till) HrHt in tin; pt-opoH«><l cliuin of t'oitrcHHcM.
Till'* ix'iti^ i'onipli*tu<l, tlir ti'oopH niovfd on t'orty-totir milcrt
tiirtlu'f, iintl on tint twrlf'th of OctoU'r, t'orniiM'n«'t'(| Korl .Irtlrr-
iH)ii, ui)out hIx inili'H Houtli of till' town of (IrrcnvilU*. On tlif
twvnty-foiirtli, tliu toilnoinr niui'iili through tlio wiltlcrtifM
Ix'^iiri iiifuin, At tliiH time tliu coinniundi't'-in-cliiff, wIiomo
<|iitii>r« tlii'ou^li tilt' MinirniT liiul licun very Hin'crc, wiih HuH«'i'in^
tViiiii itM iniliripoHitioii which wum l>y tiiruH in hin Hfoinuch, Iuii^k
uihI tiiiil)K; jtroviHionH wen; Hcurct*, thu nmU wet un<l heavy,
t\w troopH ^oin^ with much ditHculty, huvuii mih'H n «|iiy; the
iiiilitiii (UiHertin^ nixty ut u timo. TIium toiling tilon^, the army,
ru|)i<lly leriH(>iiiti^ hy (leHurtion, HiekneHH, nnd ti'oopH Hent tu
aiieht (leHertei'H, on the third of NovemU^r reiu'hud ii ntreiim
twelve yiirdrt wide, whieh St. (luir MUppoHu<l to he the 8t. Miiry
of the Muiimeu, but whieh wnrt in ruulity u liruneh of tliu

crutlDii, with thii kIdkIu ••tixurvuiloii, ilml thu policy nnil liiti<ruiit of th« rnUml Hinti'it
dlrliiii' Ihi'lr tx'liitt nt iiciii'it with tho IihIIiiiim. TIiIk In of nmri* vitliuf than iiiIIIIdiim of
uiii'iilllvntiMl ikcri'M, the rlitht to which iint.v ho roiici'iltMl liy nonit', aiitl iil>|mti'il l>y othitrx.
Thi'iniiilillKliiiu'iit of n poNt At th« MIntiil vllliitti* will itnibiilily Ito ri'i^iinli'il. hy iho itrlt|p<h
iilHci'm on th)' OontliTu, bn a clrcnniMtiiiiro of Jfiilouiiy ; It niny, thcn-lori', hi> iii'rt'iiNiiry
that yoii nhonlil, nt n propxr tlino, inukc Miuh InliinntionM iim niiiy ri'iiiovi> nil Hiu-h iUHpiml
tloiiM Thin iiillnmtlon hiiil hctlcr follow thiin pri'ci'iii' thu poMHi'imloti of t|ii> poMi, uiilrNi*
clrriiiiiHinnci^M dU'tntit othoiwlMo. Ax It Ih not the hu'lliintloii or lnti'ri-»t of thu CnltuU
Httiti'Kto tuittT into ucotitcHt wlthOri'ut liriiuln, uvury incitMtiri' Iriidlii).' toiiiiy (liiicii>o<loii
orultiTciillon iiiUHt hi! provciitcd, Tho ili'lli'iilu xitlliUloii of iilfiilm iimy. thiTcforu, rciLdiT
It linpriipt'i'. lit prcKi'nt, to ninkn tiny iiiiviil tirrtint(i>tnont upon Lake Krii-. AfiiTyou Iihvi>
ftfiMii'il all lilt! Injury to tin- hoHtlU' iMdiniiH of which your I'orcc may In- capnlilc. uiiil ufli'r
lmviiii{ cittahllHhcd the poKtH and KarrlMoiiN at tin' Mlanil vllla^'cH and IIm coniiniinlcatlnriH,
and iilaclnt; the Hanic under thu ordHrx of an ultluur worthy of Hnch hluh triiiit, you will
return lo Foi't Wanhin^jlou,

it U proper to ohHervii, tluit cortuln JiMiioimifii have cxWtcd ainoni; tho pcopU; of tint
rrniiilcri*, rLdatlvu to a mippoxt'd liiturfurciiuu hutwucn thoir Intcn-Mt, and thoitu of tho
iiiurliii! Ht»tt?M; that thcKo JcaloiiNlcH arc ill foiindiid. with rcNpccI to the prcHcnt ^'ovvrn-
mcril. in ohviouM. The tlnlted Staten enihrnce, with e<|iiiil care, all partn of thu I'nion;
mill. In till! |>reNent caHc, are niakint; expeiiNlve arrnnijeniuntH for the protection of the
friinilcrH, and partly In thi; iiiodeH, to4>, which appear to he hli;hly favored liy the Kentucky
pi.'iiple.

The hluh Btntiunii you (Hi, of commander of the troopo, and Oovornor of tlio Wunlern Tei
rltor). will afford you frei|iient opportnnitleM to inipreHH the frontier cIti/euN of the entire
KiiodilUpoiiltlon of the i;>'nernl Kovurnnient towardHthuni in nil ruaHonahle thlnuH. and
you will rundur ncceptulde Merviuu. hy cordially cinhracing all itncii opportunltluB.

220

TIIK r.IVKS OK I-ONTIAC; AND TKtniMHKIi:

Wabash. Upon the banks of this Stream St. (Mair, with hiw army,
about fourteen hundred strong, encainpod in two lines. The
riglit wing, composed of Butler's, Clark's and Patterson's battal-
ions, commanded by Major-General Butler, formed the Hist
line; and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger's and (Jaither's
battalions, and the second regiment, comnumded by Lieut.-
Col. Drake, formed the second line, with an interval between
them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would
allow. The light flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a
steep bank, and Faulkner's corps and some of the cavah*y cov-
ered the letl flank. The militia were thrown over the creek,
and advanced about a quarter of a mile afiid encamped in the
same order. There were a few fndians who appeared on the
opposite side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipita-
tion, on the advance of the militia. \

At this place, which St. Clair judged to be about flfteen
miles from the Miami village, he determined to throw up a
slight work for the protection of the knapsacks and the hag-
gage, and to move thence on to attack the enemy as soon as the
first regiment should come up. But in this he was disap-
pointed, for on the fourth, about half an hour before sunset
and when the men had just been dismissed from parade, an
attack was made upon the militia, which gave way in a short
time and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion,
tl^e Indians following close at their heels. The tire, however,
of the front line checked them, but almost instantly a very
heavy attack begun upon that line, and in a few minutes it was
extended to the second line. The great weight of it was
directed against the centre of each, where the artillery was
placed and from which the men were repeatedly driven, with
great slaughter. Finding no great effect from the fire of the
troops, and confusion beginning to spread from the great num-
ber of men who were falling in all quarters, St. Clair resolved
to see what could be done with the bayonet. Lieut.-Col. Drake
was accordingly ordered to make a charge with a part of the
second line and to turn the left flank of the enemy. This was
executed with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way
and were* driven back three or four liundred yards; but for

r^f^'l'ifWHWII

OR, TIIK IU)UI)KK WARS OF TWO 0KNTIIKIK8.

221

want of a snfflcient number of riflemen to pursne this advan-
tajfc, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to fall
back in their turn. At this moment they had entered the
camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops that
wore posted there. Another charge was made here by the sec-
ond regiment, Butler's and Clark's battalions, with equal effect,
and it was repeated several times and always with success; but
in uU of them many men were lost, and particularly the ofiicers,
ft I088 altogether irreparable. In the last charge Major Butler
was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the second regi-
ment fell except three, one of whom, Mr. Greaton, was shot
tlirougii the body.

The artillery being now silenced and all the officers killed,
except Capt. Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more
than half of the army fallen, being cut oft' from the road, it
became necessary to attempt the regaining of it and to make a
retreat, if possible. To this purpose the remains of the army
were formed as well as circumstances would admit towards the
riglit of the encampment, from which, by the way of the sec-
ond lino, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with
the design to turn their riglit flank, but in fact to gain the road.
Tills was effected, and as soon as it was open, the militia took
along it, followed by the troops, Major Clark, with his bat-
talion, covering the rear.*

The retreat, in those circumstances, was, as may be imagined,
a very precipitate one. It was, in fact, a flight. The camp and
the artillery were abandoned ; but that was unavoidable, for
not a horse was left alive to have "drawn it off, had it other-
wise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the
business is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their
arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit, which con-
tinued about four miles, had ceased. St. Clair found the road
strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy
it, for having had all his horses killed, and being mounted
upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, he could
not get forward himself, and the orders he sent forward either
to halt the front, or to prevent the men from parting with

* St. Cluir'B report.

222

TIIK I.IVKS OF I'ONTIAC AND TWM'MSRIi:

tlieir arms, were lumttoiKkHl to. The flifrht eontiniUHl to Fort
JeftbrHon, twenty-nine miles, wliieli was reiu-Iicd a little after
sunset. The action be^an about halt' an liour before sunrisi;,
and the retreat was attempted at half an hour after nine o'clock.
Mnj. (len. IJutler, TJeut. (>ol. Oldham, of the militia, Miijur
Ferpjuson, Major Hart and Major (Mark wore among the killed.

8t. Clair, in giving the iletails of this disaster, closes with
these remarks: " I have nothing to lay to the cbarge of the
troops but their want of discipline, which, for the sliort time
they had been in the service, it was impossible they should
have acquired." He continues: "We were overpowered bv
numbers; but it is no more than justice to observe that, tlioujjrh
composed of so many different species of troo])8, the utmost
harmony ])revailefl during the campaign."

In addition to the above brief account of St. Clair's defeat,
I give the following from the pen of Mr. Van Cleve, who was
in the Quartermaster General's service on the occasion and
witnessed the disaster:

' I

We were encamped just within tlic lines, on tlie riglit. The attacli was
made on tlie Kentucky militia. Almost instantaneous'' the small rem-
nant of them that escaped broke through the line near us, and this line
gave way. Followed by a tremendous fire from the enemy, they passed
me. I threw my bridle over a stump, from which a tent pole had been
cut, and followed a short distance, when tinding the troops had halted, I
returned and brouglit my horse a little farther. I was now between tlie
flres, and finding the troops giving way again, was obliged to leave him a
second time. As I quitted him he was shot down, and I felt rather glud
of it, as I concluded that now I should be at liberty to share in the engiiire-
mcnt. My inexperience promptotl me to calculate on our forces being far
superior to .iny that the savages could assemble, and that we should soon
have the pleasure of driving them. Not more than five minutes had yet
elapsed, when a soldier near me bad his arm swinging with a w(;und. I
requested his arms and accoutrements, as he was unable to use them, pro-
mising to return thera to him, and commenced firing. The smoke was
settled down to about within three feet of the ground, but I generally put
one knee on the ground, and with a rest from behind a tree, waited the
appearance of an Indian's head from behind his cover, or for one to run
and change his position. Before I was convinced of my mistaken calcula-
tion, the battle was half over and I had become familiarized to the
scene. Hearing the firing at one time unusually brisk near the rear of
the left wing, I crossed the encampmt>nt. Two levy oflSccrs were just
ordering a charge. I had fired away my ammunition and some of the

0|{, TIIK I1<»KI)|;K WARfi t>F TWO CKNTrUIfX

223

l)iimls of my muskcl luKlflown (ttV. I pickod up iiiiotlicr mid ii ciutridjjo
hox nearly full, iind puslicd t'orwurd wllli iiboiil thirty others. Th« In
iliiiiis ran to the riylit, where tlien- was a small ravine tilled with lojfs. I
hciit iiiy eoMrne utter them, and on looking; round I lounil I whh with only
,iv(ii i>r ciiilit men, tlie others havinij kept slraijjjht forward iind halted
iil)(»ut thirty yards ofl". We halted also, and beinjj 8o near where the
^tivaijes lay ('oM«'ealed, the second tire from them left me standing alone.
Mycitvcr was a small suj?ar trt^e or heeeh, scarcely large enough to hide
MIC. 1 tired away all my ammunition; I am uncertain whether with any
rllcci iir not. I then looked for the party near me, and saw them retreat-
iiiLT iiiiii iialf way i)aek to the lines. I followed them, running my best,
and was soon in. By this time our artillery had been taken, I do not
know wliether the tlrst or second time, and our troops had just retaken it
and were charging the enemy across the creek in front, and some person
tiild me to look at an Indian running with one of our kegs of powder, but
! did not .see liim. Tlierawere about thirty of our men and ofllcers lying
scalpi tl around the i)ieces of artillery. It api)eared that the Indians had
not been in a hurry, for their hair was all skinned ott'.

Daniel Honliam, a young man raised by my uncle and brought up with
nic, ami wiiom I regarded as a brother, had by this Mme received a shot
through his hips and was unable "to walk. I procured a horse and got him
on. My uncle had received a ball near his wrist that lodged near hia
(U)()\\. The ground was literally covered with dead and dying men, the
coniniander gave orders to take the way — perhaps they had been given
mure explicitly. Happening to see my uncle, he told nie that a retreat
had been ordered, and that I nmst do the best I could and take care o{
myself Honham insisted that he had a better chance of escaping than I
iiad, and urged me to look to my own safety alone. I found the troops
pi't.><sing like a drove of bullocks to the right. I saw an offlccr whom I
toiik to be Lieut. .Morgan, an aid to Gen. Butler, with six or eight men,
start on a run a little to the left of where I was. I immediately ran and
fell in witli them. In a short distance we were so suddenly among the
Indians, who were not apprised of our object, that they opened to us, and
ran to the right and left without firing. I think about two hundred of our
men passed through them before they fired, except a cltMice shot. When
we had proceeded abont two miles, most of those mounted had passed
me. A boy had been thrown or fell oft' a horse, and begged iry assistance.
I ran, pulled him along about two miles further, until I Imd become
nearly exhausted. Of the last two horses In the rear, one carried two men
and the other three. I made an exertion and threw him on behind the
two men. The Indians followed but about half a mile further. The boy
was thrown otf some time after, but escaped and got in safely. My friend
Honham 1 did not see on the retreat, but understood he was thrown off
about this place, and lay on the left of the trace, where he was found In
the winter and was buried. I took the cramp violently in my thighs and
eouUI scarcely walk until I got within a hundred yards of the rear, where
the Indians were tomahawking the old and wounded men; and I stopped

224

rilK l.WKi* OK IHJNTIAC AND TKCI'MHKIi:

here to tit- my pockot Imudkercljiof round a M'oundi'd miin's knoo. 1 siiw
tlio Indianti close in purnuit atthiH tiiuc, and lor a moment my Hpirit sunk
and 1 folt In dcspnir for my safety. I considered wlictlior I sliouid kuvc
tlu) road or wlietlior I was capable of any ftirther exertion. If I left the
road, the Indians were in plain slglit and could easily overtake me. I
threw the shoes otT my feet, and the coolness of the jrround scenicid to
revive me. I a^Hin bef^an a trot and recollect that when a bend in the
road otfered, and I jjot before half a dozen persons, I thought it would
occupy some time for the enemy to massacre them, before my turn would
come. By the time I liad got to Stillwater, about eleven miles, I jmd
gained the centre of the tlying troops, and, like them, came to a walk, I
fell in with Lieut. Shaumburg, who, I think, was the only officer of anil-
lery that got away unhurt, with Corporal Mott, and a woman who was
called red-headed Nance. The latter two were both crying. Mott was
lamenting the loss of a wife and Nance that of an infant child. Shaum-
burg was nearly exhausted and hung on Mott's arm, I carried IiIh fusil
and accoutrements and led Nance; and in tills sociable way we arrived at
Fort Jefferson a little after sunset.

. The Commander-in-Chief had .ordered Col. Darke to press forward to
tlio convoys of provisions and hurry them on to the army. Major Truman,
Capt. Sedan and my uncle were setting forward with him. A number of
soldiers and pack-horsemen on foot and myself among them, joined them.
We came on a few miles, when all, overcome with t'atigue, agreed to halt.
Darius Curtius Orcott, a pack-horse ma,ster, had stolen at Jefferson nni'
pocket full of Hour and the other full «)f beef. One of the men had a
kettle, and one Jacob Fowler and my,self groped about in the dark until
we found some water, where a tree had been blown out of root. We made
ft kettle of soup, of which I got a small portion among the many. It was
then concluded, as there was a bend in the road a few miles further on,
that the Indians might undertake to intercept us there, and we decamped
and traveled about four or five miles further. I had got a rifle and am-
munition at Jefferson from a wounded militia man, an old acquaintance,
to bring in. A sentinel was set and we lay down and slept, until the Gov.
ernor came up a few hours afterward. I think I never slept so profoundly.
I could hardly get awake after I was on my feet. On the day before the
defeat the ground was covered with snow. The flats were now filled with
water frozen over, the ice as thick as a knife blade. I was worn out with
fatigue, with my feet knocked to pieces against the roots in the night and
splashing through the ice without shoes. In the morning we got to a
camp of pack-horsemen, and amongst them I got a doughboj' or water-
dumpling, and proceeded. We got within seven miles of Hamilton on
this day and arrived there soon on the morning of the sixth.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Resui.i's 0' St. CiiAm'8 Defeat — Thk Ameuicanb, the Enoush,

AND THE IM)IANH— HuANT InVITED TO PHILADELPHIA — IIoUUIKY-

iNG Scenes on 8t. (/'laiu's Battle Field— The Peace Makkub—
Their Instkuctidns- Americans desire Peace— The Imidans
Fou Wak.

Thus was the plan of establishing a chain of forts between
Cincinnati and the Miami villages overthrown by the defeat
of St. Clair. The savages again victorious, could neither be
expected to make terms or show mercy, and along the line of
tiie whole frontier the settlers were filled with anxiety, terror,
and despair. Out of St. Clair's army of fourteen hundred men,
eight hundred and ninety were killed and wounded. The
battle took place on the fourth of November, 1791, and on the
eighth of the same month the remains of the army reached
Fort Washington. The news of the defeat was at once com-
municated to Congress, and on the twenty-sixth of December
Gen. Knox laid before the President a plan for future opera-
tions. It provided for raising and equipping a large force,
and the immediate invasion of the Indian countrv, but Wash-
ingtou desired that before this army was organized every effort
should again be made to prevent bloodshed. Col. Pickering,
in his meeting with the Iroquois, of June and July, 1791, at
the Painted Post, had, among other things, proposed that
certain chiefs should, in the following January, go to Philadel-
phia, while Congress was in session, and "shake hands with
their newly adopted father." The importance of tht; proposed
visit became more evident after the news of St. Clair's defeat,
for now, the New York Indians were suspected. On the twen-
tieth of December, 1791, Gen. Knox wrote to a missionary
among the Iroqiiois, pressing through him the invitation given
15 (235)

220

TIIK MVKH (»K IHtNTIAO AND TK(1(IMt*KII :

by the conmnHHiinuir, and tispt'cially »ir|ijln^ tho jiroHfiuu of
Brant. To aid the propost'd peace measures, u reHpei'tful and
kind message was sent to theSenecas on the seventh ot'.fanuiiry,
1792; while, to guard against surprise, means wore adopted to
learn tlie purpose of a great couneil called at Ihitralo ( Iruek,
and also to ascertain tlie intentions of the trii)es on the Wahash
and Miami. AVhile these events were taking place in the
north, Wilkinson, commanding at ( 'incinnati, was instructed
to send word to Major liamtraiuck, at Vincennes, that the Gov-
ernment wished to secure the agency of tlie French colonists
and friendly Indians in quelling the war spirit. In Fobruiirv,
also, further friendly messages were sent to the Senecas, und
an invitation forwarded to Brant from the Secretary of War
liimself asking him to come to Philadelphia.

In March fifty Iroquois chiefs reached the Quaker city and
met in council with the Americans, expressing friendly senti-
ments, and during April and May (Japt. Trueman and others
were sent from the Ohio to the hostile tribes, bearing messa/^es
of friendship. But before relating the unfortunate issue of
Trueman 's expedition, I will notice the movements made by
Congress in reference to military preparations, which were to
be carried out in case the peace measures should fail.

St. Clair resigned his position as commander of tbe North-
western forces and Gen. Wayne was appointed in his place, and
in Jnne, 1792, the latter movwl westward to Pittsburgli, and
proceeded to organize the army which "was to be the ultimate
argument of the American with the Indian confederation."

Through the summer of 1702, the preparation of the soldiere
was steadily attended to; "train and discipline them for the
service they are meant for," said Washington, "and do not
spare })ovvder and lead, so the men be made marksmen." In
December, 1792, the forces now recruited and trained, were
gathered at a point about twenty-two miles below Pitts-
burgh, on the Ohio, called Lcgionville; the army itself having
been denominated the Legion of the United States, divided
into four sub legions, and provided with legionary and sub-
legionary officers. Meantime, at Fort Washington, Wilkinson
had succeeded St. Clair as commandaut, and in January had

OK, THE BORDER WARM OK TWO CKNTUKIK8.

237

ordered an expedition to exntnine the field of the late diSiiBtrous
conrtict.

TliiH expedition readied the site of St. (-lair's disastrons
battle on the first of February, and found one of the mosb
horrifying spectacles ever presented to human eyes. It waa
evident, from what was found tliere, that the unfortunate
soldiers in St. Clair's army who fell into the enemy's hiinds
with life received the greatest torture — having their limbs torn
off. The women were treated with the most indecent cruelty,
having stakes as thick as a person's arm driven through their
bodies.

But while Wayne's army were gathering and target-shooting
near Pittsburgh, the peace measures of the United States were
pressed with great effort. In the first place, the Iroquois,
throuf^h their chiefs who visited Philadelphia, were induced to
act as peace-makers between the Americans and the hostile
Indians; and, as we have seen, Trueman received instructions
to repair to the Miami villages with friendly words. Follow-
ing is the speech with which he was charged, and which ho
delivered to these hostile tribes :

Brothers : The President of the United States entertains the opinion
that the war \f hicli exists iH founded in error and mistaico on your part.
That you believe tlie United States want to deprive you of your lands, and
drive you out of tlic country. Be assured this is not so: on the contrary,
that we should bo greatly gratified with the opportunity of imparting to
you ail the blessings of civilized life; of teaching you to cultivate tho
earth, and raise corn; to raise oxen, sheep, and otiicr domestic animals;
to build comfortable houses, and to educate your children, so as over to
dwell upon the land.'

Brotlicrs : The President of the United States requests you to take this
subject into your serious consideration, and to reflect how abundantly
more it will be for your interest to be at peace with tho United States, and
to receive all the benefit thereof, than to continue a war wliich, however
flattering it may be to you for a moment, must, in the end, prove ruinous.

This desire of peace has not arisen in consequence of the late defeat of
the troops under Major General St. Clair; because, in the beginning of tho
last year a similar message was sent you by Col. Proctor, but who was
prevented from reaching you by some insurmountable difiiculties. All
the Senecas at Buffalo Creek can witness for the truth of this assertion, as
he held, during the month of April last, long conferences with them, to
devise the means of getting to you in safety.

228

TIIK UVhH OF PONTIAO AND TKOtrMHKIi:

War, Kt all tlincH, Im u tirciult'ul ovil to tlioHi> who aro cnKUgtuI llu-r.'iu,
and inoro particularly ho wIxtu a I'uw pvoplu (!UKaK« to u^t agaitiMtHo ^runt
nuinbiTH as thv pcoplu of tho IJnittul StatvH.

BrothcrH: Do not Hud'cr tliu advantaffuH yuu have ftainml to iuIhIi>u(1
your Judxraent, and to inlluence you tocontinuo tho war; but rctloct upon
thv deHtructivo conscquunccH which muMt attend such a mcuHunt.

TIk' PrvMidunt of tho United States is hij^hly dcslrouH of Heuing a number
of your principal chiefs, and convincing you, in person, how much he
wishes to avoid the evils of war for your sake, and tiio salto of humanity.
Consult, therefore, rpon the great object of peace; call in your partlci,
and enjoin a cessation of all other depredations; and as many of the
principal chiefs as shall choose, repair to Pliiladelphia, tho seat of tlie
general government, and there make a peace, founded upon tho principlci
of Justice and humanity. Uomember that no additional lands will be
required of you, or any other tribe, to tlioso that have been ceded by
former treaties, particularly by tho tribes who hud a right to make the
treaty of Muskingum in the year 17H9.

But If any of your tribes can prove that you have a fair right to iiny
lands comprehended by the said treaty, and have not been conipenHiited
therefor, you shall receive full satisfaction upon that head. The chiefs
you send shall bo safely escorted to this city, and shall be well fed and
provided with all things for their Journey, and the faith of tlic United
States is hereby pledged to you for the true and liberal performunce of
every thing herein contained and suggested, and all this is coudrmed iu
your manner by the great white belt hereunto attaclied.

But this was not all. The Americans were sincere in their
desires to conclude a permanent peace with the native tribes,
and, therefore, Captain Hendrick, chief of the Stockhridge
Indians, was dispatched on the eighth of May, to present the
views of the President to the approaching council of tiie
Northwestern Confederacy. General Rufus Putmaa was also
instructed to go into the Indian ccjuntry, in company with
John Heckewelder, and to do all in his power to secure peace
and a permanent treaty. Following are a few extracts from
the information and orders which he received, which, in addi-
tion to the speech of Col. Trueman, go very far to prove that
Washington was disposed to treat with the savages on a liberal
basis:

The chiefs of tlie Five Nations of Indians, wlio were so long in this city,
lately, were astonished at the moderation of our claim of laud, it being
very different from what they had been taught, by designing people, to
believe.

OR, TIIK noRDKR WARH OF TWO (TKNTUIII K8.

229

in their
;e tril)e8,
kbritlge
aeiit tl\e
of the
was also
ny with
re peace
cts from
in addi-
rove that
a liberal

this city,

d, it being

people, to

It would Hvt'ux thut thft IndiiiiH hnvn been mUIfd wltii respect to our
claimH, liy n cvrUln iiiiip, piibllHhed In Connecticut, wh<>reln iiro laid out
•en nt'w Htnti'H, iiKreeubly to ii report of a committee of ConKrosii.

Tlic Tnlted Htiiti'H itre deHlroUH, in any treaty wlilcli hIiuII bo formed In
future, to avoid all cauHeH of war, relative to boundaries, by fixing thoHame
in Miv\\ a manner aH not to be mistaken by the meanent capai^ity, Aa tlio
ImsJH, tlx'refore, of your negotiation, you will, In the stron^eHt and moHt
rx|)!ii'lt terms, renounce, on the part of the United Htates, all claim to any
Indian land which hIuiU not have been ceded by fair [treaties, made with
the Inilian nations.

Yi)U may Hay — that we conceive the treaty of Fort Ilarmar to have been
formed by the trlbett having a Just right to make tlo- same, and that it wai
ilonc witli their full understanding and free consent.

That if, however, the said tribes should Judge the compensation to have
been inadequate to tlie object, or that any other tribes have a Ju8t claim,
in l)i)tii cases tliey shall receive a liberal allowance, on their Anally settling
all disputes upon the subject.

.Vs till- L'nit((d 8tat(!8 never made any treaties with the Wabash Indiana,
;illli(Uigh the said Indians have been repeatedly Invited thereto, tliclr
I iiiiins to the lands eabt and south of the iiald Wubash havo not booo
(Inflncd.

Tliis circumstance will be a subject of your inquiry with the assembled
Indian tril)es: and you may assure the parties concerned, that an cqulto-
hie boundary shall be arranged with them.

Yon will makt! U clearly understood, that wo want not a foot of their
land, and that it is theirs, and tlieirs only; that they havo tho right to sell,
tmd the right to revise to sell, and the United States will guarantee to chom
tiic said Just right.

That it is not only the sincere desire of the United States to be at peace
witli all tlie neiglil)orlng Indian tribes, but to protect lliem in their Just
rlglits, against lawless, violent white people. If such sliould commit any
injury on the person or property of a peaceable Indian, they will be
regarded equally as the enemies of the general government as the Indians,
and will be punished accordingly.

Your first great object, upon meeting the Indians, will bo to convince
them that the United States require none of their lands.

Tlic second, that wo shall guaranty all that remain, and take tho Indians
under our protection.

Tliirdly; they must agree to the truce, and immediately to call in all
tlioir war parties. It will be in vain to be negotiating with them while
tiiey sliall be murdering the frontier citizens.

Having happily effected a truce, founded on the above assurances, it will
tlicn be your primary endeavor to obtain from each of the hostile and
nelgliboring tribes two of the most respectable chiefs, to repair to the seat
of government, and there conclude a treaty witli the President of tho
Cnited States, in which all causes of difference should bo buried forever.

You will give the chiefs every assurance of personal protection, while

S80

TIIK LIVKlt Ur fUNTlAO AND TKHUMBBIi:

on their Journey to IMiilaclitlpliU, iind, Mhoiild they iitMUt upon It, h(wtiiir«t
of oftlccrN for tlie null' n'turn of tlui ohIctM, mid, In ciih** dI tlii'lr coinpll
•ncc, you will take vwry precnutlon by tlxttroopii tor t\u< protection of the
■aid chieri, wliich the niituru of tlio caar may require.

But If, nner liiiTlnK uiiud your utiuoitt exertionM, tht^ cIiU'Ih should di<clloe
tbo Journey to PlillitdvlplitA, then you will agree with them on u plan for
• general treaty,*

As alrondy muntioiiod, Draiit, tho Mohawk chiot'tain, had
been rcqucstud to vittit Philadelphia and hold aconturencu vtith
Washington. Thu £ngliHh, on hearing this, did all in tli(>ir
power to prevent him from comi)lying with the recjuest. Hut
this independent chief would not listen to their representutioMB,
and on tho twentieth of June appeared at the Federal (Capital.
Ho remained there ten or twelve days, and was treated hy all
with marked attention. Great painn were taken to give him
a correct understanding of affairs, but he loft ilie American
Capital still an Englishman at heart.

Notwithstanding tlie liberal terms offered, and that diff«^rent
peace-makers were sent into the Indian country, all propimi-
tions for peace were rejected in one form or another. The
recent victories which the savages had gained, and the favora-
ble representations of English agents, closed the ears of the
red men, and, no doubt, led them to murder the peace deputies
whose fate I now proceed to record.

* American State Papers, v. 334, 'i36.

CIIAPTEU XXVIll.

Kate or the Pka<;k>Makkiih — Ohkat OotiNciL ur tiik Maiimkk--
IMiopoHirioNB OK Pkack Uk.ik(;tki) hy tiik Indianh-- Waykr
Maiuhkh into tiik Indian Coiintiiy — Tiik Skiiua on St. Ci.AiK't

liATTLKKIKLU— FOUT UkcOVKHT KhTAUMBIIRD.

Tiik vkvk of thoHO who were sent out to induce the Iiuliuns
to iiieftHurcs of peace, may be imagined. Freeman, who lett
I'oi't Wuahingtoii on the Mcventh of April; Trueman, who left
on the twenty-BCcond of May, for tlie Maumee, and Col. llar-
fliii, who, on the same day, wtarted for Sandusky, were all
murdered. Hrant did not attend the Western Council, although
\w lirtd agreed to in Philadelphia. Hendricks gave hin message
into the hands of ('ol. Mtilvee, and kept away from the gath-
ering of the confederated nations, and of the three messengers,
Trueman, Hendricks and Putnam, Putnam alone reached his
destination. He formed a treaty with several of the Wabash
tril)es, but, as jt was not ratified by Congress, it proved of no
avail.

Indian councils were now in order — councils where Indians
met Indians, and where no white man intruded himself.
Probably the largest Indian council ever held was at the mouth
of the River Auglaize, in 175)2. It was assembled through
the influence of the Iroquois, but did not accomplish the de-
sired result. Besides, the New York, Western and Canadian
Indians, there were present twenty-seven other nations. At
this council the boundary line between the Americans and
Indians was fully discussed, and all agreed that it must not
extend north of the Ohio, However, nothing was fully resolved,
the council agreeing to assemble again in the following spring.
This meeting took place, and both the Americans and the
Indians were fully represented. The United States Commis-

(231)

TIIK ll>M «)K l'«>N'liAr ANI> TMIMHIi:!!:

Mioiii'rH luitl Wct'iiri' tlit> rtuvu^'M ii pliiii tor tli<> Mi>ttliMiif'iit of r||
• iilHciilticK, liiit it pi-uviMl iliMHitiHt'uctory. The H|)r<rli wliirh
wiiH Hul)hiitt<-«l l>,v till* (.'oiiti'diMutctl iNutioiiri in rfplv to tin-
(*t>tiitni(((tioi)orH, uml wliicli put tin uikI to all n(*p>tiutioiiit, iuhI
upctKHl tlu* way tor iiiiotlirr Itloody uoiitvHt, in ot' hiioIi irii|iiti-t-
iui('t> UK to merit pri'hcrvutioii in tliiK voluiiiu. It wum in tli(Mi>
won Ik:

To lh*< t'onimuMi'oHi'r* »f thf Unihd Stattt. — HrDtliiTM: W«i liiivi* rpcfivril
jroiir Mpi'rrli, iliiti'il till- llilrty llmt of liut inoiitli, iiinl It liiu \wv\\ IdUt-
prrl('«l to itll till' illllVii'iit iiiitliinH. Wi> liiivi> Ih'i-d Ioii^ In mi'IuIIii^ ymi nn
HiiNWiT Imthiimi' of till' ^ri'itt liii|iiirtaii('i' ul tin* Niiliji'ct. liut w«' nuw
HiiHwrr It rtilly, Imvlntr kIvi'Ii Itiill tlu conHliliTutlon In our power.

ItriiilicrM; Villi ti'll iiM tliut itlliT yon liml iiiiuli' pt'un' with tlii> Kiiii;. mir
I'litlH'r, iili<>iit ti'ii yi'iirM ii^o, "It ri'tnitlni'il to iiiiiki> p<>u<'<' liftwri'n the
Unltcil Htiiti'it iinil till* liiiliiiii imtloriH who hiul taken piirt with the Kinf{.
For (hU piirpiiH* iiiiiiiiiUMloiierN w -n' iippointrd, who Hcnt nicHMUKCH to til
thoNi' Itiilliiii nutioiiy, Inviting tliriii to come luid make peace," ami ulW
fpcltln^ the ])er)o(lM at which yon Hay treatlcH were lielil at Fort Hiaiiwix,
Fort Mcintosh and Miami, all which trcatlcH, uccordlnK to your own
itckiiowlcilirinenl, v\ei'e for the hoIc piirpime of iiuikin^ peace, you tlii-n
tiiiy, " lirotlii'i's, the cotnnilNHlonerH who conducted thcHc treaticH In ln'liuif
of the I'lilti'd StatcM sent the paperH containinK them to the jreiieral
council III' the States, who, Hupposln); them Hatist'iuttory to the nationi
treated with, proceeded to dispoHe of the landH therohy ceded."

Brother^: TIiIh Ih telling »* plainly what we alwayM umleratood to be
the cuNi'. and it a;;reeH with the ileclarationH of thimu few who atti'iidi'd
those ireaiies, vl/,. : That they went to your conuniHHioneiM to make piiici';
but, tUrou^h fear, were ohll^e to *\nn any paper that waH lalil before tlii'in,
and it lias .since appeared that deedH of ccHHlon were idKiied by them, in
Hteiid of treatlcH of peace.

Brothers: You then say, "after some time It appearH that n number of
po(i|pl<' in your nations were dissatisticd with tin- treaties of Fort Mcintosh
and Miami; therefore, the council of the I'nlted HtatCH appointed Gov.
Ht. (lair their comniiHsiouer, with full power, for the purpose of removing
all caiLscH of controversy, relating to trade, and settling boundaries, between
the Indian nations in the northern ditpartment and the Unlled States. He
accordingly sent messages, inviting all the nations concerned to meet him
at tt council tlru he kindled at the Falls of the Muskingum. While hewa»
waiting for them some mischief happened at that place and the Arc was
put out; so he kindled a council tire at Fort Ilarmar, where near six hun-
dred Indians of ditl'erenl nations attended. The Six Nations then renewed
and confirmed the treaty of Fort Htanwix, and the Wyandots and Dela-
wares renewed and confirnu'd the treaty of Fort Mcintosh; some Ottiiwag,
Chippewas, Pottuwutomies and Uacs were also parties to the treaty of Fort

OK, Tlir ItoKDRK WAKH or rWO l*KNTI'RIWl.

933

||»rmiir." Now, l>ri>ili«<r», tlM<M< ntv your wnnlM, hiuI It U ncci'MMiiry for u«
III inuki' a Mliort rf|il> lo thi'iii.

ItnillirrM: A p'liiriil I'liuniil of nil Ihi' Indiitn coril'i'iliTitcy wim iirlil, nri
yoii Mi'll know, in III)' Ittll of tlii< \fiir ITmn, ut tliU |iiui'«>, iiml Hint )(i'»i'ritl
I'ouni'il wuH Invih'il liy your coiniiilKMloiiiT, (iov. Ht. Clnlr, to iiii>«<l liliii for
itii< |iiir|>oN<> III' lioMInu II trciity, with ri'itunl to tlii> IuiuIn niriiiloniil
hy \oii to liitvi' Ih'i'ii nult'd by tin* trfiilifM ol' Fort Htuimlk iiinl Fort
Mclnhmli,

UnillnTx; Wi' i»n> III |m>nhi>mm|oii «»f tlin «|M't'rlii'»t iiml li-llcrx wlilrli pitMiil
nil lliiil ocfiiHioii Ih-Iwi'i'Ii tlioM<M|i>|niti>(l liy ilii' coiirrili'mliil liiiliiinN mnl
Uov. Hi. Cliilr, tlut noiiimlMMioni'r of tint Uiiitrd Sinti'M. TIhmc puimtn prove
timl yoiir xiilil ronimNsloluT, In the Ix'tflnnlnu ol' Mm- ynir nnil, hihI nrti-r
liiivliiir Ix'i'ii liil'oriiifil liy tin' Ki'inTikl cotiiH-ll of ilic prcci'illn^ full, tltiit
Oil liiirjL'ikin or Hiilr of any piirt of Hwh** Imllitn lumU woiilil li<> i>oii>>l)i(>ri'cl
an viiliil or Itlnitlni; iwiIcmh HKrcctI to by ii ^t'licr.tl iiniriril, ni'vcitlu'liMii
pcrslsltfl in collfrlinir toKetln-r h fi'w cliirfN of Iv/o or llirti' nuiioiio only,
hikI with tht'in lii'ld n troiity for th** ithnIom of tin liiiiiirnMi> roiiniry, in
wliii'li thi'y were no inoni Inti'rrMti'd, than um ii branch ol* the ^cmituI con.
fi'dcrncy, and who went In no nmnncr aiithori/.i'tl to iiiako any ^rant or
poti('('"<Hion wliatrvcr,

UrntlH'rH: flow »ln'n wan It poHrtil»h« for you to I'xpcct to enjoy p»'B(«t,
ami i|iiirtly to liold tlicm' laiidH, when your (ronimlMMionn wuh liifornwd,
lull); hcfori' lui had tlii< trraly of Fort llariiiar, thattho ronMcnt of a nvn-
criil oouiicil WUH abMolutt'ly ncci-MHary to convy any part of thcsr laiiiln to
thi> rnlti'd SlatcH. The part of IIichc landM which tin- riiitcd Stalcrt now
winii iiH to rclln(|ulHh and which you Huy aru settled, have been Huld by tho
(Jiiitid StatcN Hliitre thnt time,

llrotliiTs: You nay "the United Stiiten wish to have conflrined all the
liinil'' I'i'ded to them by the treaty of Fort llarnuir, anil aJHo a Hinall tract
Ht tlic rapid!* of the Ohio, claiined by (}«Mi. ("lark, for the une of hiniHelf
niKl IiIh warrioi-N. And, In coiiHideration thereof, tlie United HtaleH would
itivf (tiich a larjr*' >*inn of money or jjoodn hh vnin never fjiven, at any one
tiiiii', for any (juantity of Indian lamlN, Hince the white people first set
tlu'lr feel on tills Island. And, hecaUHc these lands did every year hirnlsh
you with skins and l\irs, with which you bou^lit clothing and other ncces-
aiirics, the United States will now furnish tlie like (*oiistant supplies. And,
tliercfore, besides the gttnxt sum to be dtllver«Ml at once, they will every
yt'iir deliver you a lar^e quantity of such ^oods as are best Utted to the
wiiiits of yourselves, your women and children."

Brothers; Money to us Is of no value, and to most of us unknown ; and,
«s no consideriiti(UJ wh-itevcr can induce us to sell the lands on which we
Rct Hustenance for cmr women and cliildren, we hope we maybe allowed ta
point out a mode by wliich your settlers may be «Misily removed, and peace
thereliy obtained.

Brothers: We know that these settlers .ire poor, or they would never
have ventured to live In a country which has been in continual trouble
ever since they crossed the Ohio. Divide, therefore, this larj^c sum of

1334

TIIK lAWa OF PONTIAO ANl» TKiUMSKIi:

money, which you hiivo otlVri-il to u», iimonji; tlmsc pooph'. Give to cati,^
also, II proportion of wluit you siiy you would glvv to u», iinnuiilly, over
and above this very largo sum of money; and, as we are persuaded, they
would most readily accept of it in lieu of the land you sold them. If you
add, also, the great suras you must expend in raising and paying anules,
with a view to force us to yield you our country, you will certainly have
more than sufficient for the purpose of repaying these settlers for all their
labor and their improvements.

Brothers: You have talked to us about concessions. It appears stranKi;
that you sliould expect any from us who have only been defending our
just rights against your invaai<ms. Wo want peace. Uestore to us our
country and we shall be enemies no longer.

Brothers : You make one concession to us by offering us your monoy,
and another by having agreed to do us justice, after having long and
injuriously witiiheld it; we mean in the acknowledgment you now have
made, that the King of England never did, nor never had u right to give
you our country, by the treaty of peace. And you want to make this net
of common justice a great part of your concessions, and seem to expect
that, because you have at last acknowledged our independence, we should
for such a favor, surrender to you our country.

Brothers: You have talked, also, a great deal about pre-emption, and
your exclusive right to purchase Indian lands, as ceded to you by the
king at the treaty of peace.

Brothers: We never made any agreement with tlie king, nor with any
other nation, that we would give to eitlier the exclusive right of purdinsiuir
our lands ; and we declare to you that we consider ourselves free to inaitc
any bargain or cession of lands, whenever and to whomsoever we i>l('nse.
If the white people, as you say, made a treaty that none of them but llie
king should purchase of us, and that he has given that right to the United
States, it is an affair which concerns you and him, and not us; we have
never parted with such a power.

Brothers : At our general council, held at the Glaize last fall, we agreed
to meet commissioners from the United States, for the purpose of restoring
peace, provided they consented to acknowledge and confirm our boundary
line to be the Ohio, and we determined not to meet you, until you gave us
satisfaction on that point; that is the reason we have never mot.

We desire you to consider, brothers, that our only demand is the peace-
able possession of a small part of our once great country. Look back and
review the lands from whence we have been driven to this spot. We can
retreat no farther, because the country beliind hardly affords food tor its
inhabitants; and we have, therefore, resolved to leave our bones in tliis
small space to which we are now confined.

Brothers: We shall be persuaded that you mean to do us justice, if you
agree that the Ohio shall remain the boundary line between us. If you
will not consent thereto, our meeting will be altogether unnecessary. This
is the great point which we hoped would have been explained before you

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO OENTORIEB.

285

left your liomi'H, aa our meHHugo, last fall, was principally directed to
obtain that intbruiatinn.

Done la gonoral council, at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, the thir-
teenth (luy of August, 1708.

Natiimt.

MlAMIS,

Ottawas,
pottawavomiks,

Sknecab,
Shawano BB,

CUBROKBBB,

Wyandots,
Skvkn Nations,

of Canadu,
Delawakes,
Nantakokieb,
Ckeekh,

Mohicans,

CONNOTB,

Mesbabaqobb,
OjinwAB,

MUNSBBS. ,

This communication closed the attempts of the United
States to make peace. Wayne had pushed forward his prepa-
rations, but was still at " Hobson's choice," near Fort
Washington. On the fifth of October, 1793, he wrote to the
Secretary of War saying that he could not hope to have more
than two thousand six hundred regular troops, three hundred
and sixty mounted volunteers, and thirty-six guides and spies
to go with him into the country of the enemy. Yet he was
hopeful, and thought with this force he would conquer the
enemy. On the seventh of the same month, the leigon left
Cincinnati, and upon the thirteenth, without any accident,
encamped in a strong position. Here, upon the twenty-fourth
of October, he was joined by one thousand mounted Kentucky
volunteers under Gen. Scott, to whom he had written pressing
requests to hasten forward with all the men he could muster.
This request Scott hastened to comply with, and the Governor,
upon the twenty-eighth of September, had ordered, in addition,
a draft of militia. The Kentucky troops, however, were soon
dismissed again, until spring; but their march had not been in
vain, for they had seen enough of Wayne's army to give them
confidence in it and in him; and upon their return home,
spread that confidence abroad, so that the full number of vol-
unteers was easily procured in the spring.*

The troops had been attacked once previous to the twenty-
third of October, within seven miles of Fort St. Clair, and
Lieut. Lowery and Ensign Boyl, with thirteen others, were
killed. Although so little opposition had thus far been

♦ Western Annals. .

236

THE LIVES OF PONTIAO AND TEOUHSEH:

encountered, General Wayne determined to stay where he
was, for the winter, and having seventy thousand rations on hand
in October, with the prospect of one liundred and twenty thou-
sand more, while the Indians were sure to be short of provisions,
he proceeded to fortify his position ; which he named Fort Green-
ville, and which wis situated upon the spot now occupied by
the town of that name. This being done on the twenty-third
or twenty-fourth of December, a detachment was sent forward
to take possession of the iield of St. Clair's defeat. They
arrived upon the spot upon Christmas day. " Six hundred
skulls," says one present, '' were gathered up and burie.! ; when
we went to lay down in our tents at night, we had to scrape
the bones together and carry them out, to make our beds *
Here they built Fort Recovery, which was properly garrisoned
and placed under the comir l of Capt. Alexander Gibson.

During the early mon ^ . 1794, Wayne was steadily

engaged in preparing every; i -^ for a sure blow when the time
came, and by means of Capt. Gibson and his various spies,
kept himself informed of the plans and movements of the sav-
ages. All his information showed the faith in British assistance
which still animated the doomed race of red men.

♦ American Pioneer. Western Annals.

CHAPTER XXIX.

General Watnr'b Battle on the Banks of the Mauheb — Posi-
tion OF the Ameuican and Indian Forceu — The Victory — New
Forts Erected — Destruction of Indian Dwellings — The Indi-
ans Sue for Peace— The Treatt of Ghebnville.

At Fobt Rkoovery, on the thirtieth of June, 1794, the
advanced American post was assailed by Little Turtle, at the
head of fifteen hundred warriors. Such was their answer to
the messages of peace which the American gcvernment had
8cnt among them — and, although i'epelled, the assailants rallied
and returned to the charge, and kept up the attack through the
whole of the day. Among tlie Indians were a large number
of British,* who were aiding them, and who, it would seem,
expected to find the artillery ciptured from St. Clair on the
fourth of the previous November; but, fortunately, the Amer-
icans had already discovered them, and they were now used in
defending Fort Recovery.

On the twenty-sixth of July, Scott with some sixteen hun-
dred mounted men from Kentucky, joined Wayne at Greenville,
and on the twenty-eighth the whole legion moved forward.
On the eighth of August, the army reached the Grand Glaize,
near the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize, and at once
proceeded to build Fort Defiance.f While engaged upon this
fort, Wayne received full information of the movements of the
Indians, and the aid they were to receive from the volunteers
of Detroit and elsewhere, and, after considering the situation
of afiairs, he determined to march forward and strike the blow
at once. But, however, before taking this step, he sent a special

• General Wayne's Report. American State Papers.

t American Pioneer. Western Annals. .

(287)

288

THK IJVU8 UF I'UMTIAO AND llCCl'MSKIi:

mc8Hen^er tu tlie hostile Indians, with the following last offer
of peace:

2\i the Diiiiwnri't, Shaieanoes, MiamiH and Wyandot*, and to each and every
of them, and tu all other nation* of Indian*, northwest of the Ohin, wkm
tt may concern :

I, Anthony Wayne, Major-Genurul and Communder-in-Cliief of tlie Fed-
eral army now at Grand Glai7X>, and commisaioner plenipotentiary of the
United States of America, for settlinjr the terms upon which a pi^nnunenl
and lastinjj peace shall be made with each and every of the hostile tiibci*,
or nations of Indians nortliwest of the Ohio, and of the said United States,
actuated by the purest principles of humanity, and urged by pity tor the
errors into which bad and designing men have led you, fVom the head of
my army, now in possession of your abandoned villaf^es and settlements,
do hereby once more extend the friendly hand of pence towards you, and
invite each and every of the hostile tribes of Indians to appoint deputies
to meet me and my army, without delay, between this place and Uoche de
Bout, in order to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace, which may
eventually and soon restore to you, the Delawares, Miamis, Shawanoes
and all other tribes and nations lately settled at this place, and on the
margins of the Miami and Auglaize rivers, your late grounds and posses-
sions, and to preserve you and your distressed and hapless women and
children from danger and famine, during the present fail and ensuing
winter.

The arm of tlie United States is strong and powerful, but they love mercy
and kindness more than war and desolation.

And to remove any doubts or apprehensions of dangor to the persons of
the deputies whom you may appoint to meet this army, I hereby pledge
my sacred honor for their safety and return, and send Christopher Miller,
an adopted Shawanoe, and ti Shawanoe warrior, whom I took prisoner two
days ago, as a ftatx, who will advance in their front to meet me.

Mr. Miller was taken prisoner by a party of my warriors, six moons
since, and can testify to you the kindness which I have shown to your
people, my prisoners, that is, five warriors and two women, who are now
all safe and well at Greenville.

But, should this invitation be disregarded, and ray flag, Mr. Miller, be
detained or injured, I will immediately order all those prisoners to be put
to death, without distinction, and some of them are known to belonjf to
the first families of your nation.

Brothers : Be no longer deceived or led astray by the false promises and
language of the bad white men at the foot of the Rapids; they have
neither power nor inclination to protect you. No longer shut your eyes
to your true interest and happiness, nor your ears to this overture of peace.
But, in pity to your innocent women and children, come and prevent the
further effusion of your blood ; let them experience the kindness and
friendship of the United States of America, and the invaluable blessings
of peace and tranquility. ANTHONY WAYNE.

Grand Gi.aize, August 13tli, 1794.

OK, Tlllj; BOKUUK WAK8 OF TWO (^KNTUHIhH

281^

Hut Wayne did not remain idle waiting for an answer, but
muved on with IiIh troops, and ou the sixteenth of August he
met hie messengers returning with information that if the
Americans would wait ten days the Indians would decide for
peace or war. Wayne replied to this by marching rapidly
forward.

After advancing forty-one miles from Grand Glaize, and
being near the expected enemy, Wayne, on the eighteenth,
halted his army and began the erection of Fort Deposit, which
was intended as a protection to the baggage during the
expected battle. On the same day five of Wayne's spies, among
whom was jMay, the man who had been sent after Trueman,
and who had pretended to desert to the Indians, rode into the
very camp of the enemy ; in attempting to retreat again. May's
horse fell and he was taken. The following day, the day before
the battle, he was tied to a tree and shot at as a target.*

On the twentieth Wayne's forces moved down the north
bank of the Maumee, the legion on its right, the flank covered
by the Maumee; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the
left, under Brigadier-General Todd, and the other in the rear
under Brigadier-General Barbee, A select battalion of mounted
volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Major
Price, who was directed to keep sutficiently advanced so as to
yive timely notice for the troops to form in case of action.
Having advanced about Ave miles, Major Price's corps received
a very severe fire from the enemy, who wei'e secreted in the
woods and high grass. After a short contest the advanced
guard retreated. The legion was immediately formed into
two lines in the midst of a close, thick woods, which extended
for a considerable distance on 'either hand. The ground was
covered with fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado,
which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with
effect, and afforded the enemy a favorable opportunity for
their peculiar mode of fighting.

Tlie savages were formed into three lines, within supporting
distance of each other, and extending nearly two miles at right
angles with the river. Wayne soon discovered, from the

* American Pioneer — Western Annals.

240

THK UVVH OF K)NTrA<l AND TKCHMHKIi:

weight of tilt' tiiv iiikI uxttMit of the Iiidiun Iuh'h, that the
enemy were in full force in front, in |)os8eH8ion of their fnv(»riu>
grouucl. and endeavoring to tnrn \\\» left llank. He therefore
gave orders for the Hccoml line to advance and HU]>)K)rt tliu
iirKt, and directed Major-(Jeneral Scott to gain and turn the
right flank of the eavages with the whole of the mounted vdj.
unteern, hy a circuitous route. At the same time the (niiu'rai
ortlered the front line to advance and charge with trailed anus
and rouse the Indianm from their coverts at the point of the
bavonet, and when np to deliver a clt>se and well directed tire
on their hacks, followed hy a brisk charge, so as not to give
them time to load again.

Wayne also ordered Ca]>tain Campbell, who commanded the
^agionary cavalry, to tnrn the left thiidv of the enemy next to
the river. All tluise orders were obeyed with spirit and
promptness. Such was the effect of the charge by the first
line of infantry that the Indians and (/anadian militia and
volunteers wen; driven from their strongholds before the
second line of the legion and the mounted volunteers could
got np to participate in the action. The enemy was driven, in
the course of one hour, more than two miles through the tliick
woods already mentioned, by less than one-half their nuiiihiT.
From every account the Indians amounted to two thouwuid
combatants. The troops actually engaged against them were
short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their
allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and disjiersed with
terror and dismay, leaving Wayne's victorious army in full
and quiet possession of the field of battle.

In reporting the battle to the Secretary of War, Wayne says,
" the bravery and conduct of every officer behmging to the
army, from the Generals down to the ensigns, merit my highest
approbation." The loss in killed and wounded was nnieh
heavier on the side of the enemy than in Wayne's army.* For
a considerable distance the woods were strewn with the doiid
bodies of Indiana and their white auxiliaries. The Americans

* Tlio lo,«*s of the Americans in tins action was tliirty-tlirec killed and
one hundred wounded, includinsr twenty-one otHcers, of wliom only five
were killed. — Ed.

lu' says,
to the
liiijhest
s lunch
.* For
ln' (kiid
icrii'iiib

llled iind
ly five

f*5

ion

reinainc

Manrnc(

houses 1

distance

pistol si

The a

la^'ing M

for aboi

Wayne i

ening tl

villages

build Fo

was j)laci

October.

On th<

marcb to

fortified i

measure,

latter so<

Deeembe

H'as, Saw

tnirnck, t

and on tli

entered, t

into preli

truth was

conduct

August.

that a fori

giving re:

the gates

winter, W

the poor i

did not ha

were tlieii

losing fait:

for Ameri(

their mine

OK, TIIK UOKDKK WAUM 0¥ TWO CKNTUKIKH.

941

remained three days and ni^htM on the banks u.' the river
Mantnuo, in front of the field of battle, during which all the
houseft and cornfields wore consumed and destroyed for a long
distance both above and below Fort Miami, as well as within
pJBtol shot of the British garrison.

The army returned to Fort Defiance on the twenty-seventh,
laying waste in its return march the villages and cornfields
for about fifty miles on either side of the Maumee. Here
Wayne remained until the fourteenth of Septeml>er, strength-
eiiing the works. On this date he marched for the Miami
villages at the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary, to
build Fort Wayne, which was named by Col. Ilamtramck, who
wa8 [>laced in command of this post on the twenty-second of
October.

On the twenty-eighth of October the legion began ite return
march to Greenville, leaving the posts it had established well
fortified and strongly garrisoned. The British now, to a great
measure, withhold their support from the Indians, and the
latter soon began to sue for peace. On the twenty-eighth of
December, 1704, the chiefs of the Chippewas, (Ojibwas) Otta-
waH, Sacs, Pottawatomies, and Miamis, came to Col. Ham-
tmmck, the commandant at Fort Wayne, with peace messages,
and on tlie twenty-fourth of Jannary, 1795, at Greenville, they
entered, together with the Delawares, Wyandots and Shawanoes,
into preliminary articles with the (Jommander-in-Chief. The
truth was, the red men had been entirely disappointed in the
conduct of their white allies after their defeat on the previous
August. Brant, in giving his feelings on this matter, said
that a fort had been built in their country under pretence of
giving refuge in case of necessity, but when that time came
the gates were shut against them as enemies. During the
winter, Wayne having entirely laid waste their fertile fields,
the poor savages were wholly dependent on the English, who
did not half supply them ; their cattle and dogs died, and they
were themselves nearly starved. Under these circumstances,
losing faith in the English, and at last impressed with a respect
for American power, the various tribes, by degrees, made up
their minds to ask for peace. During the winter and spring
16

242

TIIK I.IVKf* op rilNTIAfi ANI> TKCirMHKIi:

they exchnni;^! prinoiierfi hixI |>ro|>firtHl to inw^t Wnyn'^ at
Orocnvillo, in Juno, tor tlio piirpoHu of forming a <l(>Hnitc
troaty tbundod upon the prt^liniinuriuM which hud bp(>n CHtuh.
lishod on the pruviouR Junimry, of which mention tiu« ulrciidy
been made.

Accordingly, onrly in June, 1705, the ropre«entatlve« of tlip
Northwestern trilwH \mgn\i to gatlicr at (Jrccnville, and i>ii tli«
sixteenth of tliat month (General Wayne met in council the
DelawaroB, OttawaH, PottawatomieH, and Eel liiver IiidiiiiiK.
Tlie council continued until the tontli of AugUHt. 8oon utttr
the council opened other noted chiefrt began to arrive. Anioii^
these were BuckongehelaH, Little Turtle, Tarke, Hlue iliicket,
and MasasH. They had all determined to make a pcrtnaiioiit
peace with the "Thirteen Fire," and upon the thirtieth of .liilv
the treaty was agreed upon, which was to btiry the Imtcliet
forever. It was signed by all the nations present, and the
presents from the United States distributed forthwith.

This treaty which, perhaps, is the most important one ever
made between the red men of the forest and the Americniiis,
cotitained the following provisions:*

AuT. 1. HoHtHitlcH wero to coaso.

Art. 2. All prisoiHTH were to be restored,

AiiT. 8. The geiicnil boundary lines between the landH of ilic rnitcil
Stiites iind the lands of the said Indian tribes, sliall be^in at tlie moutlmr
Cuyahojfa river, and run thenoo up tl»e same to tlie portage between tlmt
and the Tuscarawas branch of the Musliinguni; tliencu down that brunrii
to the crossing place above Port Lawrence; tlience westwardly, to ii torit
of that brancit of the Great Miami river, running Into the Ohio, at or near
which fork stood Laramie's store, and wher(! contmences the porlatrp
between the Miami of the Ohio and 8t. Mary's river, which Is a bruncii of
the Miami which runs Into Lake Erie; thence a westerly course, to Fort
Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash ; tlicncc southwesterly,
In a direct line to the Ohio, so as to Intersect that river opposite tl;e mouth
of Kentucky or Cuttawa river. And In consideration of the peace now
established; of the goods formerly received from the United States; of
those now to be delivered; and of the yearly delivery of goods now stipu-
lated to be made hereafter; and to indemnify the United States for liie
injuries and expenses they have sustained during the war; the said Iiuliau
tribes do hereby cede and relinquish, forever, all their claims to the lands
lying eastwardly and southwardly of the general boundary line now

■* 'American State Papers. Western Annals.

(»K, TUK ROKDKK WAKM or TWO tlKNTHKlKK.

248

(|i>ii<>rllM<(l ; And tlioM litmU, or iiny piirt of litem, nIimII npvnr li<*rMift«r Imi
iDHilf » t'Himo or prc<lf>nM\ on Uu\ piirt ot' tlio nmIiI '.rllwii, or any of tliein,
of Mar or lii.l'try to tliv Unlt«i<l HtntcN, or any other p«npl« tUervot.

And lor till' minu' conNltlcrntion, itnd lu Hn <>vidrncfl of tho rdturnlng
frlimditliip oC tliif NHid Indian trlbm, of their confldence In the Unltrnl
Stiiti'i*, Hnd desire to proviiie for their kCconiinod«tlon, and for thftt conve-
nirnt intereotirite whifh will )m' iM-neflrlnl to Imth partlei, the Mid Indinn
tril)fM do mIhu retle lo tlie United HtiiteN the following plccen of Und, to-wlt:
i Onn pieeo of Innd mIx inlleN M«|UAre, At or nenr l.iirAinie'ii iitnre, lifrore
mriitloned 2. One piece, two mile* MqiiHre, Ht the heAd of the nAvlKHhIu
wnttT or hindinK. «>n the Ht. Mnry'ii river, near Olrty'n town. H. One
|)ii>cc, nix niiloH Hqiiure, iit tho head of the nAvlgablo WAtem of the AuglAlsa
river. 4. One piece, hIx mlleH tquAre, Ht tho confluence of the Auglaise
itnil Miiinii rivern, where Fort Deflancn now KtAnds, R. One piece, nix
mlli'H H(|iinre, At or near the confluence of tho rivori St. Mary'H and Ht.
.[(isepiiV, whiTo Fort Wayne now Ntands, or near It. 0. One piece, two
niiii'H M(|uare, on the Wnhuiih river, at the end of the portage from the
Miunii of tiie lulce, and about eight mileii wcHtward fk-om Fort Wayne. 7.
Dill! |)k>ce, hIx inilcN H((uaro, at tlio Ouatanon, or old Wea towns, on the
Wiil)ii)ili river. H. One piece, twelve miloB 8(|uare, at tho RritiRh fort on
tlif .Miami of tho lak<>, at the foot of the rapids. 9. One piece, six milei
!ti|iiari', Ht tlic mouth of tho said river, whero it empties Into tho lake. 10.
One piece. Mix iiiilcH s(|uure, upon HanduHky iukc, whore a fort formerly
*Um\. 11 One piece, two milcM square, at tho lower rapids of Handusky
riviT. Vi. The poHt of Detroit, and -.M tho lands to tho north, tho west
amlHouth of It, of which tlio Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or
i;riinl8 to tlio French or Knglish governments; and so much more land to
be iiiincxed to the district of Detroit, as shall bo comprehended between
the river litmiiio on the south, and lake St. Clair on the north, and a line,
the ^rcnerul course whereof shall bo six miles distant from the west end of
Lake Krie and Detroit rivcT. 18. Tho post of MIchilimacklnac, and all
ti>e land on the island on which that post stands, and tho main land adja>
rent, of which the Indian title has boon extinguiHiied by gifts or grants to
till' Freiicli or English governments; and a piece of land on the main to
lliL' nortli of the i.sland, to measure six miles, on Lake Huron, or tho strait
between Lake.s Huron and Michigan, and to extend three miles back fVora
the water on the lake or strait; and also, the Island de Hois Blanc, being
an extra and voluntary girt of the Chippewa nation. 14. One piece of
land, six miles square, at the mouth of Chicago river, emptying Into the
southwest end of Lake Micliigan, where a fort formerly stood. 18. One
piece, twelve miles squaro, at or near the mouth of the Illinois river,
emptying into the MiHsissippi. 16. One piece, six miles square, at the
old Peorias fort and village, near the south end of the Illinois lake, ou
said Illinois river. And whenever the United States shall think proper to
survey and mark the boundaries of the lanils hereby ceded to them, thoy
shall give timely notice thereof to the said tribes of Indians, that they may

944

TIIK I.IVKM or foNTIAC ANI» T»;i'l M«Kli:

( • •

Appoint Mimi* of tlirlr wIm* vU\nt» to «lt«nil mid mp Umt llii* llni*« arr run
Meordlng to lh<> lernia of ihla trtmty.

And the Mid IndUn trllH*^ will »lluw 'm th« poopti< nl' the IJnItiul HlKtri,
« tttn) pM««K«, by land und by Wktitr, m one Hnd Ibc otlu'i- ahall Ik* fiMhtil
Gonvnniont, throuffh th«lr country, mIoiik the ohiiln of poaiH hcrrin hcfnrf
mrntinned ; thut U to nay : ttoni the comini'nc<>m«<nl of thci |><trtiiK«i Mriiri>
Mid, Ml or nfl»r Lammle'ii atorfl, thenofl alonK mUI porluRo, to tho Ht. Miiry'*,
•nd d(»wn th« Mnio to Fort W»yne, »nd th<>n down llii< MUmI to l.ukr
Erl«; hkhIi), fVom tho conuuvnceinent of Ihu portuKc, Ht or mmr Liiri(inli>'«
•tore, «lonK tliM port«K«, from Miimce to the river AukI«I/><% und down tiio
Mine to Ita Junction with the MlumI «t Port l>etlnn<M< ; iiK»ln, ttnm {\w
coninionnuiiont of the portiiKe Rft>ro»iild, to Sunduaky river, and down the
■uiiHt to BitndiiNky bny, and LhIiu Krie, itnd fri>in Haiiduaky to tho \mm
whiuli •hnll bu lMk«n Ht ur ucnr the foot of the rHpUU of the Mlmiil of the
Uko; and fk-om thence to Detroit. AffHln, ft-oin the mouth of ChlcuKo
rlv«>r, to tho cointnencomfnt of the portn^e between thxt river lunl the Illi-
nola, and down the Illinoia to the MUalaalppI; hUo, f^om Fort Wnyni',
alouK the portiiKO aforeaald, which lenda to the Wnbiiah, and then down
the Wnbnah to the Ohio. And the aald Indian tribea will uiao allow to the
people of the United Htatca, tho free UMe of the harbora and mouthNuf
rIvorM, hIohk the lakea udJolniuK the Indian tanda, for RhvlterinK vetiiicli
and boulM, und liberty to land their carguua when nocoMary for their
■ntely.

Aht. 4. In conNidvration of the peace now cMtubliahed, and (»r rliecei-
■lona anil rulinquiHlimentH of landa, made in the preceding article, I)}' tlie
aaid tril)«<H of Indiana, and to manlfeat tho liberality of tho United Htatct,
aa the ^^rciit ineana of rcnderinjif tbia peace alrong and perpetual, tlic Uniti-d
BtatcH reiiiiquiflb thotr clainia to all other Indian landa, northward of the
river Oltio, cHHtward of the MiaHiHsippi, and wcatward and aouthwHrd of
tlie Oreat LakcH, and the watera uniting them, according to tho boundary
line agreed on by the United Btatea and tho King of Great Britain, in the
treaty of peace made between them in the year 1788. But ft-om tlilH rpJlD-
quiahment by the United Btatea, the following tracta of land arc cxplicltly
oxcopted: lat. The tract of one hundred and fifty thouaand acrea, near
the rapida of the river Uhio, which haa been aaaigncd to Ocnorui Cinrit,
for the U80 of himaoif and his warriors. 2d. The poat at St. Vincennei,
on the river Wabaah, and the landa adjacent, of which tho Indian title ]m
been cxtlnguiahed. 8d. The landa at all other places, in poaacasion of the
French people, and other white settlers among ti'cm, of which th>> Indiun
title haa been extinguished, as inuntioned In the 8d article; and 4th. The
pont of Fort Massac, towarda tli« mouth of th4 Ohio. To which several
parcels of land, bo excepted, the said tribes rtlinquish all the title and
claim, which they or any of them may have.

And, for tho aamo consideration, and with the same views as above men-
tinned, the United States now deliver to tho said Indian tril>cs, a quantity
of goods t4> the value of twenty thouaand dollars, the receipt whereof they
do hereby acknowledge; and henceforward, every year, forever, tho United

ON, rilK MoKttKK WAKM or TWO (KNTI NIM.

24 A

MUlri will ilrllvi>r, aI M>mr convnilriit pliirr, norlhwftril of lhf> rivrr (Milo,
|lk'< \i»fM g«HMU, aiillrd to tlip rlrruntRUnm of tlii* Intlliina, of thi* v«liia
of nine tliiituHntI ftvi* liuniir«<<l dolUra; rrcknnlnic ihMt v»|iiit «l thi* Aral
I' ml of lh<* kimhIi In lh<« city or pUro In tli** t'nlliMl Hliiti>a, whrrf* ihry almll \m
priM'iiri'tl. T)i« trl)M*« to which thmv kinhU urn to lir «nniiHlly cl«<|lvi>rr«l,
*nil thi< proporllona In which thny itr« to Iw (hOlvrrrtl, iirf th«i followlnft

lit. To thn Wyitnilota, th«i «moiiiit of om* thoii«An<l dollnra. 3<l. To tha
Drlitwurm, thn nmount of on<i thoitaiinil ilullnrM. H«i. To thii Hhftw«no«a,
thf amount of onu thoiiaand dollara. 4lh. To thn Mlamla, the »mniintnf
mil' III! iiMAntl clolliira. tth. To Ihi^ Otlnwna, tha «moiint of ono thouaiind
ijoliara. )lth. To thn (,'hlppt'WM. the nmount of ono thouannd dolUra.
Tth To tho I'ottawiitomica, tho tmoiint of nn« thouaand dolUra. 8th.
Ami to tho KIckapoo, W(<n, Rfl Itlvcr, l'lnnkcah«w iind KMkiukl* trlln^a,
iliH amount of (Irn hundri'il dolliira t<Kch.

l^ovUIrd, thnt if clthi'r of th«> aald trlt)i>a ahall hpre«ftfr, nt Hn nnnuiil
lifliri'ry of their ahurn nf thn gcHtda iifori>ai»ld, dnalro that « purt of th«lr
nnnulty ahould bo ftirnlahcd In domeatic unlmKla, lmpl<>monta of huo-
Imndry, and other utrnalla, convenient for thcin, iind In coinpenMtlon to
uicfui artlllcera who mny realdtt with or nmr l\wm, and he employed for
tlicir l)eneflt, the aamn ahull, nt tho aubaeqtirnt snnuMi dellvcrlva, bo f\ir>
nUlicd accordingly.

Art. Q. To prevent any mUunderatnndlng, about the Indian landa
ri'lln(|ulahed by tho United Slntea, In the fourth article, it la now explicitly
(li'clared, that the meuning of that relinqulahment la thia; tho Indian
U\\>c» who have a right to thcae landa, arc quietly to enjoy them, hunting,
planting and dwelling thereon, ao long aa they pleaae, without any molca.
tation from lli" United Hiatea; but when thoao tribea, or any of them, ahall
bcdUpoacd toaell their landa, or any part of them, they arc to be aold
only to tho United Btatea; and until aurh aale, the United Statea will pro-
tect nil the aaid Indian trllu-a. In the quiot enjoyment of their landa,
agninHt all citizens of tho United Statea, and againat all other white per
loMM who intrude upon the aamo. And tho aald Indian tribes again
acl(nnwlcdge themaclvca to he under the protection of the United States,
and no other power wiiatevcr.

Art. 6. The Indiana or United States may remove and puniHh intruder!
on Indian lands.

Art. 7. Indiana may hunt within ceded lands.

Art. 8. Trade shall bo opened In subntance, as by provisions in treaty
of Fort Ilarmer.

Art. 0, All injuries shall be referred to law; not privately avenged ;
and all hostile plans known to cither, shall bo revealed to the other party

Art. 10. All previous treaties annulled.

This treaty was nigiied by all the nations named in the fourth
article, and dated Anjfust third, 1796. It was ratified by the
United States on the twenty-second n' tl e ioi lowing December,

246

THK LIVK8 OK PONTIAO AND TKCUM8KII:

and thus the old Indian boundary wars of tlie west were put
to an end.

Wayne's victory having broken tlie Indian power, and the
treaty of Greenville binding them from further aggression
the Island of Mackinaw, the fort of Detroit and the otiier
posts in the territory, occupied by British troops, were surreu-
dered by the English to their proper owners.*

* Tuttle's History of MichiKaa.

CHAPTER XXX.

TiiK Indians Cede their Lands— Tkcumb eh and the Prophet —
The New Indian Confederacy — Its Objects- C?okious Speech
OF the Prophet— The Approaohino War — The Prophet Db-
ciiARBS HIS Innocence.

From 1795 to 1804, we have but little border war to record.
Settlements in the west progressed rapidly, and in the latter
year events took place leading the way for another general
Indian war. During the month of August, 1804, a series of
treaties were made by Governor Harrison, at Vincennes, by
which the claims of several Indian tribes to large tracts of land
in Indiana and Illinois were relinquished to the United States.
The Delawares sold their claim to a large tract between the
Wabash and Ohio rivers, and Pionkeshaws gave up their title
to lands granted by the Kaskaskia Indians the preceding year.
In November of the same year. Governor Harrison negotiated
with the chiefs of the united nations of Sacs and Foxes for
their claim to the immense tract of country lying between the
Mississippi, Illinois, Fox river of Illinois, and Wisconsin rivers,
comprising about fifty millions of acres.* Tlie consideration
given was the protection of the United States, and goods
delivered at the value of two thousand two hundred and thirty-
four dollars and fifty cents, and an annuity of one thousand
dollars, (six hundred dollars to the Sacs and four hundred to
the Foxes) forever. An article in this treaty provided, that as
long as the United States remained the owner of the land, " the
Indians belonging to the said tribes shall enjoy the privilege
of living and hunting " on the land.

On the fourth of July, 1805, the Wyandots and others at
Fort Industry, on the Maumee, ceded all their lands as far west

Western Annals.

(247)

248

THK MVK8 OF PONTIAO AND TKCUMSRIi:

as the western bouiulary of the Connecticut Reserve, and on the
twenty-first of August, of the same year, Governor Harrison,
at Vincennes, received from the Mianiis a region containing
two million acres within what is now the state of Indiana, and
again, upon tlie thirteenth of December, at the same place, he
purchased of the Piankeshaws a tract eighty or ninety miles
wide, extending from the Wabash west to the cession by the
Kaskaskias, which was made in 1803.

At this time, excepting an occasional murder, the Indians
were conducting themselves in a peaceful manner. " But,"
says Mr. Peck, "mischief was gathering." Tecumseh and his
brother, the prophet, and other leading men, had formed A
union of the tribes at a council at Greenville, by which it was
intended to prevent the whites from making further settle-
ments upon their lands. It appears that the efforts of Tecnm-
seh and his brother were directed to accomplish two important
ends: First, the reformation of the Tribes, whose habits unfit-
ted them for intelligent effort; and second, such a union of tlie
tribes as would make the purchase of their lands by the United
States impossible, and give to the Indians a formidable strength
such as the civilized nations would be compelled to respect.
The objects were openly avowed and pursued with good suc-
cess. In the whole country bordering on the lakes, the power
of the Shawanoe prophet was felt, and the work of reforming
the Indians from habits of intoxication and civilization went
rapidly forward.*

It appears to have been Tecumseh's plan to effect a grand
union of all the tribes which maintained any intercourse with
the United States, and admit of no treaties or sales of lands
without the united consent of all the tribes. Such a con-
federation had never existed, and Tecumseh fully relied uj)on
the success of the plan. He was well educated, could read and
write, and had a confidential secretary and adviser, named
Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who was afterwards head chief of
the Pottawatomies.

Time passed on, and in 1806 the conviction become stronger
that the northwestern tribes were preparing for war against

• Drake's Tecumseh — Peck's Compilation.

\'.

TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN.

OR, THK nORDKR WARS OF TWO CKNTURIK8.

249

the United States, However, nothitij^ of conBequence took
place (luring this year, althougli Tecumseh and the prophet
labored on diligently, and with good suocesB, to ac'complieh
their plans. On the twenty-seventh of January, 1807, Governor
Hull, of Michigan Territory, liaving been autliorized by the
federal government to enter into a treaty with the Northwes-
tern Indians for the lands on the eastern side of the peninsula
and for those west of the Connecticut Reserve, as far as the
Auglaize, a council was held in Detroit, and a treaty made in
November with the Ottawas, Chippewas, "Wyandots and Potta-
watomies, by which the country from the Maumee to Saginaw
Bay, on the eastern side of Michigan, was transferred to the
United States.

In my history of the State of Michigan, published in 1873,
we tind Tecumseh 's plan set forth in these words: "Tliese new
troubles were indeed nothing more than the Americans might
have expected. The Indians saw a new power encroaching
upon the inheritance that had been handed down to them from
their ancestors. It was not difficult, therefore, to unite them
in one last desperate effort to resist this usurping power.
Their titles had been only partially extinguished, and they
complained that where this had been done the treaties had
been unfairly conducted; that the Indians had been deceived;
that they were in a state of intoxication at the time they
signed away their lands, and that even under these circum-
stances, only a part of the tribes had given their consent."

It is believed that the dissatisfaction existing among the
Indians in the Northwest was increased by the representation*
of England, who still held a bad feeling towards the Americans,
and the agents of the Northwest Fur Company, " who fore-
saw that if the Americans were permitted to occupy this
country they would be cut off from a valuable portion of their
trade. The American pioneers of the lake region had no
doubt encroached upon the rights of the savages. The English
took advantage of these circumstances and did all in their
power to rouse the natives towards this war. As we have
seen, the prophet had already commenced his mission. He

260

TIIK I.IVKH OK IHINTIAO AND TKdrMSRIi:

did all tlmt urtt'ul HUperHtition could do to oxuito the trilxit
into H war ogaiiiHt the AmtM'icans.

The prineiploH of tho luaguo, wi^^h a few exceptions, were
similar to thono of that grand confederacy, which wait, nm we
have observed in tho Hrst part of this narrative, formed hy
Pontiac. Tec'uniHeh'8 plan was to surprise and capture Forts
Detroit, Wayne, Chicrago, St. Louis, Vincennes and the atljacent
American posts, and to unite all tho tribes east of tlte MisbIs-
sippi. As early as 1807 the Shawanoe chieftain and his brother
were actively engaged in sending their deputies, with large
presents and bloody war belts, to tho most distant nations, to
persuade thein to come into the league, " and when the comet
appeared in 1811, the prophet artfully turned it to account by
practicing on the superstitions of the savages." Early in
May, a special emissary was sent to the distant tribes of Lake
Superior, and a grand council being there assembled by the
deputy, " he told the Indians that he had been pent by the
messenger and representative of the Great Spirit, and that he
was commissioned to deliver to them a speech from the first
man whom God had created, said to be in the Shawanocs
country." He delivered the speech with which he was charged
in these words: " I am the father of the English, and of the
French, and of the Spaniards, and of the Indians. I created
the first man, who was the common father of all these people,
as well as of ourselves, and it is through him, whom I have
awakened from his long sleep, that I now address you. But
the Americans i did not make. They are not my children,
but the children of the evil spirit. They grew from the scum
of the great water when it was troubled by the evil spirit and
the froth was driven into tho woods by a strong east wind.
But I hate them. My children, you must not speak of this
talk to the whites; it must be hidden from them. I am now
on the earth sent by the Great Spirit to instruct you that you
may be taught. The bearer of this must point out to you the
way to my wigwam. I could not come myself, L'Arbre Croclie,
because this world is changed from what it was. It is broken
and leans down, and as it declines the Chippewas and all
beyond will fall off and die. Therefore, you must come to me

OK, TIIK UOKDKK WAHH OF TWO OKMTUKIKH.

251

ami bo iiiHtructud. TItotie vilhigoH which do not liHton to thin
talk will \m cut ott' from the face of the earth."

Such were the ineuHuruB adopted by the artful propliet to
induce the Havages to fall Into the rankti of Tccuniseh^H army,
and they were in every rcHpect succcuHful. ThuH did the cun-
ning Shawanoe chief carry his work forward. Before the month
of Juno, 1806, they had removed from Greenville to the banks
of the Tippecanoe, a tributary of the up))er Wabash, where a
tract of land had been granted them by the FottawatomicH and
Kickapoos. In the following July the prophet sent a mes-
senger to Gen. HarriHon, begging him not to believe t!ie tale
told by his enemies and promising to visit him soon. In
August he repaired to Post Yincennes, and by his line talk
convinced the governor that lie had no evil designs.

Mr. Brown, in speaking of Chief Tecumseh and his brother,
the prophet, in his History of Illinois, says : " Tecumseh
entered upon the great work he long contemplated in the year
1805 or 1806. He was then about thirty-eight years of age.
To unite the several Indian tribes, many of which were hostile
to, and had often been at war with each other, in this great and
important undertaking, prejudices were to be overcome, their
original manners and customs to be re-established, the use of
ardent spirits to be abandoned, and all intercourse with the
whites to be suspended. Tlie task was herculean in its char-
acter and beset with difficulties on every side. Here was a
Held for the display of the highest moral and intellectual powers.
He had already gained the reputation of a brave and sagacioui
warrior, and a cool-headed, upright, wise and efficient coun-
sellor. He was neither a war nor a peace chief, and yet he
wielded the power and influence of both. The time having
now arrived for action, and knowing full well that to win
savage attention some bold and striking movement was neces-
sary, he imparted his plan to his brother, the prophet, who
adroitly and without a moment's delay, prepared himself for
the part he was appointed to play in this great drama of sav-
age life. Tecumseh well knew that excessive superstition was
everywhere a prominent trait in the Indian character, and,
therefore, with the skill of another Cromwell, brought supersti-

253

THK r.rviw or imntiao and twumhkii:

tion to hJH nid. Sud(]enly, his brother l)t>gan to drLMun dreams
and Bee vigions ; he becnine atterward an inspired prophet,
favored with a divine conunission from the (ireat Spirit — the
power of life and death was placed in his handH — )io whh
appointed agent for preserving tlio pro{)erty and Innds of tho
Indians, and for restoring them to their original happy con.
dition. He thereupon commenced his sacred work. The public
mind was aroused, unbelief gradually gave way, credulity and
wild fanaticism began to spread its circles, widening and deep-
ening, until the fame of the prophet and the divine character
of his mission had reached the frozen shores of the lakes and
overran the broad planis which stretched far beyond * the great
Father of Waters.' Pilgrims from remote tribes sought with
fear and trembling the headquarters of the prophet and tlic
sage. Proselytes were multiplied and his followers increased
beyond all former example. Even Tecumseh became a believer,
and seizing upon the golden opportunity, he mingled with the
pilgrims, won them by his address, and on their return sent a
knowledge of his plan of concert and union to the most dis-
tant tribes. The bodily and mental labors of Tecumseh next
commenced. His life became one of ceaseless activity. He
traveled, he argued, he commanded. His persuasive voice was
one day listened to by the Wyandots, on the plains of San*
dusky; on the next his commands were issued on the banks of
the Wabash. He was anon seen pad img his canoe across the
Mississippi, then boldly confronting the Governor of Indiana
in the council house at Vincennes. Now carrying his banner
of union among the Creeks and Gherokees of the south, and
from thence to the cold and inhospitable regions of the north,
neither intoxicated by success nor discouraged by failure."

It is not my purpose, in this narrative, to explain any of
those international disputes which led to the war of 1812. We
have only to deal with those events which induced the Indians
to join in that war against the Americans, and of these the
reader has already observed many.

CHAPTER XXXi.

Tkcumhkii and tuk I*noi>iiKT Umitimo thr Havaobi for Wah —
Tkuuiu.r im tuk Councii, at Vinuknnrs — Uovbrnor Uahhiion
Dknounckh Tkcuhbkh and Orukkb IIim to Lkavb TUt: Villaqb

— ThK BaTTLK ok TiPPKCAMOK — IIaHHIHON'B VlOTOIlY.

TiiKouoHOLT the year 1800, we find TeciuiiBeh and the
prophet preparing theinselvea for the contest that w>w approach-
ing. Governor Harrison again suspected that tlie Indians
were preparing for another war, and he wrote to the Sec-
retary of War tu that eiSect, giving, also, his views of the
defenses of the frontier, and the course proper to be pursued
in case of a war with England.

In the latter part of the year 1809, the Governor of Indiana
inftde several treaties with the Dehiwares, Pottawatoniies,
Miuinis, Eel liiver Indians, Weas and Kickapoos, in which these
nations ceded certain lands upon the Wabash, but against all of
these Tecuniseh entered a bitter protest in the following year, and
now it was plain to Governor Harrison that the Shawanoe
chieftain had formed a determination to unite all the Western
tribes in hostility to the United States, unless the government
of the latter should consent to relinquish all the lands bought
at the treaties of Fort Wayne, and, for the future, recognize
the principle that no purchases could be made unless from a
council representing all the tribes united as one nation. By
various acts, the feelings of Tecumseh became evident, and in
August, 1810, he met Governor Harrison in council at Vin-
cennes. The Governor had made arrangements for holding
the council on the portico of his own house, which had been
fitted up with seats for the occasion. Here, on the morning
of the fifteenth of August, he awaited the arrival of the chief,
being attended by the Judges of the Supreme Court, some

(268)

2A4

TIIK I.IV|.>» OF l-ONHAO ANU TUCrMKKIi:

ofHtriTH of tlu) urmy, ii Ht>r^«'uiit iind twolvr mrn from I'ort
Knox, aiul u liir^o niiiiiWur of citi»>nM. At tlioHppointtxl tiitiu
TcuiiiMHoli nrrived, f()IlowiM| by forty of Iuh |)rin<i|>al wiirrioix,
thu othnrrt rcMiiiiining ontHido of the villiigc. Whon tliv cliict'
haci approHchcd within thirty or forty yardii of thc« hoiiM>, Ii«>
Muddunly Mtop^Mxl, hh if awnitin^^ Mottto further invitation from
the Governor. An intorprutur waM nent out to toll him to take
8entH on the |)ortico. To thia TocumHch olijueted. Undid iidt
think, ho Huid, thut tho place waH Huitahie for luddin^ a (touticil,
but proferro<l that they should «!| lir to a noif^hlturin^ j^rovo.
Tlie GoYornor «aid ho had no objection to the fjrove, except that
there were no Heatn in it for their accominodution. Tcc«nii8cli
replied that that coiiHtituted no objection to the ^rovc, "the
earth being the most Huitablo place for the Indians, wiio lovtsl
to repose upon the bosom of their mother." Governor Fliirrj.
Bon consented to remove to the ^rove, where tho chiefs were
soon seated in order on tlie grass.

The council was opened l)y Tecumseh, who stated at length
his objections to the treaty of Fort Wayne, made by Governor
Harrison in the previous year; and in the course of his spcecli,
Injldly avowed the principles of his party to be, tliat of reHJst-
ance to every (•ession of land, unless made by all the trilten,
who, he contended, formed but one nation. Fie admitted that
he had threatened to kill the (fhiefs who signed the treaty of
Fort Wayne; and that it was his fixed determination not to
permit the village chiefs, in future, to numage their affairs, Itiit
to place the power with which they had been heretofore iiive8t«l,
in the hands of the war chiefs. The Americans, he said, hud
driven the Indians from the sea coast, and would soon push
them into the lakes; and, while he disclaimed all intention of
making war upon the United States, he declared it to be his
unalterable resolution to take a stand, and resolutely oppose
the further intrusion of the whites upon the Indian huuis.
He concluded, by making a brief but impassioned recital of
the various wrongs and aggressions inflicted by the white men
upon the Indians, from the commencement of the revolution-
ary war down to the period of that council; all of which was

OK, TIIK lli)KI>KK WAIW it¥ tWO TKNTl KIM.

255

calotiluted to Arouitfl nnd iiiHiuiiu thu iiiiiulM of MUch of his fuU
IdWiTH iM» were pir^riit.*

(fDVcriior llurritioii t'i;|>liod, tind tlio interpreter at oticu hvffMi
ex|iliiiiiinK tiiOHfMictdi to tito Blmwiinoo chit^tlnin, wti(», iMicoinin^
iitt'oixled lit lome portion of it, spriuif;^ to liis fuct, interrupting
tlio intorprotor, nnd b«gan to Kpeiik witli gruat forco. Tlit^
f^ovortior wiM completely antonislie'l at this proceeding, hut
ax hi< did not understand him, thought he waH making some
(>x|)l>iiiiition, an<l Huflforud hiu attentioit to be (iruwn towanls
Wituiemac, a friendly Indian lying on the grurts iK^t'ore him,
wIk" wurt renewing the priming i>t' his pistol, which he had kept
cotK-ealod from the other Indians, but in full view of the gov-
enior. Ilit4 attention, however, was again directed towards
Ttruiiiseh, by hearing (ienenil Gibson, who was intimately
iK!i|iiiunti!d with the Shawanoe language, say to liieut. .lennings,
"tlittrie fellows intend mischief; you had better l)ring up the
jrimrd." At that moment the followern of Tecumseh soi/ed
their tunuduiwks and war clubM, and sprang upon their feet,
tluir eyes turned»upon the governor. As soon as he could dis<
I'li^'iige hiruKelf from the arm chair in which he sat, he rose,
drew a small sword which he had by his side, and stood on the
ild'oiisive. (/apt. G. R. Floyd, of the army, who stood near
liim, drew a <lirk, and the chief, Winnemac, cocked his pistol.
The citizens present were more numerous than the Indians, but
were unarmed; some of them procured clubs and brick-bats,
and idso stood on the defensive. The Ilev. Mr. Winans, of the
Metliudirtt t'hi..;di, ran to the governor's house, got a gun, and
|)0Hted himself at the door to defend the family. During this
frightful scene, no one spoke, until the guard came running
up. and a])peared to be in the act of iiring. The governor
fjave orders for them to halt, and then demanded of the inter-
preter an explanation of what had happened. He replied tliat
Tecumseh had interrupted him, declaring that all the governor
had said was false; and that he and the Seventeen Fires had
cheated and imposed on the Indians.

The governor then declared that Tecumseli was a bad man,
and ordered hifti to leave the village at once, which, of course,

• American Sttito Papers.

THR UVm or l^>NTIAn ANII TKOUMRKIf i

tiTiiiiiinttNl the ctiiiiieil, I, wuM iiuw uviUunt tlmt tliv itnvn^i<«
witrc iHMit oti witr, iiiul iliirriitoii Utgiiii t«» atrun^thun IiIh jHtiti.
tioii, in ux|K)(!tHtioii of it. Ilu mooii ruuuivcd raiiit'(>rn>iiii>ritit
aii<l iimntiitxl to tliu Wuhuidi, whtirt*, ulhiKt itixty MiilcM iiUtvc
Vincviinuit, hit built '* Fort ilurrinoii.'* At tliitt pliu!t> oiii> of'
liiM HuiitiiiuU wuM tired iipuii, uiid iidwm rit;uivu<l which pliiitily
iiidicntvd thttt thu Iiidiuui) wuru prupuriiifi^ tor battlu. The
governor then doturininetl to niovti diri'Ctly iifMtn Ti|>|MH'un(M>—
TeeuinH(th*it huiid*)UurturH — und u\yoi\ the thirty Hritt otOotukt,
he arrived near the mouth of the Vermilion Uiver, wliMrv he
built n blookh<»u«e for the proteetion of liiM IxMitM, and h pliu;e
of dupoiiit for luH lieuv}' buggu^e. From thiHpituto he niiircliHl
directly into the prophet'rt town, where he wha met by uinlmrt-
ladorH; he told them he had no hoHtileintentiotiM, provided thu
IndiunH were true to existing treutieH, and made prepuratiuiiB
to encamp.*

The 8p«>t whore the troopn encaniped wa** not altii^^ther what
could have been v/iHhed, m it afforded ^reat facility to the
approach of Hava^eH. It watt a piece of dry oak land, mu\\i
ab«Mit ten feet above the level of a mariihy prairie in front
(towards the Indian town) and nearly twice that height ubuve
a uitnilar prairie in Mie rear, through which and near to thi«
bank, ran a bmall stream clothed with willowH and bnirihwotxi.
Towardri the left flank this bench of hi^^h land widened cdii-
Bidtu'ably, but became gradually mirrow in the oppoHite direction,
and at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the
right flank, terminated in an abrupt point. The two columns
of infantry occupied the fritnt and rear of thirt ground, at the diii-
tance of about one hundred and fifty yards from each other uii the
left, and something more than half that distance on the right
flank — these flai»ks were tilled up, the first by two companies
of mounted riflemen, amounting to about one hundred and
twenty men, under the command of Maj.-Gen. Wells, of the
Kentucky militia, who servwl as a Major; the other by S{)eu-
cer's company of mounted riflemen, which amounted to eightv
men. The front line was compobed of one battalion of United

* Dhwsou'h HiHtorical Narrutive. American State Papers. Western
Annals.

OK, THK litiKiivH VfAH» or rw«4 riKMriiKfss.

2ft7

8ut«i Intimtry, uiulor the w*»\inab(l of H\^or V\i^yA, llaiiki'*!
on till) rif^lit liy two coiii|mkileii of rinlMis, md on tlio lui't l>}r
oni> (*t>iii|Miiiy. Tilt) ruiir lliiu whm (^'vniyiM^J 't a Ixittulitiii ot
(IiiitiNTHtHU^H truopN iiiidor tliucHwaixMi') ofCiipt. n«>iui, urtin^
M Major, Hiul tour coin|miiioB of >v^\^ ;ia iiitUiitry iimU'r I.ittut,-
Col. l)t)okur. The rt«gular lh>of^« of tliiu linu juiruM) the
mt)iint»'<l rinuinoii umlor (IcnorHl Wells, on tliu U^lt Hank, ttiid
Col. DuckorV Imttiilion tbriiiixl an nnglo with H|>« ' > . t .4 tmtn-
pAiiy on tho lotl. Two troopit of drngooiiH, HtiitMinting, in thu
a^f^ir^iito, to ulnnit Hixty mon, wuro uncuni|H)<l in tho mir
ol till) left tiiiiik. nnd Oiipt. PiirkoV troop, which wuh liii-gt)r
than tlio otliur two, in tho ruar of the front line.

For a flight attack tho order of uncanipinent was the order
of battle, and each man Hl<;pt itnniodiately opiH)8ite to hiit
poHt in the line. In the formation of the troopH, Hingle tile t)r
Indian tile wan adopted, for the reanon that in Indiiiii warfare
tlivro h hut little 8lioek to reuiHt, one rank heiiifj^ ({uite m
vtlW'tivo aH two; and, again, tho oxtension of tho linoH it) of
^rvat itnportanee.

At tluB place thoy remained until tho seventh of Novetnhor,
when aliout four o'clock in tho morning, juHt after the governor
liiid risen, tho loft Hank was attacked hy the enemy. Hut a
signal gun was tired by tho HontinoU or by the gmird in that
direction, which made no roHiHtancc, abandoning their |)o»(t8
and fleeing into camp; and the fir^t notice which the troopM of
tlmt tlank had of the danger, was from tho yells of the niivages
within a short distance of the line. But even under these
circumstances, tho men wore not wanting in courage and dis-
cipline. Such of them as were awako, or were easily awakened,
seized their arms and took their stations; others whicli were
more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in the doors of
their tents. Tho storm tirst fell upon Capt. Jiarton's company
of the fourth United States regiment, and Capt. Geiger's com-
pany of mounted riflemen, which forme<l the h^ft angle of the
rear line. The tiro from the Indians was exceedingly severe, and
men in these companies sulfered considerably before relief
could be brought to them. Some few Indians passed into the
encampment near the angle, and one or two penetrated to
17

258

INK I.IVKS i)|. I'oNTIAt; AND ITOUTMHKH:

8(ime distiince lu'tore they were kilknl. All tlu) other coinpa-
iiit's were formed for aetioii Welbre they were tired on.

The morning was durlc and cloudy and tlie tires of the
Americans att'orded only a partial liglit, which gave greater
advantage to the enemy tlian to the troops, and tiiey were
therefore extinguirthed. As soon as the governor could mount
liiH horse he rode to the angle that was attacked, where he
found that Barton's company had sutfered severely and the left
of (leiger's entirely broken. He innnediately ordered Cook's
and Wentworth's companies to march up to the centre of the
rear line and form across the angle in support. His attention
was then attriiete<J by a heavy tire upon the left of the front
line, where wei'e stationed tlie small (rompany of United States
riflemen and the companies of Bean, Snelling and Prescott.
As the (ireneral rode up ho found Major Daviess forming the
dragoons in the rear of those companies, and having ascer-
tained that the heaviest tire proceeded from some trees abont
fifteen or twenty paces in front of those companies, he directed
the Major to dislodge them with a part of the dragoons. Tn-
fortunately the Major's gallantry caused him to undertake the
execution of the order with a smaller force than was required,
which enabled the enemy to avoid him in front and attack his
flanks. The Major was mortally wounded PTid the party driven
back.

The Indians were, however, immediately and gallantly dis-
lodged from their advantageous position by Capt. Snelling, at
the head of his company. In the course of a few minutes
after the commencement of the attack, the fire extended along
the left flank, the whole of the front, the right flank and part
of the rear line. Upon Spencer's moimted riflemen and the
right of Warwick's company, which was posted on the right
of the rear line, it was excessively severe. ( 'apt. Spencer and
his first and second lieutenants were killed, mnd Capt. Warwick
was mortally wounded, those companies, however, still bravely
maintained their posts, but Spencer had sufTered so severely,
and having originally too much ground to occupy, Harrison
reinforced them with Robb's company of riflemen, which had
been driven, or by mistake ordered from their position on the

OR, THK BORDER WARS <»K TWO OKNTURIES.

259

left flank, towards the centre of tliH narap, and filled the vacancy
that had been occupied by Kobb -.vith Fresco tt's company of
tlie Fourth United States regiment. The General's great object
was to keep the lines entire, to prevent the enemy from break-
ing into the camp until daylight, which should enable him to
make a general and effectual charge. With this view he had
reinforced every part of the line that had suffered much, and
with the approach of morning he withdrew from the front line
Snelling's, Posey's and Scott's, and from the rear line Wilson's
companies, and drew them up upon the left flank, and at the
same time ordered Cook's and Bean's companies, the former
from the rear, and the latter from the front line, to reinforce
the rir^^'t flank, forseeing that at these points the enemy would
make their last efforts. Major Wells, who commanded on the
left flank, took command of these companies and charged upon
the enemy, driving them at the point of the bayonet into tho
marsh, where they could not be followed. Meanwhile Capt.
Cook and Lieut. Barabee marched their companies to the right
dank and formed them under the tire of the enemy, and being
then joined by the riflemen of that flank, charged the enemy,
killing a number of Indians and putting the rest to a precipi-
tate flight.'*
In this battle Gen. Harrison commanded only about seven

hundred efficient men, while the Indians numbered nearly one
thousand warriors. The loss of the American army was thirty-
seven killed on the field, twenty-five mortally wounded and
one hundred and twenty-six wounded; that of the Indians
about forty killed on the spot, the number of wounded being
unknown. The battle of Tippecanoe was fought on the seventh
of November, 1811. It was a decisive victory for tho United
States, and for some time after the frontiers enjoyed peace.

American State Papers.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Tkcumseh's Anobr — Hk Joins tub Bkitish — Hui-ii's Inoi,ouioin
Campaign — Surrkndbk of Dktkoit — Suukkndek op Mackinac—
Tridmi'hs of the Ukitibii — Hull's Incapacity.

WniLK the propliet was leading the confederated warriors
to battle against Harrison's army near Tippecanoe, Tecumseh
was absent among the Soutliern Indians for the purpose of
bringing them into the confederacy. On his return a fewdajs
after Harrison's victory, he found, to his great dissatisfaction,
tliat many of liis followers had dispersed ; that his brother had
disgraced himself by his imprudence, and that liis best hopes
were destroyed. He was very angry at his l)rother, seized him
by the hair, shook him violently and threatened to take hi,-
life. By his imprudencQ in attacking the Ajnerican army ar
Tippecanoe the prophet had destroyed his own power and
ruined the projected confederacy.

Tecumseh immediatel 3iit word to Gov. Harrison that he

ha<l returned from the south, and that he was ready to visit
the President as had been previously proposed. The Governor
gave him permission to proceed to Washington, but not as the
leader of a party of Indians, as he desired. The proud ('hief,
who had appeared at Vincennes in 1810 with a large ])artj of
braves, had no desire to appear before his "Great Father," the
President, without his retinue. The proposed visit was de-
clined and tlie intercourse between Tecumseh and the Governor
terminated, fn June, he sought an interview with the Indian
agent at Fort Wayne, disavowed any intention of making war
on the United States, and reproached Gen. Plarrison for having
marched against his ])eople during his absence. The agent
rejilied to ♦ihis; Tecumseh listened with frigid indifference, and
after making a few general remarks with a haughty air, left

(360)

OB, THK liORDKR WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

261

the council house and departed for Fort Maiden, in Upper
Canada, where he joined the British &tandard.^

During the winter of 1811-12 wo find the Congress of the
United States discussing the subject of war with Great Britain.
The reader is probably familiar with the causes which led to
tliis. Even as early as December, 1811, a proposition was
openly made to invade Canada in the following spring, before
the ice broke up, and in particular was urged the necessity of
fiueh operations at the outset of the anticipated contest as
should wrest from the enemy the command of the upper lakes
and secure the neutrality or favor of the Indian tribes by the
conquest of Upper Canada.

Measures were also taken for the defense of the Northwest
frontier against Indian hostility, and which, in the event of a
ru|)ture with Great Britain, would ennble the United States to
obtain command of Lake Erie. These steps were, however,
bv no means suitable to the attainment of this object. In
place of a naval force on Lake Erie, the importance of which
had been frequently urged, the government proposed to use
no other military means, and hoped, by the presence of two
thousand soldiers, to eft'ect the capture or destruction of the
Britisli Heet. When, therefore. Gen. Hull, to whom the com-
mand of the army destined for the conquest of Canada had
been confided, commenced his march from Dayton, on the first
of -Fune, it was with means which he himself regarded as
utterly inadequate to the object aimed at, a fact which suffi-
ciently explains his vascillating, nerveless conduct. Through
that whole month, he and his troops toiled on toward the
Maiunee, busy with their roads, bridges and block-houses. On
the twenty-fourth, advices from the Secretary of War, dated on
the eighteenth, came to hand, but not a word contained in
them made it probable that the long expected war would be
immediately declared, although Col. McArtLur at the same
time received word from Chillicothe warning him, on the
authority of Thomas Worthington, then Senator from Ohio,
that before the letter reached him, the declaration would have
been made public. This information McArthur laid before

* Brown's History of Illinois.

262

TlIK LIVKH OK Ft»NTIA() AND TMUIMHKH :

Gen. Hull; and when, upon reaching the Mauniee, that com-
mander propoHed to place his haggago, stores and sick on ))oar(l
a vessel, and send them by water to Detroit, the baukwoodsniaii
warned him of the danger, and reiused to trust his own
property on board. Hull, however, treated the report of war
08 the old story which hi.J been current through all the spring,
and refused to believe it possible that the government would
not give him information at the earliest moment that the
measure was resolved on. He, accordingly, on the first of July,
embarked his disabled men and most of his goods on board
the Cuyahoga packet, suffering his aid-de-camp in his careless-
ness to send by her even his instructions and army-roll, and
then proceeded upon his way. The next day, July second,
a letter of the same date of that recei ved upon the twenty-
fourth of June, reached him with the intelligence that war
had that day been declared. Before his astonishment was
over, word was brought of the ca])ture of his packet oft* Maiden,
with all his official papers. The latter passed into the hands
of the foe, and thus informed thenti of his purposes and his
strength. However no effort was made by the British to
prevent the Americans from marching to Detroit, nor to inter-
fere with their passage across the river to Sandwich, where
they established themselves on the twelfth of July, preparatory
to attacking Maiden itself. " And here, at once," says Mr.
Peck, in the Western Annals, " the incapacity of Hull showed
itself. By his own confession he took every step under the
influence of two sets of fears; he dared not, on the one hand,
act boldly for fear that his incompeteni force would be all
destroyed; while, on the other hand, he dared not refuse to
act for fear his militia, already uneasy, would desert him."
Tlius embarrassed, he proclaimed freedom to the Americans,
holding out inducements to the British militia to desert, and
to the Indians to keep quiet. Satisfied with this he sat still at
Sandwich, endeavoring to pacify his bloodthirsty backwoods-
men, who seemed furious to attack Maiden. Meanwhile Col.
Cass and Col. Miller, by an attack upon the advanced parties
of the enemy, demonstrated the willingness and power of their
men to push their conquests if the chance were given, but

OK, THK li«>KnKK WAK8 OK TWO OKNTirRI>>.

a«3

Hull refused tlie opportunity, and wlien tlie appointed time
arrived that the army wan to make tliu asBanit, Hull, tor Bome
reason, returned with most of his army to Detroit, " having
effected nothing except the destruction of all confidence in
him on the part of the whole force imder his control, officers
and privates."

By this time. Col. Proctor had reu(!hed Maiden, and jierceiv-
in;; at once the power which the position of that post gave him
over the supplies of the army of the United States, he com-
meuced a series of oj)crations, the object of which was to cut
off the communications of Hull with Ohio, and thus not
nit'rely neutralize all active operations on his ]>art, but starve
hiin into surrender or force him to detail his wljole army in
onler to keep open his way to the only point from which sup-
plies could reach him. A pro]ier force on Lake Erie, or the
ca))ture of Maiden, would have prevented this annoying and
faral mode of warfare, but the imbecility of the government
ami that of the (leneral, combined to favor the plans of Proc-
t(ir.* He sto])])ed the stores on their way to Detroit, at the
river Raisin, and defeated the insufficient Imnd of two hundred
men under Van Horn, sent bv Hull to escort them. Further
tluin this, he so far withstood a detachment of five hundred
under Col. Miller as to cause Hull to recall the remnant of that
viptorious and gallant band, though it had completely routed
both British and Indians. In this way Proctor held the
Americans in check until the arrival of Gen. Brock. This
otHcer reached Maiden on the thirteenth of August, and imme-
diiitely began operations for the conquest of Detroit.

On the fourteenth of August, while a ]>arty under Col.
McArthur was dispatched by Hull to open communication
with the river Raisin, Gen. Brock appeared at Sandwich and
bcijan to erect batteries to protect his fui'ther operations.
Hull would not permit any of his men to molest these batteries,
saying that if the enemy did not fire on him he would not on
tliem, and though, when summoned to surrender on the
fifteenth of August, he stoutly refused, yet, upon the sixteenth,
without striking a blow, he surrendered the town of Detroit

* See Hull's Defense — Western Annals.

964

THK LlVra OF l-ONTIAO AND TKCUMSKIi:

and territory of Michigan, together with t'ourteon hundred
men, longing for battle, to three hundred English Boldiers, four
hundred Canadian militia, diHguised in red coats, and a hand
of Tecuniseh's warriors.^ For this conduct he was aecuned
of treason and cowartlice, and convicted of the latter. "Nor
can we doubt,'' says Mr. Peck, "the justice of the sentence.
However brave he may have been personally, he was as a com-
mander a coward; and moreover he was influenced, confessedly,
by his fears as a father, lest his daughter and her children
should fall into the hands of the Indians. Tn truth his
faculties seem to have been paralized by fear; fear that he
shtnihl fail; fear that his troops would be unfair to him; fear
that the savages would spare no one if (>pj)osed with vigor;
fear of some undefined horrid evil impending."

But the fall of Detroit was not the only misfortune of this
Bummer. On the seventeenth of July a British force, together
with Canadians and Indians, numbering in all, one thousand
and twenty, attacked the American garrison at Mackinac, and
the latter, aniounting to but fifty-seven effective men, felt
unable to withstand so formidable a bodv, and to avoid the
constantly threatened Indian n^.assacre, surrendercvl as prison-
ers of war, and were dismissed on parole.

• McAllec'a Account — ITuH'a Trial — Western Amiiils.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Chicago — Its Eaki.y Sktti.kmknt — Ith (Condition in 1812 — OnoKii
KOR Evacuation — Oouncii, with thk Inoianh — Tiibik PitoMtsBa

AND TIIKIll TllKACIIEUY — TlIK MaBBACUK — Ill'.UOIBM OK WoMKN —
AccOUNi'H OK MUS. Hki.M ANU OtHKUH — Tuitll.MNO IncIUKNTB.

We next come to one of tlie saddest events in the whole
narrative — the massacre of Chicago. A small trading post
had been established at Chicago in the period of French ex-
plorations, but no village formed; and it will be remembered
that at the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, the Pottawatomies,
Miainis and other nations agreed to reliiupiish their right to
a peace of land six miles square at tiie mouth of the VAnaago
river, "where a fort formerly stood."

The United States erected a small fort upon the site of the
])re8ent city of Chicago in 1804, called Fort Dearborn. It
Btood in the same place where the fort was erected in 1833,
but was of a different construction, having two block houses
on the soiithern side, and on the northern side, a saUy port or
subterranean passage from the parade ground to tho river. lu
1812 the fort was garrisoned by Capt. Heald, commanding,
Lieut. Helm, Ensign Ronan, Surgeon Voorhees and seventy-
five men, very few of whom were eifectivc.

The Indians in the vicinity had always manifested a friend-
ship for the officers and soldiers of the garrison. However,
the pri'.icipal chiefs and braves of the Pottawatomie nation
visited Fort Maiden, on the Canada side, annually, received
presents to a large amount, and were in alliance with Great
Britain. Many Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes, Ottawas and
Shawanoes were in tiie battle of Tippecanoe, yet the principal
chiefs in the immediate vicinity were on amicable terms with
the Americans at this post. Besides those persons, attached to

(205)

ti«rt

tin. \.l\H> OK IDN'IIAf ANI» TWI'MMKH:

the ^nrri««»n tlu'ro wuh in tlu' tort flm fiimily of Mr. Ki,i/,ie,
who haii hctMi enpij^t'd in the t'nr tnule iit thiit HjM»t from Isin,
and a few CunmllanH, or en<j<tijcn, with thrir wiven an<l chilihcii.

On the Heventh of April, IH12, a hand of hontiU* Witmchii.
goes attacked Mr. LeeV nettUMiient, at a pliic*' culli-d Mard-
Bcrabhle, about four niiieH from Chicago, and inariHucnd ii Mr.
White, and a Frenchman in liis employ. Two otiicr mumi
€BCHpe<l. For tJome dayn ut'toi' this there were nignH of hostile
Indiana, and repeated alarniH at the garriaoi\, \\\\\ tlui whole
partsed off in quietncKH tmtil all upprt>hen«ion waw dirfmirtHi'd.
O . the Heventii of the following Au^u.st, Winneme«;, or (^uttisli,
a friendly Pottawattomie chitd', arrived at Chicago (I'ort
Dearborn) bringing dif*|)atclie8 from (Jovernor Hull, tlic
commander-in-chief in the Northwest. Tlu^e dis]»at<'lu'«
announced the declaration of war between the United Stiitcn
and Great Mritain; that (ileneral Hull, at the head of tlieiumv
in the Northwest, was on his way from F(»rt Wayne to Detroit,
and that tlie Hritish had post^essed themselves of Muckiiiac.
His orders to Ca])tain Heald, were, *' to evacuate the |)o.st,
if practical)le, and, in that event, to distribute the |)roiterty
belonging to the United Slates, in the fort, and in the factory
or agency, to the Indians in the neighl)(»rho(»d." *

Chief Winnemeg. after delivering liis dispatclies, repaired to
the house of Mr. Kinzie and stated to liim tluit he wn^
acquainted with tlie purport of the communications he had
brought, and begged him to ascertain if it were the intention
of Captain Heald to evacuate the post, lie advised stroiiijjy
that such a step should not be taken, since the garrison was
well supplied with ammunition, and ^yltil ])rovisions for a nix
month's siege. He added that it would l)e far better to remain
until a reinforcement could be sent to their assistaiKc. If,
however, Capt, Heald should deride (m leaving the post, it
should by all means be done immediately. The Pottawato-
mies, through whose country they must pass, being ignorant
of Winnemeg's mission, a forced march might be made before
the hostile Indians were prepared to interrupt them.

• Western Annals.

(>K, TIIK IIOUDKU WAKH 0|>' TWO ifKNirKIM.

267

Oapt. Iluuld vfM iminofiintuly inforiiHKl of tliin ndvicv. He
laid that it wan liis inloiition to ('vuciiiito tlut pOHt, hut that
iiiiMtiiuch HH liti had n^crivtHl onlorn to diHtrihuto thu United
8t)itt>H property, he W(»uUl nut Umivu until lie hud colluetud the
IiidiuiiH in thu noij^hlK)rho<>d, and made a t'tiir division of tlie
property anioiij^ theni. Winneniej? then iir^ed the expediency
of tiiiirehiii|j; out and leaving all thingn ntandin^. I'oHHihIy,
he riikid, while tho eava^eK were unf^a^ed in apportioning' the
B]M)ilM, the troopH nii^ht etl'eet their retreat unnioleHted. Mr.
Kinxie Htron^Iy Hupported thiB advice, hut it did not meet the
Ajiprohation of the coininanding otHeer. The ord(!r for evau*
iiiitin^ the poHt wan read on the fidlowin^ morning at parade.
For Botne reason, Oapt. Ileald relied on hiH own judgment in
tliirt matter, and refuHcd to hold a council with Iuh otHcerH. In
tiio course of the day, finding no council was called, the officers
waited u])on (7upt. Ileald, wishing to bo informed as to what
course he had determined to pursue. When they learned his
intention to leave the fort, they remonstrated with him, setting
fortii the dangers that such a measure would incur upon the
gtirrison. It was highly improhahle, they said, that the com-
niiind would be permitted to pass through the country in safety
to Fort Wayne. For, althougii it had been said that some of
tlu; chiefs had opposed an attack upon the ])ost, planned the
preceding autumn, yet, it was well known that tliey had been
actuated in that matter by motives of private regard to one
family, and not to any general friendly feeling towards the
Americans; and that, at any rate, it was hardly to be expected
tliut these few individuals would be able to control the whole
tribe, who were thirsty for blood. In tlie next place, their
march niust necessarily be slow as their movements must be
accommodated to the helplessness of the women and children,
of whom there were many with the garrison ; that, of their
small force, some of the soldiers were superannuated and others
invalid ; therefore, since the course to be pursued was left dis-
cretional, their advice was to remain where they were, and
fortify themselves as strongly as possible. Succor from the
other side of the peninsiila might arrive before they could be
attacked by the British from Mackinac, and even should there

2flH

TIIK MVKM or KiNTlAd AND TWI'MiKIt:

not, it woru t'nr bcttvr tu full into tliu Imiiiiit ot' thu latt«r, tlito
to Imk'oiiiu tliu victiiriH of tho ttuvagim.

Otipt. lIuald'M ruply war that a HiM!ciuI or<li>r Iiad iMMin ImhucI
by th(^ War Department, tiiut no |M)Ht hIumiIiI Im) HurrvtiduriNi
witli«>ut Imttlu having been ^ivcn ; an<l that biH forci; wiu
totally inn(lu(|uat(> to un cii^aguniuiit witb tlio IndiaiiH. lliut
bu hIiouM, iiii((UOHtionHbly, Ix) ccnsurud for remaining wlu'ii
tbero appuarBd a pronpect of a nafr march lliroujifb, and tlmr
upon tbu wbolo, bu (K'umrd it uxpudient tu atiHtMnbio tlu>
IndiaiiH, diritribntu tbu pro[H>rty amonif tbcm, and tbon lutk nt'
tlioin un CHi'ort to Fort Wayne, with the promise of u ('((n*!!!-
erable reward upon tiu-Ir nafe Hrrivui — adding, that be had full
confidence in the friendly profeHHlotiH of the IndiauH, from
whom, Hn well uh from the H(»ldier8, the eupturo of iMackinm-
bad been kept a profound weeii t.

From thJH time the otlicerH held themrtolvt'H aloof, and Hpoki;
but little upon the subjeet, thoujfh they connidered the project
of (yupt. Jleald little »hort ot miidncrtd. The dihHaiistiu'tii)ii
Rujonji; the Holdierrt hourly iiicrearted, until it reaeluij a lii;,'li
degree of inrtubordiimtion. Upon one occasion, as Captain
Ileahl was conversing witb Mr. Kiiizie, upon thf parade, lie
said, '• I could not remain, tiven if I thought it bent, for I have
bu*; a struill store of provisions." " Why, (Juptain," said .i
soldier, who stoo<l near, forj^'ttiiig all eticju' tte, ii. the excite-
ment )f the nunnent, "you have cattle enough to last the
trottps six months." " Hut," replied Captain lleuld, " I hiive
no wilt to preserve the beef with." "Then jerk* it," said the
man. "as the In<lians do tiieir venison."

The Indians now became daily more unruly. Knterinf? the
fort in defiance of the sentinels, they made their way witlii»ur
ceremony into the quarters of the officers. (Jn one occasion,
an Indian took up a rifle and fired it in the })arlor of the com-
manding officer, Ji8 an expression of defiance. Some were of
opinion, that it was intended, among the young men, as a
signal for an attack. The old chiefs |)as8ed backward and for-

* This is done by ciittiu!^ the meat in thin slices, placing' it upmi a
Bcaflfuld and mailing a slow tire iiiuler it, wliicii dries and smolces it ut the
lame time.

OH, niK n<)HI>KH WAIW or two OklMTUKIIIM.

wnnl, titnoii^ tli«> HHMiMiittliMl )j;roii[)H, with f ho itp|M*tinitu*<^ of the
miHt' livi'ly li^itutioti, whilu thu *i<|iiii\vM riMhi'il to Htid t'ro iti
^mkt uxoittunuiit, iitul oviiloiitly propui'fti tor hoiii<> t'ourt'ul
tceuc* Any t'lirthor iiiuriiftwtntion of ill-tuuliii^ whm, liow*
i>vi>r, MiipprcHHtHl tor thu prcHcrit, and ('uptiiin llruM, Htriiii^t) an
it rimy ituoiii, contiiiuijil to eiitortitiii u conviction of hiit having
cruat(Ml HO HniicuMu ii (liH[)4Mition iiinong tho IndinnH, ah would
umiru tho Mifuty of thu coniintin<l, on thuir innruh to Fort
Wiivno.

In the inidHt of this oxcitnniunt, )i niuHHuik^er urrivod lirtiniig
thu JiidiuiiH from Ti'cuiuHuh, with thu ncwH of thu cupturu '>f
Mackinac, the <h>fuut of Van Home, and the rctrcHt of ihm,
Hull frotii (yuniuhi. Uo <luHiri>d thuin to arm i mined iatuly, and
intiriuitcd that Hull would Aoon bu (jompullud to Hurrcndur.

Matters continuud in tliirt ntatu until thu twelfth of Anjfust,
when a council was held with tho IndiauH who had i-oHect^ni,
N(»no of thu military otticurB attended jjxcept Clajtt. Ileald,
althoujfh rwjnu8to<l by him to do so. They had been informed
that it was thu intontiou of thu youn^ chiefs to martsacre ther^i
in council, and as soon as tho commiinihT left thu fort, they
took command of thu blockhouses, opeinnl the |M)rt holes and
pointed tliu loaded cannon so as tocomtruind the whole <'ouncil.
This. j)robably, raused a postponement of their horrid designs.

At the council tho captain informed the Indians of his
intentions to distribute, the next day, atnong them, all the
goods in the storohoiises, with the ammunition and j)rovision8.
lie rt'tiuested the Pottawatomies to furnish him an escort to
Fort Wayne, promising thetn a liberal reward \ipon their
arrival there, in addition to tho liberal |)ru8onts thoy were now
to receive. The Indians were profuse in their professions of
good-will and friendship, assented to all he proposed, and prom-
ised all that lie desired. The result shows tho true character
of the savages. "No act of kindness, nor ofl'er of reward,
could assuage their thirst for blood." Mr. Kinzie, who well
understood the Indian character and their designs, waited on
the commander, in the hope of showing him his real situation.
He told him that tho Indians had been secretly hostile to the

♦ Western Annals. '

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THK LIVKS OF PONTIAO AN» TBOUMSEH:

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Americans for a long time; that since the battle of Tippe-
canoe he had dispatched orders to all his traders to furnish no
ammunition to them, and pointed out the wretched policy of
Capt. Heald in furnishing the enemy with arms and ammuni-
tion to destroy the Americans. This argument opened Heald^A
eyes, and he resolved to destroy the ammunition and liquor.
On the thirteenth the goods were distributed, and the liquor
and ammunition destroyed.

Meanwhile, Capt. Wells was hastening forward from Fort
Wayne to aid the garrison at Chicago. He had heard of the
order of Gen. Hull to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and knowing
the hostile intentions of the Pottawatomies, he had made a
rapid march through the wilderness, to prevent, if possible,
the exposure of his sister, Mrs. Heald, the officers and garri-
son, to certain destruction. But he came too late! The
ammunition had been destroyed, and the provisions were in the
hands uf the enemy. He, therefore, urged an immediate
departure, and, accordingly every preparation was made for
the march of the troops on the following morning. On the
day of Capt. Wells' arrival another council was held with the
savages, in which they expressed great dissatisfaction at the
destruction of the liquor and ammunition. ^VMurmurs and
threats were heard in every quarter." Among the chiefs and
braves were several who, although they partook of the feelings
of hostility to the Americans, yet retained a personal regard
for the troops and the white families in the place. They
exerted their utmost influence to allay the angry feelings of
the savage warriors, but to no purpose. Among these was
Black Partridge, a chief of some distinction. The evening
after the second conncil, he entered Heald's room and said:
" Father, I come to deliver up to you the medal I wear. It
was given me by the Americans, and I have long worn it in
token of mutual friendship. But our young men are resolved
to imbrue their hands in the blood of the whites. I cannot
restrain them, and I will not wear a token of peace while I am
compelled to act as an enemy." The ammunition that had
been reserved — twenty-tive rounds to a man — was now distrib-
uted. The baggage wagons for the sick, the women and

OR, THB BOKOKR WARS OF 'VWU OKNTITRIKH.

271

children were ready, and, " amidst the gnrrounding gloom, and
the expectation of a fatiguing march through the wildemeBS,
or a disastrous issue on the morrow, the whole party, except
the watchful sentinels, retired for a little rest." At length the
fatal morning of the fifteenth of August arrived. The sun
roBe in splendor above the placid bosom of Lake Michigan, the
air was balmy, and, excepting the distressing apprehensions of
the garrison and their families, the morning was delightfiil.

At an early hour Mr. Kinzie received a message from Tope-
neebe, a friendly chief of the St. Joseph's band, informing him
that the Pottawatomies, who had promised to be an escort to
the detachment, designed mischief. Mr. Kinzie had placed his
family under the protection of some friendly Indians. This
party embarked in a boat, and consisted of Mrs. Kinzie, four
children, a clerk of Mr. Kinzie's, two servants and the boat-
men, with two Indians as protectors. This boat was intended
to pass along the southern shore of the lake to St. Joseph,
while Mr. Kinzie and his eldest son had agreed to accompany
Capt. Heald and the troops, as he thought his influence over
the Indians would enable him to restrain the fury of the sav-
ages, as they were much attached to him and his family.
Topeneebe urged him and his son to accompany his family in
the boat, assuring him the hostile Indians would allow his
boat to pass in safety to St. Joseph's. The boat had but
reached the lake, when another messenger arrived from the
same chief to detain them where they were.

At nine o'clock the troops, with the baggage wagons, left
the fort '' with martial music and in military array." Gapt.
Wells, at the head of his band of Miamis, led the advance^
with his face blackened after the manner of Indians ; the troops
with the wagons, containing the women and children, the sick
and lame, followed, while, at a little distance behind, were the
Pottawatomies, about five hundred in number, who had pledged
their honor to escort them in safety to Fort Wayne. The party
took the road along the lake shore, and on reaching the point
where a range of sand hills commenced, the Pottawatomies
defiled on the right into the prairie, so as to bring the sand
hills between them and the Americans. They had marched

272

THK MVKS OF PONTIAO AND TKOlTMBKIi:

■r^

about a mile and a half from the fort, when Capt. Wells, who,
with his Miamis, was in advance, rode furiously back and
exclaimed :

"They are about to attack us; form instantly, and charge
upon theml"

But these words had scarcely been uttered, when a volly of
balls from Indian muskets, behind the sand-hills, poured upon
them. The troops were formed as quick as possible and
charged up the bank. One man, a veteran soldier of seventy,
fell as they mounted the bank. The battle became general.
The Miamis fled at the outset, though Capt. Wells did his
utmost to induce them to stand their ground. Tlieir chief rode
np to the Pottawatomies, charged them with treachery, and,
brandishing his tomahawk, declared, " he would be the first to
head a party of Americans and punish them." He then
turned his horse and galloped otter his companions over the
prairie.^ The American troops charged upon the Indians in
a gallant manner, and " sold their lives dearly." Mrs. Helm,
wife of Lieut. Helm, was in the thickest of the action, and
behaved with singular presence of mind. Indeed every woman
present acted with great composure. Mrs. Helm, in giving an
account of the battle, or the massacre, said that the horses
pranced and bounded, and could hardly be restrained, as the
balls whistled around them. She drew off to one side and gazed
upon Lieut. Helm, her husband, who was as yet unharmed.
She says: "I felt that my hour was come and endeavored to
forget those I loved, and prepare myself for my approaching
fate. While I was thus engaged, the surgeon, Dr. V., came
up; he was badly wounded. His horse had been shot under
him, and he had received a ball in his leg. Every muscle of
his countenance was quivering with the agony of terror. He
said to me, ' Do you think they will take our lives? I am badly
wounded, but I think not mortally. Perhaps we might pur-
chase our lives by promising them a large reward. Do you
think there is any chance?'

" ' Dr. V.,' oaid I, ' do not let us waste the few moments that
yet remain to us in such vain hopes. Our fate is inevitable.

♦ Western Annals.

OB, TIIK BOKUUK WAK8 OF TWO UKNTUKIBS.

278

In a few moments we muBt appear before the bar of God. Let
(IB endeavor to make what preparation is yet in our power.*
^Oh 1 I cannot die I' exclaimed he; 'I am not fit to die— if I
had but a short time to prepare — death is awful I' I pointed
to ensign Honan, who, though mortally wounded, and nearly
down, was still fighting with desperation upon one knee.

'«*Look at that man,' said I, 'at least he dies like a soldier I'

"^Yos,' replied the unfortunate man, with a convulsive
gaap, ' but he has no terrors of the future — he is an unbe-
liever 1'

" At this moment a young Indian raised his tomahawk at
me. By springing aside I avoided the blow which was aimed
at my skull, but which alighted on my shoulder. I seized him
around the neck, and, while exerting my utmost efforts to get
possession of his scalping-knife, which hung in a scabbard
over his breast,' I was dragged from his grasp by another and
older Indian.

''The latter bore me, struggling and resisting, towards the
lake. Notwithstanding the rapidity with which I was hurried
along, I recognized, as I passed them, the lifeless remains of
the unfortunate surgeon. Some murderous tomahawk had
stretched him upon the very spot where I had last seen him.

'' I was immediately plunged into the water, and held there
with a forcible hand, notwithstanding my resistance. I soon
perceived, however, that the object of my captor was not to
drown me, as he held me firmly in such a position as to place
my head above the water. This reassured me, and regarding
him attentively, I soon recognized, in spite of the paint, with
which he was disguised. The Black Partridge.

" When the firing had somewhat subsided, my preserver bore
me from the water and conducted me up the sand-banks. It
was a burning August morning, and walking through the
sand in my drenched condition, was inexpressibly painful and
fatiguing. I stopped and took ofF my shoes to free them from
the sand, with which they were nearly filled, when a squaw
seized and carried them off, and I was obliged to proceed
without them. When we had gained the prairie, I was met
by my father, who told me that my husband was safe, and but
18

174

THX UVXS OF FONTIAO AND TK(^lTM8Kii:

■lightly wounded. They led mo gently back toward the
Ghicago river, along the southern bank of which was the Pot.
tawatomie encampment At one time I was placed npon a
horse without a saddle, but soon finding the motion insup-
portable, I sprang off. Supported partly by my kind con-
ductor, and partly by another Indian, Pee-ao-tum, who held
dangling in his hand the scalp of Capt. Wells, I dragged my
fainting steps to one of the Wigwams.

"The wife of Wau-hee-nee-tnah, a chief from the Illinois
river, was standing near, and seeing my exhausted condition,
she seized a kettle, dipped up some water from a little stream
that flowed near, threw into it some maple sugar, and stirring
it up with her hand, gave it to me to drink. This act of kind-
ness, in the midst of so many atrocities, touched me most
sensibly, but my attention was soon diverted to another object.
The fort had become a scene of plunder to such as remained,
after the troops had marched out. Tlie cattle had been shot
down as they ran at large and lay dead or dying around.

"As the noise of the firing grew gradually less, and the
stragglers from the victorious party dropped in, I received
confirmation of what my father had hurriedly communicated
in our renconter on the lake shore; namely, that the whites
had surrendered after the loss of about two-thirds their num-
ber. They had stipulated for the preservation of their lives,
and those of the remaining women and children, and for tlteir
delivery at some of the British posts, unless ransomed by
traders in the Indian country. It appears that the wonnded
prisoners were not considered as included in the stipulation,
and a horrible scene occurred upon their being brought into
camp.

" An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends, oi^ excited
by the sanguinary scenes around her, seemed possessed by a
demoniac ferocity. She seized a stable fork and assaulted one
miserable victim who lay groaning and writhing in the agony
of his wounds, aggravated by the scorching beams of the sun.
With a delicacy of feeling scarcely to have been expected
under such circumstances, Wau-hee-nee-mah stretched a mat
across two poles between me and this dreadful scene. 1 was

OK, TIIK BOKDKR WARS OP tV/O OKSTWm.

276

krd the
he Pot-
npon a
I iiiBup-
ad con-
ho held
fged my

Illinois
Dndition,
e strean\
i Btirring
t of kind-
me most
,er object,
remained,
been shot
and.

,, and the
[ received
nunicated
|he whites

leir num-
fheir lives,
for their
[somed by
wounded

iipulation,

,ught into

lor excited
sssed by a
laulted one
Ithe agony
If the sun.
expected
led a mat
le. 1 was

thns spared, in some degree, a view of its horrors, althongh I
could not entirely close my ears to the cries of the sufferer.
The following night five more of the wounded prisoners were
tomahawked."

But why dwell upon this painful subject? Why describe
the butchery of the children, twelve of whom, placed together
on one baggage- wagon, fell beneath the merciless tomahawk
of one young savagel This atrocious act was committed after
the whites, twenty-seven in number, had surrendered. When
Gapt. Wells beheld it he exclaimed; " Is that their game? Then
I will kill toot" So saying, he turned his horse's head, and
started for the Indian camp near the fort, where had been let^
tlieir squaws and children.

Several Indians pursued him, firing at him as he galloped
along. He laid himself flat on the neck of his horse, loading
a|id firing in that position; at length the balls of his pursuers
took effect, killing his horse and severely wounding himself.
At this moment he was met by Winnemeg and Wan-ban-see,
who endeavored to save him from the savages who had now
overtaken him; but as they supported him along, after having
disengaged him from his horse, he received his death-blow
from one of the party, (Pee-so- tum,) who stabbed him in the
back.

The heroic resolution of one of the soldier's wives deserves
to be recorded. She had, from the first, expressed a determi-
nation never to fall into the hands of the savages, believing
that their prisoners were always subjected to tortures worse
than death. When, therefore, a party came up to her, to make
her prisoner, she fought with desperation, refusing to surrender,
although assured of safe treatment, and literally suffered herself
to be cut to pieces, rather than become their captive.*

The heart of Capt. Wells was taken out and cut into pieces,
and distribnted among the tribes. His mutilated body was
not interred until "Billy Caldwell," Tecumseh's Secretary,
arrived and buried it. The head was entirely separated from
the body, and the latter was cut into several pieces. The fam-
ily of Mr. Kinzie had been taken from the boat to their home,

♦ Western Annals.

976

THB Ltrm or pontiao Attn TKontMKii:

by friendly Indiana, and there strictly guarded. Very toon a
hoatile party of the Pottawatomies arrived from the Wabaih,
and " it required all the skill and bravery of Black Partridge,
Waubansee, Billy Caldwell and other friendly Indians to pro-
tect them." Messengers had been sent by the Chicago Indians
to notity all hostile tribes of the intended evacuation of the
fort, and of their plan of attacking the troops. Wherever
these messages were delivered, the Indians wasted no time in
repairing to the scone of massacre, but most of them arrived
too late. These were infuriated at their disappointment, and
sought to glut their vengeance on the wounded and prisoners.
Mr. Kinzie and his family escaped through the protection of
the savages. Of the other prisoners, Capt. Hoald and Mra.
Heald were sent across the lake to St. Joseph's, the day after
the battle. Capt. Heald had received two wounds, and hin wife
seven, the ball of one of which was cut from hor arm by Mf.
Kinzie with a pen-knife, alter the engagement. Mrs. Heald
was ransomed on the battle-Held by a half-breed, for a mule
and ten bottles of whisky. Capt. Heald was taken prisoner by
an Indian from the Kankakee, wlio, seeing the wounded and
suffering condition of Mrs. Heald, generoulsy released his pris-
oner, that ho might accompany his wife. But when this Indian
returned to his village on the Kankakee, ho found that Iiis gen-
erosity had excited so much dissatisfaction in his band that he
resolved to visit St. Joseph's and reclaim his prisoner. News
of his intention having reached Topeneebe, Keepotah, Chan-
donnai and other friendly braves, they sent them in a bark
canoe, under the charge of Robinson, a half-breed, along the
eastern side of Lake Michigan, three hundred miles, to Mack-
inac, where they were delivered over to the commanding
officer.

Lieut. Helm was wounded in the action and taken prisoner;
and afterwards taken by some friendly Indians to the Au Sable,
and from thence to St. Louis, and liberated from captivity
through the agency of Thomas Forsytli. Mrs. Helm received
a slight wound in the ankle; had. her horse shot from under
her; and, after passing through the agonizing scenes described,
went with the family of Mr. Kinzie to Detroit. The soldiers,

OR, TIIK UORDKR WARM or TWO OKNTURIKM.

277

with their wives and children, were diapered among the differ-
ent villages of tlie Pottawatomics, upon the Illinois, Wabash,
Itock River and Milwaukee. The largest pro|K>rtion were taken
to Detroit, and ransomed the following spring. Some, how-
ever, remained in captivity another year, and experienced more
kindness than was expected from an enemy so merciless.*

In addition to the accounts of the massacre of Fort Dear-
l)orn, already given, I will affix the official report of Capt.
Heald, which differs in no essential particular from that already
given:

" On the ninth of August, I received orders trom Qen. Hull to evacuate
the pott, and proceed with my command to Detroit, leaving it at my dis-
cretion to dispose of the public property as I thought proper. The
neighboring Indians got the information as early as I did, and came ftrom
til quarters to receive the goods in the factory store, which they understood
were to be given to them. On the thirteenth, Capt. Wells, of Fort Wayne,
arrived with about thirty Miamis, for the purpose of escorting us in by the
request of Qen. Hull. On the fourteenth, I delivered the Indians all the
goods in the factory store, and a considerable quantity of provisions,
which we could not take away with us.

The surplus arms and ammunition, I thought proper to destroy, fearing
they would make had use of it, if put in their possession.

I also destroyed all the licjuor on hand, soon after they began to collect.
The collection was unusually large for that place, but they conducted with
the strictest propriety, till aflpr I left the fort.

On the fifteenth, at nine o'clock a. u., we commenced our tnsrch— a part
of the Miamis were detached in fk-ont,the remainder in our r.'-<; -ui guards,
under the direction of Capt. Wells. The situation of the cc atry ren-
dered it necessary for us to take the beach, with the lake on our left, and a
high bank on our right, at about one hundred yards distance. We pro-
ceeded about a mile and a half, when it was discovered the Indians were
prepared to attack us iVom behind the bank.

I immediately marched up the company to the top of the bank, when
the action commenced ; after firing one round, recharged, and the Indians
gave way in f^ont and Joined those on our flanks. In about fifteen min-
utes, they got poBssssion of all our horses, provision and baggage of every
description, and, finding the Miamis did not assist us, I drew off the few
men I had left, and took possession of a small elevation in the open prairie
out of shot of the bank or any other cover. The Indians did not follow
me, but assembled in a body on the the top of the bank, and after some
consultation among themselves, made signs to me to approach them. I

• Peck's Compilation.

978

TIIK I.IVKH or I'ONTIAO ANI> TKf'ltMRKII :

•dranced luw»rda llioni iilttnp, mid wm invt hy one n( tli« PoltkWKlonilt
chloAi cullvd 11)0 BUckbird, with »n Interpreter,

Alter thMklng bands^ ho requested ni« to ■urrendor, promliing to tpAre
the lives of nil the prUonora. On » few momenta* conitiderMlon, I con.
eluded It would be tho moat prudent to comply with hlarvqueat, «lthouKh
I did not put entire confldenoe In hia promUe. After delivering up our
RriuB, we were tHki*n Imclc to their encampment near the fort, and diatrlb-
uted among the ditrvrcnt tribva,

Tho next morning they act flre to the fort, and left the place, taking the
priaoncni wl*,h them. TIteIr nunila>r of wnrrlora wua between four and
Ave hundred, moatly of the Pottawatomie nation, and their loaa, fk-om the
beat Information I could get, was about fifteen, Our atrongth was flfty.
four regulara and twelve militia, out of which twenty-alx rogulara and all
Uie militia, -were killed In the action, with two women and twelve
children.

Enaign Qeorge Ronan and Doctor laaao V. Van Voorhees, of my com*
pany, with Capt. Wclla, of Fort Wayne, are, to my great aorrow, numlwred
among the dead. Lieut. Llna T. Holm, with twenty-tlve non-commlHaioued
officers and privatea, and eleven women and children, were prlaonera when
we separated.

Mrs. Heald and myself were taken to tho mouth of the rivor St. Joaoph,
and being both badly wounded, were permitted to reaide with Mr. Burnet,
an Indian trader. In a few days after our arrival there, the Indians all
went off to take Fort Wayne, and in their absence I engaged a Frencliman
to take us to Michlllmackinac, by water, where I gave myself up as a
prisoner of war, with one of my sergeants.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

RaIKINO All ArMT to CoNQUBR TIIR ENOMin III TUB NOHTUWiar
KaHI.Y SeTTI.KMKNTN in IiXINOII — ExPRDITIOK under GlIVKRNOm
KnWAIlM AND ('UIX)NKL KlIR«BI.I.— HKIflR OF FOHT IIaRHIMN —

Captain TATi.oR't DKrRNsK— Tub Aumt undbh IlARniiON, Win>

CHMTBR AND TCPPBR.

The defeat of General Hull, and the victories of English and
Indians in the Northwest produced the greatest excitement
among the people of the Western States, and especially in
Kentucky and Ohio. By the middle of August, 1812, the
whole Northwest, with the exception of Fort Wayne and Fort
Harrison, was in the possession of the British and the savages.
But one desire seemed to actuate the heart of every American
on the borders — ''to wipe off the disgrace with which our
arms had been stained, and to roll back the desolation that
threatened the frontier of Ohio and territories beyond."

As we have seen, General Harrison had been appointed
Brigadier-General in the army of the United States. The all
absorbing theme was now the raising of another army to con-
q\ier the British and subdue the red men. The work immedi-
ately began. In the course of a few weeks Kentucky had
about seven thousand men in the field under Gen. Thos. Todd.
A large l)ody of troops was also raised in the same State to
march against the Indians of Indiana and Illinois, under Gen.
Samuel Hopkins. Meanwhile Governor Edwards, of Illinois,
was active in raising men and making preparations for an
expedition against the hostile Indians on the Illinois river.
Col. Wm. Rnssell engaged himself in raising a company of
rangers to cooperate with Governor Edwards. The place of
rendezvous was near the present town of Edwardsville, west
of Cahokia, and named ''Camp Eussell." The scattered set-

(879)

980

TUB ijvn or roNTiAo and tkoummkii:

tleinenU of Illinuis then extended no further north than Wood
river, near Alton. A line drawn from that iM)int pa»t Green'
Title and Mount Vernon to Shawneetown, would have encloied
all the white population, except a few families on the Wabacb,
adjacent to Vincennee. Tlie concerted arrangement wa», for
Oen. Hopkina, with about four thousand mounted riflemen, to
move up the Wabash to Fort Harrison, cross over to the Illinois
country, destroy all the Indian villages near the Wabash, march
across the prairies to the head waters of the Sangamon and
Vermilion rivers, form a junction with the Illinois rangers
under Governor Edwards and Col. Russell, and sweep over all
the villages along the Illinois river.*

As soon as the troops under Gen. Hopkins entered the
prairies of Illinois they became disorderly, which defeated the
objects of the expedition. By constantly firing at the game
with which they came in contact, they made the Indians aware
of their approach, and gaining a knowledge of the force of
their invaders, they left their villages in flight. The troops
under Governor Edwards and Ool. Russell, however, accom-
plished more; they ascended the river to the village of the
Peorias and drove the savages into the swamps, killing many
and destroying their town.

On the twenty-eighth of August of the sanie year, the Pot-
tawatomios, Ottawas, and other hostile Indians, made an attack
on Fort Wayne, which they continued until the sixteenth of
September, cutting off all approach to the fort until relieved
by a strong force under Gen. Harrison. Early in September
a fierce attack was made on Fort Harrison, situated a short
distance above the site of the present city of Terre Haute, and
which was commanded by Gapt. Z. Taylor. Tecumseh's band
and many other hostile Indians appeared before the fort, having
first murdered two persons belonging to the post, whom they
found in the open fields. They set fire to one of the block-
houses, which was discovered about midnight, and which pro-
duced the greatest confusion among the garrison. Capt. Taylor
immediately directed the men to get the buckets, carry water
from the well and extinguish the fire, but from some cause

* Peek's Compilation

OR, THE ■OKDRR WARS OF TWO fmNTlIRIRS.

981

the men were slow in executing the ordert, and in ipite of
every exertion they conid make the flames aMiended to the
roof. At thii blookliouM adjoined the barraoki that made
part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately fpave
tlietnM*lv«s up for lost, and the Captain had the greatest difli.
ciilty in getting his orders executed. Indeed, from the raging
of tlie fire, the yelling and howling of a thousand sava^^ifs, the
cries of women and children in the fort, and the dusponiling
of lo many men, his own feelings were unpleasant. Tlio
lituation became worse on account of the sickness which at Uie
time prevailed in the fort. Two of the strongest men of the
garrison, regarding resistance out of reason, jumped the pickett
and left. In this terrible moment Capt. Taylor conceived a
plan by which the fort and garrison were saved. He explained
to the men that by throwing off a part of the roof that joined
the blockhouse that was on fire and keeping the end perfectly
wet, the whole row of buildings might be saved. In this way^
the fire would leave only an opening of eighteen or twenty
feet for the entrance oi' the Indians afler the house was con-
xitned, and that a temporary breastwotk might be erected tO'
prevent their entering there. The men were taken with the
plan and went to work in a good spirit to execute it; mean-
while tliose unable for such arduous duty kept up a constant
tire from the other blockhouse and the two bastioiii. The men
who undertook the execution of the Captain's plan succeeded
by the loss of only one of their number. In a few moments
the roof was removed, and before the dawn of the following
morning a temporary breastwork had been erected over the
ashes of the blockhouse. During the whole of the siege but
two of the men were killed within the fort. Of those who
jumped the pickets, one was murdered in the most cruel man-
ner by the Indians, the other escaped to the fort with his arm
broken. The savages kept up a continual fire until about six
o'clock on the following morning, when it was returned with
such eflfect that they were driven away.

The Indians drove up the horses that belonged to the settlers
of the post, and as they could not catch them they shot the
whole of them before the eyes of the commandant, as also the

S89

THE LIVm OF PONTIAO ANU TICni'MSKIi:

hogs and cattle, amounting to over one hundred head. By the
burning of the blockhouse the garrison were deprived of all
their provisions and were compelled to live upon green corn
until relief came.

Meanwhile, extensive preparations were going on in Ohio,
Kentucky, Virginia, und Pennsylvania, to bring a large and
efficient army into service — a force that would compel the
Britisli to retire, and subjugate the savages. Three points
needed defence, Fort Wayne and the Maumee, the Wabash, and
the Illinois river: the troops destined for the first point were
to be under the command of Gen. Winchester, a revolutionary
officer; those for the Wabash were to be under Harrison, whose
name since the battle of Tippecanoe was familiar everywhere;
while Governoi Edwards, of the Illinois Territory, was to com-
mand the expedition up the river of the same name. Such
were the intentions of the Government, but the wishes of the
people frustrated them, and led, first, to the appointment of
Harrison to the command of the Kentucky volunteers, destined
to assist Hull's army, and next to his elevation to the post of
commander-in-chief over all the forces of the west and north-
west, as already observed. Mean tine Fort Wayne had been
relieved, and the line of the Maumee secured; so that when
Harrison found himself placed at the head of military affairs
in the West, his main objects were, first, to drive the Indians
from the western side of the Detroit river; second, to take Mai-
den; and third, having thus secured his communications, to
recapture the Michigan Territory and its dependencies. To do
all this before winter, and thus be prepared to conquer Upper
Canada, Harrison proposed to take possession of the rapids of
the Maumee and there to concentrate his forces and his stores;
in moving upon this point he divided his troops into three col-
umns, the right to march from Wooster through Upper San-
dusky, the centre from Urbana, by Fort McArthur, on the head
of the Scioto, and the left from St. Mary's by the Auglaize
and Maumee, — all meeting of course at the Rapids. This plan,
however, failed; the troops of the left column, under Win-
chester,* worn out and starred, were found on the verge of

* Peck's compilation.

OK, TIIK IIORDKR WARS OF TWO OKNTURIES.

288

mutiny, and the mounted men of the centre, under Gen. Tup-
per, were unable to do anytliin^, partly from their own want
of eiibordi nation, but Btill more from the Bhiftlessness of their
commander.* This condition of the troops, and the prevalence
of disease among them, together with the increasing difficulty
of transportation after the fall freshets, forced the commander
to the necessity of waiting until the winter had bridged the
streams and swamps with ice, and even when that had taken
place, he was doubtful as to the wisdom of an attempt to con-
quer without a naval force on Lake Erie. Thus it will bo seen
tlie year 1812 closed, leaving the British and Indians in posses-
sion of their conquests. Winchester, with the left wing of the
army, was on his way to the Hapids, his men enfeebled by
sickness, want of clothes and want of food; the right wing was
approaching Sandusky, and the centre resting at Fort McArthnr.

In December, however. Gen. Harrison dispatched a party of
six hundred against the Miami villages upon theMississineway,
a branch of the "Wabash. This body, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. Campbell, destroyed several villages, and fought a
severe battle with the Indians, who were defeated; but the
scerity of the weather, the large number of the wounded, the
scarcity of provisions, and the probability of being attacked by
Tecumseh at the head of six hundred warriors, induced Col.
Campbell to retreat immediately after the battle, without
destroying the principal towns of the enemy.

Winchester reached the Rapids with his troops on the tenth
of January, 1813. Harrison was still at Sandusky with the
right wing, and Tupper with the centre at Fort McArthnr.

♦ McAfee.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Thb War or 1812 — Defeat at Frbnohtown — Groohan's Heroio
Drfenbe of Fort 8tepuekm>n — Defeat of the Americans—
Preparations for a New Camtaign — Perry's Victort — Har.
rison's TRraMPH — The Indians Subdued— The English Defeated
— Close of the War.

WiNOHESTER was now besieged with messengers from French*
town, on the Kiver Raisin, representing the danger to which
that place was exposed, and begging for protection. Agreea-
bly to these requests. Col. Lewis was dispatched with five
hundred men to the River Raisin, and soon after Col. Allen
followed with over one hundred more. This was in January,
18 13. Marching along the frozen borders of the bay and lake,
on the afternoon of the eighteenth, the detachment reached
and attacked the enemy who were posted in the village, and
after a severe contest defeated them. Having gained posses-
sion of the town, Col. Lewis wrote for reinforcements, and
prepared to defend the possession he had gained. And it was
evident that all his means of defense would be needed, as the
place was but eighteen miles from Maiden, where the whole
British force was collected under Proctor. Winchester, on the
nineteenth, having heard of the action of the previous day,
marched with two hundred and fifty men, which was the most
he dared detach from the Rapids, to the aid of the qaptor of
Frenchtown, which place he reached on the next evening. But
instead of placing his men in a secure position, and taking
measures to prevent the secret approach of the enemy, Win-
chester suffered the troops he had brought with him to remain
in the open ground, and took no efficient measures to protect
himself from surprise, although informed that an attack might
be expected at any moment. The consequence was that during

(284)

OK, THK BORDKR WAK8 OF TWO GEOT'ORIBS.

286

the ni^ht of the twenty-first, the whole British force approached
nndiscoverod, and erected a battery within three hundred yards
of the American camp. From this, before the troops were
fairly under arms in the morning, a discharge of bombs, balls
and grape shot, " informed the devoted soldiers of Winchester,
of the folly of their commander, and in a moment more the
dreaded Indian yell sounded on every side." Lewis' troops
were, it would seem, on their guard, protected by the pickets
of a garden. Those under Winchester were in the open field, and
against them the main effort of the enemy was directed. In
a few moments Winchester's troops yielded, broke and fied,
under a fire wliich mowed them down like grass. Winchester
and Lewis were both taken prisoners, the latter having left his
secnrity to aid his superior officer. Upon Lewis' troops,
however, who fought from behind their slight defenses, no
impression could be made, and it was not until Winchester
sent them advice to surrender that they <;hought of doing so.*
ThJB Proctor persuaded him to do, by telling him that the
Indians would massacre all the Americans should resistance be
continued longer. To this he added a promise of help and
protection to the wounded, and of a removal at the earliest
moment. It was only in consideration of the last promise that
Lewis' troops consented to yield, even when required by their
general. " But," says Mr. Peck, " the promise, even if given
in good faith, was not redeemed, and the horrors of the suc-
ceeding night and day will long be . remembered." Of the
American army, which was nearly eight hundred strong, one-
third were killed in the battle and the massacre which followed,
and but thirty-three escaped.

As before mentioned, Gen. Harrison was at Sandusky when
Winchester reached the Eapids. On the night of the sixteenth
word came to him of the arrival of the left wing at that point,
and of its meditated movements. He at once proceeded with
all speed to Lower Sandusky, and on the morning of the eigh-
teenth, sent forward a battalion of troops to the support of
Winchester. On the nineteenth, he received farther intelli-
gence as to the proposed movement of Winchester, and, with

* Peck's Compilation.

386

TIIE rJVE8 OF PONHAO AND TKOUMHKIi:

additional troops, he immediately started for the falb, where he
arrived early on the morning of the twentieth. At this point
he joined the battalion, which had started before him. The
troops now moved forward to aid Winchester, but meeting a
few of the survivors of his disaster, and learning of what Imd
taken place, they returned to the Hapids. At this place h cuii-
snltation took place, the result of which was a determination
to retreat yet farther in order to prevent the possibility of being
cut off from the convoys of stores and artillery upon their way
from Sandusky. On the next morning, therefore, the block-
house, which had been built, was destroyed, together with the
provisions it contained, and the troops retired to Portage river,
eighteen miles in the rear of Winchester's position, there to
await the guns and reinforcements which were daily expected,
but which, as it turned out, were detained by rains until the
thirtieth of January. Findihg his army seventeen hundred
strong. Gen. Harrison, on the first of February, again advanced
to the Rapids, where he took up a new and stronger position,
at which point he ordered all the troops as rapidly as possible
to gather. He did this in the hope of being able before the
middle of the month to advance upon Maiden, but the long
continuance of warm and wet weather kept the roads in such
a condition that his troops were unable to join him, and the
project of advancing upon the ice was entirely frustrated; so
at length the winter campaign had to be abandoned, as the
autumnal one had been before.

So far the military measures for the recovery of the North-
west forts had proved a failure. The Americans had been
defeated at almost every turn, and hundreds of them had fallen
under the merciless tomahawk. Tecumseh and his warriors,
on the other hand, were full of hope. Victory had crowned
their efforts, and made them more valuable as British allies.

But while these discouraging events were taking place in the
Northwest, a series of events transpired at the National Cap-
ital, which was preparing the way for another campaign, which
was destined to victory. Gen. Armstrong had succeeded Dr.
Eustis in the War Department, and in October, 1812, he urged
upon the government the great necessity of obtaining the

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

287

command of the lakes. Naval operations were the basis of hia
plan. Among the defensive operations of the spring and sum-
mer of 1813, that at Fort or Camp Meigs, the new post taken
by Harrison,^ at the Kapids, and that at Lower Sandusky^
deserve to be especially noticed. It had been anitcipated that,
with Mie opening of spring, the British would attempt the
conquest of the position upon the Maumee, and measures had
been taken by the general to forward reinforcements, which
were detained, however, as usual by the spring freshets and the
bottomless roads. As had been e.xpected, on the twenty-eighth
of April, the English forces began the investment of Harrison's
camp, and by the first of May had completed their batteries;
meantime, the Americans behind their tents had thrown up a
bank of earth twelve feet high, and upon a basis of twenty
feet, behind which the whole garrison withdrew the moment
that the gunners of the enemy were prepared to commence
operations. Upon this bank, the ammunition of His Majesty
was wasted in vain, and down to the fifth, nothing was efiected
by either party. On that day, Gen. Clay, with twelve hundred
additional troops, came down the Maumee in flatboats, and, in
accordance with orders received from Harrison, detached eight
hundred men under Col. Dudley to attack the batteries upon
the left bank of the river, while, with the remainder of iiis
forces, he landed upon the southern shore, and after some loss
and delay, fought his way into camp. Dudley, on his part,
succeeded perfectly in capturing the batteries, but instead of
spiking the cannon, and then instantly returning to his boats,
he Bufiered his men to waste their time in skirmish with the
Indians, until Proctor was able to cut them off from their only
chance of retreat; taken by surprise, and in disorder, the
greater part of the detachment became an easy prey, only one
hundred and fifty of the eight hundred escaping captivity or
death. This sad result was partially, though but little allevi-
ated by the success of a sortie made from the fort by Col.
Miller, in which he captured and made useless the batteries
that had been erected south of the Maumee. The result of the
day's doings had been sad enough for the Americans, but still

* Mr. Peck's Compilation.

,:=>

S88

TIIR I4VK8 OF l>(>N'nAO AND TKCUMHKIC

the British General saw in it nothing to oneourage him; his
•cannon had done nothing, and were in fact no longer of vahie,
his Indian alliea found it " hard to fight people who lived like
groundhogs;" news of the American successes below had been
received, and additional troops were approaching from Ohio
And Kentucky. Proctor, weighing all things, determined to
retreat, and upon the ninth of May returned to Maiden.

The ship-building going forward at Erie had not, mean-
-while, been unknown to, or disregarded by, the English, who
proposed all in good time to destroy the vessels upon which so
much depended, and to appropriate the stores of the Republi-
cans: "the ordnance and naval stores you require," said Sir
•George Prevost to Gen. Proctor, " must be taken from tlie
•enemy, whose resources on Lake Erie must become yours. I
am much mistaken, if you do not find Gapt. Barclay disposed
to play that game." Capt. Barclay was an experienced, brave
«nd able seaman, and was waiting anxiously for a sufficient
body of troops to attack Erie. A sufficient force was promised
him, on the eighteenth of July, at which time the British fleet
went down the lake to reconnoitre, and, should a favorable
opportunity be presented, to make the proposed attempt upon
the Americans at Erie. No attack, however, was made.
About the same time, Proctor, with his soldiers and savages,
again surrounded Fort Meigs, but accomplished nothing.
Being unable to accomplish anything at this point, he moved
^n to Sandusky, into the neighborhood of the commander-in-
«hief. The principal stores of Harrison were at Sandusky,
while he himself was at Seneca. Major Groghan commanded
«t Fort Stephenson or Lower Sandusky.* This latter post
being deemed indefensible against heavy cannon, and it being
known that Proctor was approaching with artillery, the Gen-
•eral and a council of war, called by him, thought it best to
abandon it; but before this could be done, the appearance of
the enemy upon the thirty-first of July, 1813, made it impos-
sible. The commandant of this post was but twenty-one years

* I depend, in this portion of tlie narrative, very materially upon the
compilation of Mr. Peck, entitled the Western Annals. Published by Mr.
Albach at St. Louis, in 1851. — Ed.

UK, THK BOBDKR WAK8 OF TWO OKNTURUB.

889

of age, and tho garrison eonsigted of but one hundred and fit^y
Boldiers. There was within the tort only one piece of cannon,
and the fortifications were deemed insecure. On the other
hand, the investing force, including Tecumseh and his warriors,
waH over three thousand three hundred strong, with six pieces
of artillery.

Proctor at once demanded a surrender, and told Groghan
that unless he did so at once a general massacre would follow.
To this the daring young officer replied by saying, that "the
Indians would have none left to massacre, if the British con-
quered, for every man of the garrison would have died at his
post." Proctor at once opened fire upon the fort, concentrat-
ing his aim upon the northwest angle of the fort. This led
Groghan to believe that the British intended to make a breach
there, and carry the works by assault; he, therefore, at once
proceeded to strengthen that point by bags of sand and flour,
while under cover of night he placed his single six pounder in
a position to rake the angle threatened, and then, having
charged his infant battery with sings, and hidden it from the
enemy, he waited the event. During the night of the first of
August, and till late in the evening of the second, the firing
continued upon the devoted northwest corner; then, under
cover of the smoke and gathering darkness, a column of three
hundred and fifty men approached unseen to within twenty
paces of the walls. The musketry opened upon them, but with
little effect. The ditch was gained, and in a moment filled
with men: at that instant, the masked cannon, only thirty feet
distant, and so directed as to sweep the ditch, was unmasked
and fired, killing at once twenty-seven of the assailants. The
effect was decisive, the column recoiled, and the little fort was
saved with the loss of one man. On the next morning the
British and their allies, having the fear of Harrison before their
eyes, were gone, leaving behind them in their haste, guns,
stores, and clothing.

But now all were active, preparing for the attack on Maiden.

Kentucky sent her best men in vast numbers, under Governor

Shelby and Richard M. Johnson, and on the fourth of August

Perry got his vessels out of Erie into deep water. But of that

290

THK I.IVKH OF HJNTIAt! AND TKriMHKIi:

(•ontoHt we need say notliiiijjr, tor Perry's victory has become a
houHehoId word tliron^hont Atnerica.

Meanwhile the American army had rc(;eived reinforcements,
an<l waH only awaiting tho expected victory of Commodore
Perry, tt) eml)ark. On the twenty-seventh of September, it get
Hail for tho ahores of Canada, and in a few hoiirx Htmnl around
the ruins of the deaerttnl and wasted Maiden, from which Proc-
tor had retreated to Sandwich, intending to make Imh way to
to the heart of Canada, by the valley of the Thamen * On
the twenty-ninth tiarrison was at Stindwich, and McAr-
thur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Mich-
igan. At this point (Jol. Johnson's mounted rifle regiment,
which had gone up the west side of the river, rejoinjd
the main army. On the second of October, the Americans
began their march in pursnit of Proctor, whom they overtook
upon the fifth. He had posted his army with its left resting
upon the river, wliile the right flank was defended by a marsh;
the ground between the river and the marsh was divided length-
wise by a smaller swamp, so as to make two distinct flelds in
which the troops were to operate. The British were in two
lines, occupying the field between the river and small swamp;
the Indians extended from the small to the large morass, tiie
ground being suitable to their mode of warfare, and unfavora-
ble for cavalry. Harrison ordered ('ol. Johnson with his
mounted men to charge, and try to break the regular troopft,
by passing through their ranks and forming in their rear. In
arranging to do this, Johnson found the space between the
river and small swamp too narrow for all his men to act in
with effect; so, dividing them, he gave the right hand body
opposite the regulars in charge to his brother James, while
crossing the swamp with the remainder, he himself led the way
against Tecumseh and his savage followers. Tlie charge ot
James Johnson was perfectly successful. The Kcntuckians
received the tire of the enemy, broke through their ranks, and
forming beyond them, "produced such a panic by the novelty
of the attack that the whole body of troops yielded at once."
On the left the Indians fought courageously, and the American

* McAfee, 824 to 328— Western Annals.

OK, TIIK HOKDKK WAKH oK TWO (IKNTirKIM.

201

boraerncn were forced to dismount ; hut in a few moment!
TecuinBch, tlio great Shawanoe chieftain, who, more than any
other man brought about this war, fell dead. He was pierced
bj a bullet either from the Americans or from liis own fol-
lowerti who become enraged at his defeat. Tlie exact source of
his death is a mntter of dispute. The Indians were now discon-
certed. Tliey soon gave up the cx)nteBt, and now all was over
except the pursuit of Proctor, 'who had tied at the beginning
of the engagement. Such were the glorious victories of our
arms over the British and the Indians. Commodore Perry had
been triumphant on Lake Erie, and the scarcely less brave Uar-
riBon conqtierer in the battle of the Tliames.

This last contest practically closed the war in the Northwest.
Tecumseh having fallen, the Indians lost their power and pres-
tige, and the British having been thoroughly defeated, gave but*
little trouble at^terwards.

However, the Americans made one unsuccessful attempt to
invade Canada atWwards. They also failed in an expedition
against the British at Mackinac. Meanwhile, upon the twenty-
second of July, 1814, a treaty had been formed at Greenville,
under the direction of Gen. Harrison and Governor Cass, by
which the United States and the faithful Wyandots, Delawares,
Siiawanoes, and Senecas, gave peace to the Miamis, Weas, and
Eel river Indians, and to certain of the Pottawatomies, Otta-
was, and Kickapoos; and all the Indians engaged to aid the
Americans should the war with Great Britain continue. But
such, happily, was not to be the cAse, and on the twenty-fourth
of December, the treaty of Ghent was signed by the representa-
tives of England and the United States.

CHAPTER XXXVl.

The LirK and Timrh or Black Hawk — Di.aok Hawk DivriNomiRii
IIiMHKi.K AH A WAUHiun— Black Hawk Joimb tuu Uritinu — Tui
Bach Ohivkn Dktond tiir MiBHinttirri — BijiCK Hawk Ubmor.

BTUATKH — DKHCIlirTION 09 TUB PHIHCirAL Bau ViLLAOK AT liOOI
ItlVKH.

We will now turn onr course westward to the more recent,
and perhaps the more interesting incidents of border warfare
in that direction. The life and times of Black Hawk will next
engage the reader's attention. One writer has truthfully said,
*' Black Hawk may die, his name may be forgotten, and tlio
smoke of his wigwam be seen no more, but 'The Black Hawk
War' will long form a page of deep interest in the history
of this country."

Black Hawk, the Sac chieftain, was born at the principal
Sao village on Rock river, in the year 1707. As with tnany
ether distinguished warriors, he was not a chief's son, but rose
to that station through his own ability. At the early age of
fifteen he distinguished himself l)y killing an enemy, and was
at once permitted to paint himself after the custom of the Sac
braves. At a later day he was also permitted to wear feathers
according to the ancient customs of his tribe.

Ah early as 1783, he united in an expedition against the
Osages, and had the high fortune to kill several of the enemy.
For this brave act he was now permitted, for the first time, to
join in the scalp dance. Subsequently he became the leader
of a small band of his own tribe, and again performed actH of
great valor. His band was soon increased, and presently he
found himself at *\ie head of more than a hundred braves.
With this band he marched to an Osage village on the Mis-
eonri, bat finding it deserted, most of his followers became die*

(292)

OR, THR HriRDKR WARM Of TWO flKMTURIKt.

9^8

couragoil Htid roturnod home. Dlaok Hawk, however, with onljr
Imlf A dozun followoni, puniuod tiio enemy, and after leveral
(ittvV inarch, fiuccoodod in overtaking a Hiniill party and killing
out' man and a Ixiy. Securing their «ealps, lie returned homo,
l)eing gr«utu<l with additional ruspoot.

In 17H(( ho svaii again marching at the head of two hundred
bruvvM into the country of the unemy. On this occasion he
met a party quite tMiual to h'm own in numberH, and a battlu
took place in which he wan viotoriouB, having killed one
hundred and losing only nineteen. Nearly a score of the enemy
full by his own hand. This successful event had a two-fold
reHult — that of keeping the Usages in check and winning glory
for IMack tiawk. The Sacs, with this bravo at their head, now
turned their attention to the Gherokees, who had committed
several depredations upon them. A battle was fought between
tiieHe tribes upon the Merrimack river, beiow St. Louis, in
which Ulaek Hawk's father was killed, but the Cherokees wen*
defeute<l and compelled to retreat with a loss of twenty-eight
men, the Sacs losing but seven. ^ So great was his success at
this battle that he was immediately promoted to the high
Btation of chief.

In the year 1800, " he made another excursion," says Mr.
Gonclin, '^ against theOsages, at the head of about five hundfid
SacB and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, who had joined him as
allicM. After a long march they reached and destroyed about
forty lodges of the enemy, killing many of their bravest war-
riors, live of whom were slain by the leader of the invading
army." In 1802, he waged a successful war against the
Ghippewas, Ivaskaskias and Osagcs, killing over one hundred
warriors.

In 1803, Black Hawk made a visit to St. Louis, to see his
"Spanish father." He was well received, but found many sad
faces because the United States were about to take possession
of their country. Soon after, Lieut. Pike visited the camp of
Black Hawk, made several presents, and delivered a speech to
the Sacs, telling them that their American father would treat
them well. He presented them with an American flag, which
was hoisted, and requested them to pull down the British flag

— *

S)94

TIIK I.IVI« or III.AdK HAWK AND KMitKI'IC:

Riid f^ivn him tli^ir HritUh miHUU, promiMiti); tn ^ivi! tlii>m
othunt from i\wir Aim>ricHn fntlirr. TIiIm, li«»wfvi>r, Itliick lUvvk
de(!line<l, nnviiiK ll><^' '>>'* |HH>plu wiiiliiMl to linvo two tatliifm.

Soon AtYvr, tUv hiiiliiingof Fort KdwanU nonr t\w livud of
tho Doit Moiiu^M nipitlN, f^w grtmt iinuANiiiuM tu tliu Hiicii. Tlinv
•ent a (lopiitntioii tt» tlint |)oint, which rutunie<l with uiiMntiit.
fatrtory reportM. Hliick Hawk now plactHl hiniMitlf at th» 'ii'inl
of a Htnni^ forcn and inarchtHl to Fort Madiiton, which hIinhI
on the weAt Imnk of th» MiHMiNMippi, Home diiitancu dowii tlu)
DvH MoinoM. Thit) fort wait f^arriHontxi witli alnMit fifty itu«ii.
Black ilawkV ttpicM having aMcurtainud that tlie Hojilii'n
marched out of the fort every morning for cxurcitic, he deter.
mined tucorutMil liiH pitrty near the place and Hh(M)t tliem down.
On the morning of tiio pn)[M>Hud attack neveral HoldierH detiled
ont up<m tlie plain, and three of their nundwr waH inHtiintly
shot down. The IndianH then (titened tire iiiH)n the fort, hut
being unable to accompliHli anything in tluH way they returti«><l
to their village.

Upon the opening of the war of 1812, the 8hch tondere<I tlieir
serviceM to the United States, but their offer waH declined.
They had not been as liberally BUppliiMl with prenentH l»y the
Americans m they hud anticipate<l, and in the meantime tlie
BritiHh agentn liad "artfully fomented their dincontcnt, and
labored to win their confidence by the mo»t liberal diBtribution

among them of goods and ardent spirits.*' Soon after tlie
declaration of war a British trader appeared among them with
two boats loaded with goo<ls. The British flag was imine<Ji-
ately hoisted, and tho trader told Black I[awk that ho had
been sent by Col. Dixon, who was then at (Jreen Bay, with a
large quantity of goods, and who was desirous that the Sac
chietlain should raise a party of warriors and join him. Black
Hawk had but little difficulty in raising two hundred braves.
At the head of this band he marched to (Jreen Bay, where he
found Col. Uixoii e:icam})ed with a large body of Indiaiin from
various tribes, who had already been furnished with arms and
ammunition.

Dixon received Black Hawk with many marks of respect,
told him that the English were about to drive the Americaiu

0», THK WJMrwKIt WAHB tif TWM l<imTtrRIM.

9ftA

tyiMii tli«*ir liiiiitiii^ /riMiniU, aiii<) ^>litriti^ *iii«i, "you Hi'f t( , "iMiimiif) tall th*^ l»riivt*« tlint will
l»'u\«« lu'H' t\w flay urtiT to <»H»n<(W t«» join c^iir l>rHv»»* uvnr
jh'troit." AriiiH, clotliin^, kiuv««> »ri«l toinnhitwkit wef(< »<>w
<liMtril>ut(*<| uiiMMi^ jiliu'k iliiuk'n Imtxl, nw\ at tli<* n|i|N)iMti><l
tiini' Hvtt liun<lr(*<| wiirriorrt li*t> (trt>«'ii Khv oh tlit ir imtrfli to
pt'troit to join tlio Hrititth nrniy. Thiit nvhm in Aii^iiHt, tHltf,
uliiiitly iit1:er tliu niUMHucn* iit Fort DciirlNtrii.

KliK'k lluwk wiut iiMMiK'coMHf'ul umoii^ tlu> MritiHh, hihI l»«>in^
tin'<l with HUctt>MHiv(> «U'tt'utH liu ri'turiiiHl to hiit villu^t' on Kofk
rivir, wliuro, in all |>rolinl>iJity, hit would iiiivit nunuiinul nt>u-
tml liud it n(»t hwu tor t\w tiiunier of liiH luiopttKl hoii. My
this liiwIuHM net lit! wuM iiguin rouHud t«> von^funce iifj^iunHt tli(«
Aiiit>ri(;uiiit, iind iiftcr rcnuiinin^ h t'(>w <iuyt« ut tlio villiifjfe, imd
misiii^ n Imnd of hruviw, itrt^purtxl for ot)unMivt> o|K*riitioni« n|M)n
the frontierH. Tho pnrty, coiiiiiHtin^ of Hlniut thirty. d«>H(>«>nd«H|
the MiHHiHHippi in canoi'H to tho Hititof old Kort MudiHon, which
hml Imuii Hlmnd«»n(Mi by tlu* Aint^rican triHipHund burniMl. Von-
tinning thoir e«)urHu tlu>y hiiidiMl nmr (>Hp uu (IIm, whcro th««y
killtMJ one of the UnittHl HtiiteH rim^erH, hut were tiiuilly dirt-
|)«rri(>d Ity H detiiolunent from Fort Howard. The Indians,
liowt'ver, retunuHl fn tb« mnteMt and a battle euHued between
HJHck Iliiwk'n party an<l the troopH of Fort Howard, under
Lieut. Drakeford of the United HtatoH Uan^erH. In tluH battle
the AnicricanH loHt ten kille<l and Heveral wounded, the loss
b('iti<( about equal on lH>th nideH.

Ill lh|5, when the IndiatiH along the Mi8iiiBHi])pi valley had
Ih'cu notified of the peace Iwtween tlie United StatcH aiul Kng-
luiid, they, for the numt part, ceaHcd liostilitieH; but lilaek Hawk
ami liii* bund, and t»onie of the Pottawatoniiet*, were not inclined
to live in peace. In tlie spring of 181rt they, in connection with
the British, captured the garrison at Prairie du (Miien, ajid
attacked some boats that were ascending the Mississippi to that
point with troops and provisions. One of the boats was cap-
tured and several of the crew killed. The Imats were compelled
to return. In 181H, however. Black Hawk and his tribe con-
duded a peace with the Americans, by which the hatchet was

296

THK UVV» OV m.\CK HAWK AND KKOKUK!

l)uried ; and now, wo hear but littlo of this wonderful Irdian
until tlie hostilities which broke out in 1832.

Soon after this treaty the United States government built
Fort Armstrong, upon Kock Island, in the Mississippi river,
•ind but a few miles from the Indian village where Jiiuek Hawk
resided. The Sae Indians were jeajus of this movement, lor
they loved to look upon Rock Island as one of their choicfcst
resorts. They had a traditionary belief that this island was
the favorite residence of a good spirit which dwelt in a cavo in
the rocks on which Fort Armstrong was afterwards built.
This spirit had often been seen by the Indians, but after the
erection of the fort, alarmed by its noise and intrusion of the
wliite man, it spread its beautiful wings and de]><irted.

In the autumn of 1818, Black Hawk and some of his band
went on a visit to their British father at Maiden, and received
many presents from him. A medel was given to Black Hawk
for his fidelity to the British, and he Avas requested to make
annual visits with his band, and receive such presents as liad
been promised him by Col. Dixon in 1812. These visits were
regularly made down to 1830. In the latter year Black Hawk
and his party encamped at two- rivers for the purpose of hunt-
ing, and while there was so badly treated by some white men,
that his prejudices against the Americans were greatly revived.

In the ensuing summer the Americans urged the wiiole of
the Sacs and Foxes to remove to the west side of the iMissis-
sippi. Tliis policy was urged upon them by the agent at P'ort
Armstrong. The principal Fox chief, and several of the Sac
chiefs, among whom was Keokuk, assented to the removal.
The latter sent a message through the village informing the
Indians that it was the wish of their great father, the Presi-
dent, that they siiou'd all go to the west side of the Mississippi,
and he pointed out tlie Iowa river as a suitable place for their
new village. There was a pai'ty among the Sacs called the
"British I'and," who were bitterly o])poHed to a removal; and
they appealed to their old leader, Black Hawk, for his decision
on the question, lie claimed the ground on which their vil-
lage stood had never been sold, and that, therefore, the Ameri-
cans had no I'iglit to insist upon the measure.

BLACKHAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN.

OK, THE BORDRB WAKH OF TWO OENTURIES.

297

Black Hawk was now becoming old, and he felt that his
power in the tribe was waning before tlie rising popularity of
Keokuk, his rival. He now resolved to place himself at the
head of a band, and, if possible, recover his influence.

However, during the following winter, while Black Hawk
and his party were absent on a hunting expedition, several
white families arrived at their village, destroyed some of their
lodges, and commenced making fences over their cornfields.
As soon as the old Sac chieftain heard of this movement, he
promptly returned to Rock Island, where he found his own
lodge occupied by the whites. He next went to Fort Arm-
strong and made complaint to the interpreter, the agent being
absent. He next visited the prophet, Wabokiesheik, or White
(yloud, whose opinions were held in much respect by the Sacs.
This distinguished man urged Black Hawk not to remove, but
to persuade Keokuk and his party to return to Rock river.

Black Hawk now returned to his hunting party, and in the
spring when the band returned to their village they found the
white settlers still there, in possession of their lodges and corn-
fields. About the same time Keokuk visited Rock river, and
did all in his power to persuade the remainin^^ Sacs to accom-
pany him to the new village on the Iowa, but Black Hawk
said it would be an act of cowardice to yield up their village
and the graves of their fathers to strangers, who had no right
to the soil. Keokuk's influence was exerted in vain and he
returned to the western village.

The settlers began to increase, and it would seem that the
Sac village on Rock river was the principal point of attrac-
tion. At this place the Sacs had had their principal village
for more than seventy years. Tlieir women had broken the
surface of the surrounding prairies with their hoes and inclosed
with a kind of pole-fence many fields which were annually
cultivated by them in the raising of com, beans and squashes.
They had also erected several hundred houses of various dimen-
sions, some probably one hundred feet in length by forty or
fifty feet broad, which were constructed of poles and forks,
arranged so as to form a kind of frame, which was then in-
closed with the bark of trees, which, being pealed off and

208

THE LIVKg OF DLAOR HAWK AND KEOKUK :

dried under u wei^jlit, for the purpose of keeping it ex])an<led,
was afterwiirds coiiHne*! to tlio walls and roof by moans of
cords conipose<l of the bark of other trees. This was, ind»!ed,
a delightful spot. On the northwest rolled the majestic Mis-
sissippi, while the dark forests which clothed the islaml of
liock river, with its several rippling streams on the south const,
formed a delightful contrast which was rendered still more
pleasing from the general declivity of the surrouniling country
as it sinks gradually away to the shores of these rivers. This
ancient village literally became the graveyard of the Sac
nation. Stnircely an individual could be found in the whole
nation who had not deposited the remains of some relatives in
or near to this place. Thither the mother, with mournful and
melancholy step, annually repaired to pay a tribute of respect
to her departed offspring, while the weeping sisters and loud
lamenting widows joined the procession of grief, sometimes
in accordance with their own feelings, no doubt, but always in
pursuance of an established custom of their nation from time
immemorial. On these occasions they carefully cleared away
every spear of grass or other vegetable which they found
growing near the graves, and made such repairs as seemed
necessary. They also carried to the grave some kind of food
which they left for the spirit of the deceased, and before they
concluded these ceremonies they often, in a very melancholy
and lamenting mood, addressed the dead, inquiring how they
fared, and who, or whether any one performed for them the
kind offices of mother, sister or wife, together with many other
inquiries wdiich a frantic imagination happened to suggest.
This being one of the most important religious duties, was
scrupulously observed by all the better class of this people.*

♦ Chronicle of North American Savages.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

DiKKicni.TiES Bktwkkn BiiACK Hawk and thk SETTLRnu at Rock
UivKii — A Mii.iTAiiY FoiicR (!allkd out Ttt Ukmove the Sao
iNorANB Webt ok tue MirtBiBsippi — Hketch of Keokuk — His
BuAVERY, Sagacity and Eloquence.

Thk settlkhs who establislied themselves at Kock river, in
violation of the laws of Congress, and the provisions of all
treaties, committed various aggressions upon the Indians, such
as destroying their corn, killing their domestic animals, and
whipping the women and children.* They took with theni as
articles of traffic, whisky and other liquors, and by distribut-
ing it among the savages, produced all the horrors of debauchery.
Black Hawk remonstrated against this, and, upon one occasion,
he, with two of his companions entered one of the houses
where the liquor was kept, rolled out a barrel of whisky, broke
in the head and emptied the contents upon the ground. Thus
matters continued for several years. The settlers were pushing
their claims in defiance of the rights of the Indians, and the
latter could obtain no redress. According to the treaty which
defined the rights and wrongs of this matter, " as long as the
lands which are now ceded to the United States remain their
property, the Indians belonging to said tribes shall enjoy the
privilege of living and hunting upon them." None of the
lands in the vicinity of Rock river were brought into market
by the United States until the year 1829. Previous to this
date, of course, the white settlers there were tresspassers of
tlie law and of justice. In the latter year, however, a tract of
land at the mouth of the Hock river, including the Sac village,
was sold. This was done with a view of removing the Sac
Indians to the west side of the Mississippi. Therefore, in the

• Life of Black Hawk.

(299)

«00

TIIK IJVIW OK ULAOK HAWK AND KKOKirK:

ttpring of 1880, when Black Hawk and IiIm hand returned tiom
the winter's liunt to occupy their lodges, and prepare for raia.
ing their crop of vegetables, they found that their lands had
l»een purchased by the settlers. Black Hawk, greatly dis.
turbed by this change, applied to the [ndian agent at that
])lace, wishing redress, but was informed that since the govern-
nient had sold IiIh land he had no longer any right to it. The
chief still refused to cross the river, and in the course of that
season he visited Maiden, to talk with his British father on the
subject. He also called upon Governor (^ass at Detroit on the
same subject. Both of these persons told him that if he
remained quietly upon their lands, the Americans would not
interfere with them. Consequently Black Hawk returned
home determined to keep possession of his old village. But it
was late in the fall when he arrived, his people had gone to the
hunting grounds, and he was not long in following them.
During this winter Keokuk exerted his best inHuence to induce
them to desert Black Hawk and follow him to the new village
on the Iowa, but without success. They were so firmly
attached to their old chief, and to their ancient village that
they returned with him to it in the following spring of 1831.
The traders at Rock river now attempted to induce Black
Hawk and his band to leave by making him presents, and after
a long persuasion the old chief agreed to go, provided the
government would distribute six thousand dollars' worth of
goods among his people. This the government promptly
declined to do, and threatened to send an armed force to drive
him from the village if he and his people did not leave at once.
The squaws had planted their corn, and it was beginning to
grow, but the settlers, claiming that the Indians had no right
to the ground, plowed it up again. Matters had, at las\ come
to a crisis. The old chief could stand it no longer, and he
notified every settler to leave the village at o .i.t Meanwhile,
not satisfied with their encroachments upon tlie rights of the
savages, the settlers united in a memorial to the governor of
the Territory of Illinois, in which they declared that the Sac
Indians " had threatened to kill them; that they had acted in
a most outrageous manner; threw down their fences; turned

OK, THK HOKUKK WAK8 OF TWO (^KN'I'UKIKH.

«ol

horses into their cornfields; stole their potatoes, saying the
land was theirn, and that they had not sold it; leveled deadly
weapons at the citizens, and, on some occasions, hurt the citi-
zens, for attempting to prevent the destruction of their
property."

"One of these eight afflicted memorialists." says Mr. Oonc-
liii, " swore the other seven to the truth of their statements,
and. with an earnest prayer for immediate relief, it was placed
before his Excellency on the nineteenth of May."

Hut this was not the only complaint. Every day reports
were coming in to the governor's office representing the lawless
ants of " General Black Hawk " and his " British Band."
These representations had the desired effect. A strong force
was sent against the Sac Indians, and they were driven in terror
to the west of the Mississippi.

Before passing on to the consequences of this measure, let
us glance, for a moment, at Keokuk, Black Hawk's rival, who
figures conspicuously in our narrative. He was a native Sac,
and was born near the Rock river village, about the year 1780.
Like Black Hawk, ho was not a chief's son, but worked his way
to the distinguished position of chief by his own native force
of character, bravery and address. He began to manifest rare
qualities at a very early period of his life. While but a youth
he engaged in a battle against the Sioux. In the engagement
he encountered and killed a Sioux warrior, with his spear, while
on horseback; and, as tlie Sioux are distinguished for their
horsemanship, this feat was looked upon as marvelous. A
public feast was made in commemoration of it by his tribe, and
the youthful warrior was from that day ranked among the
greatest Sac braves.

During the war of 1812, and before Keokuk was old enough
to be admitted to the councils of his nation, the American
government, as we have already seen, sent an expedition against
the Peoria Indians. During the advance of this detachment,
a rumor reached the Sac village on Rock river, that the expe-
dition would also attack the Sacs. This news threw the whole
tribe into confusion. A council was immediately held, and all
agreed to abandon their village. As soon as Keokuk heard of

802

TIIK I.IVii» or lil.ACK IIAWK AND KKOKI K:

tIliK (lecirtion, he iulvnrieod to tlio door of tlio c'oiiiM'il houH(>iind
UHkrd to Ih> tidiiiittcd. Tlii^ licin^ ^I'liritctl, lie next dt'iiiuiuli'il
|>uriiiiHr<ioti to Mpnik, wliicii wim uIho tVcfly ^nuittHl liim. Ilu
Hiii<l that lie liud lieiird their dtM'iriioii with Hiir|>riHe mid regret;
thtit he was o|)|)« tried to a tlight, until the strength of the enemy
eould he aweertaiiied. He Hai«l, '• make nio vour h-ader! I.et
yuur yoiiii^ men follow me, and the pale faceri hhall Im: driven
haek to their towiiH. Let tlie old men and the women, iuk! all
who are afraid to meet the white man Htay here, hut let vour
braveri ^o to battle." The speech had a magic effect, and every
warrior present declared that he was rea»ly to follow the gallant
Keokuk, lie wu8 chosen at once to lead them against tlu;
enemy. Of ciuirse, it ♦.iirned out that the rumor was without
foundation, and there was no enemy tu battle with, but the
eloi^iience and bravery of lvtH)kuk placed him very high in the
ranks of the S«ic braves.,

But it was not long before events transpired which gave him
an opportunity to display his warlike spirit. At one time
Keokuk was hunting with a party in the country which laid
between the Sac and Sioux villages. As is well known, thetie
tribes had been at war for many years, Unexpectetlly a party
of Sioux came upon them, mounted and rea<ly for battle. The
Sacs were also mounted, but the situation and numbers were
both in favor of the Sioux. Keokuk instantly formed his men
into a compact circle, ordered them to dismount, and take
shelter behind their horses. By this ingenious movement they
were enabled to screen themselves from the flying missiles
of the Sioux. It also placed them in a position by which they
c<Mild avail themselves of their superior skill as marksmen.
The battle was a long and hard one, but Keokuk was triuiiij)li-
ant, and routed the enemy with great loss. He had many
other opportunities of showing his military skill, and was
almost always successful. *

Keokuk's eloquence and abiljty in civil matters were (jiiite
equal to his military talents. Some of his speeches are splen-
did eviden(;e8 of his sagacity. While Jilack Hawk led many
of the Sac braves against the Americans in the war of 1812,
Keokuk and a majority of them renuiined neutral, but in

OK, TUB BOKDKR W4KH or l-WO CKNTUKIES.

ao3

thi« lie wan ex|M»Hed to ^rmt <lHn';er. Ho rocjiicHttid the agnnt
of tlio Aiiicricun j^oviTtmu'iit to huikI to IiIh villuj^ts on the
went rtitlu of thu MiHHiHHi|)|>i, u white iiiuii who uri<U^rHtoo(l the
JSiic liiiigua|{u, and who nii^ht Intar witnesH to hiri hincerity and
t'aitlit'idneHti to the whiter*. Such a person \va8 Hunt. The
excitement among hitt peoplu, kindUid hy the power of iilack
Hiiwk, every (hiy inereaHed, until Keokuk 8tood on a mine Ha-
hit! to l>e expK>ded by a Hinglu 8park. lie wan in peril of being
8liiiii art the frien<l of the AmericaiiR; but he remained («lnt
and unawed, ruling Iuh turbulent little State with mildtiesHand
tirmnenH, b\it at tho constant risk of his life. One day a new
einit*sary arrived from lilaek Hawk's party. Whisky was freely
introduced into tho camp, atid Keokuk saw that the crisis was
at hand. He warned the white man, who was his guest, of the
itn|H>nding danger, and advised him to conceal himself. A
scene of tumult followe<l. Tho emissary spoke of the blood
that had been shed; of their relations who had been driven
from their hunting grounds; of many insults and injuries
which had been luddly perpetrated by the Americans; hinted
at the ready vengeance that might betaken on an exposed fron-
tier; of defenseless cabins, and of rich booty. The braves began
to dance around the war pole, to paint and to give evidences of
a warlike character. Keokuk watche<l the impending storm,
and prepared himself to take an important part in it. He
drank and listened, and apparently assental to all that was
said. At length his warriors called out to be led to battle,
and he was asked to lead them. He rose and spoke with that
power that had never failed him. Ho sympathized with their
wrongs, their thirst for vengeance, and won their confidence by
givnij^ utterance to the passions by which they were moved,
and echoing back their own thoughts with a master spirit. He
then considered the })ropo8ition to go to war, spoke of the
power of the whites, and the hopelessness of the contest, lie
told them he was their chief; that it was his duty to rule them
as a father at home, or to lead them to war if they determined
to go. Out, in the proposed war, there was no middle course.
Tlie ])o\ver of the United States was such that unless they con-
quered that great nation, they must perish; that he would lead

804

riiiii uvKM or Hi.AOK HAWK AMit Kh;oKi k:

thoin fnrttantly ugniiiHt thu whites on one condition, iind that
wus, tliat th«'v WMiil'l tirrtt put nil tlicir woniuii an<l childntn tu
<loath, aim! tlioii rcHolvu that, liiivitig orottMud tliu MiHsinKippi,
thoy would ncvui' ruturn, hut puruh arnon^ thu ^ruvvM of thoir
tuthvr§, riithcr thiin yield thuni to the whitu men.

Thi8 pi'opoHul, d(!Hpvrutu m it wan, ])rertuiito<l thu truu irtHuu,
and it calmed thu spiritH of thu ehimorouM warriorx, who now
rujifai'ded Keokuk as their ruler, ami ol>eyi'<l hin nuuiHel.

It will l)u Huun that thu 8iiCd were divided, part under Mlack
Hawk and part under Kuokuk. TIiIh divlHion created iiuitiy
diHsunHiotit) in thu tribe, and at length led to thu overthrow of
the latter, a young brave being electe<l to his pluco. Ke()kiik
received the ehangu with a good grace, and t(»(>k \i\» place
among thu common warriors without a word. Ih.t it wan not
long before the inca])acity t>f hirt HuecebHor mauifeHtod it^ulf,
and Keokuk wao again called upon to rule the councila of \m
nation, and lead th<^ warriors to battle.

In 1832, five 8(ic8, belonging to Kcokuk'u party, nnirderuda
Bettler in lUinoiH. One of the guilty party was \m own
nephew, but he was imnnidiately seii"! anddelivurud up to the
civil authorities, the other four having escaped. Some time
after the Americans demanded the other four prisoncrM, but
they could not be found. Keukuk calU-d a council and stated
the matter at length, saying that something must be done to
appease the wrath of the President. An expedient was soon
offered. Four young warriors came forward and gave them-
Belves up, manifesting a willingness to die for thu crimes of
their brethren. These brave men were turned over to the
proper officers and imprisoned. Keokuk was present at their
trial, and testitied that the prisoners were not guilty, but that
they had offered to die in order to satisfy the law. He said
that the real murderers had escaped. The prisoners were, of
course, set at liberty. ' \.

Sometime after, Keokuk, Black Hawk and several Sac oliief«
made a visit to Washington and the principal cities of the
Eastern States, in which they were well received. In Boston
they created great excitement, wliich was caused by the war
dance on the common. In all the savage virtues, Keokuk was
a superior Indian, far in advance of Black Hawk.

I I

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CoMMKNCKMRNT Or TIIR Hl.ACK IIaWK WaH— Thr HaCH ViOI.ATR THItm
TllKATT— TlIRT AUK niinKllKD TO UrTUHN WrsT OF TIIR Misatft.

Kii'Pi — TuRT Rrrubr — PuHBORD OT Amrhican TRoopa— Bi.aok
Hawk and iiib Band Viotorioub— Druoi.ation in tiir Boiidrb
Sktti.rmknts or Ii.mnoii— Bi<aok Hawk DKrKATRu— Htarvatiox

AMONO THR SaVAORI.

We now have before us two men — Black Hawk and Keoknk.
A glance at their different virtues has enabled the reader to
judge somewhat of these Indians. Let us now notice, briefly,
the principal acts of their lives.

Black Hawk and his band had not boon long in their new
village before difhculties began to arise which terminated in a
violation of the treaty which he had made subsequent to his
removal. They had been sent away from their homes too late
in the season to admit of planting corn and beans, and before
autumn was over they were suffering for provisions. It is not
surprising that in this condition they should attempt to steal
tiie corn which they had planted on the opposite side of the
river in the spring. Many events followed, trivial in their
character, but all well qualified to foster the hatred which
already existed between Black Hawk's band and the Americans.
In April, 1832, the whole party, under this chief, crossed over
the river, and in open violation of their treaty of the previous
year, ascended the Rock river to the territory of their friends,
the Winnebagoes, having been invited thither to raise corn.
General Atkinson, with a body of troops, was then at Fort
Armstrong, having been ordered by the government to that
point for the purpose of quelling a war which existed between
the Mcnominies and the Foxes. Black Hawk had not pro-
<!eeded far up the river when he was overtaken by a messenger
80 ^ (808)

806

TIIK I.IVKM or III.Af'K HAWK AND KKoKltK:

from iieu. AtkiiiMoii with nil unlor tor him aikI hi* piirty to
rutiini and rtHToMH thu MiHNiHMippi. Thin thu chiuf ntCiiMnj to
o)N>y, Hiiyiiif^ thut thn (^utiurul hud no ri)(ht to iHMiio mucIi un
onlur. IIo (KiclHri'd thnt ho wum at |M*n('» with thu Amuriiitiiit,
Hiid thiit hi) wuH p4'U('i>ul)ly truvt'lin^ townrdH the vilUi^u of Ima
t'riondH. Thuy joiirm^Mtl on, hut won? kooh ovcrtukiMi liv
Hiiothor iiu>HH«>ii)j;(!r, who hroii^ht word that luihm:^ thi> Such
roturiu><l and rccroHMcd tho MiMrtiHHippi at once, an unncd titi-iv
would hu Hunt to ntnipol thvin. UUn-k tIawkV ruply whh (|«f i.
live; hu would not ruturn. Arriving at thu villii^> to which
hu waH trnvuling, thu Sac rhiut' t'outid that in caMi ho Hhoiild Im)
purimod hy thu troopH at Fort ArniHtron^, liu would l)o iimitilu
to ohtain any aHHiHtanco from thono Indianit, uiid ho thticforo
roHolvud, if ovortakun, to roftirti pt'uroahly. 11*' »MU'aiiip»'(l nt
Kish-wa-eokuu and l)ogan |>rupanition8 for a dog-foaet, with
which to complimunt the PottawatomiuH.

Muanwhilu thu Illinois militia waH ordurcing for tlu> inoHt
part mounted, procueded by land to Dixou'H furry, (»m U(M'k
river, ahout half way between the fort and Black HawkV pres.
ent encampment. (Jen. Atkinson, with thi-ee hundred iiiilitiu
and three hundred re^^ularH, ascended thu river in boatn to the
8amu point. "Major 8tillman," sayrt Mr. Conclin, "lmviii;»
under his command a body of two hundred and Huveiity-tivc
mounted volunteers, obtained leave of Gen. Whitesideo, then
in command of the Illinois militia at Dixon's ferry, to ^o out
on a scouting expedition. lie j)roceedc'.l up Hock river about
thirty miles, to Sycamore creek, which empties into that river
on the east side. This movement brought him within a tew
miles of the camp of Black Hawk and a jtart of hiri braves
at the time when the old chief wau engaged in getting up a
dog-feast in honor of his Pottawatomie visitors."

While engaged in this ancient ceremony, on the fourteenth
of May, Black Hawk received intelligence of the advance of a
large number of mounted volunteers, which were reported as
being about eight miles distant. "I immediately started,"
says the old chief, " three young men with a white flag to meet

TDK IkiMMKH WANN nV TWO OKN ri'NII>y.

807

tlii'iii nii*l cuttdiict tli<^ni t<» our cninp, timt wn iiii^lit hold h

ciiiiitcil witi Mutin utul (li>M<*(>ii<l Uock riviT ii^uiii; hikI (iir««cti><l

tliiMii, it) «''*i*< t\w wliitcM IiimI t>n<>iuii|>«M|, to r(>turri, hikI I would

^) aihI m>c thuiii. Atti>r tltiH purty lind Htiirtcd, I Mvrit Hve

yiiuii^ iiuMi to MOV whiit inif,(lit tuk« placr. Hut Hrxt pHrty

ui'tit to ihi>()ncutiipiiii>ntot*tli() uliit<>H uid wur«« lukt'ii priHuiturH.

TIk' luHt purty liud not pr«nH'i'dt'd I'lir Iw-forn they hhw twoiity

nii'ti oMuiii^ towardrt tlutiii in full ^iillop. Tliry Htop|>iHl, uiid

titiiliii^ tluit tliu wliitcM W(>ru cotniii^ ho t'HNt, In u wiirliko uttl<

tiidt', thoy turiMMJ and rotrtMitud, l>ut wvro purHuod and uvnr-

titlicti, aiul two of tlicin killed. Tliu othorN nindu their eH(;a(>e.

Wlici) tliuy mint' in with tito nuwH, I wiui prcpnrinf( my fla^M

l> iii»'<'t tlu> war < hiut*. Tim alarm wan given. Nearly all my

yoiiii^ men wtM-t; al)Hunt, about ten miles otF. I started with

wliiit 1 had lut't, ahout t'urty, and had proceeded hut a short

tliHtiiiice hef'ore we naw a part (»t' the enemy approiu'.hing. I

riilM'd a yell, and Haid to my braves, 'some of our people have

Ih'i'ii kilUfd — wantonly and t-ruelly murdered! we must avenge

their deathl' In a little while we discoverefl the whole army

coining towards uh in full gallop! We were now confident

timt our KrHt party had been killed. I immediately placed my

inn I in front of some buHlies, that we might have the first fire,

when they approached close enough. They made a halt some

(llHtiinco from us. I gave another yell, and ordered my brave

wiirriorH to charge u|M)n them, expecting that we woidd all bo

killed! They did charge. Every man rushed and fired, and

the enemy retreated in the utmost confusion and consternation

before my little but brave band of warriors. After pursuing

the enemy for some dintance, I found it useless to follow them,

&» thoy n)de so fast, and returned to my encampment with a

few of my braves, about twenty-five liaving gone in pursuit

of the enemy. I lighted my pipe and sat down to thank tlie

(Treat Spirit for what lie had done. I had not been long

meditating when two of the three young men I had sent out

witii the Hag to meet the American war chief entered. My

astonishment was not greater than my joy to see them living

and well. 1 r^HgU'-y listened to tlieir story, which was as

follows:

808

THK LIVK8 OF OI.AOK HAWK AND KKoKUK:

**' When we arrived near to the encampment of tlie whites a
uuinber of them ruHlied out to meet us, bringing tiieir gutiD
witii them. They took us in the camp, when an American
who spoke the Sac language a little, told us that his chief
wanted to know how we were, where we were going, where
our camp was, and where Black Hawk was. We told him that
we had come to see his chief; that our chief had directed us
to conduct him to our camp, in case he had not encamped, and
in that event to tell him that he (Black Hawk) would come to
gee him; he wished to hold a council with him, as lie imd
given up all intention of going to war. At the conclusion of
this talk a party of white men came in on horseback. We saw
by their countenances that something had happened. A gen-
eral tumult arose. They looked at us with indignation, talked
among themselves for a moment, when several cocked their
guns; in a second they iired at us in the crowd; our companion
fell dead. We rushed through the crowd and made our escape.
We remained in ambush but a short time before we heard
yelling like Indians running an enemy. In a little while we
saw some of the whites in full speed. One of them came near
us. I threw my tomahawk and struck him on the head, which
brought him to the ground. I ran to him and with his own
knife took off his scalp. I took his gun, mounted his horse,
and took my friend here behind me. We turned to follow our
braves, who were running the enemy, and had not gone far
before we overtook a white man whose horse had mired in a
swamp. My friend alighted and tomahawked the man, who
was apparently fast under his horse. He took his scalp, horse
and gun. By this time our party was some distance ahead.
We followed and saw several white men lying dead on the way.
After riding about six miles we met our party returning. We
asked them how many of our men had been killed. They
said none, after the Americans had retreated. We inquired
then how many whites had been killed. They replied they did
not know, but said we would soon ascertain, as we must scalp
them as we go back. On our return we found ten men beside
the two we had killed before we joined our friends. Seeing
that they did not yet recognize us, it being dark, we again

OB, TIIK HORDKli WARS OK TWO CKNTrRIFX

309

asked how many of our braves had been killed. They said
five. We asked who they were. Tliey re})lied that the first
party of three who went out to meet tlie American war chief
had all been taken prisoners and killed in the encampment,
and that out of a party of five who followed to see the meet-
ing of the first party and the whites, two had been killed.
We were now certain that they did not recognize us, nor did
we tell them who we were until we arrived at our camp. The
news of our deilth had reached it some time before, and all were
surprised to see us again.' "

"The precipitate flight of the troops under Major Stillman,"
says Conclin, " has no justification." No eflTort vras made to
rally the troops, and all the baggage of the army, blankets,
saddle-bags, camp equipage and provisions fell into the hands
of the Indians. Black Hawk, finding that his peace flag had
been fired upon, and being intoxicated with his success,
determined on war. Indeed, with the provision and other
supplies which he had secured in this contest, he was not poorly
qualified for the undertaking. He assembled his braves and
began active preparations for a border war. He immediately
sent out spies to watch the movements of Gen. Atkinson, and
prepared to remove his women and children from the seat of
war further up the Rock river, where, as he thought, they
would be secure from the whites. In passing to this point he
was met by a band of Winnebagoes, who, having heard of his
victory, signified a willingness to join him.

But meanwhile the defeat of the troops spread consternation
throughout the settlements of Illinois. The Indian forces were
greatly misrepresented, and everywhere Black Hawk and his
band were spoken of as bold and cunning warriors. Gen.
Atkinson at once fortified his camp at Dixon's Ferry, and the
Governor of the State issued a call for more mounted volun-
teers. The Secretary of War sent one thousand troops from
the East under Gen. Winfield Scott, who was to have the com-
mand of the campaign against the Black Hawk forces.

And now we come to the horrors of another border war in
which many frontier families were massacred or carried away
into captivity, torture and death. The catalogue begins with

810

TIIK IA\'V» OK IILAOK HAWK AND KKOKIK".

the IndiHii creek massacre. At this point a party of horttile
Pottawatoniies, thirty in number, fell upon a little settlement
on Indian creek, one of the tributaries of Fox river, and mur-
dered fifteen men, women and children, taking two prisoners,
the Misses Hall, who were afterwards returned to their friends
by the Winnebagoes. ,

It was, indeed, a war of detail. A party of Indians stole
the horses belonging to Capt. Stephenson, who resided not far
from Galena. The captain pursued them with twelve men. A
battle or skirmish ensued, in which six Indians and three sol-
diers were killed. Soon after, a party of eleven Sacs killed live
white men at Stafford's farm. Vengeance followed; General
Dodge followed and overtook them in a swamp, when they
were all shot down and scalped. Three soldiers fell in the con-
test. On the twenty-fourth of June, 1832, the Indians made
an attack upon the fort at Buffalo Grove, not far from Dixon's
Ferry. The post was garrisoned by one hundred and fifty men,
commanded by Capt. Dement. In this contest many of the
soldiers and forty horses were killed. After accomplishing
this, and seeing that they could not take the fort, they com-
menced a retreat. They had not gone far when they were
overtaken by a detachment under Col. Posey. This is Black
Hawk's account of the contest which followed : " We concealed
ourselves until they came near enough, and then commenced
yelling and firing, and made a rush upon them. About this
time their chief (Posey,) with a party of men, rushed up to
the rescue of those we had fired upon. In a little while
they commenced retreating, and left their chief and a few
braves, who seemed willing and anxious to fight. They acted
like braves, but were forced to give way when I rushed upon
them with my braves. In a short time the chief returned with
a larger party. He seemed determined to fight and anxious
for battle. When he came near enough, I raised the yell, and
firing commenced from both sides. The chief, who is a small
man, addressed his warriors in a loud voice, but they soon
retreated, leaving him and a few braves on the battlefield. A
great number of my warriors pursued the retreating party and
killed a number of their braves as they ran. The chief and

OK, THK ROKDEK WAU8 OF TWO OKNTlTRIEfl.

811

his l)rave8 were unwilling to leave the field; I ordered my
braves to rush upon them, and had the mortification of Beein((
two of my chiefs killed before the enemy retreated. This
young chief deserves great praise for his courage, but fortu-
nately for us, his army was not all composed of such brave
men." The numbers on both sides were about equal in this
engagement. On the fourth of July, the army under Gen.
Atkinson, consisting of four hundred regulars and over one
thousand mounted volunteers, arrived at the foot of Lake Cash-
conong. Two brigades of the volunteers, under Gen. Dodge,
pursued the Indians from this point, and overtook them on the
twenty-first of July, about sundown, on the banks of the Wis-
consin. An attack was made^ resulting in the route of
the Indians, with a heavy loss. One of the troops was
killed and eight wounded. "The exact loss of the Indians
in this engagement cannot be ascertained. One account," says
Mr. Conclin, " places the number at sixteen." Black Hawk
says that he had but fifty warriors with him in this engage-
ment, the rest being engaged in assisting the women and
children in crossing the Wisconsin to an island, to protect
them from the fire ; f the whites. This was undoubtedly a
mistake, as one of his own men gives the number engaged in
the battle at sixty or seventy. "A party of Black Hawk's
band, including many women and children, now attempted to
descend the Wisconsin upon rafts and in canoes, that they might
escape by recrossing the Mississippi." But in this attempt they
were overtaken and attacked by troops which had been sta-
tioned on the banks of the river. Many of the savages were
killed, some were taken prisoners, others escaped to the neigh-
boring woods, where they soon perished from hunger. Another
party, among whom was Black Hawk, having, it is said, aban-
doned all idea of continuing the war, and being unwilling to
trust themselves to a capitulation, started across the country,
hoping to escape west of the Mississippi. In this route they
lost many of their people from starvation. Eeachir^^ the Mis-
sissippi, a number of the women and children undertook to
descend the river in canoes to Prairie du Chien. Manv of
them were drowned in this attempt, and those who did reach

312

THK LIVES OF BLACK HAWK AMD KKfJKVK',

their destination were found to bo in a starving condition.
But let us turn to Black Hawk and his party. On the first of
August, while in the act of crossing the MiBsissippi, he was
attacked by the steamboat Warrior, with an armed force on
board.

In this engag ment the Indians lost twenty-three killed, and
a great many wounded, while on board the Warrior, not one of
the gallant little crew was killed, only one being siightly
wounded. On the following morning, the whole of General
Atkinson's army was upon them. The Warrior also assisted,
killing three by the first shot. In Atkinson's army nine were
killed and seventeen wounded. The Indians were, of course,
cruelly put to flight.

< I

: , "

CHAPTER XXXIX. n

Black Hawk's Dekeat— He and His Bksd akk £)RtvBN into tbb
Mississippi — Tbhrible Indian Slauoiitek — Tiik W/»'. Ended —
BiiACK Hawk Captubed, and with otiieh Ciiibkb Conitnkd in
Ikons— He Visits Washington and tub Eastern Cities— His
Reception.

Gen. Atkinson was not satistied with his triumph upon the
Wisconsin, but pushed forward with his whole army in pursuit
of the Indians, making forced marches over a rough, uneven
country. On the morning of the second of August, when
witliin ten miles of the Mississippi, it was ascertained that the
enemy was then on the bank of the river in their front, pre-
paring to embark, at a place called Bad Axe. Arrangements
were at once made for an attack. Gen. Dodge's squadron was
placed in front, followed by the infantry, and these by the
brigades of Henry, Alexander and Posey. They had proceeded
in this order for about five miles, when they discovered a small
party of Indians, and immediately fired upon them. This
band retreated to the main body on the bank of the river. In
order to prevent the Indians from escaping. Generals Alexan-
der and Posey were directed to form the right wing of the
array, and to march to the river above the Indian encampment,
and then to move down along the bank. Gen. Henry formed
the left wing, and the United States infantry and Gen. Dodge's
squadron occupied the centre. In this order the army descended
into the valley of the river, which was covered with weeds and
heavy brushwood. Gen. Henry was the first to discover the
enemy. He opened a heavy fire upon them, which was
returned. Gen. Dodge's troops and the United States infantry
joined him in the action, and the whole, with Gen. Henry's
men, rushed upon the savages, killing them without mercy.
Only a few of them escaped.

(813)

314

TIIK LIVKH OP nLA(?K HAWK AND KEOKUK:

Mcanwliile, the brigndes of Alexander and Posey, which
were approaching along the river's bank, fell in with another
party of Indians, putting them to rout with great slaughter.
The Indians were driven to the edge of the river, where they
hoped to escape by swininiing to the opposite side, but they
were shot in the water, until nearly all had perished. Among
the few who escaped was Black Hawk.

Generals Atkinson, Dodge and Posey, descended the Missis-
sippi to Prairie du Chien in the Warrior, and there awaited
the arrival of the mounted volunteers. The latter arrived on
the fourth. The few Indians who escaped in tliis battle,
reached tlie western side of the Mississippi, only to fall a prey
to the tomahawks of their enemies, the Sioux. The loss of
the Indians was about a hundred and fifty killed, thirty-nine
women and children taken prisoners. The American loss did
not exceed ten killed and fifteen wounded.

Soon after this fatal battle, Black Hawk and the propliet,
Wabokieshiek, who had escaped into th , country of the Sioux,
were captured by two chiefs belonging to the Winnebagoes, ana
delivered as prisoners to the Indian agent at Prairie du Chien.
The prisoners were all conducted to Fort Barracks, a few miles
below St. Louis.

Soon after. Gen. Scott arrived at Eock Island from the East,
and made some investigations into the causes which led to the
Black Hawk War, from which it was made to appear that the
whole contest might have been avoided.

On the twenty-lirst of September, Gen. Scott and Governor
Reynolds concluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes and the
Sacs and Foxes. For the faithful performance of the provisions
of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet and six other chiefs of
the hostile band, should be retained as hostages during the
pleasure of the President. All the other prisoners were set at
liberty. The hostages were confined in Fort Barracks, and
put in irons.

" We were now confined," says the old chief. Black Hawk,
" to the barracks, and forced to wear the ball and chain. This
was extremely mortifying and altogether useless. Was the

OR, THK UOKDKK WAKH OK TWU CKNTURIB8.

815

White Beaver (Gen. Atkinson) ntVnid that I would break out
of hit) hurrackH and run away, or waft he ordered to inflict this
punishment upon um'i W I had taken him priuoner, upon the
tiold of battle, I would not have wounded his feelings so much
by such treatment, knowing that a bravo war chief would pre-
fer death to dishonor. Hut I do not blame the White Beaver
for the course he pursued. It is the custom among white
soldiers, and, I suppose, was a part of his duty.

"The time dragjjed heavily and gloomily along throughout
the winter, although the White Beaver did everything in his
power to render us comfortable. Having been accustomed,
throughout a long life, to roam through the forests, to come
and go at liberty, confinement under any such circumstances
cuiild not be less than torture.

" We passed away the time making pipes, until spring, when
we were visited by tlie agent, trader and interpreter, from
Il(»ck Island, Keokuk and several chiefs and braves of our
nation, and my wife and daughter. I was rejoiced to see the
two latter, and spent my time very agreeably with them and
my people, as long as they remained."

Keokuk made exertions to obtain the release of Black Hawk,
pledging himself to be responsible for his good conduct. But
while the rival chief was endeavoring to effect this, an order
arrived from the Secretary of War to have the prisoners sent
to Washington City. Accordingly they set out, and reached
the National Capital in the latter part of April, 1833. They
were immediately sent to Fortress Monroe, " there to remain
until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify their
being set at liberty." The chiefs were much dissatisfied with
tins part of their reception, and remonstrated bitterly. The
prophet said: "We expected to return immediately to our
people. The war in which we have been involved was occa-
sioned by our attempting to raise provisions on our own lands,
or where we thought we had a right to do so. We have lost
many of our people, as well as the whites. Our tribes and
families are now exposed to the attacks of our enemies, the
Sioux and the Menominies. We hope, therefore, to be per-
mitted to return home to take care of them.'

316

TIIK LIVKS OF Hr-A(K HAWK AND KKOKTK:

niiick HhwIv concluded IiIk coiiipliiint by Haying: " VVt> dij
luit ex})ect to con<iiier tlio whitt>8. No; they luid too uuwy
hur8C8, too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to
revenge injuries which my people could no longer endure.
Had 1 homo them longer without striking, my people would
have said Black Hawk is a woman. He is too old to he a
chief. He is no Sac. These reflections uuised me to rairio the
war-whoop. I say no more of it; it is known to you. Keokuk
once was hera, and when he wished to return to his home, you
were willing. Black Hawk expects that, like Keokuk, we hIiuII
be permitted to return, too." The President assured them
that their women and children should be protected against their
enemies, and that as soon as he was satisfied that peace was
restored to the frontiers, he would set them at liberty.

It was on the twenty-sixth of April that the chiefs entered
Fortress Monroe, at Old Point Comfort, where they remained
until the fourth of June, when they were released. When
about to depart Black Hawk waited upon the commandant of
the fort and said :

" Brother, I have come on my own part and in behalf of
my companions to bid you farewell. Our great father has at
length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting
grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of
the rifle will hereafter only bring death to the deer and the
buifalo. Brother, you have treated the red men very kindly.
Your squaws have made them presents, and you have given
them plenty to eat and drink. The memory of your friend-
ship will remain until the Great Spirit says it is time for Black-
Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as
numerous as the leaves of the trees, and your young warriors
like the sand upon the shorn of the big lake that rolls before
us. The red man hath but few houses and few warriors, but
the red man has a heirt which throbs as warmly as the heart
of his white brother. Tlie Great Spirit has given us our hunt-
ing grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is
his favorite, for its color is white, and this is the emblem of
peace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are
white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this

OR, THE DORDKK WAR8 OK TWO tll-rNTlIRIW.

317

to tlie Wliito Ottor. Accept of It hh a inuinorinl of IMnck Hawk.
Wlicn he is far away thin will Bervo to retnind you of him.
May the Great Spirit bleHs you and your chiUiron. Farewell."

On the fifth of June Black I lawk and his five companions
left the FortrcHw under the char^ of Major John Garland, of
the Unitetl States army. Before leaving the place they visited
Norfolk and the navy-yard at (4o8port. They were taken on
board of some of the war ships, and Black Hawk expressed a
desire to see the chiefs who commanded them.

At N^orfolk they were greeted by crowds of citizens, who
tendered them a cordial reception. From the balcony of his
hotel the Prophet Wabakieshiek addressed them as follows:

"The Great Spirit sent us here, and now happily we are
about to return to our own Mississippi and to our own people.
It affords us much happiness to rejoin our friends and kindred.
We would shake hands with all our white friends assembled
here. Should any of them go to our country, on the Missis-
sippi, we would take pleasure in returning their kindness to
ns. We will go home with peaceable dispositions towards our
white brethren, and make our conduct hereafter more satisfac-
tory to them. We bid you all farewell, as it is the last time
we shall see each other."

Black Hawk also made a speech, after which the party left
for Baltimore. Here, as everywhere else in the East, they were
greeted by crowds of curious spectators. The President hap-
pened to be at Baltimore at the same time, and at an interview
with him he addressed the old chief as follows:

" When I saw you in Washington I told you that you had
behaved very badly in raising the tomahawk against the white
people and killing men, women and children upon the frontier.
Your conduct last year compelled me to send my warriors
against you, and your people were defeated with great loss, and
your men surrendered, to be kept until I should be satisfied
that you would not try to do any more injury. I told you I
would inquire whether your people wished you to return, and
whether, if you did return, there would be any danger to
the frontier. Gen. Clark and Gen. Atkinson, whom you know,
have informed me that Keokuk, your principal chief, and the

81H

TIIK MVKS OF nX.SCK HAWK AND KKOKITK!

rest of your poople, arc nnxiouH }oii nhoiild rt'turn, niid K«>ttktik
liHS UHkeil inu to hciuI you buck. Voiir oliii'tH have ]>l«>t|^f(>i|
theiiiBclvvK tor yotir good conduct and I havu given dirt'ctioiio
that you Hliould bo taken to your own country.

'' Major (larland, who is with you, will conduct you throii^li
Homo of our towuH. You will hoc the Htrength of tho wliito
people. You will see that our young men are at) nunicrouH m
the leaves in tho woods. What can you do against uhj ^'oii
may kill a few women and children, but such a force will Koon
be sent against you as would destroy your whole tribe. Let
tho red men hunt and take care of their families; but I h<)|)o
they will not again raise their hands against their white
brethren. We do not wish to injure you. We desire your
prosperity and improvement. But if you again plunge your
knives into the breasts of our peciple, I shall send a force wiiic-h
will severely punish yoti for all your cruelties. When you ^n
back, listen to the counsels of Keokuk and tlie other friendly
chiefs. Bury the tomahawk and live in peace with the frontier,
and I pray the Great Spirit to give you a smooth path and a
fair sky to return."

Black Hawk and the prophet both replied to this speech,
promising not to go to war again. The captives were next
conducted to Philadelphia, where they arrived on the tenth of
June, and remained at Congress Hall until the fourteenth.
While in this city they were taken to see all the features of
interest, and before they left they had the pleasure of witness-
ing a grand military display in front of the quarters. Hlack
Hawk at once inquired whether or not these were the soldiers
who had conquered him and his warriors on the previous sum-
mer. In speaking of his war lie said :

" My heart grew bitter against the whites and my hands
were strong. I dug up the tomahawk and led my warriors to
fight. I fought hard; I was no coward. Much blood was
shed. But the white men were mighty. TliCy were as many
as the leaves in the forest. I and my people failed. I am
sorry the tomahawk was raised. I have been a prisoner. I
see the strength of the white men ; they are many, very many.
The Indians are but few; they are not cowards; they are braves;

OR, TIIK liOKriKK WARM Of TWO CKNTfltlKP.

ei»

but tli«y lire ft-w. WliiU' the (in-ut Spirit ubovc koopH my
hfiirt UM it now ih, I will ho the white iniiirH frietxi. I will
retiiuiri in peace. I will ^o to my people iiiid xpcuk ^uod of
the white innii. I will tell thetn they are aH the leaven t»t' the
t'urerit, very many, very Htron^, and that I will fi^ht no more
n^aiuMt them/'

They were next taken to Now York city, where, immediately
upon their arrival, they had the pleaniire ot' witneHHin^ a haU
luon aBCcnsion at CaHtlo Ganlen. Thin novel Hi^ht greatly
pleased the red men, and one of them appealed to the prophet
to know if the air ship wan *' going to see the (Iroat Spirit.'*
When the crowd ascertained that Hhw^k Hawk was present,
the air was rent wiUi shouts of welcome, and the press of the
multitude to see the strangers was so great that they could
not reach their lodgings until placed in carriages and com-
mitted to the care of the police. It was with much difficulty
that they reached the Exchange Hotel, which was immediately
Burroundcd by thousands who would not be dispersed until
"General filack Hawk" would show himself, which he did.
While in ^few York they were treated with many civilities.
They were conducted to all public places of interest, and were
much pleased with their visit.

The party was conducted to Albany, Buffalo, and thence to
Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, where they arrived about
the middle of August. *' In passing by the site of the old
Sac village, Black Hawk was deeply aifected, and expressed
much regret for the causes which compelled him to emigrate
beyond the Mississippi. The return of the prophet was also
attended with melancholy associations. His village, over which
he had long presided, wad entirely broken up, his wigwam in
tiBJies, his family dispersed and he a suppliant for a home in
the village of some other chief."

OIIAPTKU XL. •

Okhkmonim or Liukhatimo IIi.ack llAWk - Kkokuk'h Tkii'mpii —
Black IIawk'h Anoku— ifK wii.i, ndt < unkdhm t<» tiik ('niNcii^
or KKOKitK — IIiH HrKK(7ii — IIk DKrAiiXH to IIim SqUAWH— Inticii-

RIITINO InoIDKNTH AT HtK'K IdI.ANI).

FoBT Armhtrono Imd 1>cimi choKun an thu proper pliico for
the cerenioniuH of thu liburHtion of Uhu'V Iliiwk uikI IiIk partv.
ItH cvntrnl poHition eiuihlud th» coiiuiniii(l«'r to HUHCtiilile the
Burrounding IiulianH ut bhort notice, niniierB being Ht>iir out
for that purpose. The tir«t to arrive were the friendly Krokiik
and his l)and. He ascended the MissiKHippi by water, ami led
the van with two hirge canoes laHhed side by side, liandsoiiicly
decorated, with a canopy erected over them, "beneath which
Hilt the chief and Lis three wives, witli the AiniM-ican tlag
waving over thetn. More than twenty canoes followed the
chieftain, each containing from four to eight of his warriurs,
whose sliouts and songs swept over the transpurcMit waters of
the Mississippi and were echoed from shore to 8li()re," The
little fleet passed slowly up the river, opposite the camp of the
captives, and landed on the west side of the irivor. At this
place Keokuk and his party spent several hours in arranging
their dress, painting and equipping themselves for the occa-
sion. Wlien this important duty had been completed they
crossed the river. Reaching the bank the great Keokuk turned
to his followers and said: "The Great Spirit has sent our
brother back; let us shake hands with him in friendship."
He then approached Black Hawk, followed by his wnniors.
The old chief was seated in front of his temporury lodge, Kiir-
rounded by his followers, and iippeared to bo deej)ly art'ectcd
by the sC/Cne. Now the rivals met face to face — Keokuk in his
glory and Black Hawk in disgrace, fallen, forsaken 1 But t)ie

(820)

<»K, rilK M«»KI»KK W\H» nV TW«» I'ltJirrrHIMt.

B91

piniiil niliT ilitl lint fxiilr ill IiIh wi<ll-iiii>ritf<l triiiiiipli. Ap*
|in>iiiliiti^ tli«* oM oliii't', Kt'okiik Htri't('lii<«l forth liin liAri*! in
tiii'riii>*liip, wliicli Mliick lliiwk ^ruiipctj witli li ilr)(r<*u of conii-
ality. Ki'okiik iin*l liix tollnwcrM tli*>ii ttNik im>hU, wliidi wm
tii||i)\v<Mi Ity II Imi^ Kill>ll(•«^ Tlitt pip<* whm ligliUtil and phmhihI
tVoiii liainl to IiuikI, followiMJ ))>' frlrndly MMitiiiiriitN (txpn>i*M(*okiik iiroM* uiul Hlimtk IihikIh
with tlio fiillrii cliiid', >tuyii% " Wu will n'turii to-morrt»w."
Ill' tlion ro-(ironMi'<l t\w rivor to Iiim own cuinp.

Oil till) following (Ihv tli(> ^(rtiiitl coiiii(!il for tiiu til>or»tion
of llu' ciiptiveH wiw li«ld. " It pri'H««nti'<l," Huys Mr. (^inclin,
"till' iiovdI Hpuctnolu of H chiuf, '(•oiiiptOluil hy ii tliird power, to
ii(>kti<)wl(Ml^o tliu Hiitliority t>f ii riviil, an<l foriimlly (U'MciMid
frniii tlitt rank which h«! hud loii^ HiiHtiiiiu>d among hJH |M>oplu.
Fort AriiiHtroni; pi'i>H«'iit(>d ii i!oiiitno<iioiiM room for the cure-
iiioiiiuH of the <liiy, iitid it wiih fitted np for the occuHion.
Altotit ten (Tcloek in the forenoon Keokuk utid one hundred
I'ldlowerH recroHHed the river and proc'ee(U'<l in martial array
to the j^arrirt«»n. They were eomlncted into the council room
iind rtliown the Heats which tlusy were to occupy. Ke(»kuk was
Kt'iUcd with PaHliepahow (the Stahber) on one side, Wapellar
(tluf Little Prince) on the other — tlie f(>riiier a chief of the Sacu,
tlu! latter of the Foxoh. The remainder of liiu band took their
m\U in the rear, and niaiiitaiiie<l throughout the ceremony
|>rotoiiii(l Bilence."

Ill a few iiiinuteH Rlack Hawk and IiIh followei'H came into
the council. As they entered, Keokuk and the two cliiefH by
hiH Hide roHe and greeted them. The old chief and IiIh aB»oci-
atcH were seated directly oppiuito Keokuk, l^lack Hawk was
uccoinpanied by his son, Nasinewiskuk, and both appeared to
k' dinpleased. They had, the day previous, oftered great objec
tioiiH to the council, saying it was altogether unnecessary and
W(nild be very painful to tliem, and it was now with the
greatest reluctance that they came into it.

For several minutes a profound silence reigned over the
Msembly, at the end of wliich Major Garland rose and addressed
the council. He said lie was pleased to see the Sacs and Foxes
greet !>hick Hawk with friendship, and he believed that here-

322

THK MVKH OK Hr,ACK HAWK AND KHOKUK!

after tUtty would live in peace. At this point Major ^iarland
cauKed the 8i>eech delivered to Black Hawk at Baltimore by the
President to be a;^ain interpreted to him. This ended, K<;okiik
rose, and after bhakin^ hands with those around him, 8aiii:

"I have listened to the talk of our great father. It i» true
we pledged our honor, with those of our voung braves, for tht
liberation of our friends. We thought much of it; our (.oun.
oils were long; their wives and childred were in our tliouglit*;
when we talked of them our hearts we/e full. Their wives
and children came to see us, which made us feel like women;
but we were men. The words which we sent to our great
father were gof>d; he spoke like the father of children. The
Great Spirit made his heart big in council. We receive<l our
brotliers in friendship; our hearts were good towards them.
They once listened to bad council; now their ears an? cloo^^J.
I give my hand to them; when they shake it they sliake the
hands of all! I will shake hands with them and then 1 am
dtme."

Major Garland again rose and said that thu President, their
great father, would hereafter recognize Keokuk as the principal
chief of the Sac and Vox nations, and that he wished and
exj>ected that Black Hawk would conform to his frival't't
councils. All unfriendly feelings between them must k
buried, and the band of Black Hawk must be hereafter merjred
in that of Keokuk. And just here I cannot resist from making
a single comment: Was it not enough that Black Hawk, wiiose
once powerful band of warriors had been shot down by Amer-
ican soldiers, had been left without any followers, that lie had
Buffered the shatne of a long, and, in some resjiects, merciless
confinement? Why crush out the last spark of pride within
him?

On hearing the words of Major Garland, the old chief, who
had suffered his captivity and imprisonment with fortitude,
lost all control of himself and became deeply excited. The
great spirit which had borne him through the daring struggles
of his great war, and made his name terrible wherever it was
spoken, suddenly returned and burst forth with great violence.
f

OK, THK BORDKK WARS OF TWO CENTCRIEB.

828

He leaped to liin feet, trembling with anger, his eyes eparkliug
with rage, and exclaimed:

'' I am a man ! an ohl man ! I will not conform to the
coiincilH of any one! I will act for myself! None shall gov-
ern me! I am old; my hair is gray. I once gave councils to
my young men. Am I to conform to others? I shall soon go
to tiie (ireat Spirit, where I shall be at rest. What I said to
our great father, I say again. I will always listen to him. I
am done."

This speech created great excitement in the council, and the
interjireter was directed to explain to Black Hawk that the Presi-
dent had only requented liim to listen to the counsel of Keokuk.
But the old man was displeased and would make no reply.
Kf^jkuk approached him and whispered, "Why do you speak
g(» bef<»re the white men; I will 8[>eak for you; you trembled.
Vou did not mean what you said," Keokuk then took his
place, and remarked to the council: "Our brother has again
come to US, has spoken, but he spoke in wrath. His tongue
was forked. He spoke not like a man — a Sac. He knew his
words were bad ; he trembled like the oak whose roots have
fjeen wasted away by many rains. He is old — what he said
let us forget. He says he did not mean it; he wishes it for-
frotten. I have spoken for him. What I have said are his own
words, not mine. Let us say he spoke in council to-day — that
his words were good. I have spoken." Several other speeches
were made, alter which Major Garland rose and told Black
Hawk that he was at liberty to go where he pleased ; that the
people of the United States, as well as himself, were pleased
with the uniform good conduct of all the captives while among
them; that they were convinced their hearts were good, but
they ha<l listened to l)ad councils. The Major, in conclusion,
said he hoped that peace and hannony would long exist
between them.
Black Hawk rose in reply, and made a short and appropriate

speech, asking the reporters to draw a line over the speech he

had made. He said he did not mean it. The council was then

broken up.
In the evening of the same day. Major Garland invited the

324

THE LIVES OF DLAOK HAWK AND KEOKUK:

principal chiefs to hifl own quarters, and, after treating them
to champagne, all indulged in speeches. Black Hawk, who
was the last one who 8poke, said :

" I feel that I am an old man ; once I could speak, but now
I have but little to say; to-day we met many of our brothers;
we were glad to see them. I have listened to what my broth-
ers have said; their hearts are good; they have been like Sacs
since I left them; they have taken care of my wife and chij.
dren, who had no wigwam; I thank them for it; the Great
Spirit knows that I thank them. Before the sun gets behind
the hills to-morrow I shall see them; I want to see them.
When I left them I expected soon to return; I told our great
father when in Washington, that I would listen to the councils of
Keokuk. I shall soon be far away. I shall have no village, no
band. I shall live alone. What I said in council to-day I
wish forgotten. If it has been put on paper, I wish a mark
drawn over it; I did not mean it. Now we are alone, let us
say we will forget it. Say to our Great Father and Governor
Cass, that I will listen to them. Many years ago I met Gov-
ernor Cass in councils, far across the prairies, to the rising
sun. His councils were good; ray ears were closed; I listened
to the Great Father across the waters. My father listened to
him whose band was large. My band was once large; now I
have no band. I and my son and all the party, thank our
Great Father for what he has done. He is old; I am old; we
shall soon go to the Great Spirit, where we shall rest. He
sent us through his great villages. We saw many of the
white people, who treated us with kindness. We thank them;
we thank you and Mr. Sprague for coming with us. Your
road was long and crooked. We never saw so many white
men before. When you were with us, we felt as though we
had some friends among them. We felt safe; you knew them
all. When you come upon the Mississippi again, you shall
come to ray wigwam. I have now none. On your road home,
you will pass where my village was once; no one lives there
now; all are gone. I give you my hand; we may never meet
again. T shall long remember you. The Great Spirit will be
with you and your wives and children. Before the sun rises I

OR, THK BORPKR WARS OF TWO CKNTURIEfl.

325

ahall go to my fajnily; my sou will be here to see you before
we go. I will shake hands with my brothers here, and then I
am done."

On the following morning Black Hawk crossed the river
and wasted no time in reaching his wife. The other Indians
also repaired to their villages.

I affix to this chapter the following article, which appeared
in the " Baltimore American," soon after Black Hawk's death.
The article was written by one acquainted with the circum-
Btance. It gives an account of the death of Tecumseh, und
many interesting points in the life of the Sac chieftain:

"During a residence of several years in what is now the
Territory of Iowa, I had many opportunities of seeing and
conversing with this noted warrior, and often look back with
J. '"ws of great pleasure to the many tokens of good will and
1 1 ihip that he has frequently bestowed upon men. His
wage was always open to a stranger, and he was ever ready to
share that with him which he might most want, either his furs
and blankets for a couch, or his corn and venison for a repast.
He always spoke in terms of high regard of the whites, saying
that in war he fought like a brave man, but in peace he wished
to forget that his hand had ever been raised against them.
His career as a warrior commenced at a very early age; when
he was but fourteen years old, his father, Pawheese, led a war
party against the Osages, in which expedition he accompanied
liim. They succeeded in reaching the village of Osages, which
they attacked, and after a very severe encounter, they routed
their enemies and burnt their town. In this battle Black
Hawk's father was killed, but he revenged his death by killing
and scalping the Osage who had slain him. He was fond of
recounting his earlier exploits, and often boasted of his being
at tho right hand of Tecumseh, when the latter was killed at
the battle of the Thames. His account of the death of this
distinguished warrior^ was related to me by himself, during an
evening that I spent in his lodge some winters ago. In the
course of our talk, I asked him if he was with Tecumseh when
he was killed. He replied:
" ' I was, and I will now tell you all about it. Tecumseh,

826

TIIK I.IVES OK HKACK HAWK AND KKOKI'K:

Slmubinne and Caldwell, two Pottawatomie chiefs, and myself,
were seated on a log near our camp lire, tilling our pipes for a
smoke, on the morning of the battle, when word came from
the British general, that he wished to speak with Tecuniseii.
He went immediately, and after staying some time rejoined us,
taking his seat without saying a word, wlien Caldwell, who
was one of his favorites, observed to him, *my father, what
are we to do? Shall we fight the Americans?' * Yes, my sou,'
replied Tecumseh, ' we shall go into their very smoke — but you
are^now wanted by the general. Go, my son, I never expect to
see you again.' Shortly after this (foiitinued Black Hawk,) the
Indian spies came in, and gave word of the near approach of
the Americans. Tecumseh immediately posted his men in the
edge of a swamp, which flanked the British line, placing him-
self at their head. I was a little to his right, with a small
party of Sacs. It was not long before the Americans made
their appearance; they did not perceive us at first, hid as we
were by the undergrowth, but we soon let them know where
we were by pouring in one or two volleys as they were fonning
into a line to oppose the British. They faltered a little, but
very soon we perceived a large body of horse (Col. Johnson's
regiment of mounted Kentuckians) preparing to charge upon
us in the swamp. They came bravely on, yet we never stirred
until they wore so close that we could see the flints of their
guns, when Tecumseh, springing to his feet, gave the Shaw-
anoe war cry, and discharged his rifle. This was the signal for
us to commence the fight; but it did not last long; the Amer-
icans answered the shout, returning our fire, and at the iirst
discharge of their guns, I saw Tecumseh stagger forwards over
a fallen tree near which he was standing, letting his rifle drop
to his feet. As soon as the Indians discovered he was killed,
a sudden fear came over them, and thinking that the Great
Spirit was displeased, they fought no longer, and were quickly
put to flight. That night we returned to bury our dead, and
search for the body of Tecumseh. He was found lying where
he had first fallen; a bullet had struck him above the hip, and
his skull had been broken by the butt end of the gun of some
Boldier, who had found him, perhaps, when life was not yet

OR, TIIK UOKDKU WARM oK TWO CKNTirKIICt).

827

quite gone. With the exception of theoe wounds, his body
was untouched; lying near him, however, was a large, fine
looking Pottawatomie, who had been killed, docked off in his
plumes and war paint, whom the Americanu no doubt had
taken for Tecumseh; for he was scalped, and every particle of
8kin tltiyed from his body. Tecumseh himself, had no orna-
ments about his person save a British medal. During tiie
night we buried our dead, and brought off the body of Tecum-
seh, although we were within sight of the tires of the American
camp.' *

"This is somewhat different from the account which is com-
monly given of Tecumseh's death, yet 1 believe it to be true;
for after hearing Black Hawk relate it, I heard it corroborated
by one of the Pottawatomie chiefs, mentioned by him. I asked
him if he had ever fought against the whites after the death of
Tecumseh. He said not — that ho returned home to his village
on the Mississippi, at the mouth of Rock river, and there he
remained until driven away by the whites, in the year 1832.
The 'vish to hold possession of this village, was the cause of
the war which he waged against the whites during that year.
He told me that he never wished to fight; that he was made
to do so; that the whites killed his warriors when they went
with a white flag to beg a parley, and that after this was done,
he tliought they intended to kill him at all events, and there-
fore he would die like a warrior.

" In speaking of his defeat, he saM it was what he expected;
that he did not mind it; but what hurt him more than any-
thing else, was our government degrading him in the eyes of
his own people, and setting another chief (Keokuk) over him.
This degradation he appeared to feel very sensibly, still he con-
tinued to possess all his native pride. One instance that came
under my observation, I recollect well, in which it was strongly
displayed. He happened to be in a small town in Iowa, on

the same day in which a party of dragoons, under Capt.

arrived ; and in paying a visit to a friend with whom he always
partook of a meal, whenever he stopped at the village, he met
with the captain, who had been invited to dine. Black Hawk
remained, also expecting the usual invitation to stay and eat

3»8

TIIR LIVKH OP III.AOK HAWK AND KKoKUK!

•i ■

with them; but when the dinner wao renily, the host took liim
aside, and told him the captuin, or rather the white man*8 cliicf,
wa8 to dine with him that day, and he must wait until they
had linighed. The old chief's eye glistened with anger h8 he
answered him, raising the forefinger of one hand to his hreAHt,
to represent the otlicer, ' I know the white man in a chief, but
/,' elevating the finger of the other hand far above hin head,
* was a chief, and led my warriors to the tight long before his
mother knew him. Your tnecU — my dogs should not eat UP
Saying this, he gathered the folds of his blanket about him,
and stalked off, looking as proudly as if he still walked over
ground that he could call ' mnj own*

" Black Hawk possessed, to a great degree, one fine trait
which is not usual for us to concede to the indian — kindness
and affection for his wife. He never had but one, and with
her he lived for upwards of forty years; they had several chil-
dren, three of whom still survive, two sons and a daughter.
The eldest son is now one of the most promising young braves
of the nation, and bids fair to be one of its most noble men.
The daughter is still quite young, and is considered to be the
most beautiful maiden belonging to her tribe.

" He has now departed on his long journey, to join those of
his people who have gone before him to the happy hunting
grounds, far beyond the setting sun. May the Great Spirit
grant him a clear sunshine, and a smooth path."

In addition to this, it will be proper to add that in Septem-
ber, 1838, while on his way to Hock Island to receive his
portion of the annual payment, he took a heavy cold, which
resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever, which terminated his
life on the third of October, after an illness of only a few days.
His wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply
during his sickness. She said on the day before he died, '' he
is getting old, he must die. Monotah calls him home." After
his death, he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by
the President while in "Washington, and buried. " The grave
was six feet deep, and of the usual length, situated upon a little
eminence about fifty yards from his wigwam. The body was
placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a

OR, TIIK IIOKnKK WAKH UP TWO (TKNTtrKIKB.

820

Beat, uoiiHtructud for the purpose. On his loft sidp, the cane,
given him by Henry Clay, was placed upright, witii his right
liatid resting upon it. Many of the old warrior's trophies were
pUcod in the grave, and some Indian garments, together with
liis favorite weapons."

IP >

CHAPTER XLi.

Immav Tribm Wbst of the MiMiHBirri— The Mandami, thrtr
DwRLLiNas, Manners and Cubtoma— Tueir Traditions of thk
Flood — Theih Singular Ceremonies — How tuet were Db-

STROTED — TuEIH SUPPOSED ORIGIN.

Having reached the projier point, I will now interrupt the
narrative to ^ive the reader a very brief history of the tribes
of Indians which existed in that vast territory between tho
Mississippi and the Pacillc coast about the year 1800. But in
this undertaking I find myself surrounded with difficulties of
a kind not encountered in the review of the tribes east of the
Mississippi at the beginning of this work, as the tribal diviBions
of the Western Indians are, both in language and customs less
distinguishing than those of the former. Yet, avoiding the
finer details of difference, we shall have but little difficulty in
presenting the general characteristics of the various nations
of the great West. It will be difficult, however, to give any
boundaries of territory owned or occupied by these nations as,
either by their roving habits or by the results of conquest, they
were continually changing their abode. Along the borders of
the Missouri, and high up the western tributaries of the Mis-
sissippi, we find the various tribes belonging to the Sioux or
Dahcotah nation, called by the early explorers and travelers,
Naudowesses. These Indians lived principally by the chase, a
few only practicing any degree of husbandry. The tribal
divisions of this nation were as follows: the Waupeentowas,
the Tintons, the Afracootans, the Mawhaws, (called by some the
Omawhas,) and the Schians. These tribes, with a few excep-
tions, dwelt in the prairie country, near the borders of the St.
Peter. The Assinaboins, and several other tribes, were, by
some of the oldest writers, classed in the same nation.

(880^

OH, THK liOKDKK WARH OK TWO CKNTtlKIKB.

881

Mr. Gallntii), an ablo writer on tlioHO and other tribes, claaoet
tlioin as follows: The Winnebagos, of Wisconsin; the Sioirx
proper, or Dahcotas, and the Assinaboins; the Minetari, and
tribes allied to the i; and the Osages, and other kindred tribes.
The same writer, I believe, holds that the Minetari include the
Crows, and the Mandans. The latter, however, are a distinct
iiHtion, and differ widely from all other Indians in America in
many important peculiarities. In 1832, we find the Mandans
situated in two villages on the left bank ot the Missouri, about
tw(j hundred miles l>elow the mouth of the Yellowstone. At
this time their population did not exceed two or three thou-
gand. However, according to their best traditions, and as
evinced by the ruins of their former settlements they had, at
an earlier date, been a populous and powerful nation. In the
date above mentioned we find them in their principal town
upon the Missouri well fortified against the enemy. Within
the pickets the houses were exceedingly compact, leaving but
little room for the gaudy inhabitants to move to and fro. These
dwellings were partially sunk in the ground, the roofs being
made of earth and clay. On entering them one would be sur-
prised with their neatness, comfort and spacious dimensions.
"They were all of a circular form," says Mr. Catlin, "and are
from forty to sixty feet in diameter. Their foundations are
prepared by digging some two feet in the ground and forming
the floor of earth by leveling the requisite size for a lodge."
These singular dwellings were not devoid of comfort. "They
consisted," says Mr. Brownell, "of a row of perpendicular
stakes or timbers six feet or thereabouts in height, supporting
long rafters for the roof. A hole was left in the center for air,
light, and the escape of the smoke." Tlie rafters were first
covered by boughs, and lastly by earth. A small excavation in
the center of the hut served as a fire-place. The furniture was
not elegant, although comfortable. A rude bedstead was erec-
ted at one side, abundantly provided with buifalo skins, with
ornamented curtains, not of European manufacture, for they
did not import their goods, but of various skins of wild animals.
"Tills arrangement of beds, and arms, etc.," says Mr. Catlin,
"combining the most vivid display and arrangement of colors,

It ■■

382

TIIK INDIAN TRIHKM WKXr oP TIIK MIIWIHHim:

ot' t'lira, of trinkets, of barhod and gliHteiiiiif^ poiiitM and >4tocl,
of inyBtorios and hocuH-pocii*, tof^ether with thu Moinhro and
•mokcd color of tlio roof and sides of the lodf^e; and the wild,
and rude, and red — the graceful (though uncivil) coiivorHu-
tional, garrulous, st4iry-telling, and happy, though igiioruiit
and untutored groups, that are smoking their pipes— wu4»iii^
their sweethearts, and embracing their little ones about thoir
peaceful and endeared fire-sides; together with their pots niid
kottlcH, spoons, and other culinary articles of their own manu-
facture, around them, present, altogether, one of the iijogt
picturesque scenes to the eye of a stranger that can be possibly
seen, and far more wild and vivid than could ever be imagined."

But if the interior was full of interesting scenes, wo have
only to open another book to find that the exterior was nUo
replete with interest. Of this Mr. Brownell says: " In tht
center of the village an open court was letlt for purposes of
recreation and for the performances of the national religious
ceremonies. Upon the rounded roofs of the domicils numerous
busy or indolent groups were sitting or lounging in every
possible attitude, while in the central area some were exerciaing
their wild horses, or training and playing with their dogs.
Such a variety of brilliant and fanciful costumes, ormameiited
with plumes and porcupine quills, with the picturesque throng
of Indians and animals, the closely crowded village, the green
plain, the river, and the blue hills in the distance, formed a
happy subject for the artist.

But the attractions of a Mandan village were not all confined
within the narrow limits encompassed by the pickets. Out-
side, at a little distance, could be seen the scaffolds upon which
the dead were placed. The funeral rites of this nation were
very peculiar and not without interest. The body of the dead
person was wrapped in a buffalo skin, which included the anus
used by the deceased during his life, and the usual pruvision
of tobacco, flint and steel, knife and food. A slight scafibid
was arranged, high enough to be out of the reach of wild
beasts, and there the body was placed to decay in the open air.
" Day after day," continues Mr. Brownell, " those who had lost
friends would come out from the village to this strange ceine-

OK, TIIK IMlHhKR WARS oP TWO CINTI HIW.

99fi

t«ry to wou|> hikI lM)WHii over thuir Iohh. BiicIi ^iiuiiie and
loii^-contiiiiiuil f^rivf m wbh oxhihittHl hy thu HtHicted rektiveit,
putH to ttliAine the colil-liciirtotlncitM of too inaiiv HUu>Mf( the
ciiltivate<l and vnlightuiiod. When, after the lapoo of yoam,
the icaflolda had fallen, and nothing was left but bluaehfil and
mouldering Inmes, the rentnins were buried, witli the oxuop-
tion of the skulls. These were placed in circles u)K>n the
pJHin, with the faces turned inward, each resting upon a bunch
of wild sage; and in the center, upon two Hlight nioun<lH,
Mnc<licine-piles' were erected, at the foot of which were the
liomU and horns of a male and fetnale buffalo. To these new
places of deposit, each of which contained not far from one
liuiiilred skulls, do these people again resort to evince their
further affection for the dead — not in groans and lamentations,
liuwever, for several years have cured the anguish, but f<^nd
affections and endearments are here renewed, and conversations
are here held and cherished with the dead."

Alone on that far distant river's bank, away from the
encroachments of civilization, the wife or mother would sit for
hours by the side of the skull of the loved and lost, addressing
it with the most affectionate and loving words, or perhaps
lying down and falling asleep with it in her embrace.

The Mandans were a hospitable race, friendly in their treat-
ment of each otlier, and mindful of the wants of travelers.
They were for the most part a fine looking people, many of
their women being very handsome. With a few exceptions,
they were a clean, tidy people. They indulged in all the
elaboration of the war-paint and dress, and were exceedingly
proud of their appearance.

Tiie custom of polygamy was universal among the Mandans
by all whose native vigor procured them rank. The girls were
usually sold at prices in proportion to their beauty by their
parents at a very early age, and as among the Eastern nations
of savages, their fate was a life of toil and hardship. Never-
theless, "amongst them respectable virtue was as highly
cherished and as inapproachable as in any society whatever."
The white traders and travelers who went among them, either
from policy or inclination, allied themselves to one or more of

8B4

TIIK INPIAN TKIIIKN WKirr Of TIIK MIMIIMMIITi:

the principAl chiutii Uy a temporiiry ot|)<>UMnt of hiit (iHiif(l)ti>r.
" In many iiiiUncet they Indiiln^l in n plurnlity.*' Thix wiu
a position greatly lought Htter by the (UiighttTH of tlio rhicfn,
M it afforded them a fi^d opportunity for idleneHU iind orim-
tncnttttion. Gainet were largely practiced among the iMiytt uihI
young men. An endless variety of dances, with vmuil mid
instrumental music, mingled with their recreations and rclj.
gious ceremonies. When game wis scarce, or when the ImtfHlo
herds had wandered far away fro'n the vicinitv of their vlllii^i>,
these superstitious savages wtx.ld perform the *' butfulo diincv"
in the central arena of their village. On thiH occasion every
ukan in the tribe wore a mask made from the skin of u hurtiilo'H
heiid, including the horns. " When the wise men of thcnntion
determined upon their vocations to attack the buftiilo hordx,"
says Brownell, 'Mvatchors were stationed upon the eiiiiiii>ncefl
surrounding the villages and the dance commenced. With
extravagant actions and strange ejaculatiouH the crowd per-
formed the prescribed maneuvers: As fust as thoH(t cu^^a^'ed
became weary they would signify it by crouching down, when
those without the circle would go through the pantomime of
severally shooting, flaying and dressing them, while new |)6i-
formers took their place. Night and day the mad woene wtw
kept up, sometimes for we^ks together, until the HJgtml wtw.
given of the approach of buffaloes, when all prepared with
joy and hilarity for a grand hunt, fully convince<l that their
own exertions had secured the prize." A ceremony not Um
ridiculous was performed in case of a drought, with a view to
producing a rain shower.

Their children were taught the principles of war from in-
fancy, and impressed with the idea that true dignity and glorv
awaited him alone who could fringe his garments witii the
scalps of his enemies. Among the Mandan warriors, even at
a recent date, were some of the boldest men of the forest; the
result, no doubt, in a great measure of their early training.

The religion of the Mandans was similar to that of most
of the Indian tribes already spoken off, yet many of their reli-
gious ceremonies are full of the most unique sitnationH. Tiie
grand four days' ceremony had three distinct objects: '^a festi-

ON, ttIR N(>NI>KK WARM «>r TWO TKNTt Mim.

vaI of thttnl(i^iviiif( tor tliu UHCupu ot' tlioir nnceitturit from tlit
ritMKi, of which thuy had u <liiitiiiut tm<litiun, itrikhigly corn*
furtiihlo tu Doriptural hiNtoiy;" the grHiul bull cUnco ulruad/
(ii'McrilNjd, liiul to initUto thu young inuu, hy ti>rribl« triaU and
torturuii, inti) tho ordvr of w«i*rior«.

Tliit ccroinoiiy whh |>t>rforinod in tho >|)rin)(, m aoon m th«
willow trooi on thu Imnk of tho river wore in loHf, **for, KCC(»rd«
in^ to their tradition,*' Hay* Catlin, '* tho twi^^ that the hird
l>rought huniu wnit ii willow lM)ugh and had full grown Icavo*
upon it, and tho hinl to which they alluclu \» tho mourning or
turtledove, which they t«M)lc groat (miim tu {K)int out to mo.*'
Tho Hmt porformancoH wore, im I havo Haid, in reforence to the
deluge, and in commemoration of thin ancient event a lort of
"curb or hogiihoad '* Htood in the centre of the village, in
memory of the *^ big canoe,'* in which the human race, includ*
ing tho IndiaiiH, was Huved from a watery grave.

The Indian* woru not informml at to what day the ceremo-
nies would taku place; but on a tine morning the inhabitants
ot the village would be all astir gazing carnobtly at an ap-
preaching tigure. This strange person would soon enter within
the inclosed space of the village, painteil white and carrying a
large pipe in his hand. This visitor was saluted by the prin-
cipHi men of the village as '* Numohkmuchanah " (Noah). His
iniiision was to open the great lodge reserved exclusively for
thu annual religious ceremonies. After performing this duty
and promising to return in the following spring, he took his
departure for his distant mountain home.

One of the most interesting features of these curious rites
wtui tho ordeal which the young warriors had to pass in order
tu qualify them for the duties of a bravo. The candidates for
this torturous performance were obliged to abstain from eat-
ing any kind of food, drinking or sleeping for three days.
Then coming forward, the candidates allowed the flesh of their
breasts or backs to be pierced with rude two-edged knivea, and
rough sticks thrust through the holes. The sticks were run
through the tlesh to such a depth as to be capable of support-
ing much more than the weight of the body. Cords were
attached to these sticks, by which the sufferers wore hoisted up

836

THE INDIAN TRIME8 WKUTt OV THK MI88I88IIMM :

a considerable distance from the ground. Similar sticks were
then thrust through the flesh of their legs, to which hea"y
weights were suspended, among which were buffalo heads.
Through all this the fortitude of the young Indian enabled him
to bear the pain without flinching, but when in this horrible
position, with his flesh tearing by slow degrees in both \m
arms and legs, a number of attendants commenced turning
him round and round with poles, the pain became unbeata-
ble and the sufterer would cry out in agony to the Great
Spirit for power to enable him to stand the torture. He was
permitted to hang in this position until entirely unconscious,
when he was taken down and the sticks taken from his arras.
He was then compelled to crawl off, dragging the weights after
him, as in no case were the sticks in his legs removed, being
left until they should be dragged out by the force of the weights.
He was next called upon to cut off one of his own fingers from
the left hand; but this was perhaps the lightest part of the
ceremony. "Within the court," says Mr. Brownell, "a new
trial awaited him, the last but most terrible of all. An active
man took his position on each side of the weak and mutilated
sufferer, and, passing a thong about his wrist, urged him for-
ward at the top of his speed in a tircle around the arena. When,
faint and weary, he sank on the ground, the tormentors dragged
him furiously around the ring until the splints were torn out
by the weights attached, and he lay motionless and apparently
lifeless. If the splint should have been so deepjy inserted that
no force — even that of the weight of individuals in the crowd,
thrown upon the trailing skulls — could break the integu-
ments, nothing remained but to crawf off to the prairie and
wait until it should give way by suppuration. To draw the
skewer out would be unpardonable sacrilege. It is told of one
man that he suspended himself from the precipitous river bank
by two of these skewers, thrust through his arms, until, at tlie
end of several days, he dropped into the water and swam
ashore. Throughout the whole ordeal, the chiefs and sages of
the tribe critically observed the comparative fortitude and en-
durance of the candidates, and formed their conclusions there-

OK, THE BORDER WARS OK TWO CENTURIES.

337

iekrt were
ch hea'7
lo heads,
abled him
8 horrible
both his
d turning
) nnbeara-
the Great
I. He was
n conscious,
. his arms,
eights after
oved, being
[he weightfc.
ingers from
part of the
lell, " a new
An active
d mutilated
red him for-
•ena. When,
tors dragged
ere torn out
apparently
nserted that
n the crowd,
the integu-
prairie and
To draw the
8 told of one
river bank
until, at the
and swam
.nd sages of
tude and en-
usions there-

upon as to which would be the worthiest to command in after
tiino."

The name author infonua us that in the summer of 1838 the
tiiniili-pox WHS ci>minunicated to the Maiidans from some in-
fected persons on board one of the steamers belonging to a
company of fur traders. So virulent was the disease, that in
u few weeks it swept off the whole tribe, except a few who fell
into the hands of their enemies, the Ricarees. One principal
reason for the excessive mortality is said to have been that
hostile bands of Indians had beset the village, and the inhabit-
ants were consequently unable to separate, or to place the
infected in an isolated position. The scene of death, lamenta-
tion and terror is said by those who witnessed it to have been
frightful in the extreme. Great numbers perished by leaping
into the river, in the paroxysm of fever, being too weak to
swim out. Those who died in the village lay in heaps upon
the floors of the huts. Of the few secured by the Eicarees,
who took possession of the depopulated village, nearly all were
said to have been killed during some subsequent hostilities, so
that now scarce a vestige of the tribe can be supposed to remain.
The Mandans were probably all congregated at their principal
village at the time of the great calamity; the other village was
situated two miles below, was a small settlement, and was used,
as we are led to infer, merely for a temporary summer resi-
dence for a few of the noted families.

Mr. Catlin, in speaking of the destruction of this tribe by
the small-pox, says: "There is yet a melancholy part of the
tale to be told, relating to the ravages of this frightful disease
in that country on the same occasion, as it spread to other
contiguous tribes, the Minatarrees, the Knisteneaux, the Black-
feet, the Chayennes and the Crows, amongst whom twenty-five
thousand perished in the course of tour or five months, which
most appalling facts I got from Major Pilcher, superintendent
of Indian affairs at St. Louis, from Mr. McKenzie and others."
22

ClIAPTEB XLII.

Sketch of the Sioux Inuianh — How they Nuhsed their Inkantb
— Leaving thkik Old and Infirm to Die from Starvation —
The Peculiarities of the Red-Pipe Stone Quarry— Suprusti-

TIONS OF THE SlOUX REGARDING TUB PiPB STONE — ThE BuFKAW

Hunt.

The Sioux or Dacotas, were at one time the most widely
diffused tribe of Indians of the West. Their territory extended
far west to the country of the Blackfeet, and from the Missouri
in the south to the Upper Mississippi in the north. They sub-
sisted entirely by hunting and lishing, using, until a recent date,
the native weapons of their race. One of the most remarkable
traits in their character was the strength of maternal affection.
According to their custom, their infants were carried for the
first six or seven months of their existence, strapped firmly to
a board, the hands and feet only being left at liberty. A small
hoop was placed over their faces, so that in case they should
fall, no injury would be sustained. This contrivance, or rude
cradle, was almost always neatly ornamented with fringe or
embroidery. The whole was suspended upon the back of the
mother by a strap, which passed around over her forehead.
After the child has reached this age it is loosened and nursed
in the folds of the mother's blanket or robe. If the infant
dies during the time that is allotted to it to be carried in this
cradle, it is buried, and the disconsolate mother fills the cradle
with black quills and feathers, in the parts which the child's
body had occupied, and in this way carries it around with her
wherever she goes for a year or more, with as much care as if
her infant were alive and in it; and she often lays or stands it
against the side of the wigwam, where she is all day engaged
with her needle-work, and chatting and talking to it as famil-

(388) . ,

OR, TIIK nOROKR WARS OF r»V<> CKNTURIE8.

389

iarly and affectionately as if it wvre lier loved infant, instead
of its shell, that she was talking to. So lasting and so strong
is the affection of these wotnen for the lost child, that it mat-
ters not how lieavy or cruel their load, or how rugged the
route they have to pass over, they will faithfully carry this,
and carefully, from day to day, and even more strictly perform
their duties to it, tlian if the child were alive and in it.

One of the most cruel customs among the Sioux was that
of leaving their old and infirm to die alone, exposed and unat-
tended. The old sufferers not only assented to this proceeding,
but generally suggested it when conscious that they were no
longer able to support themselves. They were generally left with
a slight protection over them, with a little food by their side, to
die, or be devoured by the hungry wolves. It was in the
country of the Sioux at the southern extremity of the high
ridge, called the Coteau des Prairies, which lies between the
head waters of the St. Peter's and Missouri, that the far-famed
quarry of red pipe-stone was situated. Pipes made from this
stone were common among all the "Western tribes. The stone
was obtained by digging to a depth of several feet in the prairie
at the foot of a precipitous wall of quartz rocks. The geolo-
gical formation of this spot presents a singular phenomenon,
and the pipe-stone is of itself a singular material. It is said
to be harder than gypsum, and softer than carbonate of lime,
and is different from any other metal ever discovered by geolo-
gists. The component materials of this stone, according to
the analysis of Dr. Jackson, of Boston, are as follows: " water,
8,4; silica, i8,2; alumina, 28.2; magnesia, 6.0; carbonate of
lime, 2.6; peroxide of iron, 5.0; oxide of manganese, 0.6."

"The Indians," says Mr. Brownell, in his valuable book,
"use the stone only in the manufacture of pipes; to apply it
to any other use they esteem the most unheard-of sacrilege.
From the affinity of its color to that of their own skins, they
draw some fancifnl legend of its formation, at the time of the
great deluge, out of the flesh of the perishing red men. They
esteem it one of the choicest gifts of the Great Spirit."

Tlie following extracts from the speeches of Sioux orators,
will give the reader a good idea of how highly, and in what

341)

TIIK INDIAN TKIHKS WVHV oK TIIK Mr«WlSsll'l'I ;

light the savages appreciated this stone: " You see," said one
(holding a red pipe to the aide of his naked arm,) " that this
pipe is a part of our desh. The red men are a part of the rod
stone."

Another says, " If the white men take away a piece of the
red pipe-stone, it is a hole made in our tlesh, and the bluod will
always run. We cannot stop the blood from running. The
Great Spirit has told us that the red stone is only to be used
for pipes, and through them we are to smoke to him."

We find another Sioux saying: " We love to go to the Pipe-
Stone, and get a piece for our pipes; but we ask the Great Spirit
first. If the white men go to it, they will take it out, and not
fill up the holes again, and the Great Sj)irit will be offended."

And still another: " My friends, listen to me! what I am
about to say will be truth. I bought a large piece of the pipe-
stone, and gave it to a white man to make a pipe; he was our
trader, and I wished hira to have a good pipe. The next time
I went to his store, I was unhappy when I saw that stone made
into a dish ! This is the way the white men would use the red
pipe-stone if they could get it. Such conduct would offend
the Great Spirit, and make a red man's heart sick."

Buffalo hunting was the principal occupation of the Sioux,
and in this pursuit they were not excelled by any other West-
ern tribe. They used horses, a wild breed extensively spread
over the Western country, the descendants of those originally
brought over by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century, and
were excellent horsemen. These animals were superior iu
speed to any animals on the Western prairies. Numbers of
them were kept about the encampment of the Indians, hoppled,
so as to prevent their straying away. Upon the open prairie,
the bufiPalo were generally pursued on horseback, the Indians
bedng armed with the lance and bow and arrow. The Indian
would generally ride furiously on until he came within a few
feet of his prey, and then discharging his arrow with preat
force into its side, would follow it with his lance, which gener-
ally proved fatal. This pursuit was not without danger, for
oftimes both horse and rider would fall a prey to the dangerous

OR, TIIK BORPRK WARS OF TWO CKNTITRIKS.

341

HiiM one
;hat this
■ the red

ee of the
>lood will
ng. The
,0 be used

the Pipe-
reat Spirit
it, and not
offended."
what I am
ft' the pipe-
he was our
3 next time
stono made
use the red

,uld offend

animal. Yet such was the excitement of the savages while
in the chase, that tliey seemed to he regardless of all danger.

In the winter season the buffalo hunt was managed on a
different plan. Tliey were generally driven from the liigh
ritlpjes, where they had gathered to feed upon the herbage, into
the snow-covered prairies, where, floundering in tlie deep snow,
they were soon overtaken by the savages on their snow shoes,
and picked off by the arrow and lance. " When buffaloes are
plenty," says the autlior from whom I have just quoted, " and
the Indians have fair opportunity, the most astonishing and
wasteful slaughter ensues. Besides the ordinary methods of
destruction, the custom of driving immense herds over some
precipitous ledge, where those behind trample down and thrust
over the foremost, until hundreds and thousands are destroyed,
has been often described."

Some early writers have severely censured savage improvi-
dence in this regard, on the grounds that in a few years they
would be left without the means of subsistence. But we have
lived to see the Indians imprudently destroyed, long before
they had killed half the buffaloes of the Western prairies.

CIIArTER XLIIl.

TnK CnowB and tiik Bi.ackpkkt— TiiKin Mytiib and tiirir Waus —
Charaotrristics op tiikhk Tribkh — Intkrkstino Inciukntb,

We now come to notice the tribes upon the Yellowstone and
the liead waters of the Missouri. Among the most noted of
these were the Crows and the Blackfeet, and their neighbors
and enemies, the Ojibwas, Knisteneaux, and Assinaboins.
In 1834, tlie numbers of the Blackfeet exceeded twenty thou-
sand, but the small-pox, in 1838, reduced their number to about
thirteen thousand. The Blackfeet, being farthest removed
from the influences of civilization, presented many tine speci-
mens of the Indian race. They were of manly proportions,
active, and capable of grea*, endurance. Their dress was both
comfortable and ornamental, " bedecked with all the em-
broidery and fixings characteristic of savage finery." Their
dwellings, means of subsistence, customs, etc., were so nearly
like those tribes already mentioned that any particulars con-
cerning them in this place will be superfluous. There wei
however, a few points of difference which I shall not fail to
mention. Their lodges were generally made of buffalo skins.
supported by firm poles, which they brought from the distant
mountains. The skins were strongly stitched togetiier, and
highly ornamented. The tents were easily moved by making
the poles into one bundle and the skins into another.

Among these very remote tribes might have been found ai a
late day many of the ancient superstitous observances of tlieir
race, retained with all their original solemnity. One of the
most singular of these, says Mr. Brownell, is the preparation
of the " medicine-bag," which every man carried with him
upon all occasions, as being intricately involved with his own
safety and success in war, hunting, or any of the occuptions

(342)

oil, TIIK IIOKDKIt WAKH OV TWO OKNTIIKIKH.

848

(tf lit'c. At nhout the age of puljerty the Indian boy bethought
liiiiiHcIf of taking the necessary steps for the preparation of this
iiiVKtcrious amulet or charm. He retired to some solitary
spot, where he spent several days, lying upon the ground,
tiiking nothing to cat, and employing liimself constantly in
praying to the Groat Spirit. Becoming exhausted, he would
lull asleep, and of course dream very important and significant
droiinis. He would then return home, and after gaining suffi-
cient; strength, start out in pursuit of the bird or animal which
appeared most conspicuous in his dreams, not resting until he
had obtained a specimen. This done, he would return and
dress the skin, stuff it with moss, or some other light sub-
stance, after which he would ornament it with every description
of savage finery. This medicine-bag was considered invalu-
able, and was carried in every important undertaking. " Tliese
curious appendages," says Mr. Catlin, "to the persons or ward-
robe of an Indian are sometimes made of the skin of an otter,
a beaver, a muskrat, a weasel, a raccoon, a pole-cat, a snake, a
frog, a toad, a bat, a mouse, a mole, a hawk, an eagle, a mag-
pie, or a sparrow; sometimes of the skin of an animal so large
as a wolf."

The Crows ^#ere inferior in numbers to the Blackfeet, but
with whom they were for many years at war. Physically they
are a fine race, being much taller than the Indians of surround-
ing tribes, and models of agility and strength. In their
primitive state they were an honest, trustworthy set of savages,
but in later days, when corrupted by the evils of civilization,
they became a lawless, thieving horde. As will be seen in the
course of our narrative, the Crows and Blackfeet were objects
of terror to the pioneer settlers, traders, and trappers of the
Far West. Mr. Brownell, in speaking of their personal appear-
ance, says that one distingiiishing peculiarity of these Indians
was the extraordinary length of their hair, which was cherished
and cultivated as an ornament, until it swept the ground after
theui. This profusion was to be seen in no tribe except the
Crows, although some of their neighbors endeavored to imitate
it by glueing an additional length to their natural hair. The
Crows spoke a different language from the Blackfeet.

844

rilK INDIAN 'IRIIIKH WVHV «>K TIIK MIWrHSIIM'i;

"The sinullt'r Minituri trilit'H, iM'twiM'ii tin; mouth of thu Y((l-
lowHtoiiu ntul tlie xittMif tiio MatKhui viUu^uH, and the u\ti>nHi\e
imtion of thoCirort VentroH, inhuhitiii^ the eastern wlope of ♦'•e
Itocky Mouiitiiiiih, Hpoke the Huino hm^uago with tlieCrowH. .,r
one very nearly allied to it. The Arapahoes, numbering no\w
three thousand, and dwellinj^ about the nourcet* of the I'latte
and zVrkanttas rivers, belonged to the race of the Jilackfeef."

The ArapahocH were for many ycavn at war with the Flat-
head and other tribes still further westward. The descent of
these remote bands upon the plains mi pursuit of butt'alo, wuii
deemed by the Blackfeet a signal infringement of their rights,
and iierco battles often resulted from the uontlicting claims uf
tlie rival nations.

Along the Rocky Mountains and their western slopen, and
on the plains drained by the sources of the Columbia, were the
Nez-Perces, or Pierced-Nose Indians, the Flatheads and the
Pends Orcilles, or Hanging Ears. These stragling tribes were
at continual war with nearly all the western tribes, and were,
more particularly enemies of the Blackfeet. At one tinie a
number of Blackfeet prisoners fell into the hands of the Flat-
heads, and although the latter were usually a kind, hospitable
race, they thrust upon their captives upon th» occasion every
species of torture with a view to overcome the far-famed
courage and fortitude of the ]31ackfeet. But it was all in viiiti.
One exulted over his tormentors, vaunting his own deeds in
the following language: "My heart is strong. — You do not
hurt me. You can't hurt me. You are fools. You do not
know how to torture. Try it again. I don't feel any pain
yet. We torture your relations a great deal better, because we
make them cry out loud, like little children. You are not
brave; you have small hearts, and you are always afraid to
tight." Then speaking to one of his captors, he said: "It was
by my arrow you lost your eye;" upon which the Flathead
darted at him, and with a knife, in a moment scooped out one
of his eyes; at the same time cutting the bridge of his nose
nearly in two. Tiiis did not stop him; with the remaining
eye he looked sternly at another, and said, "I killed your
brother, and I scalped your old fool of a father." The warrior

OR, TIIK ROKDKK \VAK« OK TWO rKNTfUIKH.

845

■ tlu! Vol-
jw! ot" *''e

Ul'ONVH. .(F

ring HojiR'
tho I'liitto

Bktt'Ct."

tho riat-

llCBCt'llt of
lltt'lllo, WIW

leir rights,
chiiiuH of

slopcH, and
ft, were the
ds and tlie
tribes were
,, and were,
one time a
)f the Flat-
, hospitahle
iEBion every
far-tamed
all in vain.
n deeds in
ou do not
IYou do not
;! any pain
because we
fou are not
\'& afraid to
id: *'It was
Ihe Flathead
iped out one
of his nose
remaining
killed your
The warrior

to whom thiH waH luldrcsw*! iiibtuntly Mpriing ut him and
gevi'H'd tho scalp from his head.*

Some very Interefttliig tniitu of the chariu tor of the Crow»
tire exhibited In an adventure of a noted trapper — Mr. Robert
Ilrowtiell, ftH given In Mr. Irving's book. This traveler was at
une time hoHpitahly entertained by tho celebrated ('row chief,
Arapooirth, in whose care ho had placed a largo and vulnablo
package of furs. The greater i)art of his goods had been buried
in the grouml for greater wifety. These, however, were all
8t(»len, Ihe number of beaver skins included being one hundred
mid tifty. Upon hearing this, Arapooish immediately assembled
nil the men of the village, and after making a speech, in which
lie vehemently declaimed against their bad faith towards the
stranger, and declared that he would neither touch food nor
drink until tho skins should all be returned. The Indians at
once acknowledged their guilt and returned the goods.

In a former chapter 1 have mentioned tho strength of
maternal affection among the Sioux. We now have numerous
anecdotes exemplifying the endnring and powerful attachment
between the sexes among the Far West tribes; but this was not
oidy among the Indians alone, but when they had intermarried
with whites. 0»e of these instances is as follows: "Among
the free trappers in the llocky Mountain band was a spirited
young Mex)''^n, named Loretto, who, in the course of his wan-
derings, h..a ransomed a beautiful Blackfoot girl from a band
of Crows, by whom she had been captured. He made her his
wife, after the Indian style, and she had followed his fortunes
ever since with the most devoted affection." In Mr. Brownell's
work we find the same incident referred to in these words:
"The company one day fell in with a numerous party of Black-
feet warriors, and the preliminary steps were taken for a parley,
and for smoking the calumet, in token of peace. At this
moment, Loretto's Indian wife perceived her own brother
among the band. Leaving her infant with Lbretto, she rushed
forward and threw l^erself upon her brother's neck, who clasped
Ills long-lost sister to his heart with a warmth of affection but
little compatible with the reputed stoicism of the savage. ^'

♦ Brownell's Indian Races.

346

TIIK INDIAN TMIHI'J* W KHT nf TIIK MIHHIWII'I'i:

♦' Mt'iinwhih', Hridjfer, ono of tlic triipper lotuiurM, approiwliiiiju
thu Hluckfcut, tVotti the iinprudtMit uxtrcrtH of cuution, oookcd h\n
riHt> jiiHt M \\ecii\uv up with thrin. Thu ItMHan chief, who wm
in tlie net of proffering u friendly Hiihitiition, heard the chCk
of the lock, and all \m native fury and HUHpieion were itiHtiiittlv
arouried. Ilo Bprang \\]Km Hridger, forced the muz/Je of tho
ririe into the j^round, where it wan dinehar^ed, knocked liitii
down, Hcizcd his horse, and rode oft'. A j^eiieral, hut dirtordeii^'
tight ensued, during which Lorutto*M wife was hurried uway by
her relatioiiM.

' "The nohle young Mexican Haw lier in their power, vainly
entreating perinisHion to return, and, regnrdleBs of the dim>(or
incurred, at onco hastened to her side, and rcHtored the child
to its mother. The Jiluckfect hravcH adinire<l his holdncHH, an]
rcBpected the contidcnce which he had reposed in them hy
thus venturing in their midst, hut they were deaf to all the
prayers of himself and his wife that they might reinnin
together. He was dismissed unharmed, hut tlie woman and
cliild were detained.

" Not many months afterwards the faithful T^oretto procured
his discharge from the company in whose service he was
eidisted, and followed his wife to her own country. A hnjjpy
reunion took place, and the loving pair took up their residence
at the trading-house among the Ulackfeet, where the husband
served as interpreter between the Indians and white traders."

(MIAPTER XLIV.

TiiK Indi.xk Tuihkm ok tiik Fah Wkht — Tiik PtKiirKii-NonKn — Till
WAi.i,AWAr.i.AH— TuK Fr.AT-IiKADH— I'Kcui.iAitiTiEa i)r TiiiH Tkiuic —

TllKIK (.'AN(>K», KTC.

SriLL west of the Hlucktuot country nnd west of the Koeky
MdiintaiiiB, lived tho l'iereotl-NoH»j Iruiiunn, and t»ir doTii the
Koowkooske river dwelt the I'lat-Heads, while upon tho main
soutiiern brunch, the Lewis Fork of tho ('ohunbia or Snake
river, dwelt tho Shoahonees or 8iuiko IndianH.

The Piorced-No8o Indians were a quiet, inoftensive ])eople,
althouf^h when provoked to anger they were by ru) means want-
injj; in courage or ability. They were exceeflingly superstitious
and consequently ])erceptible to religious impressions. Their
patient reliance upon tho Great Spirit, in times of want and
danger, would shame our civilized devotion.

In a time of great ^vant a traveler named Cnpt. Bonneville
happened among them, and found them subsisting upnn wild
rose buds, roots and other innutritious vegetable matters. At
this early day their weapon was the spear. "With this they set
out on a certain day, on horseback, to obtain game. The whites
regarded the expedition as hopeless. Tliey galloped away, how-
ever, in high confidence. The undertaking being successful,
the poor Indians freely shared the meats they had taken with
the strangers. Capt. Bonneville, in afterwards speaking of
these savages, says: "Simply to call these people religious,
would convey but a faint idea of the deep liue of piety and
devotion which pervades their whole conduct, ^fheir honesty
is immaculate, and their purity of purpose and their observ-
ance of the rites of their religion, are most uniform and
remarkable. They are certainly more like a nation of saints
than a horde of savages."

(347)

»4R

TIIR INHIAN TKIlim wrUT Of T1»r MlMUMttlTi:

TIh' f'ii«r('»'»| Noho IriilititiM wrro diviilnl into two trllkM, tli«
U(>p<>r uml tlio lower, tlip tIt'Ht of tlirKi< in tliut to which alhiMJDti
hiwi hcrctotoro h(<tMi imuh) in (*onni'«*tion with tho Ithu'kl'i'ct.
Tho liwIiuMM of tliif lowor triho Hiil)HiHt(><| ii|)oii MmIi, uikI upnii
rhrr, t'll< iitid othop ^iiiiip of thi'ir own coinitrv. Mttwuvcr,
thi'v (lii!itrtH| in nothing iin|iortunt from their hri>tlin<n.

Hnt fiirthur to tiiu woMtwunI, upon thr hunkx of tho (lohiin-
hiii, wo coino to tho WiilhiwiilhiH, a trihn not nnliki! th«( I'icrcnl.
NoRus ill ^onorul (•iiuriictt.'rlHtit'H. Tlicy were, for hiiviijj;oh,
exceed inifiy clean and dii'ont. They hud ph'iity of liorHcs, iiihI
livod chiefly hy hni\tin^; Uut like their neii^hhora, whom I
have junt iiieiitioned, tlmy were conn intly ut war. The SIidh.
hoiiceH were their mortal enemies. The caiiBO for their hontility
wa8 that which produced nearly all wars between the Indiuittt—
disputed territory.

Hut let iiB notice riome of tho strange peculiarities of tho
Flut-IIcads, who live<l along the banks of the lower (yoluiiihia.
The horrible deformity of tho skull, which constitutes their
chief [)eculiarity, is produced by pressure upon the forehtwl
of tlie infant while tho bono is soft and pliable. The infiintig
stretched upon its back, as already described in our account of
the Sioux, a bit of bark is then so secured about tho head by
strings that it can be tiglitened at pleasure, creating a Kteiidy
pressure until tho head is so flattened that "a stniight line can
be drawn from the tip of tho nose to the unnatural apex." Tiie
operation occupies nearly a year.

It is said, however, that this extensive displacement of the
brain does not effect any noticeable change in the faculties of
the mind. " It is an nnaccountablo custom and is persisted in
as being an improvement upon nature."

Mr. Hrownell informs us that, exclusive of the head, there
is little particularly noticeable about tlie personal appeanuice
of the Indians of the lower Columbia. The description given
of them, particularly of their women, is by no means attractive.
It would seem, from one of Mr. Catlin's illustrations, that a
singular custom, generally considered as peculiar to the Brazil-
ian Botocudos, is occasionally observable among them. He

OR, rilK IIOKDKH WAWI or TWO (IKNTCKtM.

340

^{vrH n itkt'tch of a woinnti wIiohi^ iiiiiUt lip Ih pirrcctl, iimi tho
tt|i«<rtiiri' tilli'il with II lur^i) wimmIi'M plii); or liiittoii.

In huiltliii^ cuiioi'H titev i>X('(*IU*<| nciirly all otli<<r mhvh^hi.
TliuM weni ofti'ii Hrty t'ri't htri^, iitid woiiM curry from ciji^lit to
ton tlii»unaii<l poiiiiiU wiMj^ht, or from twority to thirty p«'rnoni».
Tln'v WITH cut out of H Hinj^h^ trunk of u trt«n, which in ^cn-
j'niliy whitt' j-t-jhir, tlioii^h thi! Mr in Hoin»'tiin«'H \imh\, Whuii
tlit>y cniharki'd ono Indian Hat in tho Mtcrn and HttH'rtuI with a
paddlo; tht) othern knmtlud in pairH in tho botttun of the canov,
anil, Hitting on thoir huoU, paddlud ovur tho ^unwalu next to
tlicni. In thin way thwy rodo with pt'rftx't wift'ty thu hi><h<'Ht
wavcH, and venturwl witho\it tho loHHt eonct'rn in houh where
otiur hoatH and Hcainen could not have jivt'd an iiiHtant. They
lut (piictly and paddlud, with nu other niovemont, except when
any lar^e wave throwod the hout on hor side, and to tho eye of
tiie ttpectator Rhu seoined luat ; the nuiii to windward then
gtiwlied her by throwing ]m body towardH tho upper Hide, and,
sinking his pad<llo deep into the waves, appeared to catch the
water and force it under tho boat.

The Flat-Heads subsisted chiefly by flsliing, in which thoy
were unusually expert. Their nets wore made of silk grass,
or o\' the fibrous bark of white cedar, as were also tho lines
uged fur angling. The hooks were procurc<l from white traders,
but in earlier times were manufactured from bones by the
natives.

Their houses were exceedingly large, many being thirty feet
broad by one hundred long. Their huuschold furniture was
rude and simple. Such were the Flat- Heads.

CHAPTER XLV.

The 8H08HONEK8 — The Root-Diookhs — Debcuiption of the Snakk
Indians — The Utahs and Apaciiks — The Nabajos and the

MUQUBS.

Wk next come to the great nation of the Shoshonees, whose
various tribes were scattered over the boundless wilderness from
Texas to the Columbia. " Their territory," says Mr. Brownell,
" was bounded on the north and west by that of their herei-
itary enemies, the JBlackfeet and Crows, the tribes allied to the
great Dacotah or Sioux family, and the Indians removed west-
ward from the United States.

" Those who dwelt among the rugged and inhospitable regions
of the great Rocky Mountain chain, known as Shoshonees, or
Root-Diggers, were the most destitute and miserable portion
of all the North American tribes. They had no horses, and
nothing but the rudest native implements for securing game.
They were harmless, and exceedingly timid and shy, choosing
for their dwellings the most remote and unexplored retreats of
the mountains, whither they fled in terror at the approach of
strangers, whether whites or Indians." " These forlorn beings,"
says Irving, " forming a mere link between human nature ami
the brute, have been looked down upon with pity and contempt
by the Creole trappers, who have given them the appellation
of ' les dignea de pitie,^ or, the objects of pity." They appear
more worthy to be called the wild men of the mountains."

Although living in a climate where they experienced great
severity of cold, these miserable people were very insufficiently
protected either by clothing or comfortable huts. Of a party
leen by Bonneville upon the plain below Powder Kiver, that
traveler remarks: "They live without any further protection
from the inclemency of the season, than a sort of break-

(860)

OB, THE BOKDKR WARS OP TWO CKNTURIR8.

weftther, about three feet high, composed of sage (or wormwood,)
uiid erected around them in the shape of a lialf-moon." Thia
iimterial also furnishes them with fuel Many were seen carry-
ing about with them a slow match, made of twisted bark.
"Whenever they wished to warm themselves, they would
gather together a little wormwood, apply tlie match and in an
instant produce a cheering blaze." *

They subsisted in a great degree upon roots and wild seeds.
However, they were ambitious enough to catch rabbits and
other small animals. Those who lived in the vicinity of streams
lidded to their supplies by tishing, and it was in this pursuit
that they evinced one provident trait — that of laying by a
store of dried iish for the winter. Yet, for the most part, they
were miserably provided with the necessaries t , life. Mr.
Bonneville informs us that they were destitute of the neces-
sary covering to protect them from the weather, and seemed to
be in ignorance of any other propriety or advantage in the use
of clothing. One old dame, he says, had absolutely nothing
on her person but a thread around her neck, from which was
pendant a single bead.

Those Shoshonees who were distinct from the Koot-Diggers,
were a free, bold race of hunters. Indeed, in this respect, they
were not inferior to the Sioux, Blackfeet or Crows. It is a
very difficult matter to give any satisfactory classification of
the several tribes belonging to this great nation. " The Sho-
shonees or Snakes," says Mr. Schoolcraft, " embrace all the ter-
ritory of the Great South Pass, between the Mississippi valley
and the waters of the Columbia, by which the land or caravan
communication with Oregon and California is now, or is des-
tined liereafter, to be maintained. * * Under the name of
Yampatick-ara, or Root-Eaters, and Bonacks, they occupy, with
the Utahs, the vast elevated basin of the Great Salt Lake,
extending south and west to the borders of New Mexico and
California. Information recently received denotes that the
language is spoken by bands in the gold mine region of the
Sacramento." The most noted branch of the whole family
was that of the Camanches, " who descended eastwardly into

* Browuell's Indian Races.

352

TMK IMtfAN TUrnna WKH't OF TIIK MISSISSHTi:

the Texan jiluiiirt at unknown jjeriods of their lustory."
Analogy in language was all that attested the former unity of
this nation with the Shoshonees. The Cainanches inhabited a
country where bisons and wild horses abounded, and their geii-
eral habits and mode of life were consequently very similar to
those of the Western Sioux and other races of the prairies.
As bold and skillful riders, they were said to have no equals, at
least in North America; some of their feats of horsemanship
appeared almost supernatural to a stranger. One of the most
lingular of these is that of throwing the whole body upon one
sidt of the horse, so as to be entirely shielded from the missile
of ui enemy, with the exception of the heel, by which they
Btill maintained their hold, and were enabled to regain their
seat in an instant.* The Camaiiches, when walking nbont,
were an awkward set of people, probably the result of constai t
riding. The Camanches are essentially a warlike race, and the
whole history of the settlement and occupation of Texas is
replete with tales of their courage and prowess.

The wigwams of the Camanches consisted of tents of buffalo
skins, and were transported from place to place as necessity or
convenience demanded. The tribe adjoining these, the Pawnee
Picts, lived iiear the extreme head waters of the Ked river, on
tlie borders of tjie Flocky Mountains; but these people were
entirely distinct from the Pawnees of the Platte river, and
were, in general characteristics, much like their friends, the
CamaiK'hes. They were, however, an agricultural race, and
raised large quantities of maize, beans, pumpkins and other
vegetables.

The IJtahs and the Apaches inhabited tlie wilds of New
Mexico, but were not essentially different from the tribes
already menticjned. In the same country dwelt twc- very die-
tingnishod tribes, the Nabajos and Morjues. In speaking of
the latter tribes in 1846, Mr. Charles Bent says they are "an
industrious, intelligent and warlike tribe of Indians, who cul-
tivate the soil, and raise sufficient grain and fruits of various
kinds for their own consumption. They are the owners of lar{Te
flocks and herds of cattle, sheep, horses, mules and asses. It is

* Bruwaell'ii Indian Races.

OR, TlfK nOKOKK WAH8 OF TWO OKNTL'UIES.

353

[• unity of
ihabitcil a
their gen-
siinilar to
e prairies.
) equals, at
'semaiisbip
f the most
y upon one
the missile
which they
regain their
Icing about,
of constai.t
ace, and the
of Texas is

estiniuted that the tribe possesses thirty tliousand head of
li(iri)ctl cattle, live hundred thousand liead of slieep, and ten
thousand head ot liorses, mules and asses. * * They man-
ufacture excellent coarse blankets, and coarse woolen goods for
wearing apparel. ^ ^ * They have in their possession many
nu'ii, women and children, taken from the settlements of this
territory, whom they hold and treat as slaves. * * The
Moques are neiglibors of the Nabajos, and live in permanent
villages, cultivate grain and fruits, and raise all the varieties
of stock."

The Nabajos numbered from seven to twelve thousand souls,
the Moques between two and three thousand. The two tribes
were for many years at war with each other, which, more than
any other agency reduced their numbers. It is said of these
tribes that the men were of the common stature, with light,
flaxen hair, light blue eyes, and that their skin was of the most
delicate whiteness.

It should be stated, in concluding this chapter, that it is
impossible to give any satisfactory classification of the Indian
tribes of the Far West. I liavo already mentioned all the
great nations that inhabited that extensive region, and attempted
to present some of the more prominent tribal divisions, but as
we proceed to the narrative of the wars between them and the
whites, the reader will meet with many new names, and will
no doubt wonder to what tribe they belong, or why they were
not mentioned in this brief review of the Western Indians.
As this occurs, I shall remember to mention to whicli of the
nations these new names belong.
d8

:*.'-

OHAPTEK XLVl.

CoiX)NEL Fkemont and Kit Cakson — Kit Goks as Guidk witu Fue.
MONT'8 Expedition — The Bukfafo Hunt — ADVKNTUiiKa in a
Puairib DoG-ViUiAQE — Ckosbino tue South Fokk— Immknse

BUFPALO HeKDB.

Tjik first train of adventure and border warfare of the Far
West, which I have selected as proper to constitute tlie ope i-
ing chapters of the second part of this vohime, is that which
burronnds the remarkable lives of Col. Fremont and Christo-
pher (Kit) Carson. In following the current of these adven-
turous lives I shall be obliged to pass over, fcr the present,
many important events, but in the course of the narrative we
eliall return to bring these forward.

The reader will require no introduction to these men. Tlie
name of the latter is already familiar throughout America,
while that of the former, who has rendered his country valua-
ble services, is not less treasured by the American people.

Kit Carson had spent sixteen years of his life in the wilds
of the West, among the fiercest Indian tribes, as hunter,
trapper, guide, or scout, or each in turn, and had returned to
feast his eyes once more upon the scenes of civilization. This
was in 1842. He visited his relatives in the frontier settle-
ments of Missouri, where he found the scenes of his boyhood
days vastly changed. On all sides the famous mountaineer
was greeted with new faces. The only relic of his childhood
was the old log-cabin where his father and mother had resided,
and its rude walls were already crumbling into decay. The
family had been scattered by death and ill-fortune, and the
brave hunter felt that he had no longer any endearments
among civilized people. Having satisfied Lis cnriosity, he
turned his face once more towards his mountain home. He

(354)

OK, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

865

took paesage tipon a steamboat boim<l up the Missouri. On
tliis boat he toll in with Col. J. C. Fremont, who had left
AViiniiington in May, agreeably to the order of Col. J. J. Abert,
chief of the corps of topographical engineers, to explore the
country between the frontiers of Missouri and the South Pass
in the Rocky Mountains. While on the steamer Kit Carson
was engaged as guide to Col. Fremont's company. The party
consisted of about twenty-one Creole and Canadian voyageurs}
Charles Preuss, Fremont's assistant; L. Maxwell, of Kaskas-
kia, as hunter, and, as I have already observed. Kit Carson, aa
guide. In addition to these, Fremont was accompanied by
Henry Brant and Randolph Benton, two respectable young
men who attached themselves to the expedition for the de-
velopment of mind and body.

Upon their arrival in Kansas, preparations were made for a
ioiifif and dangerous journey, which was commenced on the
tenth of June, 1842. They pursued the trail of a party of
emigrants bound for the Columbia river. This train was only
about three weeks in their advance. The latter consisted of
men, women and children. There were sixty-four men and
sixteen or seventeen families. They had a considerable num-
ber of cattle. They were transporting their household furni-
ture in large, heavy wagons. There had been much sickness
among them, and they had lost several children. One of the
party, who had lost his child, and whose wife was very ill, had
left them about c ne hundred miles hence on the prairies, and
as a hunter, w):0 had accompanied them, visited Fremont's
camp on the twenty- seventh of June, As this man was return-
ing to the States, Fremont availed himself of the opportunity
of writing letters to his friends.

The order observed in the march of Fremont's party was
about the same as that adopted by expeditions to the great
West in early times: The animals were turned out to graze at
daybreak every morning; six o'clock was the hour for break-
fast, and as soon as it was over the march was resumed. At
noon the party generally came to a halt for about two hours.
At sunset the order was given to encamp. The tents were
erected, the horses turrod out to graze, and supper prepared.

-~>

850

ADVKNTUKKH OK FUKMONT AM) KIT UAUSON*.

When tlurknoss cloned in tlio liorsert were picketed iind a
inuunted guard Htatiuned around the cartH, which were gen-
erally Hot up for a det'euHe in carte of an attack.

On the twenty -third of June the party had u B})ecinien of
falHealarniH to which all Huch expeditiouH in therto wild re^iuiis
were Bubject. As they ])roceeded along tlio valley, ohjectrt wfio
seen on the oj)po8ite liillrt, which diBa])peared before a gliifis
could be brought to bear upon them. A man who had been a
short distance in front came spurring back in grout haste,
shouting, " Indians! Indians! " He Imd been near enough to
count them, according to his report, and liad made out just
twenty-seven. Fremont at once halted ; the arms were ex-
amined and put in order, and the usual preparations made. At
this juncture tlie brave Kit Carson mounted one of the bent
horses, crossed the river and galloped oft' over the prairie i'o:
the purpose of gaining some intelligence respecting the enemy.
Of Kit's appearance in this brave adventure wc have Colonel
Fremont's own woids: "Mounted on a tine liorse, without a
saddle, and scouring bareheaded over the prairies. Kit was one
of tlie linest pictures of a horseman I have ever seen. A short
time enabled him to discover that the Indian war party of
twenty-seven consisted of six elks, wlio had been gazing
curiously at our caravan as it passed by, and were now scam-
pering off^ at full speed. This was our first alarm, and its
excitement broke agreeably on the monotony of the day."

Proceeding along in this way the party was soon in the land
of tlie buflalo, as will be seen by the following frotn Fremont's
own pen:

" A few miles brought us into the midst of the buffalo, swarm-
ing in immense numbers over the plains, where they had left
scarcely a blade of grass standing. Mr. Prenss, wlio was
sketching at a little distance in the rear, had at first noted them
as large groves of timber. In the sight of such a mass; of life,
the traveler feels a strange emotion o;' grandeur. We had
heard from a distance a dull and confused murmuring, and,
when we came in view of their dark masses, there was not one
among us who did not feel his heart beat quicker. It was the
early part of the day, wlien the herds are feeding; and every-

OR, TIIK ItoUMKK WAKH OK TWO CKNTUKII-*.

357

jd uixl li
vere j;eii-

ciiiien of
Id regions
ijectri were
re a glasH
iiid l)eon ti
•eat hiiste,
eiiougli to
c out jUHt
1 were ex-
inade. At
jf tlie best
prairie to;
the enemy,
ftve Colonel
3, without a
Kit was one
1. A short
XT party of
Ben gazing
now scani-
iii, and its
e day."
n the land
1 Fremont's

falo, swarm-
ley had left
s^ who was
noted them
niaf^t' of life,
We had
iiuriug, and,
was not one
It was the
and every-

where tlu'y were in motion. Hero nml there tt luigo old bull

wM rolling iit the graHrt, and clouda of duHt roHO in the nlr from

variourt partH of the handu, eueh the Hcene of soino ohstiiuitu

tight. Indianri and hutfaloeiii nniko the poetry and life of thu

prairie, and our eamp was full of their exhilaration. In place

of the (luiet moriotony of the nuireh, relieved oidy by the

cracking of the whip, and an " ainiwe done! enfant de gareeP^

shoutrt arul songs rebounded from every part of the line, and

our evening eamp was always the comtnencement ( f a feast,

which terminated only with our departure on the following

morning. At any time of the night might be seen pieces of

the most delicate and choicest meat, roasting en appolas, on

sticks around the tire, and the guard were never without com-

[)any. With pleasant weather and no enemy to fear, an

abundance of the most excellent meat, and no scarcity of bread

or tobacco, they were enjoying the oasis of a voyageur's life.

Three cows were killed to-day. Kit Carson had shot one, and

was continuing the chase in the midst of another herd, when

his horse fell headlong, but sprang up and joined the flying

band. Though considerably hurt, he had the good fortune to

break no bones; and Maxwell, who was mounted on a fleet

luniter, captured the runaway after a hard chase. He was on

the point of shooting him, to avoid the loss of his bridle (a

handsomely mounted Spanish one,) when he found that his

horse was able to come up with him. Animals are frequently

lost In this way; and it is necessary to keep close watch over

them, in the vicinity of the buffaloes, in the midst of which

they scour off to the plains, and are rarely retaken. One of

our ninles took a sudden freak into his liead, and joined a

neighboring band to-day. As we were not in a condition to

lose horses, I sent several men in pursuit, and remained in

eamp, in the hope of recovering him ; but lost the afternoon to

no purpose, as we did not see him again. As we were riding

•inietiy along the bank, a grand herd of buffaloes, some seven

|»i' eight hundred in number, came crowding up from the river,

where they had been to drink, and commenced crossing the

plain slowly, eating as they went. The wind was favorable;

the coolness of the morning invited to exercise; the ground

858

ADVKNTlJUfM t>V VHVMaSt ANO KIT OAWftoV!

{

was »ij)|)ur<)MMy ^ood, uiul the dlHtiiTU't' HcroHH tlio pruirif i two
or three inilert), gnve tie a Hue opportiiiiity to chur^u thciii
before they I'oiiltl got among the river hilU. It wum two titu; a
proHpect for a ehaHO to he loMt; ami, halting for a few nioincntti,
tlie hunters were hroiight up and Haddle«l, and Kit (Iui'koi-,
Maxwell and I, started together. They were now Moinewinit
lcH8 than half a mile distant, and we rode easily along until
within ahout three hundre<l yards, when a sudden agituti(»ii, ii
wavering in the band, and a galloping to and fro of Home
which were scattered along the skirts, gave us the intinuiti(»ii
that we were iliseovered. Wo starttMl together ui, a hurd giillap
riding steadily abreast of each other, and here the interest of
tlie chase became so engrossingly intense, that we were sen-
Bible to iu)thing else. We were now eloping upon them rapidly,
and tlie front of the nuiss was already in rapid motion for the
hills, and in a few secoiuls the movement had communicated
itself to the whole herd. A crowd of bulls, as usual, br<>!iy:lit
uj) the rear, and every now and then flonje of them faced al)oiit,
and then dashed on after, the band a short distance, and turmd
and looked again, as if more tlum half inclined to stand and
fight. In a few mon\ents, however, during which we had heoii
quickening our pace, the rout was universal, and wo were going
over the ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty yards,
we gave the usual shout (the hunter's piis de charge,) and
broke into the herd. We entered on the side, the mass giving
way in every direction in their heedless course. Many of the
bulls, less active and less fleet than the cows, paying no atten-
tion to the ground, and occupied solely with the hunter, were
precipitated to the earth witli great force, rolling over and over
witli the violence of the shock, and hardly distingui8lial)le in
the dust. We separated on entering, each singling out his
game. My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the West
under the name of Proveau, and, with his eyes flashing, and
tlje foam flying from his mouth, sprang on after the cow likea
tiger. In a few moments he brought me alongside of licr,
and, rising in the stirrups, I flred at the distance of a yard, tlie
ball entering at the termination of the lung liair, and })assing
near the lieart. She fell headlong at the report of the gun,

OB, TIIK n«>UI)KK WAIW OF TWO OKNTI'lilRfl.

860

and, clH'ckin^ my horKc, I looktHl Hrouml tor my comiminoiii.
At a littlu <liHtiiii(!(>, Kit wm oii the ^roiiiMl, ungu^cd in tying
liiii itortie to t\\v, liortiH of a cow which ho wuh prcpiirin^ to cut
np. Amon^ the wiiittortMl hiitulH, ut Homu (liHtiiiicc lielow, I
caught a ^iiinpflo ut' Maxwell; and wliilc I waH looking, a li^ht
wriatii of white Htnoke curled away from his ^un, from which
I \vn« too far to hear the report. Nearer, and hetween me and
the hills, towards which they were directing their course, was
the hody of the hcnl, t\nd, ^ivin^ my horse the rein, we dashed
after them. A thick cloud of dust hun^ U})on their rear,
which tilled my mouth and eyes, aticJ nearly smothered mo.
ill the midst of this I could see nothin<:;, and the Imtliiluea
were not distinj^uishuhle until within thirty feet. They
crowded together more densely still as 1 came upon them, and
rushed alon<i^ in such a compact hody, that 1 could not obtaia
ail entrance — the horse almost leaping upon them. In a few
luoiiitMits the mass divided to the right and left, the horns
clattering with a noise heard above everything else, and my
hoii^e darted into the opening. Five or six bulls charged on us
as we dashed along the line, but were left far behind; and, sing-
ling out a cow, I gave her my lire, but struck too high. She
gave a tremendous leap, and scoured on swifter than before. I
reined up ray horse, and the band swept on like a torrent, and
left the place quiet and clear. Our chase had led us into dan-
fjeruns ground. A prairie-dog village, so thickly settled that
thoic were three or four holes in every twenty yards square,
occupied the whole bottom for nearly two miles in length.
hooking around, I saw only one of the hunters, nearly out of
sight, and the long dark line of our caravan crawling along,
throe or four miles distant. After a march of twenty-four
miles, we encamped at nightfall, one mile and a half above the
lower end of Brady's Island."

In following these adventurers across the Rocky Mountains,
the general reader will, I have no doubt, be interested in notic-
ing some of the princi])al features of the wild country through
which they were traveling. On the second of July, the party
puiised near the spot where the Oregon emigrants had encamped
only a few days before. A variety of household articles were

»((0

VltVKNTUHM «>K KHKM*»NT ANM KIT I'AKWKN,

M'HtterctI nl><>ut, iind they liiii) prohiiMy tiiHiitirdt'iiitl tlicinrii'lvoit
liuro of iiiuiiy tliiti^H not iilHoliitrly ii* i'cr«Miiry. On tliu hiiiiio
iluy Fi'tinioiit left tlio iirttiul roiul in tliu torfiiooti, uml liuvin^
pUHlniil Ht!v»'riil iiu'ii iiluMid to recoiiiioitiv, iiiurulu><l diruotly tup
thu iiiotith of tliu S4>uth Fork. On tlicir iirrivul ut tliiH plmc,
•uureli wuM inini(!<liutoly niiidu tor thu Imut tor«liti^ plucu. At
tliirt |H)int tlu> HtroHii) Ih divided intu clmnnclH. Tliu Hoiitlicrri
in tour liiindriHl mid fifty ft<c<t wide, Ix-in^ vi^liteon or twoiity
inches dtiep in tliti nniln cliuniiul. With tlu' (>X('(>|>tion nt' a
few dry burn, tlio IxmI of tlie river iH ^eui'mliy qiiickHuudH, in
wliicli tlie curttt be^iin to Hink rapidly urdeM8 kept conHtuiitly In
motion. Tlie nurtliern cluiiiriel of tite river, two thonHaiKJ two
hundred and tifty feet wide, in deeper, havin>( thrt^e or four \\H
of water in the varioiirt Hinall ciiannelH, with a l)ed of coiurto
gravel. The whole widtli of the Nehrawka, itnniediately Imlov/
the junction, wart, in 1842, five thourtand three hundred and
tifty feet, with aw elevation above the Ht)a of two thuuHaiid
seven hundred feet.

Crort8ing the river in eafety, Fremont cnca)npc<I. llorc, aa
tills was to be a point in their homeward journey, he made a
cache* of a barrel of pork. On the foUowinjjf day they |)r()-
ceeded about twenty-ftve miles, and encamped at»\\ o'clock in
the evening. Speaking of thin night, Fremont Hays: "Om*
tires were partially made of the f>o!n de vurhe, the dry excre-
ment of the butialoes, whieli, like that of the cu'iiel in the
Arabian deserts, furnishes to the traveler a very good 8ul)sti-
tute for wood, burning like turf. Wolves in great nuinl)orrt
surrounded us during the night, crossing and rccrossing frotu
tlie opposite herds to our camp, and howling and trotting about
in the river until morning."

As they were riding along on the afternoon of the following
day, clouds of dust in the ravines, among the hills to the rijjlit,
suddenly attracted their attention, and, in a few momenta, col-
umn after column of buffaloes came galloping down acnm
their course, making directly to the river. By tlie time the
leading lierds had reached the water, the prairie was darkened

* Cache— A torm used in tlie West for anything tliat is liiddoii in tlie
ground. — Ed. -,

OH, TIIK IIOKriKK \V\HM OK t VNO fKNTIRIKM.

with tilt* (li>riHn tiiuMHCri. Iiniiit'WiHfi'ly Intlort) tliiMii, wIumi tho
liiTiIrt llt'Ht 'Uiiiu down into tliii vulloy, Mtrutrhcil hii iiiiWrokcii
liiii', till! lu'iiil of wliicli wan loHt luiioti^ till) river liilln on tlio
rip|)oHiti> h1«U), Imt Htili tliev poun^l «lo\vri tVoni tliM ritl^rn oil
Fn'iiioiit'8 rij^tit. The wi^ht wiih Ik'^oiuI »li'Hcri|>tiou. Ovur
i>l(>v(>ii thouHHuil iMirtuloc'rt were in view. " In h nhort tttnt*,"
HiiyH Col. Fruniont, " they Hiirroiiii«hHl uh on uvory ititle, uxtt>n<l.
in^ tor Hcvurul inihm in tlu» rear, und t'orwurd u.s tUr m thu cyo
could rtMU'h; liMivirif^ around iih hm wu advanced, an npun Hpaco
of only two or thive hundred yanln. TIiIh movement ot* tlio
hiitlaloert indicated to U8 the preHeiieo of Indian^ on the North
Fork."

hiddc'ii in the

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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L8 12.5

ut lU 12.2

"* ■'" ""12.0

nffli

1.25 i 1.4

1.6

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Sdoices

Corporation

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WEBSTER, N.Y. M580

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'9>

CHAPTER XLVII.

Di VISION OF Fremont's Party— Thrilling Incidents of the JomtNET
TO Fort Laramie— Description of Fort Laramie— Frightful
Rumors of Indian Hostiutt— Fremont Determines to Con-
tinue—Kit Carson Resolves to Follow Him — Bravery and
Cowardice.

When the party arrived at the place where the road creased
the North Fork they were divided, going in two different
directions. Fremont, accompanied by Mr. Prenss and four men,
Maxwell, Bernier, Ayot and Lajeunesse, and three Cheyenne
Indians started out across the country along the South Branch
of the river, intending to ascend the river some two hundred
miles to St. Train's fort, and thence to reach the American
company's fort at the mouth of the Laramie. The remainder
of the party, which was left under the command of Clement
Lambert, was ordered to cross the North Fork, and at some
convenient place to make a cache of everything not absolutely
necessary to the further progress of the expedition. From tiiis
point, using the most guarded precaution in their march
through the country, they were to proceed to the same point.
This division of the party was effected to enable Fremont to
make some observations on the South Branch.

Let us first follow Fremont's own party. During the first
day's journey nothing of interest occurred. About sunset
Maxwell shot a buffalo, and the little party encamped where a
little timber afforded them the means of making a lire. Hav-
ing placed the meat before the fire on roasting sticks, they
proceeded to unpack their bales in search of coffee and sugar,
and flour for bread. With the exception of a little parched
coffee they found nothing, the cook having neglected to put it
up. Tired and hungry, with only tough meat, without salt,

(362)

OB, TIIK UORDKK \VAK8 OF TWO 0EMTUKIE8.

868

and a little bitter coffee, they 'sat down in silence to their
miserable meal, a very disconsolate party. The previous day's
fea^t was still fresh in their memories, and this was their first
brush with niisfortuue. Each man took his blanket and laid
liimself down silently to sleep.

On the following day Mr. Preuss, owing to the disability of
his horse, returned to the main party. Fremont and his com-
panions continued their journey in a southwesterly course up
the valley of the river. On the eighth of July, in the course
of the forenoon, they came suddenly on a place where the
ground was covered with horses' tracks, which had recently
been made, and indicated the immediate presence of Indians.
Tlie buffalo, too, which the day before had been so numerous,
were nowhere in sight — another sure indication that there
were people near. Riding on, they discovered the carcass of a
buffalo recently killed — perhaps the day before. They scanned
the horizon carefully with the glass, but no living object was
to be seen. For the next mile or two the ground was dotted
with buffalo carcasses, which showed that the Indians had
made a surround there, and were in considerable force. They
went on quickly and cautiously, keeping the river bottom, and
carefully avoiding the hills, but met with no interruption, and
began to grow careless again. They had already lost one of
their horses, and here Basil's mule showed symptoms of giving
out, and finally refused to advance, being what the Canadians
call reat^. He therefore dismounted and drove her along before
him, but this was a very slow way of traveling. They had
inadvertently got about half a mile in advance, but the Chey-
ennes, who were generally a mile or two in the rear, remained
with him. There were some dark-looking objects among tlie
hills, about two miles to the left, here low and undulating,
which they had seen for a little time, and supposed to be
buffalo coming in to water; but, happening to look behind.
Maxwell saw the Cheyennes whipping up furiously, and
another glance at the dark objects showed them at once to be
Indians coming up at speed. Had they been well mounted
and disencumbered of instruments, they might have set them
at defiance; but as it was, they were fairly caught. It was too

864

ADVKNTITKE8 OF FKKMONT AND KIT CARSON.

late to rejoin their friends, and tliey endeavored to gain a cjiimp
of timber about lialf a mile aliead, but the instrumentrt und
the tired state of their horses did not allow them to go faHtcr
than a steady canter, and the Indians were gaining on tliuni
fast. At first they did not appear to be more than lifteen or
twenty in number, but group after group darted into view at
the top of the hills, until all the little eminences seemed in
motion, and, in a few minutes from the time tliey were first
discovered, two or three hundred, naked to the breech-cloth,
were sweeping across the prairie. In a few hundred yards
Fremont discovered that the timber he was endeavoring to
make was on the opposite side of the river, and before he could
reach the bank down came the Indians upon them.

Fremont pulled off the cover from his gun and was about to
fire at tha foremost rider, when Maxwell recognized the Indian,
and called out, in the Indian language, "You're a fool I don't
you know me?" The sound of his own language seemed to
shock the savage, and swerving his horse a little, he passed the
whole party like an arrow.* As Fremont rode after him, he
wheeled and gave the Colonel his hand, striking his breast, and
exclaiming, " Arapaho!" They proved to be a village of that
nation, among whom Maxwell had resided as a trader a year or
two previously, and recognized him accordingly. Fremont
says: "We were soon in the midst of the band, answering, as
well as we Could, a multitude of questions; of which the very
first was, of what tribe were our Indian companions who were
coming in the rear. They seemed disappointed to know that
they were Cheyennes, for they had fully anticipated a grand
dance around a Pawnee scalp that night."

The chief pointed out his village at a grove on the river, six
miles ahead, and then started with his band in pursuit. of a
herd of bufialo on the opposite side of the Platte, which, as he
informed the whites, he intended to surround. In a few
moments more the women galloped up, astride on their horses,
and half naked. They followed the men, to assist in cutting
up and carrying off the meat.

As soon as the Indians had crossed the river they separated

* Fremont's Report.

OK, TilK BOKDKK WARS OK TWO CKNTUKIl<i4.

Srtft

into two parties. One body pro(!eeded directly across tlie
prnirie toward the hills, while the other went up the river, and
as Boon as they had given the wind to the herd, the chase com-
menced. The buffalo started for the hills, but were intercepted
and driven back toward the river, broken and running in
every direction. Fremont's party now halted to see the sport,
bnt the clouds of dust soon covered the whole scene, prevent-
ing them from liaving any but an occasional view. It had,
ftays Fremont, a very singular appearance at a distance; espe-
cially when looking with a glass. The Indians were too far
oft' for the Americans to hear the report of the guns or any
sound; and, at every instant througli tlie clouds of dust which
tlie sun made luminous, they could see for a moment two or
three buffalo dashing along, and close behind them an Indian
with his spear, or other weapon, and instantly again they dis-
appeared. The apparent silence, and the dimly seen figures
flitting by with such rapidity, gave it a kind of dreamy effect
and seemed more like a picture than a scene of real life. It
had been a large herd, probably three or four hundred in num-
bers, but although Fremont watched closely, he says, " I did
not see one emerge from the fatal cloud where the work of
destruction was going on."

After remaining at this place about an hour, Fremont
resumed his journey in the direction of the Indian village.
Gradually, as they rode along, Indian after Indian came drop-
ping in laden with meat, and by the time they had approached
within view of the lodges the backward road was covered with
the returning horsemen. This was, indeed, a pleasant contrast
with the desert road they had been traveling. Many of the
Indians had joined company with the whites, and one of the
diiefs invited the party to his lodge. The village consisted of
about one hundred and twenty-five lodges, of which twenty
were Cheyennes; the latter located a little way from the Arapa-
hoes. Fremont's experience in this village was exceedingly
pleasant. The Indians treated him with choice pieces of meat
And asked some questions con(;erning the object of his expedi-
tion, which he freely answered.
On the morning of the ninth of July they caught the first

86H

ADVKNTURK8 OK FREMONT AND KIT CARBON.

faint glimpso of the Rocky Mountains, and pursuing their cuurMe
they came to the camp of some four or five whites, who hail
accompanied Captain Wyeth to the Cohunbia river and were
independent trappers. All had their squaws with them, and
Fremont says, " I was really surprised at the number of little
fat buffalo-fed boys that were tumbling about the camp, all
apparently of the same age, about three or four years old.
They were encamped on a rich bottom, covered with a profu-
sion of line grass, and had a large number of fine-looking
horses and mules. We rested with them a few minutes, and in
about two miles arrived at Chabonard's camp, on an island in
the Platte."

After several days wearisome journeying Fremont's party,
on the fifteenth of July came within view of Fort Laramie.
This was a large post, having the air of military construction.
It was situated on the left bank of the Platte on a rising
ground, some twenty feet above the water; and its lofty walls,
whitewashed and picketed, with the large bastions at the angles,
gave it quite an imposing appearance to the approaching trav-
elers. "A cluster of lodges," says Fremont, " which the lan-
guage told us belonged to Sioux Indians, was pitched under
the walls, and, with the fine background of the Black hills and
the prominent peak of Laramie mountain, strongly drawn in
the clear light of the western sky, where the sun had already
set, the whole formed at the moment a strikingly beautiful pic-
ture. From the company at St. Louis I had letters for Mr.
Boudeau, the gentleman in charge of the post, by whom I was
received with great hospitality and an efficient kindness, which
was invaluable to me during my stay in the country. I found
our people encamped on the bank, a short distance above the
fort. All were well; and, in the enjoyment of a bountiful sup-
per, which coffee and bread made luxurious to us, we soon for-
got the fatigues of the last ten days."

But it is not sufficient that we find this party whom we left
several weeks ago alive and well. Let us return and hurriedly
follow them through the varying fortunes of their journey.

On the sixth of July they crossed the plateau or highland
between the two forks, arriving at the north branch about

OR, THR BORDRR WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

',Wi

noon. They proceeded on their journey without interruption
nntil the eighth of July, when, about Ave o'clock in the eve-
ning the carnvan made a sudden halt. "There was," says
Preuss, "a galloping in of scouts and horsomon from every
side — a hurrying to and fro in noisy confusion; rifles were taken
from their covers; bullet pouches were examined; in short,
there was the cry of ' Indians I ' heard again. I had become
80 much accustomed to these alarms that before I had time to
become excited, the new comers were ascertained to be whites."
It was a large party of traders and trappers, conducted by
Mr. Bridger, a man well known to the history of western
adventure. On the fourteenth of July the party under Mr.
Preuss arrived at Fort Laramie, where, on the following day,
as we have seen, they were joined by Colonel Fremont.

Fort Laramie was a quadrangular structure, built of clay,
after the fashion of the Mexicans. The walls were about fif-
teen feet high, surmounted with a wooden palisade and formed
a portion of ranges of houses, which entirely surrounded a
yard of about one hundred and thirty feet square. Every
apartment had its door and window, all of course opening on
the inside. There were two entrances, opposite each other and
midway of the wall, one of which was a large public entrance,
the other smaller and more private. Over the larger was a
squai-e tower, with loopholes, and, like the rest of the work,
built of earth. At two of the angles, and diagonally opposite
each other, were large bastions, so arranged as to sweep the
fonr faces of the walls.

This post belonged to the American Fur Company, and at
this date, July sixteenth, 1842, was in charge of Mr. Boudeau.
Two of the company's clerks, Galpin and Kellogg, were with
him, and he had a garrison of sixteen men. As usual these
had found wives among the Indian squaws, and with the usual
accompany ment of children the place had quite a populous
appearance. It is hardly necessary to say that the establish-
ment of this post was for purposes of trade with the neigh-
boring tribes, who, in the course of a year, generally made
three or four visits to the fort.

While at this post Col. Fremont learned the following cir-

ADVKNTUUKH OK FUKMONT AND KIT (UKHON:

ounistanceB, which explain the cuiulition of tho countrj at thii
time: For several years the Chuyennefl and Hioux had gra-
dually become more and more hostile to the whites, and in the
latter part of August, 1841, had had a rather severe ungtif^-
tnent with a party of sixty men, under the comman<l of Mr.
Frapp, of St. I^uis. The Indians lost eight or ten warriors,
and the whites had their leader and four men killed. This fight
took place on the waters of Snake river, and it was this party,
on their return under Mr. Bridger, which had H])read ho iinich
alarm among Preuss' party. In the course of the spring, two
other small parties had been cut off by the Sioux — one on tlioir
return from the Crow nation, and the other among the Black
hills. The emigrants to Oregon and Mr. Bridger's party met
here a few dayH before Fremont's arrival. Division and mis-
understandings had grown up among them ; they were alreaoy
somewhat disheartened by the fatigue of their long and weari-
some journey, and the feet of their cattle had become so much
worn as to be scarcely able to travel. In this situation they
were not likely to find encouragement in the hostile attitude
of the Indians, and the new and unexpected difiiculties which
sprang up before them. They were told that the country was
entirely swept of grass, and that few or no buffalo were to be
found on their line of route, and, with their weakened animals,
it would be impossible for them to transport tlieir heavy
wagons over the mountains. Under these circumstances, they
disposed of their wagons and cattle at the forts, selling them
at the prices they had paid in the States, and taking in exchange
coffee and sugar at one dollar a pound, and miserable worn-out
horses, which died before they reached the mountains. From
these and other reports it appeared that the country was swarm-
ing with scattered war parties. Great alarm prevailed among
Fremont's men in consequence. Kit Carson was, however,
true to his employer, yet he fully supported the opinion given
by Bridger of the dangerous state of the country, and openly
expressed his conviction that they could not escape without
some sharp encounters with the Indians. In addition to this,
he made his will, and among the circumstances which were
constantly occurring to increase their alarm, this was the most

OR, TIIK lloKDKIi WAKH OF TWO (TKNTUKin.

369

iitit'ortiiiinto. C>ol. Fntinont found timt n niiinlxir of hii party
had l»cc'oiii() so much intiiiiidutod thut thay had reqiietitud to be
(liMclinr^t'd.

CoiicurniiiK tlio inannor in which Fron>ont'» party ucciipied
theiuHolvuH whilu at this post, wo have the following from the
ColonoPB pun: ''So far as frequent interruption from the
ItuliuiiM w«)uld allow, we occupied ourselves in making some
nHtrononiicul calculations, and bringing up the general map to
tliiti stage of our journey; but the tent was generally occu])iod
1)V a succession of our ceremonious visitors. Some came for
prettcnts, and others for information of our object in coming to
the country; now and then, one would dart up to the tent on
horseback, jerk oif his trappings, and stand silently at the
door, holding his horse by the halter, signifying his desire to
trade. Occasionally a savage would stalk in with an invitation
to a feast of honor, a dog feast, and deliberately sit down and
wait quietly until I was ready to accompany him. I went to
one; the women and children were sitting outside the lodge,
and we took our seats on buffalo robes spread around. The
dog was in a large pot over the tire, in the middle of the lodge,
and immediately on our arrival was dished up in large wooden
bowls, one of which was handed to each. The flesh appeared
very glutinous, with something of the flavor and appearance
of mutton. Feeling something move behind me, ^ looked
round, and found that I had taken my seat among a hi r-,r of
fat young puppies. Had I been nice in such matters, the pre-
judices of civilization might have interfered with my tranquil-
ity; but, fortunately, I am not of delicate nerves, and con-
tinued quietly to empty my platter." *

On the evening of the eighteenth of July, Col. Fremont
l^athereti his men around him and told them that he had de-
termined to proceed the following day on his journey. He
mentioned the reports that had been made, but said that in
view of their equipments he could not see sufHcient reason for
returning; yet he was unwilling to take with him on a service
of certain danger men on whom he could not rely, and know-
ing that there were some in his party wlio were disposed to
cowardice and anxious to return, he asked all such to come
24

V •

370

ADVKMYUKKt Ot KKKMONT AND KIT OAKMDN:

forward at onco und stiite tliuir du«iro, mid tliuy would ho dii.
churgtNl with tlio amount duo tliuin tor the time thuy jiad
•ervvd. To thoir honor, be it naid, only one of thuir iiuiiiIm)!
had the face to ifo forward and avail himiulf of the permiMniun.

r-j'-:.

^ 1

WKi ig 1

]|{

:i^-'^

, i ft

.,>i

CIIAPTKR XL VI II.

JOUKNKT or PHRMOKT'i EXPKDITION flWH FoilT LaRAMIR TO PHRMOMT't
I'KAK IN TIIK UOCKY MoUNTAINfl — IIaHMIIIPH or COLONKI, FrB-

MONT — His OKicHirnoN or tuk Wild 8ornrry in tiir IIoort
Mountain! — Prrmunt Tiiirtrrn Tiiouiand Frbt Aiiovr the
liKVRti or TIIR 8ra — Thr Krtvrn.

VViiKN Fbkmont was ready to depart on the twenty-first of
July, ho received a letter from Joseph Bessonette, at Fort
Platte, informing him that the chiefs in the neighborhood of the
fort had advised him to warn Colonel Fremont and his party
not to set out until the party of young men then out should
return. The latter party was represented as hostile to the
whitcH, and that they would be sure to fire upon them if tliey
were discovered.

After reading this note (^olonel Fremont mentioned its pur-
port to his companions, after which one of the chiefs, the one
wiio bore the letter, rose and said:

'' You have come among us at a bad time. Some of our
people have been killed, and our young men, who are gone to
the mountains, are eager to avenge the blood of their rela-
tions, which has been shed by the whites. Our young men are
bad, and, if they meet you, they will believe that you are car-
rying goods and ammunition to their enemies, and will lire
upon you. You have told us that this will make war. We
know that our great father has many soldiers and big guns,
and we are anxious to have our lives. We love the whites, and
arc desirous of ^ oace. Thinking of all these things, we have
determined to keep you here until our warriors return. We
lire glad to see you among us. Our father is rich, and we
expected that you would liave brought presents to us — horses,
and guns, and blankets. But we are glad to see yon. We

(871)

87^

AhVKNTl'NM or riiKMoNT ANI> Krr oakmin:

t«H)k upon yoiir (•oiiiIii^m tlui |[|(lit which K(n*ii Utt'oru the huh;
tor you will tell our grt*iit t'uthur thnt you Imvit mmmi u», nrid
that wi) imi luiktMl hihI poor, uu«l Iimvu iiotliitig to uHt; ititl h«
will Ht'tul UM nil th(!M) thin^H.*'

Tho ruiimrkM ot' thu Huvu^t iipprnruti rrnitonuhlu; hut Krc
iiioiit iMtliovnl thiit thuy hi»)i in viuw only thu ohjtHrt (»t' ilftiiiti'
in^ hirii, hihI \w reMolvtxl to ^ivo no luH«vi tu their wiirnin^, lie
r«4iuvHti>i| itonin of thu Indiunn to ncconipiuiy him, and iit\vt
much rulucttinco ono (•onucntoU. Thu |mrty thun mountH
their liorMuM, niul in n fuw hours thoy wuru tUr uwHy uinoti^ the
hilirt, tho routu luuding over nn intoroHtinj^ plHtuiiu between the
north fork of tho Pliitte on tho ri^ht und liiiriimio on tho left,
Tho party conHintod of thoHo who hud originally Htarted niit
with Fremont, uxcopt tho man who was (littchar^l at Fort
Laramio, with three others, Mr. HiMonetto, \m wife, and tlit
Indian who had volunteorod to accompany them. Continuing
their journey, thoy fortunately roache<l tho South Pa«H of tho
Rocky Mountains, without encountering a single hostile
Indian.

Fruinont had now reached tlio Held where it was oxi)ecti>d
IiIh laliors w<tuld develop Homothing of value to the country.
After making some ohHorvations, he prepared to ascend the
highoHt peak of the mountain. In 8|)eaking of the condition
of hirt party at thiHtime, AuguM twelfth, Fremont sayx: ''The
spirits of tho men had been much exhausted by the hardships
and privations to which thoy had been subjected. Our provis-
ions had well nigh all diitappoared. Bread had been long out
of the question; and of all our stock, we had remaining two or
three poundH of coffee, and a small quantity of maccaroni,
which had been husbandeil with great care for the mountain
expedition wo were about to undertake. Our daily meal con-
siHte<l of dry buftalo meat, cooked in tallow; and, as we hntl
not dried thin with Indian skill, part of it was spoiled; and
what remained of good, was as hard an wood, having much the
taste and ap|)earance of so many pieces of bark. Even of this,
our stock was rapidly diminishing in a camp which was capa-
ble of consuming two buffaloes in every twenty-four hours.
These animals had entirely disappeared; and it was not proba-

UR« TIIK HitKltKli MAIM Of TWO UKNITKIia.

Uib

lilo tlint wv mIuhiIiI full in with tliiMii n^in until w« n'tiirnni
fo tlir Swri't WutiT. Our urrun^^cMncMitM (or tlu» Huci'Ut wt-ro
rii|>i*lly <'oiti|>li*ti>il. W'v w<<r«* in ii lioMtilo country, wliicli rt>n-
iJonNJ tho^rfutimt vi^iliinci) uiul fii-cuniH|>«>«'tion lU'ccMiiitry. Tliu
piiMH lit tlu) north uiul of tlio mountain wim ^fniuritlly int'imttxl
!)>' Itlu('kti>t>t', and irntn(><liutcly opinmiti* wum oik* of tlirir fortit,
on tliu uil^u of n littlo tliickut, two or tlirm liundrtMl ft>«>t from
Dtir oncumpinunt. Wo wcro |Mmt(<(| in u ^(rovu of U't'cli, on tho
iimr^in of tlut liikc, and h fi>w liundrivl fret lon^, willi ii narrow
prairi/lon on tlm inni>r ni«li', l>ordor(>(| l»y tins rocky ri<lj(t«. In
till' upper end of tliii* ^rove wu cifiired u circidiir Hpuci> iiWout
forty foot in diiunetrr, and, with tho folliMl timlntr and intrr<
wovtMi brnnchoM, Hurroundo<l it with a hrt'a.Hfwork (iv» foot in
hoi^ht. A ^ap waM loft for a ^atu on tho innor Hido, hy M-hich
thu animals woro to Ik) driven in and Bocurod, while tho nien
slept around tho little work. It waH half hidden hy the f(»lia^o;
and, garrisoneil hy twelve rcBolute men, wouhl have Hot at <letl-
anco any hand of Havana which might chance to diHCover
thotn in tho interval of our abHonco. Fifteen of tho best
niulofl, with fourtctM) men, were sclocted for tho mountain
party. Our proviHionH conRitttcd of dried meat for two daya,
with our little Btock of eoft'ee and some Miawaroni. In a<ldi-
tion to the barometer and a thermometer, I took with me a
Bcxtant and spyglass, and wo had of eoursoour coin[)iiHi<rs. In
charge of tho camp I left Ik'rnier, one of my most trustwortliy
men, who possessed the most determined courage. Karly in
the morning, August twelfth, we left the camp, Hlteon in num-
ber, well armed, of course, and mounted on our best mules. A
puck animal carried our provisions, witii a cofl'eo pot and kettle,
and three or four tin cups. Every man had a blanket strap])ed
o\cp his saddle, to serve for his bed, and the instruments were
carrii^d by turns on their backs. We entered directly on rough
and rocky ground ; and, just after crossing tho ridge, had the
good fortune to shoot an antelope. "We heard the roar, and
had a glimpse of a waterfall as we rode along; and, crossing in
our way two fine streams, tributary to the (.olorado, in about
two hours' ride we reached the top of tlio first row or range of
the mountains. Mere, again, a view of the most romantic

V' *

m:''

874

ADVENTURES OF FRKMONT ANT) KIT CAttSON:

beauty met our eyes. It seemed as it", from the vast expanse
of uninteresting prairie we had passeil over, Nature liad col-
lected all her beauties together in one chosen place. We wore
overlooking a deep valley, which was entirely occu])ied by
three lakes, and from the brink the surrounding ridges rose
precipitously five hundred and a thousand feet, covered with
the dark green of the balsam pine, relieved on the border of
the lake with the light foliage of the aspen. They all comnui-
nicated with each other; and the green of the waters, common
to mountain lakes of great depth, showed that it would bo im-
possible to cross them. The surprise manifested by ourgniiles
when these impassible obstacles suddenly barred our progress
proved that they were among the hidden treasures of the))ince,
unknown even to the wandering trapjjcrs of the region.
Descending the hill, we proceeded to make our way along tin
margin to the southern extremity. A narrow strip of angular
fragments of rock sometimes afforded a rough pathway for our
mules, but generally we rode along the shelving side, occa-
sionally scrambling up, at a considerable risk of tumbling back
into the lake. The pines grew densely together, and the grouud
was covered with the branches and trunks of trees. The air
was fragrant with the odor of the pines; and I realized this
delightful morning the pleasure of breathing that mountain
air which makes a constant theme of the hunter's praise, and
which now made us feel as if we had all been drinking some
exhilarating gas. The depth of this unexplored forest was a
place to delight the heart of a botanist. There was a rich
undergrowth of plants, and numerous gay-colored flowers in
brilliant bloom."

The region which the mountain expedition was now in, pre-
sented many wild and romantic features. The position was
very elevated, and in the valley below, and among the hills,
were a number of lakes at different levels, some two or three
hundred feet above others with which they communicated hy
foaming torrents. Even to this great height, the roar of the
cataracts came up, and the bold explorer could see them leaping
down in lines of snowy foam. On the thirteenth of August,
Fremont determined to ascend the most elevated peak. For

OR, TlIK UORDKR WAR8 OF TWO OKNTURIKS.

376

tliiH purpose he left the animals, and continued on foot. The
peak appeared bo near, that tliere was no doubt of their return-
ing^ before night; and a few men were left in charge of the
mules, with the provisions and blankets. They took with
tlicin nothing but their arms and instruments, and, as the day
iiiul become warm, the greater part left their coats. They wero
80011 involved in the most ragged precipices, nearing the cen-
tral chain very slowly, and rising but little. The first ridge
hid a succession of others; and when, with great fatigue, and
(litfic'ulty, they had climbed up five hundred feet, it was but to
make an equal descent on the other side; all these intervening
j)la('e8 were filled with small deep lakes, which met the eye in
every direction, descending from one level tc another, some-
times under bridges formed by huge fragments of granite,
beneath which was heard the roar of the water. Tliese con-
stantly obstructed their path, forcing them to make long
di'tours/ frequently obliged to retrace their steps, and fre-
quently falling among the rocks. Maxwell was precipitated
toward the face of a precipice, and saved himself from going
ov'jr by throwing himself flat on the ground. They clambered
or., always expecting, with every ridge that they crossed, to
reach the foot of the peaks, and always disappointed, until
about four o'clock, when, pretty well worn out, they reached
the shore of a little lake, in which there was a rocky island.
They remained here a short time to rest, and continued on
around the lake, which had in some places a beach of white
sand, and in others was bound with rocks, over which the way
was difficult and dangerous, as the water from innumerable
springs made them very slippery.

By the time they had reached the further side of the lake,
they found themselves all exceedingly fatigued, and, much to
the satisfaction of the whole party, they encamped. The spot
they had chosen was a broad flat rock, in some measure pro-
tected from the winds by the surrounding crags, and the trunks
of fallen pines afforded them good fires.

On the following day, Fremont informs us in his report,
that as they advanced, they heard " the roar of waters and of

I':!

37«i

ADVKNTlIKKa OF KKKMONT AND KIT CAKJ'ON:

a torrent, wliicli wo followed up a short ilifttunco, until it
expanded into a luko about one mile in length.

" On tlic northern side of the lake was a bank of ice, or rather
of rinow covered with a crust of ice. Carson had been our
guide into the mountains, and, agreeably to his advice, we li'ft
this little valley, and took to the ridges again; which we found
extremely broken, and where we were again involved among
precipices. Here were ice fields; among which wo were all
dispersed, seeking each the best path to ascend the peak. Mr.
Preuss attempted to walk along the upper edge of one of these
fields, which sloped away at an angle of about twenty degrees;
but his feet slipped from under him, and he went plunging
down the plani. A few hundred feet below, at the bottom,
were some fragments of sharp rock, on which ho landed ; and
though he turned a couple of somersaults, fortunately receive 1
no injury beyond a few bruises. Two of the men Clement
Lambert and Descoteaux, had been taken ill, and lay down on
the rocks a short distance below; and at this point I was
attacked with headache and giddiness, accompanied by vomit-
ing, as on the day before. Finding myself unable to proceed,
I sent the barometer over to Mr. Preuss, who was in a gap two
or three hundred yards distant, desiring him to reach the peak,
if possible, and take an observation there. He fourid himself
unable to proceed further in that direction, and took an obser-
vation, where the barometer stood at 19.401; attached ther-
mometer 50°, in the gap. Carson, who had gone over to him,
succeeded in reaching one of the snowy summits of the main
ridge, whence he saw the peak towards which all our e^brts had
been directed, towering eight or ten hundred feet into the air
above him. In the meantime, finding myself growing rather
worse than better, and doubtful how far my strength would
iarry me, I sent Jiasil Lajeunessd, with four men, back to tlie
place where the mules had been left. We were now better
acquainted with the topography of the country, and I directed
him to bring back with him, if it were in any way possible,
four or five mules, with provisions and blankets. With me
were Maxwell and Ayer; and after we had remained nearly an
hour on the rock, it became so unpleasantly cold, though the

OR, TIIB H()H1)KK WAI« W TWO OENTURIffl.

877

(lay \vii8 l)n*<j^l>t, tlmt we set out on our return to the catnp, at
wliicli we all arrived autuly, Htra<j;gHng in one after the other.
I continued ill duriiij^ the afternoon, hut l)e(;anie hetter towards
sundown, when my recovery was completed hy the appearance
of Basil and four men, all mounted. The men who had gone
with him had been too much fatigued to return, and were
relieved by those in charge of the horses; but in his powers of
ciuiurance Basil resembled more a mountain goat than a man.
They brought blankets and provisions, and we enjoyed well our
dried meat and a cup of good coffee. We rolled ourselves up
in our blankets, and with our feet turned to a blazing lire, slept
soundly until morning."

On the morning of the iitleenth of August, after having
abandoned the idea of reaching the highest peak, and after Kit
Carson, with his party, had set out for the camp, the brave
leader made another attempt to gain the summit, and was this
time successful. The peak was found to be thirteen thousand
live hundred feet above the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
This lofty pinnacle has been appropriately called Fremont's
Peak.

As the brave Colonel stood upon this lofty mountain peak,
his view was full of the deepest interest. He says: " On one
side was Wind river valley, where were the heads of the Yellow-
stone branch of the Missouri; far to the north, we just could
discover the snowy heads of the Trois Tetons, where were the
sources of the Missouri and Columbia rivers; and at the
southern extremity of the ridge, the peaks were plainly visible,
among which were some of the springs of the Nebraska and
Platte rivers. Around us, the whole scene had one main
striking feature, which was that of terrible convulsion. Par-
allel to its length, the ridge was split into chasms and fissures;
between which rose the thin lofty walls, terminated with
slender minarets and columns. According to the barometer,
the little crest of the wall on which we stood was three thou-
sand five hundred and seventy feet above that place, and two
thousand seven hundred and eighty above tlie little lakes at
the bottom, immediately at our feet."
Having made all the observations necessary, the Colonel

878

1',

ADVENTITRES OF FREMONT AND KIT CARSON:

began the descent, Imving uccoinplished an object of laudable
ambition, and, indeed, beyond the strict order of hiio instnic-
tion. He liad climbed to the loftiest peak of the Rocky
Mountains, an«l looked down upon the enow a thousand feet
below, and, standing where never human foot had stood befoie,
justly felt the exultation of first explorers.*

Of the descent he says: "We reached our deposite of pro-
visions at nightfall. Here was not the inn which awaits the
tired traveler on his return from Mont Blanc, or the orange
groves of South America, with their refreshing juices and soft
fragrant air; but we found our little cae/te of dried meat ami
coifee undisturbed. Though the moon was bright, the road
was full of precipices, and the fatigue of the day had been
great. We therefore abandoned the idea of joining our friends,
and lay down on the rock, and, in spite of the cold, slent
soundly."

Fremont and his party reached the main camp on the even-
ing of the sixteenth, where they found all enjoying jieace and
quiet, and, on the following morning, he gave the order for the
homeward march, whicli was received with joy. They trav-
eled on, liungry and foot sore, until the nineteenth, when
buffaloes again made their a})pearance, and in the evening,
when they halted, at the Sweet Water, roasted ribs made their
appearance around their fires, and, with them, good humor and
laughter and song were restored to the camp. After a long, and,
in some respects, pleasant journey, the expedition arrived at
Fort Laramie and thence to the settlements on the frontiers of
Missouri on the first of October, after an absence of six months.

* Fremont's Report.

ciiAptek xlix.

Skktch ok Kit Cahson — His Eaiu.y Aiivkntiiiiks — His Fikht Visit
TO TiiK Fau West — IIk DiBTiNunsiiioB Himself as a Hunter,
Guide, and Scout — His Advkntuueb on the Bacuamento — Mr.
Yocnq'8 Trapping Party.

Lkavino Col. FremoTit among his friends in the settlements
of civilization, let us return to Fort Laramie, where Kit Carson
had been left, and follow the latter through some of the vary-
ing fortunes M'hich characterized his life, from September, 1842,
until he joined Fremont's second expedition, in 1843.

Carson had evidently won the highest esteem of Fremont,
and in the performance of the double duty of guide and hunter
for the expedition, he had rendered valuable service, which
may be considered as fruitful to his employer's success. At this
point I will carry the reader back a few years for the purpose
of glancing at some of the more important events in the early
life of this bold and sagacious mountaineer. Cliristo})her
Carson was born in Kentucky, in 1809. When an infant, his
parents migrated to the frontier settlements of Missouri, where
they lived in a little log house which has been already men-
tioned in a previous chapter. At an early age he was appren-
ticed to a harness-maker, with whom he remained two years,
wlieii, becoming enticed by the thrilling accounts of the wild
life in the AVest, he resolved to throw off the restraint of civil-
ization and share in the sports of the buffalo hunt, with the
Indians, trappers, and mountaineers of " the unexplored
regions toward the setting sun." Joining an expedition in
1820, he was soon in the country of the prairies, where the
Indian chief held dominion. The route lay across the western
country to Santa Fe. Game was abundant, and the youthful
Kit had a good opportunity for testing his ability as a hunter.

(379)

88(>

AI)VKNTi;|{l>> OK KKKMONT AND KIT ("AI{8»>N:

III the ct)urHO of tlio journey one of tlie men was Hcei'leiitally
Hhot througli the arm, aiid amputation bein|j^ necoBsarv, Kit
Carson was called nptm to ])erform the surgical opcniiion,
which he executed with good success. In November the p.-ntv
arrived at Santa Fe, having experienced nothing very reiimiku-
ble during the journey. Soon after their arrival, Car^^on left
his companions and visited Taos, a Mexican town in the terrj.
tory of New Mexico. At this place lie commenced the stiidv
of the Spanish language under the instruction of Kin CiuJe.
In this undertaking he was quite successful.

At length poverty compelled him to attempt the return to
Missouri, winch he had half accomplished when ho fell in with
a westward bound expedition in which he was ofJ'ered etnplov-
ment. This he gladly accepted, and at onco began to retrace
liis steps to Santa Vo. lie had not been long at the latter ]nuce
before he again found himself out of employment and in great
want. At this critical moment lie joined a party that was
going to El Paso. Ho completed the journey to this place, and
then returned to Taos, where he entered into the service of Mr.
Ewing Young, a trader and trapper, performing the duties of
master cook for the consideration of his board only. In this
way the persevering Kit supported himself ui\til the spring
of 1828, when, saddened with ill-success, he again joined a
returning party, and set out for Missouri; but, as on the trip
of the previous year, he met a party bound for Santa Fe, and
again engaged to turn his face westward, hoping, it is said, to
meet with an opportunity of going to the Kocky Mountains.
Arriving at Santa Fe, Kit obtained employment from Col.
Tromell, a well known trader, in the capacity of Spanish inter-
preter. With his new master he set out for Chihuahua, one
of the Mexican states. But, as we liave seen, his luird fortunes
were continually changing. At the latter place he engaged as
teamster with Mr. Robert McKnight, in company with whom
he visited the copper mines near the EioGila. Notwithstand-
ing these vicissitudes, Carson had long since determined to
become a hunter and trapper, and was only awaiting an oppor-
tunity to join a party in this pursuit.

He remained at the copper mines but a short time, when he

OR, TIIK liOKDKK WAIW OK TWO OKNTUKIKS.

881

■t time, when he

returned to Tjioh, where he met a KinuU party of tnippers who
had l>eeu det'etited by a band of hostile IiidiuiiH and driven to
this point. The party had been in the emph)y of Mr. Young,
with whom Kit had formerly worked, and tiiat gentleman now
set about raising a party of forty men, consisting of Canadians,
Frenchmen and Americans. Among the latter, of course, we
tiiul our hero. Mr. Young placed himself at the head of this
jtarty, and started out with tlie intention of cluistising the
Indians, and making all he could out of the expedition by
employing the men as trappers. It was on the twenty-ninth
of April that the party left Taos. They journe^'ed northward
ahout fifty miles for the purpose of leading the Mexicans to
believe that they were bound for the United States, but after
proceeding thus far they changed their course to the southwest
and ])a88ed through the wilds of the Navajoes, a ferocious
tribe of Indians, over wliom, as we shall see in the course of our
narrative, Kit Carson at a later day achieved a decisive victory.
The reasons which led this party to deceive the Mexicans as to
their destination were that all such expeditions, before being
permitted to hunt on Mexican soil must procure tlie necessary
license, and as thq latter could not be granted to American
citizens, the course pursued by Mr. Young is obvious.

As they journeyed along the unexplored regions of this
country, they passed through Zuni, a Pueblo village, and thence
to the Salt river, one of the tributaries of the \l\o Gila. On
the banks of this stream they discovered the band of Indians
who had routed the party already mentioned. The parties had
no sooner discovered each other than preparations for the
battle began on both sides. Mr. Y'oung ordered most of his
men to lie in ambush, believing that the enemy were ignorant
of his strength. His plan was successful. No sooner had the
whites halted to prepare their ambuscade than the savages,
under the impression that the invaders were about to retreat,
made a rush upon them. When they had approached fully
within the trap which had been set for them, they were greeted
with a heavy cross-fire from Young's party. Fifteen warriors
fell dead upon the spot, and the rest fled in utter confusion.
This was the first Indian fight in which Kit Carson partici-

88'i

Ar)VKN'ii;ui:H ok kkkmmnt and kit oakhon:

pated, and it wuh well enlculutud to nrotiHO liiii lovo tor the
huiitor'M lit'o.

The pfti'ty proccedetl itj comparative peace to trap on Suit
river, until they ruuehed the head waters of the San Kniticisci)
river, when the expedition was divided. One party, in which
Kit Carsoti enlisted, set out for the valley of the Sacramento,
in (/aliforniu; the other started on the return trip. The fornuT,
which was commanded by Mr. Y'oun^, consisted of twenty
persons. Before starting for this unexplored country they
spent several <lays in hunting, in order to lay in a wtoro of
meat for the journey. They also provided themselves with two
large tanks of water, as, according to reports, there waw none to
be found on their route. During the first four days of their
journey they found this to bo true; but on the fifth day they
came to a deliglitful stream, where they resteti. Leavi \jf
this place they traveled on over a desert country for several
days, when at length they came in sight of the great canon of
the Colorado. While on the banks of this river they met a
band of Indians who inluibited that country, and from them
they purchased a horse, which they killed and served up to the
tired men. The lialf famished travelers regarded this feast as
a great blessing.

After a journey of many days, in which they met several
Bmall bands of Indians, who gave them tlie most exciting
accounts of the wonders of the Sacramento valley, they reached
the mission of San Gabriel, where they found a priest, fifteen
or twenty Mexican soldiers and more than a thousand Indians.
We are informed that this little settlement owned eighty thou-
sand head of cattle, fine fields and extensive vineyards. At
this place Mr. Young exchanged four butcher knives for a fat
ox. Another day's march brought our adventurers to a Cath-
olic mission named San Fernando. After resting the party
several days at this mission, they started for the San Joaquim
river, where they hoped to meet the beaver; and in this hope
they were not disappointed. They succeeded in procuring a
fine lot of skins which Mr. Young sold at a neighboring post,
and with the proceeds he purchased a number of horses. These
had been in the camp but a short time when sixty of them

OK, TIIK ilOKDKK WAKH <»K TWO (!l<uN'rUKIIC«.

888

were HtoliMi by tliu huliiuiD. Ah hooii hh the rohbory whh dis-
covered Kit ('iirHoii wtiii ordureii to piirouu the thiovvH with tho
twelve ruinuiniii^ liorHOH und uh iiiuiiy tiion. Hunt oiieu Hturtod
tor till) Sierra Nuviidu inoiiiituiiiH, to which thu trtiil of thu
hidiuiiH lud him. When ho overtook the guilty party he found
them feaHtin^ upon iioriiu fleHh, Huverul of thu tttolen uiiinuiU
iiuviiig been killed for tliat purpose. Not bein^ observed ho
approached as near as possible without being discovered, and
arranging his men in order, the party of twelve charged upon
tlic Indians. Eight of the warriors wore killed in their tracks,
the rest escaping in nuuiy directions. But the best ])art of
Ciiriion's success was, he succeeded in recovering all the horses
except those which had been killed for the feast.

The party continued their hunting with good success until
September, when they commenced their homeward march.
After a long and tedious journey they reached the banks of the
Colorado, where they encamped for a little rest preparatory to
L'onipleting the journey. Here they were visited by five hun-
dred Indians, who, although professing tViendship, were dis-
covered to be armed with weapons which tliey had concealed
under their robes. The whites were now, indeed, in a serious
situation ; but at length Carson found ^ man who could speak
the Spanish language, and through him he ordered tho Indians
"to leave the camp. In the event of their not doing so imme-
diately, he and his friends would, without further parley, com-
mence hostilities, and would be sure each in killing his man,
although they might all, in the end, lose their own lives."
The Indians being now certain that in case they attacked the
party some of their own number would lose their lives, departed
at once, leaving the little band once more at peace. It is hardly
necessary to say that for this bold expedient Carson received
the thanks of his comrades.

After encountering several bands of hostile Indians and
taking from them many horses which they had stolen, Mr.
Young's party arrived at the copper mines, on the Gila, where
they concealed the large quantity of furs they had taken.
From this place the party went to Santa Fe, where they pur-
chased licenses to trade with the Indians who lived about the

884

ADVKNT17KKM or KKKMOM ANI> KIT (IAUMoN:

copper miiioH. \\y tho uho of tlu'no piipofrt tlu'y H«>«rnr«<l tlioir
furn, ciirrivil tliom to Suntu I'V, iuhI, uikUt prt'ti'iico <»t' liaviri/]f
purcliiiiiLHl thuin from tho InUiuiiH, itokl tliuiii without croatiri^
tlie sli^htoMt suspicion.

( I

\ '-

t n

f .

CHAPTER I.

Brktoh of Kit ('aiwon CoNTimrBO— DicMcniiTioN or tub Mountain
I'AiiKa— PuiiHitiNd IIoHSKTniKVM — Nine HtTNTEHn Defkat Pimr
Indian Wahhiohi — Kit Caiiion Wounded— The Dubi..

Ik tub fall of 1830 we iind Kit Canon cutinected with a
trapping party, which began its operation!) on the Salnion
river. They remained at this place throughout the winter,
losing four of their men, who were killed by the Blackfeet Indi-
ans. In the spring they went to Snake Iliver, where they
continucQ trapping. Thirt is one of the mottt delightful places
in the wilds of the Great West. Among the many attractions
are the Shoshonee Falls, which are said to excel the great cat-
aract of Niagara in many respects. From this place the party
journeyed to the South Park.

There are many of these parks in the Rocky Mountains,
being more particularly found in the great mountain centre of
Colorado. They are in many respects not unlike the great
parks of civilization; but in other particulars nature has
excelled art. Tliey are bea\itiful beyond description. Many
of them are small, suitable for small excursion parties, but
three or four of them are very large — equal in territory and
extent to the State of Massachusetts. These are the North
Park, Middle Park, South Park, and San Luis Park. Here,
upon the green, well -watered bosom of these delightful gar-
dens, the traveler will find a great abundance of deer, antelope,
and elk, and along the grassy borders of the running brooks
cue may see plenty of otter and beaver. It was in these
delightful spots where Kit Carson spent a short season as a
hunter.

But Kit was a roving mortal, and as we have many iraport-

26 (885)

HbH

ADVKNTirMKIi 09 ruKMONT AND KIT UAKMiN:

ant M*nn<>i« in Ltnli^r wiirfuro yi>t to rvcord, it will Ih« iiii|)OiiMll)lt
tu tollow liiiii ill ili'tuil.

Not iiiiiiiy iiioiitlirt iiftur hill viNit to tliu iMtuiiticN of tlio pnrkii
wu Ituir the report of liiii iinurriiiK ritlu on tint Imnkn of
tliu ArkiitiiiiiH riv«>r. At thin pliicu liu Hp«>iit u comfitrt-
hMo winter with liiii coin|>iiiiion hiinturit. In thu month of
Juniiury, howovor, thvrii wiiit troiihUt in the euinp. A purtjr
of Hfty Crow IiidiiinM '* iiindo an unfriundly viHit to thoir ciuiip
on onu very diirk nif(ht,'* and iiucci!etl(><l in Htealirif( iiiin' >»t'
their liomeM. The nun had not fully riH«>n on the following;
morning when the adventuroiiH Kit wan tlyitif^ throtif^h tlio
foreHt, mounted on liiii favorite steed, followed hy twelve of IiIh
companioiiH, They rode on hour after hour, and ni^ht net in
with no Hij(nii of the enemy. At length thoy liehl a (.'ouncil,
and reHolved to eiKiiiinp for the ni^ht, intondiiif^ to purHiie tho
trail on the following morning. Selecting a tempting grovo
not far in advance, they rode forward to rcMt for the night; l>iit
they had not proceeded a hundred paccD when wreatliH of curl-
ing Rnioke hroke upon their view. Thoy were upon theein'iny!
Halting, and rtcanning the diHtanco, thoy observed that the
numhers of the IndiaiiH greatly exceeded thoir own. \k'\i\f^
Btill unohrtcrvod, they concluded to settle quietly down until
the darknoMS closed in. '* Then," says Kit, " wo will Hurprirto
them.*' All agreed. I^ut it was also decided to change tliuir
situation. They desired to rush ujion the enemy from the
direction in which the savages wore traveling, and for thi» pur-
pose they took a circuitous route around tho enemy's catiip.
Approaching from tho opposite direction, tho hold frontiersmen
gained a littlo ominenee, from which thoy had a full view of
tho Indian camp. And now let us look in upon tho suvuj^os
with them. The stolon horses were secured to some trees at a
littlo distance to ono side, while in tho camp, the savugcs,
decorated in the gaudy finery of their peculiar dress, were
dancing merrily in honor of thoir successful robbery. Every
one who is acquainted with the history of the Crow Indians
knows that they loved to steal horses second only to taking the
Bcalp of an enemy. The night was cold, and the mountaineera
stood a little way off, shivering from the weather, and half

ON, TIIK IWINDKN WAMt 'OT TWO (IKNrtrKini.

887

iinpoMUiU

)f the piirk*

i<i hunkit of

n cDintort-

u month of

\u \ p'lrty
() their ramp
[in(? nt""' "f
hi) following
through tho
twelve of hi»
night net in
uhl a council,
to pnrrtui' the
inptinjit grovo
:ho night; hut
rciithrt t)t' curi-
am the otHMuy!
srveil thiit the
own. l^'i»K
ly down until
a will tturpriso
) change their
eniy i'rom the
id for this j.ur-
pneiny'8 camp.
_ t'rontierKiuon
a full view of
,n tho fiavaj^s
lotno trees at a
^, the savagcB,
|ar drcBB, were
.bhery. Every
Crow Indians
ly to taking the
e mountaineers
kther, and half

trembling with mgtf; hut in t\m Iiulian vump largo Hrot woro
burning brightly, and uniind theio t^t< iitty hurM) thieven wvro
culi'hrating their erinio. Sc« fhem au they ^iiMuu a hundred
ditleront ikha}>eii, any one of which 'MiHUm all c]i>8criptiani and
now liMten to tho |H>alii of nierrintont u*t thuy break forth on
the howling wiiuU, mingling their Htrangu soiinfU with tho
Toice of the tem|)eitt. The picture i» one of wild extravagaucUi
hut it Ik the glory of the true Indian.

Kit('arMon probably hxtked tiriit At tho horspfl, and then at
the enemy. The former he niuit secure; the latter he muitt
puniith. Hut he wan m cautioUM an he wan bravo, but ho was
bmvf! Although at the head of only twelve men, he wot
aching to attack Hfty Indian warriom, who had already erected
two temporary fortM for their dofenno. Tho angry mountain^
ccrH drew back u littlo and counRellcd together. Each Itad
lomething to propose, to all of which our hero liittencd calmly.
When they had Hnished, he said, " Lot them have their fun
out. Wo must surprise tiieui aftor thoy have fallen asleep."
This was readily agreed to, and, after hours of patient waiting,
tho festivities ended, and tho Indians rolled up in their blan<
ketri, laid down, and were soon fast asleop. The first movement
wan to secure the horses, which thoy cfi'ectcd without disturb-
ing the sleeping Indians, 'i hcso wore sent back in chargo of
three men to where the other horses had been secured. The
other nine remained to punish fifty warriors, and thoy per-
formed their task well.

Before advancing toward tho enemy a consultation was held,
in which all but throe of tho nine advocated a peaceful retreat.
Thoy pletided ineciuality of numbers, and other apparent
obstacles, but Kit was not to bo ])er8uaded, and the bravo mon
at last agreed to punish the thieves. As they advanced cau-
tiously to where tho Indians wore sleeping, ten or twelve of
tlietn were aroused, and springing to their foot, thoy wero
singled out, and in quick snccession nine of them fell back
upon their blankote, each mountaineer liaving killed his man.
Tlie Indians at onco retrmted within the strongest fort, and
opened a hot fire upon the invaders, but as the latter wero
Becurely crouched behind trees, the savages occompIiBhcd noth-

888

ADVENTURRS OF FREMONT ANH KIT OARflON:

ing. At length they became bold, and rushing out of the fort
they made a charge upon their enemies, but in this attempt
five more of their number fell. They again retreated, but in a
short time made another sortie, in which they lost as many
more, and succeeded in slightly wounding three whites. But
the savages pushed forward to the attacP and in a few moments
the mountaineers were compelled to retreat, from tree to tree.
They, however, availed themselves of every opportunity to
shoot down the enemy, and in a short time the number of the
Indians was reduced to about twice that of their own. By
this time the three men who had been sent back with the
horses came forward and assisted in the contest. Seeing tliis
reinforcement, which proved fatal to three of the savages (for
the new participants were not satisfied until each had shot
down a savage), the Indians retreated, leaving the brave hunters
in possession of the field. Being now satisfied with the pun-
ishment which they had administered to the savages, they
returned, reacliing the main camp in safety.

We shall next see Kit Carson in council with the Indians.
In the winter of 1832-3 a party of trappers, among whom he
was chief, was encamped on the banks of the Big Snake river,
where they established winter quarters. On one dark night a
party of Blackfeet Indians succeeded in stealing eighteen of
the horses. On the following morning Carson pursued them
at the head of eleven men. After riding fifty miles he wiine
up with the thieves, when a few shots were exchanged, the sav-
ages sent out a man who said that the party desired to hold a
council with the whites; that they were not aware of liaving
stolen horses from them, believing that those which they had
in their possession had belonged to the Snake Indians. Car-
son consented, and both parties laid down their arms and
advanced. Speeches were now in order. The Blackfeet pre-
ceded the whites, but their speeches were meaningless. But it
was now Carson's turn to be heard, and he spoke to the point.
He said that they would not listen to propositions of peace
until their property was returned. The Indians did not intend
to return the property, and hearing the demand several times
repeated, they gave the hunters to understand that they would

OR, THE BOKDEK WARS OF TWO 0ENTUKIB8.

889

:)f the fort
B attempt
d, but in a
t aa many
lites. But
V moments
roe to tree.
)rtunity to
liber of the
r own. By
ik with the
Seeing this
Bavages (for
ch had shot
rave hunters
ith the pun-
avages, they

not yield. They began to boast of their numbers and strength,
and seemed to be ready for the tight. Carson now shouted " to
your armsl" and in a moment the hunters were leaping over
the \meven ground towards their ritles. The Indians were
doing the same with equal earnestness. The fight was renewed.
Tlie bullets flew thick around the heads of the trappers, and in
a moment more Kit Carson fell upon the ground apparently
lifeless. His companions beheld this lamentable event, but
they dare not turn to his relief. The fight was too hot, and all
their attention was required in the direction of the enemy. At
length the firing ceased, and the hunters drew back retiring with
their fallen comrade to the camp, leaving the Indians in pos-
session of the horses. All were now anxious as to the fate of
tlie wounded leader. His wound bled profusely, and as the
bk)od gushed out it froze upon the wound. His sufferings
were great, but after patient endurance he recovered. A ball
from an Indian musket had pierced his left shoulder.

But let us return to the event in which Carson was wounded.
It was not enough that the trappers had killed several Indian
warriors and escaped \«rith only one wounded, but on the fol-
lowing day it was resolved to send another expedition upon
their trail. This party consisted of thirty, but, after scouring
the woods for nearly a hundred miles they were compelled to
return without discovering the enemy.

We next find Carson in a duel. The trappers had congre-
gated at the summer quarters and were indulging in all kinds
of sport. Among their number was one Capt. Shunan, a
boasting fellow, who was continually picking a quarrel with all
who came in his way. He continued this to the disgust of the
whole, and was at length despised by nearly two-thirds of tlie
hniiters. One day after having whipped two of his comrades
in a list-fight, he happened in Carson's way, and, as with all, he
treated him in a manner of great discourtesy. He was proba-
bly not fully aware of the man's courage and ability, for in
general appearance Carson was not calculated to inspire one
with a high estimation of his physical powers. Shunan was a
very powerful man, and one of the roughest of the liocky Moun-
tain trappers.

890

ADVENTURES OF FREMONT AND KIT OARSON:

i '1 .. ,^1^3

As soon as the insulting words had been uttered, Kit Carson
stepped up to Shunan and said : " Shunan, before you stands
the humblest specimen of an American citizen in this bravo
band of trappers, among whom there are, to my certain knowl-
edge, men who could easily chastise you, but being peaceably
disposed, they keep away from you. At any rate. I assume
the responsibility of ordering you to discontinue your threats,
or I shall kill you."

Shunan made no reply, but wheeling around he strode off
towards his tent filled with rage, and fully resolved on revenge.
Ho spoke to no one, but his purpose was plain to the expe-
rienced moiintaineers. Oarson also turned away and walked
rapidly to his own tent. "A duel! " now broke out upon the
air from more than fifty voices, and all gathered round to see
the contest. In a moment all eyes were turned toward Carsoi
who was approaching on his matchless steed in full gallop, with
a single-barrel dragoon pistol in his right hand. Plunging
along on this broad prairie he was a most thrilling picture.
But he had not more than fully appeared before the attention
of the crowd was divided. Shunan was approaching on his
horse from the opposite direction with his rifle in his hand.
The brave mountaineers now rode rapidly towards each other,
and in a moment they were face to face. The report of Sim-
nan's rifle, closely followed that of Carson's pistol. Instantly
Shunan's rifle fell to the ground, his fore arm having been
shattered by a ball. The contents of his own weapon inflicted
a slight scalp wound upon Carson. Thus ended the duel.

CHAPTER LI.

Sketch OF Kit Carbon Continued — His Adventures — He Aoain
Joins Fremont's Expedition — Descu'ption op Fremont's Second
Expedition — Its Adventures.

Wb will not attempt to follow Carson through all the details
of his life. It would be only repeating over and over what we
have already said; for, in the life of the mountaineer we have
only a series of hardships, interwoven with adventures, escape,
battle, victory and defeat. After Carson had endured sixteen
years of this life, ho returned to Missouri, and, as we have seen,
joined Colonel Fremont in 1842, as guide to the expedition.
Of his adventures with Fremont, we have already had a full
account. Let us now notice the principal characteristics of
his life in the interim between Fremont's expeditions.

In February, 1843, his Indian wife having long since died,
Carson married a Mexican woman named Senora Jarimilla.
She was quite beautiful, and was admired by a large circle of
friends for her many virtues. By this wife Carson had three
children.

In the following spring he was engaged as guide and hunter
for a train of wagons, belonging to Bent's Fort. This train
was bound for the United States. When they had reached
Walnut Creek, Carson came upon the encampment of Captain
Cook, of the United States army. Cook was in command of
four companies of dragoons, and was acting as a guard to a
large train of wagons belonging to the governor of New Mex-
ico, and bound for that territory. The Mexicans had anticipated
an attack from a strong band of Texans, who were known to
be hostile to the former on account of difficulties which had
previously taken place. However, Capt. Cook's orders were to
accompany the train only to the boundary line between the

(891)

892

AOVENTUREfl OF FRKMOMT AND KIT OARSON!

United States and New Mexico, which, at this time, was at
the fording place of the Arkansas river. The Mexicans being
fearful lest they should be attacked by the Texans, on their
own territory, engaged Kit Oarson to return to New Mexico
with all dispatch, with a message to the governor, asking him
to send out an expedition to guard his train. Carson, in tho
execution of this task, was compelled to encounter many hos-
tile Indians, but he managed to evade them and reached his
destination in safety. When Carson reached Taos, he learned
that a small detachment had already been sent in search of his
caravan, and that the governor himself, with a large force, was
about to follow. The lirst band encountered the Texans before
they came up with the train, and were all massacred but one.
It is said that ninety-nine Mexicans fell in this contest. The
survivor returned with all speed towards Taos, but came upon
the governor's expedition, after a few day's travel, to which he
reported the disaster. This news so alarmed the governor and
his men, that they at once returned, leaving the caravan, as
they thought, to the mercy of the furious Texans.

Carson having performed his duty well, returned to Bent's
Fort, where he learned thati Capt. Cook had come upon the
hostile Texans in the United States Territory, and had dis-
armed them. While at this place Carson learned that Colonel
Fremont had passed that post a few days before his arrival, on
a second expedition. The mountaineer v/asted no time in pur-
suing his old companion.

Let us now go back to the commencement of Fremont's
journey. In pursuance of instructions from Col. J. J. Abert,
chief of the corps of Topographical Engineers, to connect his
former surveys of 1842 with those of Wilkes, on the coast of
the Pacific ocean, so as to give a connected survey of the
middle of the continent, Fremont proceeded to the Western
frontier early in the spring of 1843, arriving at the town of
Kansas, in Missouri, on the seventeenth of May, wliere he
remained about two weeks in making the necessary prepara-
tions. The party which he collected for the expedition
consisted of Creoles, Canadian French and Americans, amount-
ing in all to thirty-nine men, among whom were several who

OR, THE BORDER WAR8 OF TWO OENTDRIEB.

89a

he caravan, as

accompanied him on the former expedition. Mr. Thomas
Fitzpatrick, a famous mountaineer, was engaged as guide.
Among the members c*' the party were two Delaware Indians,
who liad been employed to accompany the expedition as
hunters. The famous Maxwell, who had been Fremont's
favorite hunter on the previous journey, was also engaged in
the same capacity for the present expedition.

The party was armed with Hall's carbines, which, witv
a brass twelve pound howitzer, had been furniehed by the
United States government. Three men were detailed for the
management of this piece, under the charge of Louis Zindel, a
native of Germany, who had been nineteen years a non-commis-
sioned officer of artillery in the Prussian army, and regularly
instructed in the duties of his profession. The camp equipage
and provisions were transported in twelve carts, drawn each by
two mules; and a light covered wagon, mounted on good
springs, had been provided for the safer carriage of the instru-
ments.

To make the exploration as useful as possible, Fremont
determined, in conformity to genera! instructions, to vary the
route to the Rocky Mountains from that followed in the year
1842. The route then was up the valley of the Great Platte
river to the South Pass, in north latitude 42°; the route now
determined on was up the valley of the Kansas river, and to
the head of the Arkansas, and to some pass in the mountains,
if any could be found, at the sources of that river. By making
this deviation from the former route, the problem of a new
road to Oregon and California, in a climate more genial, might
be solved; and a better knowledge obtained of an important
river, and the country it drained, while the great object of the
expedition would find its point of commencement at the ter-
mination of the former, which was at that great gate in the
ridge of the Rocky Mountains called the South Pass, and on
tlie lofty peak of the mountain which overlooks it, deemed the
highest peak in the ridge, and from the opposite sides of which
four great rivers take their rise, and flow to the Pacific or the
Mississippi. Various obstacles delayed their departure until
the morning of the twenty-ninth of April, when they commenced

894

ADVKNTURRS OF FREMONT AND KIT OAKSON:

their long voyage; and at the close of a day, rendered diMugroe.
ably cold by incoasaut rain, encamped about four miles beyond
the frontier, on the verge of the great prairies.

Resuming their journey on the thirty-lirst, after the delay of
a day to complete their equipment and furnish themselves with
some of the comforts of civilized life, they encamped in the even-
ing at Elm Grove, in company with several emigrant wagons,
constituting a party which was proceeding to Upper California,
under the direction of Mr. J. B. Childs, of Missouri. The wagons
were variously freighted with goods, furniture and farming
utensils, containing, among other things, an entire set of
machinery for a mill, which Mr. Childs designed erecting on
the Sacramento river. The expedition was joined at this
point by Mr. William Gilpin, of Missouri, who, intending this
year to visit the settlements in Oregon, was invited to accom-
pany Fremont.

Leaving the fording of the Kansas river, they pursued the
usual emigrant route to the mountains, along the southern side
of the Kansas. On the afternoon of the sixth of June, while
busily engaged in crossing a stream, the expedition was thrown
into confusion by the sudden arrival of Maxwell, who entered
the camp at full speed, at the head of a war party of Osages,
with gay red blankets, and heads shaved to the scalp-lock.
They had run him a distance of about nine miles, from a creek
on which Fremont had encamped the day previous, and to
which Maxwell had returned in search of a run-away horse.
The Osages were, no doubt, ignorant of the strength of the
party, for they charged into the camp, and drove off a number
of the best horses. They were soon overtaken, and the animals
recovered. In speaking of the progress of the journey from
this point, Fremont says: " We had been gradually and regu-
larly ascending in our progress westward, and on tho evening
of the fourteenth, when we encamped on a l''-i^^ rveek in the
v«lley of the Republican, two hundred and sixty-five miles by
our traveling road from the mouth of the Kansas, we were at
an elevation of one thousand five hundred and twenty feet.
"That part of the river where we were now encamped is called
hj the Indians the Big Timber. Hitherto our route had been

OB, THE BORDER WARH OK TWO (^ENTITRIKH.

895

laboriouB and extremely slow, the nnnsually wet spring and
constant rain having bo saturated the whole country that it
was necessary to bridge every water course, and for days together
our usual march averaged only five or six miles. Finding that
at such a rate of travel it would bo impossible to comply with
your instructions, I determined at this place to divide the party,
and, leaving Mr. Fitzpatrick with twenty-five jnen in charge
of the provisions and heavier baggage of the camp, to proceed
myself in advance, with a light party of fifteen men, taking
witii me the howitzer and the light wagon which carried the
instruments."

Accordingly, on the morning of the sixteenth of June, the
parties separated. On the nineteenth the advanced party
crossed the Pawnee road to the Arkansas, and after a little
travel came into the bufiklo herds. Here, also, prairie dogs
were seen in great abundance. Their elevation was now^
nineteen hundred feet above the level of the sea. On the
twenty-third of June this party explored one of the main
branches of the Republican river, to which they gave the name
of Prairie Dog River. Their route on the twenty-fifth lay over
high, smooth ridges, three thousand one hundred feet above the
sea, bufiklo in great numbers absolutely covering the face of
the country.

They journeyed on Until the first of July, when, traveling
along the valley of the south fork of the Platte, four thousand
feet above the level of the sea, they caught a glimpse of Long's
Peak and the neighboring mountains, which stood out into
the sky, grand, and luminously white, covered to their bases
with glittering snow.

On the evening of the third of July the expedition was
journeying along the partially overflowed bottoms of the Platte,
where their passage stirred up swarms of mosquitoes, and
where they came unexpectedly upon an Indian, who was
perched on a bluff, curiously watching the movements of Fre-
mont's caravan. He belonged to a village of the Sioux, who
had lost all their animals in the severity of the preceding
winter, and were now on their way up the Bijou fork to beg
horses from the Arapahoes, who were hunting bufi'alo at the

80H

ADVKNTUKB8 OF FREMONT AND KIT CAKWlNt

heml of that river. iSeveral came into Fremont'H cHm[» at
noon, and, as they were hungry, an usual, they were provided
with buffalo meat, of which the hunters had brought an
abundant supply.

On the Fourth of July the party arrived at Bent's Fort,
where the proprietors had prepared a sumptuous feast in honor
of the day. At this place Fremont dispatched Maxwell to
Taos for the purpose of procuring mules and provisions, while
the expedition continued its course. On the seventh of July
Fremont reached the Arapaho villages, which he found
I'ticamped in a beautiful bottom, and consisting of over one
hundred and sixty lodges. The village appeared extremely
populous, with a great number of children. The chiefs wero
congregated together for the purpose of paying respect to the
strangers, which they did by throwing their arms around tlnir
' necks and embracing them. Fremont was able to make thetn
only a slight present, accounting for the poverty of the gift by
explaining that his goods had been left with the heavy wagons
in charge of Mr. Fitzpatrick, whom they knew by the name
of the Broken Hand. Though disappointed in obtaining the
presents which had been evidently expected, they behaved very
courteously, and, after a little conversation, Fremont left them,
and continued on up the river. They surprised a grizzly bear
sauntering along the river; which, raising himself upon his
hind legs, took a deliberate survey of the party, that did not
appear very satisfactory to him, and he scrambled into the river
and swam to the opposite side.

During the eighth of July, continuing up the Platte, they
could see, on their right, and apparently very near —but really
eight miles from them — and two or three thousand feet up the
valley in which they were traveling, the snow clad peaks of tlie
Kocky Monn tains.

After spending many days in exploring that country, Fremont
returned to St. Train's Fort, reaching it on the twenty-third
of July. Here they met with Mr. Fitzpatrick's party, which
had been left in charge of the heavy wagons. He also met
Kit Carson at this place, who had brought with him ten good
mules and the necessary pack saddles. Mr. Fitzpatrick had
been at this place over a week, during which time his men had

OK, THE UDRDKB WARS Of TWO OKNTURtUII.

897

been occupied in refitting the camp, and the repose had l)een
very beneficial tu his aiiiniaU, which were now in a tolerably
gtxxl condition.

Fremont, however, had been unable to obtain any cf*rtain
intorination in regard to the character of the passes in this
portion of the Rocky Mountain range. They had always been
repreHontod as impracticable for carriages, and as extremely
dangerous. Of their course of operations in this emergency,
Fremont says: " Having determined to try the passage by a
pH8t) through a spur of the mountains made by the €iiohe-h'
la-Poudre river, which rises in tlie high bed of the mountains
around Long's Peak, I thought it advisable to avoid any encum-
brance which would occasion detention, and accordingly again
eeparated the party into two divisions— one of which, under
the command of Mr. Fitzpatrick, was directed to cross the
plains to the mouth of Laramie river, and, continuing thence
its route along the usual emigrant road, meet me at Fort Hall,
a post belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, and situated
on Snake river, as it is commonly called in the Oregon Terri-
tory, although better know i to us as Lewis' fork of the
Columbia."

Carson was included in the party which Fremont commanded
in person. On the afternoon of the twenty-sixth of July, all
the arrangements had been completed, and the parties resumed
their respective routes.

Fremont's party proceeded westward, and finding the C^che-
a-la-Poudre on the morning of the twenty-eighth, entered the
Black Hills. Passing over a beautiful bottom in the afternoon,
they reached a place where the river was shut up in the hills;
and, ascending a ravine, made a laborious and very difficult
passage around a gap, striking the river again in the evening.
On the following day they were compelled, by the nature of
tlie f»round, to cross the river eight or nine times, at difficult,
deep and rocky fords, the stream running with great force,
swollen by the rains — a true mountain torrent, only forty or
fifty feet wide. It was a mountain valley of the narrowest
kind — almost a chasm; and the scenery very wild and beauti-
fiil. Towering mountains rose round about; their sides

898

AiiviurruKUB or fkicmomt and nrr (iakh<»n:

somotiinoit durk with foroiiU of pinu, nrid item oti men with
\o(ty prucipicoH, wa«itod by tho river; whilo below, its if timy
iudoinniHud theiiiMilvos in luxiirianco for tho Hcanty gpnco, tho
gruon rivor bottom was covurod with a wildorncst) of tlowcra,
their tali Hpikuo Koinetiinofl riHin|( above tlio triivclvr'H liuad.< iis
thoy ri)du aiiion^ thcin. A profusion of blossoinH, on a white
flowering vine, which wa« abundant along tho rivor, contrtiHtod
handHoinoly with tho green foliage of the trees. The motiiituin
appeared to be composed of a greenish gray and red granito,
which in some places appeared to bo in a state of deeonipoHJ.
tion, making a red soil. Tho stream was wooded with cotton.
wood, box elder and cherry, with current and wcrviceborry
bushes. After a somewhat lal>oriou8 day, during which it hud
rained incessantly, they encatnped near the end of the ])a8rt at
tho mouth of a small creek, in sight of tho grent Lurui>iio
plains. It continued to rain heavily, and at evening tho moun-
tains were hid in mists; but there was no lack of wood, mid
tho large tires which they made to dry their clothes were very
comfortable; and at night the huntcrn came in with a tino deer.

On the morning of the thirtieth, i?ijy crossed the (Jaclie-a-
la-Poudro river for the last time, and entering a smooth
country, they traveled along a kind of vallon^ bounded on the
right by red buttes and precipices, while to tho left a hi^'h
rolling country extended to a range of the Black Hills, beyond
which rose tho great mountains around Long's Peak. By the
great quantity of snow visible among them, it had probiil)ly
snowed heavily thore the previous day, while it had rained on
them in the valley.

After long and tedious travel, the party reached the east
side of the Great Salt Lake, when Fremont proceeded to explore
its borders, and many of its islands. From this point the
party journeyed to Fort Hall, where they met with the party
under Fitzpatrick. After resting for a few days, the expedi-
tion was again divided, Fremont preceding Fitzpatrick with a
small detachment, and journeying in the direction of the
Columbia river. On reaching the river Dallas, the party halted,
and Fremont proceeded to Vancouver's Island, where he pur-
chaeed provisions necessary for the immediate future. On bis

UK, TIIK IMIUDKK WAKM or TWO (iKN'rirKIRll.

899

roturn to tho part^, iiu t'uund Fitxputriok had arrived, and now
tho whole ex|H!dition moved towanl Klamath I^alce, in Oregon.
Att(>r exploring thitt lake, and the country tor Heveral uiilet
aruiitid, the expedition started tor (>alit(>rnia, by tho route of
tlio mountainti. On reaching this range, it watt found to ho
covered with deep snow, and tho brave udvonturerH Hutfered
indi'rieribable hardHhipH in crosHing tho range, (jol. Fremont,
ill spunking of thoir progress on the sixth of January, 1844,
says:

" Accoinpaniod by Mr. Fitzpatrick, I sat out to-day with a
reooiitioiteririg party, on snow shoes. Wo marched all in single
dlo, tramping the snow as heavily as wo could. Crossing tho
upeii banin, in a march of about ton miles wo reached tho top
of one of tho peaks, to the letl of tho pass indicated by our
guide. Far below us, dimmed by tho distance, was a largo,
snowiess valley, bounded cm tho western side, at tho distance
of a))out a hundred miles, by a low range of mountains, which
CarHon recognized with delight as the mountains bordering tho
coast. 'There,' said he, 'is tho littlo mountain — it is fifteen
years ago sitico I saw it; but I am just as sure as if I had soon
it yesterday.' Betwoon us, then, and this low coast range, was
tho valley of tho Sacramento; and no one who had not accom-
panied us through tho incidents of our life for tho last few
months could realizo the delight with which at last wo looked
down upon it. At the distance of apparently thirty miles
bcyund us were distinguished spots of prairie; an<l a dark line,
whidi could be traced with tho glass, was imagined to bo the
course of tho river; but wo were evidently at a great height
above the valley, and between us and tho plains extended miles
of snowy fields and broken ridges of pine-covered mountains.
It wiis late in tho day when we turned towards the camp; and
it grew rapidly cold as it drew towards night. One of the men
became fatigued, and his feet began to freeze, and, building a
tire in the trunk of a dry old cedar, Mr. Fitzpatrick remained
with him until his clothes could be dried, and he was in a con-
dition to come on. After a day's march of twenty miles, wo
straggled into camp, one after another, at nightfall; the greater
number excessively fatigued, only two of the party having

HHi

Al>vK^mrKlOl or rKKMONT am> kit dammon:

«v«r trnvultHl on miow HixM^it iM^furu. All ourcnrr^iuii wtny now
dirnctotl to getting our miiinaU iioroitM tli» xnow; mul it wm
Huppoumi tliiit, uttor nil thu iHim^n^n liii<l \mm\ drnwii with the
ilri^hi ov«>r tlin tmil wu had inndo, it would \m Huttl('it«ntl)f
hard to honr our nnitnnlH. At Hi-vDnd plnooM, lM!tw(*(!M tliiii
point and th» ridf^o, w« had di»cov«rt>d Honiu gnnny Bpott,
whore tho wind and Hun had diHpcrH«d thu inow from tlio MJdut
of tho IdllH, and tlumo weru to form rcMtin^^ placet to MUpport
the animalfl for a ni^ht in their paMMuge acroHH. On our WHy
arroHH, wo had lot on tiro Moveral broken ntumpit, amd dried
treeM, to molt hole* in tho snow for tho campti. Itw ^••ru'ml
depth wa« five foot; but wo paftHed over placet) wlu.*re it wm
twenty feet de«'p, an shown by tho treo». With one |iHrty
drawing HleigliH loaded with baggage, I advanced to>-day alxnit
four miles along the trail, and oncam|)ed at the tirst grtuHy
spot, where wo ex|)eetod to bring our horses. Mr. Fit/.patrick,
with another party, remained In'hind, to form an intermediate
station between uh and the animals."

After great struggling, tho party were, on thtf twentieth of
February, at tho foot of tho laMt rango, having the valley of
the Sacramento before them. After a short roHt, they took up
their lino of march, and oti tho eiglith of Marcli arrived ut
Sutter's Fort, tho famous spot where tho first (yaliforniii gold
was afterwardH discovered. This fort bore the name of its
proj)riotor, who received Fremont and his party with due hos-
pitality.

Capt. Sutter, who was a native of Missouri, reached California
in 1888, and formed the iirst settlement in tho valley of the
Sacramento, on a large grant of land whiirh lie obtained from
tho Mexican government, lie had, at first, some trouble with
tho Indians; but, by the occasional exercise of well-timed
aiithority, lie succeeded in converting them into a peaceable
and industrious people. Tlio ditches around his extensive
wheat fields; tho making of the sun-dried bricks, of which his
fort was constructed; the plowing, harrowing and other agri-
cultural operations, were entirely the work of these Indians, for
which they received a very moderate compensation — principally
in shirts, blankets and other articles of clothing. In the same

Ok, IH>. IliiHI'KM WAMN or TWO ITKNTI'MIRM.

401

iuit WW now
; kikI it WM
wn with the
n nuttleiontly

lM!tWt>«M tliit

ruin tint »'\i\o$

;ei to HUpport

On our way

pH, att\<l <lritHi

, Itn JJI'IUTttl

wh»ro it WM
ith one jmrty
i\ to-<lay ttlntut
t»o <ir»t gra.my
Ir. Fitzpatricic,
u intcrtneiUate

,e twentieth of
J the valley of
1,, they took up
irch arrived iit
(^alitbrnia Rold
Hi name of itB
y witii due ho8-

ichecl California
lie valley of the
obtained from
,e trouble with
of well -timed
Into a peaceiihle
his extensive
:8, of which his
and other iigri-
[lese Indians, for
on— principally
In the same

tiiiiiiiii'r, on «)»plicHtioh to th«* chief of » villn^*, ho n'lidilj
ohtiiiiiud ft» (. Miv Imi}'k and ^irinaN he hud auy uitn for. Thero
wcntnt thiM tiwiu RnuirilM'i'ufKJrlH Ht tht< fort, in traiiiit)|^ for a
wiMtjt'ii faifory; hut thi^y were n«»w all buitily eii|(a^«<d in con-
itriintly wnU-riiif( tlu* ^ardetiit, which the unfavorable dryneHN of
tlu' MMinoii rcnden>d nect^nHary. A few yearn lM«fi>re Kreniont't
vifit in 1844, the nei^hlMtrin^ HuNHJan cHtabliHhnicnt of Komi,
ImIii^ aliN>nt to withdraw from the country, ncdd t(»(!apt. Hutter
II lur^(« iiuml»t*r of 8tm*k, with agricultural and other HtoreN,
with a tnimUvr of pieces of artillery and other munltionH of
war; for tliene, a regular yearly payment watt made in ^rain.
Tin' f«»rt waH a (piadran^ular at/ofti< Ktructure, m«iiintin^ twelve
picccH of artillery (two of tlu*m branH,^ and capable of admit-
ting a ^arriHon of a thouHand men; thiH, in 1x44, conHinted of
forty IndiaUH, in uniform — one of whom waH always found on
duty at the ^ate. The whiteH in the employment of (^apt.
Hutter, American, French and (ieruum, amoiintiHl, in this year,
p<>rlui|)H, to thirty men. The inner wall waH formed into
Imildin^H compriHihf]^ the common qmuterH, with blackHmith
and other workHliopi*; the dwelling hoUHe, with a hir^e dintil-
lerv hoUBe, and other buildingH, occupied more the centre of
tlu' III"! 'a.

The tort waK built upon a pond-like ntream, at timeH a run-
ning creek, communicating with the Uio de Ioh Americanos,
which enters the Sacramento about two miles lu-low. The
latter is her© a noble river, about three hundred yank broad,
deep and tranquil, with Heveral fathoms (»f water in the channel,
and its bunks continuouhly timbered. There were two vessels
Woiijifing to Capt. Sutter at anchor lu'ar the landing — one a
lurjje two-nmsted lighter, and the other a schooner, which was
shortly to proceed on a voyage to Fort Vancouver for a cargo
of ptodn.

Ikfore leaving Sutter's Fort, two of Fremont's party became
derungod, in consequence of their long fasting before reaching
this post. They liad indulged their apjietites too freely when
plentifully supplied, and thus brought on serioijs brain convul-
sions. From this, however, they afterwards recovered.

On the homeward route Fremont journeyed up the valley of
96

402

ADVENTURES OF FUEMONT AND KIT OAKSON:

tlie San Joaquin, crossing over the Sierra Nevada and coast-
range of mountains at a place where they meet, forming hy
their connection a good pass.

Four comparteroa joined their guide at this pass. Deseond-
ing from the hills, the party reached a country of tine grass,
where the erodium cicutar'tum tinally disappeared, giving
place to an excellent quality of hunch grass. Passing b)
some springs where there was a rich sward of grass aniong
groves of large black oak, they rode over a plain on which the
guide pointed out a spot where a refugee Christian Indian Imd
been killed by a party of soldiers which had unexpectedly
penetrated into the mountains. Crossing a low sierra, and
descending a hollow where a spring gushed out, they were
struck by the sudden appearance of yucca trees, which gave a
strange and southern character to the country, and suited well
with the dry and desert region they were approaching. Asso-
ciated with the idea of barren sands, their stiff and ungraceful
form makes them to the traveller the most repulsive tree in
the vegetable kingdom. Following the hollow, the pai-ty
shortly came upon a creek timbered with large black oak,
which yet had not put forth a leaf. There was a small rivulet
of running water, with good grass.

They continued a short distance down the creek, where the
guide informed them that the water would very soon disap-
pear, and turned directly to the southward along the foot of
the mountain; the trail on which they rode appearing to mark
tlie eastern limit of travel, where water and grass terminated.
Crossing a low spur, which bordered the creek, they descended
to a kind of plain among the lower spurs; the desert being in
full view on their left, apparently illimitable. A hot mist lay
over it through which it had a white and glistening appear-
ance; here and there a few dry looking huttes and isolated
black ridges rose suddenly upon it. " There," said the guide,
stretching out his hand towards it, " there are the great llanos,
(plains;) there is neither water nor grass — nothing; every
animal that goes out upon them, dies." It was indeed dismal
to look upon, and hard to conceive so great a change in so
short a distance. One might travel the world over, without

a and coast-
tbnning by

J. Desceiul-
)f tine grass,
jared, giving

Passing bj
grass aniong
on which the
\n Indian had

unexpectedly
iw sierra, and
at, they were

which gave a
ind suited well
iching. A.6S0-
and ungraceful
jpulsive tree in
ow, the pai'ty
rge black oak,

a small rivulet

OR, TlIK nORDKR WARS OF TWO OENTURIES.

403

finding a valley more fresli and verdant — more floral and
Bvlvan — more alive with birds and animals — more bounteously
watered — than that which they had left in the San Joaquin:
here, within a tew miles ride, a vast desert plain spread before
them, from which the boldest traveler turned away in despair.
On the twenty-fourth of April the party was surprised by the
aj)]>oarance in the camp of two Mexicans — a man and a boy.
The name of the nuin was Fuentes, and that of the boy,
Hernandez. They belonged to a party of six persons, the
remaining four being the wife of Fuentes, the father and
mother of Pablo, and Santiago Giacome, a resident of New
Mexico. With a cavalcade of about thirty horses, they had
coine out from Puebla de los Angeles, near the coast, under
the guidance of Giacome, in advance of the great caravan, in
order to travel more at leisure, and obtain better grass. Having
advanced as far into the desert as was considered consistent
with their safety, they halted at the Archilette, one of the
customary camping grounds, about eighty miles from Fre-
mont's encampment, where there was a spring of good water,
with sufficient grass; and concluded to await there the arrival of
the great caravan. Several Indians were soon discovered lurking
ahout the camp, who, in a day or two after, came in, and, after
hehaving in a very friendly manner, took their leave, without
awakening any suspicions. In a few days afterwards, suddenly
a party of about one hundred Indians appeared in sight,
advancing towards the camp. It was too late, or they seemed
not to have presence of mind to take proper measures of safety;
and the Indians charged down into their camp, shouting as
they advanced, and discharging flights of arrows. Pablo and
Fuentes were on horse guard at the time, and mounted, accord-
ing to the custom of the country. One of the principal objects
of the Indians was to get possession of the horses, and part of
them immediately surrounded the band; but, in obedience to
the shouts of Giacome, Fuentes drove the animals over and
through the assailants, in spite of their arrows; and, abandon-
ing the rest to their fate, carried them off at speed across the
plain. Knowing that they would be pursued by the Indians,
without making any lialt except to shift their saddles to other

404

AOVKNTUKKS OK KHKMONT AND KIT CAKSON.

liorst'H, tlicy drove them on for about sixty miles, and on the
twenty-tburth of Ajwil left tliem at a watering ])lft(',e on the
trail, called Agiia de Toniaso. Without giving themselves
ail}' time for rest, they hurried on, ho])ing to meet the Sj)ani8h
caravan, when they discovered Fremont's camp. Tiie Colonel
received tljem kindly, taking them into his own mess, and
promised them such aid as circumstances might put it in his
power to give.

On the following day they left the river abruptly, and, turn-
ing to the north, regained in a few miles the main trail, and
continued their way across a lower ridge of the mountain,
through a miserable tract of sand and gravel, They crossed at
intervals the broad beds of dry gullies, where in the season of
rains and melting snows there would be brooks or rivulets;
and at one of these, where there was no indication of water,
were several freshly dug holes, in which there was water at the
depth of two feet. These holes had been dug by the wolves,
M'hose keen sense of smell had scented the water under the dry
sand. They were nice little wells, narrow, and dug straight
dov/n, and the travelers got pleasant water out of them.

The country had now assumed the character of an elevated
and mountainous desert; its general features being black, rocky
ridges, bald, and destitute of timber, Math sandy basins be-
tween. Where the sides of these ridges Mere M-ashed by gullies,
the plains below were scattered with beds of large ]>ebble8 or
rolled stones, destructive to soft-footed animals. Through
these sandy basins sometimes struggled a scanty stream, or
occurred a hole of water, M-hich furnished camping grounds
for travelers. Frequently in their journey across, snoM' was
visible on the surrounding mountains; but their waters rarely
reached the sandy plain beloM', M'here the party toiled along,
oppressed with thirst and the burning sun. ]5ut, throughout
this nakedness of sand and gravel, were man}- beautiful j)lant8
and flowering shrubs, M'hich occured in many new species.
This was a peculiarity of this desert. Even where no grass
would take root, tlie naked sand would bloom with some rich
and rare flower, which found its apj)ropriate home in the arid
and barren spot. -After traveling about twenty-five miles.

OR, I'lIK HOKDKK WARS OF TWO OKNTUItlFX

40ft

and on tlie
lice on the
themselves
the Sjmnish
The Colonel
1 mess, and
put it in his

ly, and, turn-
tin trail, and
le mountain,
ley crossed at
the season of
8 or rivulets;
tion of water,
J water at the
)y the wolves,
under the dry

dug straight
* them.

if an elevated
Lr black, rocky
[dy basins be-

led by gullies,

•ge pebbles or
lis. Through

they arrived at the Af/ita de Tomaso — the H[)ring where the
liorbCH had been left; but, as they had expected, tliey were
gone. A brief examiiu\tion of the ground convinced tliein that
they had been driven off by the Indians. Carson and Godey
volunteered with the Mexican to pursue them; and, well
mounted, the tliree set off on the trail. At this stopping place
there were a few bushes and very little grass. Its water was
a pool; but near by was a spring, which had been dug out by
Indians or travelers. Its water was cool — a great refresh-
ment to Fremont under the burning sun.

In the evening Fuentes returned, his horse liaving failed;

but Carson and Godey had continued the pursuit. In the

afternoon of the next day, a war-whoop was heard, such as

Indians make when returning from a victorious enterprise;

and soon Carson and Godey appeared driving before them a

band of horses, recogni/e<l by Fuentes to be part of tliose they

had lost. Two bloody scalps, dangling fr(tm the end of Godey's

gun, announced that they had overtaken the Indians as well as

the horses. They informed Fremont, that after Fuentes left

them, from the failure of his horse, they continued the pursuit

alone, and towards nightfall entered the mountains, into

which the trail led. After sunset the moon gave liglit, and they

followed the trail by moonshine until late in the night, when

it entered a narrow defile, aiul was difficult to follow. Afraid

of losing it in the darkness of tlie defile, they tied up their

horses, struck no fire, and lay down to sleep in silence and in

darkness. Here they lay from midnight till morning. At

daylight they resumed the pursuit and about sunrise discovered

the horses; and, immediately dismounting and tying up their

own, they crept cautiously to f rising ground which intervened,

from the crest of which they perceived the encampment of

four lodges close by. They proceeded quietly, and had got

within thirty or forty yards of their object, when a movement

among the horses discovered them to the Indians; giving the

war shout, they instantly charged into the camp, regardless of

the number which .the four lodges would imply. The Indians

received them with a flight of arrows shot from their long

bows, one of which passed through Godey's shirt collar, barely

406

ADVKNTURK8 OF KKKMONT AM) KIT CAU8C)N:

miBsing the neck; the two men fired their rifles upon a steady
aim, and ruslied in. Two Indians were stretched on the
ground, fatally pierced with hullets; the rest fled, except a lad
that was captured. The scalps of the fallen were instantly
stripped off; but in the process, one of them, who had two
balls through his body, sprung to his feet, the blood streamiiig
from his skinnetl head, and uttered a hideous howl. An old
Bquaw, possibly his mother, stopped ami looked back from the
mountain side she was climbing, threatening and lamenting.
The frightful spectacle appalled the stout hearts of Carson and
Godey; but thoy did what humanity required, and quickly
terminated the agonies of the gory savage. They were now
masters of the camp, which was a pretty little recess in the
mountain, with a flne spring, and apparently safe from all in-
vasion. Great preparations liad been made to feast a larffo
party, for it was a very proper place for a rendezvous, and for
the celebration of such orgies as robbers of the desert would
delight in. Several of the best horses had been killed, skinned,
and cut up; for tlie Indians li/ Tig in mountains, and only
coming into the plains to rob and murder, make no other use
of horses than to eat them. Large earthen vessels were on the
fire, boiling and stewing the horse beef; and several baskets,
containing fifty or sixty pairs of moccasins, indicated the
presence, or e-xpectation, of a considerable party. They released
the boy, who had given strong evidence of the stoicism,
or something else, of a savage character, in commencing his
breakfast upon a horse's head as soon as he found he was not
to be killed, but only tied as a prisoner. Their object accom-
plished, they gathered up all the surviving horses, fifteen in
number, returned upon their trail, and rejoined the camp in
the afternoon of the same day. They had rode about one
hundred miles in the pursuit and return, and all in thirty
hours. The time, place, object, and numbers, considered, this
expedition of Carson and Godey may be considered among the
boldest and most disinterested which the annals of western
adventure, so full of daring deeds, can present. Two men, in
a savage desert, pursue day and night an unknown body of
Indians into the defiles of an unknown mountain — attack

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO OEa<TURIFi».

407

them on eight, without counting numbers — and defeat them
in an instant — and for wliat? To punish tlio robbers of the
desert, and to avenge the wrongs of Mexicans whom they did
not know.*

« Froinont'8 Journal.

"*."

CHAPTER LII.

Adventuukb op Fkemont'h Skcond Expedition, Conci.udkd-- Kit
Oauhon in New Mexico — I)ew(.'Kii'tion op Taos and the SKnxK-
MENTH OK New Mexico — Inteukstino Incidents op 8miio(imn(j—
The Fandanoo.

On tiik fifth of May, the expedition reached the Rio de ios
Angeles, a brancli of tlie Rio Virgen. The animals had become
80 completely exhausted tliat it was necessary to remain at th's
place a day for rest. IVEany days previous the route had led
through a desert country, where no water and but very little
grass coidd be procured. The camps had r jt been fairly pitched,
when Indians crowded numerously around, assuming a threat-
ening attitude, to such a degree as to compel the men to keep
their arms in hand constantly, to prevent the intruders tVoni
taking possession of the camp. A strong band of these Indiana
surrounded the horses, which, for the convenience of grass,
were guarded a little above the camp, on the river. These
were at once driven in for protection.

Several times during the day the camp was Insulted by
Indians, but peace being Fremont's object, he kept simply on
the defensive. Some of the Indians were on the bottoms, and
others haranguing him from the bhiffs; and they were scat-
tered in every direction over the hills. Their language being
a dialect of the Utahs, with the aid of signs some of the
hunters could comprehend them very well. They were bare-
footed, and nearly naked; their hair gathered up into a knot
behind; and with his bow, each man carried a quiver with
thirty or forty arrows partially drawn out. Besides these, each
held in his hand two or three arrows for instant service. Their
arrows were barbed with a very clear translucent stone, a species
of opal, nearly as hard as the diamond; and, when shot from.

(408)

OR, TIIK liOKDKU WAIW (»K TWO rKNTi;RIK8.

400

Di.UDKD — Kit

TIIK SkI"I'I-K-
SMU(Utl.lN(»—

:i had become
einain at tli's
•onto had led
(lit very little
airly pitched,
lin^ a threat-
men to keep
traders from
these Indians
\ce of i^rass,
river. These

insulted by
bpt simply on
bottoms, and
ley were scat-
ngurtge being
some of the
ly were bare-
p into a knot

quiver

with

les these, each
lervice. Their
tone, a species
len shot from

their lonjf bown, were almost as ert'eetlve as a gunshot. \n
these Indians, Fremont was forcibly struck by an expression
of countenance resembling that in a beast of prey; an<l all
their actions were those of wihl animals. Joined to the rest-
less motion of the eye, there was a want of mind — an absence
of thought — and an action wholly by impulse, stronglyr
expressed.

.\ man who appeared to bo a chief, with two or three others,
forced himself into camp, carrying with him his arms, in spite
of Fremont's orders to the contrary. When shown the hitter's
weapons, he bored his ear with his fingers, and said he could
not hear. " Why," said he. " there are none of . you."
Counting the people around the camp, and including in the
number a mule which was being shod, he made out twenty-
two. " So many," said ho showing the number, " and we —
we are a great many;" and he pointed to the hills and moun-
tains round about. " If you have your arms," said he, twanging
his bow, "we have these." Fremont had some difHculty in
restraining the people, particularly Carson, who felt an insult
of this kind as much as if it had been given by a more respon-
sible being.. " Don't say that, old man," said he; "don't you
siiy that — your life's in danger" — speaking in good English;
"and probably the old man was nearer to his end than he will
be before he meets it."*

Several animals had been necessarily left behind near the
ciimp of the previous night; and early in the morning, before
the Indians made their appearance, several men were sent to
bring them in. When Fremont was beginning to be uneasy
at their absence, they returned with information that they had
been driven off from the trail by Indians; and, having followed
the tracks in a short distance, they found the animals cut up and
spread out upon bushes. In the evening the Colonel gave a
fatigued horse to some of the Indians for a feast; and the vil-
lage which carried him off refused to share with the others,
who uuule loud complaints from the rocks of the partial dis-
tribution. Many of these Indians had long sticks, hooked at
the end, which they used in hauling out lizards, and other small

♦ Fremont's Report.

410

ADVKNTUKKH OK FUKMONT ANI» KIT (!.\UH0N:

aninml«, from their holes. Diirinj^ tlio <hiy thoy opcusinniilly
rouHted aiid ate lixardrt at the HreM ot the expedition. Tlif>hu
behjii^ to the people who are generally known under the niimo
of Di^'gers.

On the following morning, they left the Kio <lo los Aiij,'('l»'«,
And eontiiiiied their way throtigh the eaino denolate and revolt.
ing coiintry, where lizards were the only animal, and the tnicka
of the lizard-eaters the principal sign (jf human heings. After
twenty miles' march through a road of hills and heavy sands,
tliey reached the most dreary river ever seen — a deep, rapid
stream, almost a torrent, passing swiftly by, and roaring against
obstruetions. The stream was running towards the southwest,
and appeared to come from a snowy mountain in the north.
It proved to he the Kio Virgen — a tributary to the (\)lorftdo.
For several days they continued their journey up the river, the
bottoms of which were thickly overgrown with various kinds
of brush; and the sandy soil was absolutely covered with tracks
of Diggers, who followed them stealthily, like a band of wolves.

On the following day as they journeyed on, one of the men
named Tabeau, left his post and rode back to tho' site of the
previous night's encam])ment, in search of a lame mule. The
man remained until suspicion of his fate was aroused, when Cur-
son, with several men, well mounted, were sent back to ascertain
Tabeau's whereabouts. They went to the camping ground of
the previous night, but neither he nor the mule was there.
Searching down the river, they found the tracks of the mule,^
evidently driven along by Indians, whose tracks were on each
side of those made by tho animal. After going several miles,
they came to the mule itself, standing in some bushes, mortally
wounaed in the side by an arrow, and left to die, that it mi^jht
be afterwards biitchered for food. Thev also found, in another
place, as they were himting about on the ground for Tabeau's
tracks, something tha looked like a little puddle of blood, hut
which the darkness prevented them from verifying. With tliese
details they returned to the camp.

The next morning, as soon as tiiere was light enougli to fol-
low tracks. Col. Fremont set out, with Mr. Fitzpatrick and
several men, in search of Tabeau. They went to the spot

y occiiHioniilly
ititni. TlicHo
uler tlif imino

e log Ang('le«,
iito iiml revolt.
iiii«l tlie tracks
l»ein^fl. At'ter
] heavy Baixis,
—a (loep, nii»i<l
roarinpf iigainst
tlie southwest,
\ in the north.
) tho Colomdo.
ip the river, the
J various kiiuis
jred with tracks
band of wolves.
one of the men
the- site of the
lino mule. Tho
usetl, whenCai'-
jack to ascertain
)ing ground of
lule was there,
ks of the mule,,
vs were on each
g several miles,
Hishes, mortally
ie, that it might
Duud, in another
nd for Tahean's
le of blood, but
ing. With these

it enough to fol-
Fitzpatrick and
jnt to the spot

OK, TIIK ItoKDKU WAIM OK TWO (>'KNTirKliM.

411

where the appoarnncc of puddled blood had been H(>(>n; and this
they saw at oiico, ha<l been tho place where he fell and died.
I^lodd upon tho leaves, and beaten down busheB, showed that
he had got his wound aooijt twenty paces from where he fell
and that he had struggled for his life. Ho had probably been
shot through tho lungs by an arrow. Frojn the place where
lie lay and bled, it could be seen that ho had been dragged to
the river bank, and thrown into it. No vestige of what had
helunged to him could bo found, except a fragment of Ids
horse ecju'pnu'nf.

From this jmint nothing of interest occurred, and they
reached tho frontier settlements of Missouri on the sixth of
August, 1844. Fremont proceeded to Washington, while his
brave followers, for the most part, turned back into tho wilda
of the great West, apparently unwilling to advance into civil-
ization. Among these was Carson, who proceeded to Taos,
where his wife and family anxiously awaited his arrival.

Let us now leave Fremont at Washington, enjoying tho best
honors which an eidightened people can bestow upon a faithful
public servant, while we follow Carson and his adventures.
Tliis, as will be seen, will soon lead us into Fremont's third
expedition.

It will not surprise the reader who has become acquainted
with Carson's changeable habits, to learn that early in the
spring of 1845, he decided to become a farmer. In this spec-
ulation he is said to have been joined by a Mr. Owens. For
the furtherance of this purpose, they purchased an extensive
tract of land on the Little Cameron river, and at once made
the necessary arrangements to improve it. The farm was
located about forty miles from Taos! They commenced opera-
tions by building some small huts, which served as dwellings
for themselves and their laborers. They succeeded in sowing
a considerable quantity of grain, and made other advance-
ments, which promised success for their elForts.

As we are soon to enter upon an account-of the wars waged
in the conquest of New Mexico, it will be proper, at this place,
to glance at the general features of that territory. Perhaps
the town of Taos aftbrds a fair sample of th.- markets or trad-

412

AUVKN'iUKKH *)¥ KKhMoNT AM> KIT 1'AHm<»N:

^^^■L

iii^ |M>Htrt of tliu country. It wiih located in the valley of Tuoh,
aiKJ coririiHtod of nevural villa^crt Hcattered nUmg the v.illuy.
The principal of theHO wan cuIIcmI Fernando/, do Taon, at\d lit
situated in the centre of the valley, on an elevated pjut of
ground. The buildingrt in all the villajjfOH of New Mexico unt
coiiHtructed of adohen, hein^ one 8tory high, with flat rooftt.
The Mexicant) have but very little regard for HtrectH, buiMiiii^
their Iiouboh for the inoMt part with great irregidarity. in li
buHincHS point of view, there is only one centre to each viljnifc,
called the ])la7!a. It it) in thi8 knot that all the stores are locn-
ted, and when business is purKuing its rogidar chantiel^, thin
part of the town is always densely thronged with Mexicuim,
Americans and Indians.

The houses are all whitewashed with linu», and present a very
wliite appearance, the village church being the largest and i in»it
attractive. This, however, is a poor specimen of a chinch
building, wanting in beauty ^vithout and comfort within.
These are generally provided with poor bells, from which loll-
ing is producal by roun<l hard stones in the haiulri of the
ringers. Their' success in chiming does not Hatter their skill
in music. The parde, or priest, is the person most respected
in a Mexican village; indeed, ho is looked upon as sacred.
These are, for the most part, poorly educated, but, under the
present management, this objection is being rapidly removed.

There are nearly ten thousand people in the villages of the
Tros, many of whom are idlers. On the other hand, there aio
many industrious farmers. Raising horses, cattle and sheep U
also carried on with very good success. Their commerce has
been largely increased under the United States governiiioiit,
and the scenes of poverty and destitution which, unhiippily,
characterized life in New Mexico under the old Mexican n^ov-
ernment, have been almost entirely removed. At the period
of which I am writing, previous to the war with Mexico, the
inhabitants of New Mexico wore only the scanty dress peculiar
to their own country, but in later years, when the goods of
American factories found their way to these towns without
being smuggled, these people readily threw away several styles
of their dress, and adopted that of tlie Americans in their

OK, rilK IMIKDKK WAKN <t|<- IWn ('I.NTl'ltllsM.

413

pIncoH. Anions the«o c)iitii>(cM i might iiiuntioii iiioro piirticu-
h\r\y till) dri'HM of thu t(*iniilt'. From u ntute of uhholiitc nudity,
tlii-v liuv(> U't'ii oluvutrd, ill Hotiu! iiiHtuiicuH, tti tkiikri uiid ttatins.

H«'fore Nuw Mt»xi(!o btttnmu ii 'iVrriti»ry of tlio llnifod Stiiten,
tlioviilnges of thu TaoH, mid other HottliMiieiitH in this Territory,
were the RccneH of uoiiHtant Hiiuiggling from the Hnited SttiteM.
The Mexican euHtoin otHcers were either hrihed or deceivtMl
coiiHtiiiitly; every ])OHBih|e ineaHiire waH aih>|)ted to cheat them,
and when thin did not Hucceed, briiwry was rcMorted to with
very good rcHuIts for the traders. The duty on American
iiiiiiiiitiictureti waA enoniiourt, and Htmiggliiig waH carrieommerce having reache«l thit* condition, very
fi'W persons attempted to trade in the village of New Mexico,
who did not resolve on Binuggling as the only Bource of largt^
jiroHt.

It would be an easy matter to till a large volumne with
incidents of tliis kin<l of trade, many of which arc exceedingly
interesting. A favorite plan of the simigglers was that n\'
C'iirrviiig a large supjdy of goods t(» the bouiulary line and then
milking a caclie of them in the forest, advancing with a very
Pnmll })ortion on which they ])aid the reguhir duty with a
tolerably good grace. Advancing into tlie settlements they
then began to trade with the inhabitants without arousing the
suspicion of the authorities. Whenever a favorabU; oj)j)or-
tiinity presented itself these merchants would replenish their
stores from the cache which tliey had made, and thus eontlnue
to sell goods to the value of tluMisands of dollars, having paid
duty on perhaps the first five hundred dollar's worth. Hut
even this plan was attended with many ditiiculties. Oftimes
wlicn the weary merchant was making the cache of his goods,
a keen eyed Indian, who had been following him for days for
tlie purpose, lay concealed not fifty paces off in full view of
the operation. Then stealing quietly away ho soon becomes
*lie leader of a sclcctt band. The caclie is robbed, and when
our smuggler returns for a second RU])j)ly he discovers that
while lie has been cheating, the Indians liave been stealing

414

Am'KMTirnw or rKHMONr and kit carhow:

liii» ^ondrt. Ill tin* iiihlHt of liirt rii^it iiml (liMiippointnitMit li«
could not tail to ri>('o;;tii/.i« tlit; (>(|itity ot' tin* tniiiMactioit.

Hilt M with tlm Iiidiiiii wWon \vron^«>d or rotiU'd, it mwtn
Imu'hiiio tlm policy of tlu>H« tnidi'M to hwIc rovt'ti^i'. Tlity
wvro HtddoiM I'uii^lit twico in tli<> touim trap. A fittui miant
waH Hct for tlu^ lurking tliiuvt'x, and, in uonrtutjiicncit, tlio caclioH
of tlio sinu^f^U't'M Hooii Ix'cainu a ti>rrur to tliciii. \\y Horiio
arran^iMiiunt a lar^o <piantity of powder wan iMiilioddcd in tlie
uartli jiiHt over tlin f^oodtt. ho that when i wan diMtin'lxMJ \ty one
unai'<piaint(M| with thiH eircuiiiMtaiKtu, it would rxphxU*. In
tliirt way many an In«lian iiad been Hciit up liiiddunly into the
air far aliovu thu Hurroundin^ truuH, or blown into atoiUH by
the fatal tna^a/ine.

IS«»ino of thy Indian Puoblos in New Mexico were also very
intercHtinjj^ to the traveler. Their housoH wore j^enerally hiiilt
on top of each other, each n little snialler thnn the one Ik^ow
it, until a Kort of pyramid was formed. The inhabitaiitH
entered their rcHpeetive <lwellin^g through the roofs by the iiiil
of ladders.

The farming ntoiiHils of the Mexicans were of the riulest
kind, many of them !>eing ouriusiticH of ])ioncer life, but tlii'iiu
are gradually giving away to tho modern iin]>lemont8 of
American manufacture. The pioneer ]>lough of Now Mexico
conbisted of one piece of timber with a (pertain bej^i. One end
WHS sharpened and on it was fastened a piece of iron nidely
imitating tho ])lough shear. In ploughing, oxen were UHed,
yoked in the Egyptain style, to the horns.

Tho crops of corn and wheat in New Mexico w ere generally
large, and it was principally upon those that the inhabitants
depended for support. In converting this grain into Hour,
they generally used two large stones which were operated by
hand. Their diet was, for the most part, a kind of corn meal
gruel, wlieat bread, and the usual vegetables. Apples, peaches.
plums and grapes were raised in New Mexico in great abund-
ance. The celebrated El Paso wine was manufactured from
the latter.

The brief description of Toas, may be applied to Santa Fe,
and most of ♦.he other towns of New Mexico. The settle-

OM, TIIK imUtiKIt WAHH n^ IWO ItKNTt'ldM.

41ft

iiM'iitM wort^ hII Hiiiiiliir, uiid tin* riiuiiticrM uiul iMiHtoiiiM of the
|i«'i)|il«< ulHiiit tlio Niiiiit'. '\'\\r Mi'xicuiiM wiM'u not 11 vi*ry cliaHte
or \ irtiioiiM Mt't of |)<'o|)l(>, liiid it tiiHV welt Im< regret ttd tliiit lli«
AtiM ricHiiH who huvi) ^oiti* uiiioti^; thctii, hiivv aM'onhMl lh«>iii u
vi>rv poor oxiiinpU^ in thin rcHpcct, hnt their condition in now
lw'iiij( nipitllv iinprovcMl. Thrir ^rcuti'Ht ri'rrrntion unti int>Ht
cMluinito iMijiiynutnt cotiHiHtcd in (hincin^. 'l'hcr«(! took tho
pltic(< of \\w hull room in tht> Miori> oivili/iHl HtutcH, only thiit thu
Mcxicim danou wuh lookt'<| to ax Hoinfthin^ tnori' of a pccMiiiurify
ul* tlii'ir tuition. During thu wititur xouHuti, thu travulur will tind
II linnet' it) prof^rurtH oti over}' ovutiittj^ in u town or villiijf<> in
Xt'w Muxii'o, to which hu Ih invariahly invitid. The tnuHic, in
wliich thuMU pcoplu do tiot uxcul, cotiriiHtH in thu violin iitid a
l^iiitiir, thu pluyurrt uccoinpanyiti^ thu tniiHic with their voicen,
milking up wordu to nuit tho nticertaiti ineuHnre of tho air as
they |)rocuud. The Muxican ladies ulwayH dinplay great care
and little guod tuHte iti preparing fur the fandiitigo. They put
on the tnust giuidy eolured paint, but Htill appear untidy.
The men are alwayH drcHHed plain and, aeldoin make atiy
attempt to appear in fidl dreHH.

Such wati tho eonntry atid Hueh the people among whom
Kit Cat'Hon lived during tho short interval botweon Colonel
I'Vetiiont's second and third expeditions.

•ti

CHAPTER LIII.

Colonel Fukmont's Third Kxi'kdition — Pkciili\u Qdalities of Kit
Cakbon — Fhkmont Attack kd by tiik Mkxicans — Fukmont visits
Klamath Lakk and tiik Lava Bkos—Thiikb of his i'auty Killed
— TuK Kevknue.

It was in 1845, that Col. John C. Fremont set out on his
third expedition to the West, an account of wliich will be
found full of interest to the reader, since it leads ua into the
Mexican war, and the conqueest of California. At Iknt's
Fort the party was joined by a very important ])er8on — one in
whom every man had the greatest confidence, and whose face
was like sunshine to every mountaineer — Kit Carson. He had
sold his farm, and, with his partner, Owens, had joined Fre-
mont once more. The Colonel was glad to see him, for there
was always certain service, in connection with the expedition,
which Kit could execute a little better than any one else. That
service may be summed up in this way: Carson was a j,'Oo(l
guide, being acquainted with nearly all the mountain passes.
He was not a bad interpreter, as he could speak Spanish flnentlv,
and by the aid of signs, msvke himself understood to any tribe
from the lava beds of the Modocs, to the worm-eaters of Lower
California. In the honr of peril, ^vhen assaulted by hostile
Indians, the foremost foe always fell by a ball from his uner-
ring rifle; when privations and hard8hi])s were to be endured,
he was full of cheer, and his brave words and courageous deeds
were food to his weary, disconsolate com])anion8; for bravery,
honesty and all the virtues that adorn the life of the true
adventurer, his was an example so brilliant as to attract all
towards it. Kit Carson was, tlien, in the eyes of Fremont, a
valuable companion.

But it must not happen in this narrative, as it too often does,
that the great virtues of one overshadow those of others around

(410)

OB, TIIE BORDER WARS OP TWO CENTURIKS.

417

0AMTIE8 OF KiT
FUKMONT VISITS

IB rAUTY Killed

Ret o\»t on hi8
wliich will be
kIh U8 into tlie
a. At V>ent'8
person — one in
and whose face
(arson. He had
liad joined Kre-
; him, for there
the ex 1)6(1 itinn,
one else. That
■son was a good
lonntain passes.
Spanish fluently,
)od to any trihe
-eaters of Lower
lilted by hostile
|l from his inier-
to he endured.
Lirageous deeds
is; for bravery,
life of the true
IS to attract all
Is of Fremont, a

It too often does,
[)f others around

him. There were many good, true, brave mountaineers in
Fremont's party wliom the great explorer loved with equal
ardor. Among these were Maxwell, Fitzpatrick, Lajeunesse
and others — all mountaineers of high standing, compeers with
Carson, and worthy to bo led by so brave a man as Colonel
Fremont.

Fremont's third expedition set out from Bent's Fort, pro-
ceeding up the Arkansas, thence to Ballo Salado, or Soda
Springs, thence to Piney river, thence to White river. From
this point, crossing the mountains, they proceeded to Provost's
Fork, which has become famous in history on account of the
massacre of Prevost's party upon its banks. The expedition
traveled from this point to Salt Lake, where Fremont spent
8omo time in exploring its islands. Leaving this place, they
crossed the great desert, touched at Sutter's Fort, and encamped
at San Jo86. This long journey was attended with many
obstacles, several encounters with hostile Indians, loss of ani
mals, and many hardships which rendered the party nearly
unfit for a continuance of the journey.

It was now determined to proceed to Monterey, in Califor
nia, for supplies. Accordingly they set out, and when withiii
a few miles of the town, they were surprised by meeting a
messenger with orders from General Castro, the Mexican com-
mander, to leave the territory at once or he would march his
army against them. Fremont gave the messenger to understand
that he would leave the territory when he had completed the
task assigned him by his government, but not sooner, and fell
back into a strong position, where he took some pains to for-
tify his camp. He was scarcely settled down in this position,
wlicn ho observed, in full view, the Mexican general advancing
at the head of several hundred troops. The mountaineers,
although seeing themselves many times outnumbered by the
advancing forces, were unshaken and remained firm. Gen.
Castro, having approached the party as near as his courage
would support him, halted and began his demonstrations, with
a view to frightening the intruders away. His cannon roared,
his cavalry galloped to and fro, his infantry maneuvered, but
to all this the Americans sent forth a haughty defiance, invit-
27

I'' I

418

ADVENTDRE8 OP FKEMONT AND KIT OAKHON:

ing, by their attitude, the advance of the cowardly Mexicans,
but to no purpose.

Hemaining in tliis position three days, and being unable to
induce their enemies to light, the Americans withdrew to
Lawson's Trading Post, by way of the Sacramento, where they
hoped to obtain the supplies which they had been disappointed
in receiving at Monterey. On reaching this post, they were
informed by the Americans in that place, that one thousand
Indians in the neighborhood had, at the request of the Mexi-
cans, banded together for the purpose of killing all the
American settlers in the place. A consultation was held, at
which it was resolved that Fremont's party and live men belong-
ing to the post, should immediately proceed to disperse the
savages. Accordingly, they set out, and in a few days disco veered
the enemy. Without delay the party began the attack, and
for some time the Indians disputed the ground ably. At
length they began to waver, and with this the mountaineers
rushed upon them, strewing the ground for nearly a mile with
the dead bodies of the Indians. Having executed this import-
ant task, they returned to Lawson's Post.

Receiving the necessary supplies at this place, they started
for the Columbia river, passing in their route Mount Shatta,
the snow-clad monument to the wonders of tlie Sacramento
valley, which lifts its towering summit fourteen thousand live
hundred feet above tiie sea. Passing this giant wonder, they
proceeded to Klamath Lake, and the lava beds, among the
homes of the fierce Modocs, whose treachery knows no bounds.
While encamped in this dangerous seclusion, Fremont was
visited by a messenger from Lieut. Gillespie, of the United
States army, informing him that war was contemplated betweea
the United States and Mexico, On hearing this, Fremont and
his party at once set out to meet the Lieutenant, who was then
advancing through the country of the Klamath Indians. After
a journey of some sixty miles, the parties met, to the great
joy of all concerned. The tents were pitched, and a social
time followed. Fremont sat down by the fire and busied him-
self reading the many letters which the Lieutenant had brought
him, and asking questions concerning the news from civilizar

y Mexicans,

ig unable to
withdrew to
, where they
disappointed
st, they were
3ne thousand
of the Mexi-
lling all the
1 was held, at
^emenbelong-
) disperse the
[ays discovered
he attack, and
and ably. At
( mountaineers
rly a mile with
ed this import-

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO CENTURIK8.

419

tion. All hands eat up until about one o'clock that night,
when, weary and toil-worn, they fell asleep with less caution
than had characterized their previous encampments. About
three o'clock in the morning, when all was quiet, Carson was
aroused by a noise which told him of the presence of Indians.
By the time he had secured his rifle and made the alarm, three
of the party had been slain, one, Mr. Lajeunesso, before referred
to, the other two, Delaware Indians. The savages were soon
routed, but the loss was irreparable. The dead were buried in
the forest where they fell, then far away from the haunts of
civilization.

It was now certain that a body of Indians was following
their trail with hostile intentions, and the next move was to
chastise them. Accordingly, on the following morning, when
thy > nedition moved forward, a party of fifteen remained in
V . It was not long before two Indian scouts came along
tk .-uii way. They both fell from the bullets of the moun-
taineers, and were scalped. Satisfied with this revenge, the
rear party SQon overtook Fremont, when the whole expedition
marched forward towards California

CHAPTER LIV.

Fbemont as a CoNQUEnoK— Tub War in NouTnERM CALiFonmA—
Heroism ok the Mountaineers — Indian Hostilities — Fremont

AND Ills FOIXOWERP CONqUER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — HlS TrI-

UMPDAL Entry into Montery — Caufornia Saved from tue
ENOLisn.

In addition to tho intelligence that war was contemplated
between tho United States and Mexico,* Lieut. Gillespie
informed Fremont that it was tho wish of the Government
that ho should take a favorable position and watch affairs in
California (then a Mexican State). Ho was to use every
means to conciliate the feelings of tho people in that territory,
"encourage a friendship with the United States and do all in
his power to prevent that country from passing into the hands
of the English." This information more than any other led
him to return to California.

Soon after the expcndition set out on this march, Carson,
who had been sent ahead with ten men, came up with a
thousand Klamath warriors, among whom wore the Indians
who had invaded their camp two days before, when their
beloved companion and tho two Delaware Indians met their
death. Fremont had ordered Carson, on the first sight of the
Indians, to return to the main camp with the information, so
that the whole force might march against them, but Carson
was too eager for a fight to obey this instruction. With his
little band he at once fell upon the Indians, and after a fierce
conflict put the whole to flight. In this bold charge Carson's

♦ I find much conflicting testimony on tlie question of Fremont's infor-
mation, some writers liavc it that Lieut. Gillespie informed him that war
had been declared, while others, — those who are probably correct— hold
that the intelligence comprehended only that hostilities were anticipated.

(420)

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO OENTURIBB.

421

3AliIT0IWnA—
;B — FllBMONT

lA— His Tui-
D khom tub

ontetnplatcd
it. GillcBpio
Government
,tcli aflfairs in
to use every
^lat territory,
and do all in
jto the hands
my other led

lareh, Carson,
up with a
the Indians
when their
ans met their
t sight of the
iformation, so
, but Carson
)n. AVith his
1 after a tierce
arge Carson's

Fremont's infor-

led him tbat war

ly correct— bold

lyere anticipated.

party killed several warriors and destroyed a very important
village.

Not long after, when Carson's detachment returned to the
main party and all were moving forward tog&ther, a band of
hostile Indians was onconnterod, and in the conflict, tlio bold
mountaineer came very nearly losing his life, being saved from
the fatal arrow by the prompt and courageous interposition of
his leader, Colonel Fremont.

On arriving in Northern California, Fremont found tho
country in a state of extreme alarm. As wo have already seen,
General Castro was civil and military commander, and was
using his best efforts to provoke the native Californians to
enmity towards tho Americans. At this period the cntiro
population of tho territory, excluding the Indians, was not more
than ten thousand. About one-fifth of these were Americans,
or foreigners, as Castro called them. This commander had
issued a proclamation which aimed its wrath at tho Americans,
requiring them to leave the country. It was soon discovered
that England was at the bottom of this measure, and that it
contemplated tho transfer of California from the hands of
Spain to that of Great Britian, with tho extermination of all
the American (United States) settlers. In order to insure suc-
cess for the undertaking, tho Indian tribes were induced to
participate in the conspiracy. This soon resulted in burning
and destroying the crops and houses of the settlers from the
Stiites.

It is not surprising then that when the brave Fremont
advanced along the valley of tho Sacramento, men, women and
children, thronged around him with hands extended and
voices crying for protection.

The means by which the British were to set up their gov-
ernment in California arc thus spoken of: A Catholic priest,
named Eugenie Macnamara, in 1845, while in the city of
Mexico, made application for a grant of land for the pur-
pose of establishing a colony in California. Ho asked for a
square league, containing four thousand four hundred and
twenty-eight acres to be given to each family, and that each
child of a colonist should have half a square league. The

4*22

(JONQUKBT OF OAMFOKNIA ANI) NKW MKXIOO:

territory to Ik; conveyed to hiru was to Ikj around San Fran-
ciBco Hay, wuh to cinhraco tliruo thouHnnd Hqiiaru IcHguee and
incliKlti tlie wliolo valley of the San Joaquin. He guaranteed
to c!Htul)liHli liiH colony with a tliouHand families. In his
memorial to the PrcHident of Mexico, he aayH:

" I propose with the aid and approhation of your Excellency,
to place in Upper California, a colony of Irish (>atholicH. I
have H triple ohject in making this proposition. I wish in the
first place to advance the cause of ('atholicism. In tlie second
to contrihute to the happiness of my countrymen. Thirdly, I
desire to })nt an obstacle in tlie way of further usurpation on
the part of an irreligious and anti-Catholic nation."

His })laii was supported by the central government, and was
referred for a final decision, to the land h^^'ders and local
authorities of (-alifornia. Conventions were now being held
to perfect tlie arrangement. Father Macnamara had landed,
from the I^ritinh ship Juno, which lay at Santa Babara, and
indeed all things were ready for the consummatitin of the con-
Bpiracy. Had this Ixjen effected, California would have passed
into the liands of the English, and anotlier bloody war would
have refiulte(J,

Fremont's ]>o8ition is now clear to the reader. It was a
critical one. lie was surrounded on either hand by thonsanda
of hostile Indians who had already commenced the work of
destroying the crops and houses of the American settlers, and
massacreing the defenseless people. The reign of blood and
terror, such as we have seen on the borders of Pennsylvania
and Virginia in 1704, was now being repeated in Northern
California. Something must be done, and that quickly.
Fremont waited only to become ful'y aware of the situation—
a situation from which any but a truly brave man would have
turned away. And what would have been the result, had this
man shrank from the duty which now stood out before him?
The question has already been answered by manyl The
American settlers with their wives and children would have
met utter ruin, the Golden State would have passed into the
hands of a foreign power. In the face of all the dangers which

OR, TIIK RORDRR WAR« OF T^VO OKNTURIF*.

498

iiirroundefl Frejnont, he rlrew liiH Bword nnd declHred hiniHclf
a defender.

Ho called }iiH men topjether and laid l)cfore tijem the Btnte
of the case. They were all ea^er for the war, and deni^nated
Fremont as their leader. Many of tlu; HettlerH joined Fre-
niont'H party, and the (Colonel Boon found himnelf at the head
of (|uito a force — all men whowe courage and endurance had
been tritnl. He marched agaiuHt tlie IndinnH without delay,
leaving half a dozen men to defend the carnj). In tluH expefli-
tion he broke np five villa^^eH. Cotninj^ up with a Htrong
hand of warriors during the first day's march, he found them
engaged in the war dance, in black paint and white feathers
preparatory to their meditated attack upon the settlers. A
charge was immediately made and the Indians dispersed
with a heavy loss.

This was a bold stroke — an acliievement whicli none but
those fierce mountaineers rould have effected. In a single day
they had utterly ruined the Indian combination, and half
defeated the con8])iracy. After this victory, Fremont moved
his camp up to Butte's Post, a rr.n">'c ocated about fifty
miles above Sutter's Fort. On reaching tin.: point Fremont
received information that General ('astro liad a.:sembled four
lumdred men at Santa Clara, and that he had seit an officer,
with a detachment, to Sonora, to procure horses for the (-am-
paign. A small party was immediately ser^.t out to intercept
tliiri detachment. The work was faithfully executed, tne whole
tniiii being captured. The prisoners were set at liberty, but the
horses were brought into camp.

% these vigorous movements, Castro's forces were all driven
from the country north of tlie Bay of San Francisco. " At
Sonoma," says Mr. Upham, " Gen. Vallijo, two Colonels and
other prisoners were taken. A squadron of eighty men under
Capt. De la Torre, remained for a short time on a peninsula, at
Sancelito, on the north of the bay, directly opposite Castro's
encampment on the east side, but he was ])re?sed so hard that
lie abandoned his horses, and escaped in launches across the bay
to Castro. Fremont found there a bark from the Eastern States,
commanded by a patriotic American, Wm. D. Phelps, of Lex-

424

OOMQUKHT «>K OAUtOKNIA AND NKW MICXIUU:

ington, Mass., who, entering heurtily into the business, lot him
have his launch, into which ho jumped with t'volvo men, and
rowed over to San Francisco, about eight miles, where thcru
was a iurt with a battery of guns, mostly brass Held pieces
which they spiked, employing for the purpose steel files, ueud
for sharpening knives, which Capt. Phelps happened to huvu
on board his bark."

Thus ended the conquest of Northern California, and now
Fremont sent a message to Gen. Castro, saying that he could
not get his horses over the bay, but if ho would wait for him
lio would pass around its head as quickly as possible, and meet
Lim at Santa Clara, and decide the contest for the country. As
he proceeded to march around the bay, ho reached Sunonm on
the Fourth of July, where, a largo number of Americans hav-
ing congregated, the day was duly celebrated. On the following
day, Fremont, surrounded by his enthusiastic followers, declared
California independent. A flag for the free State was unfurled,
being white, with the figure of a grizzly bear in the centre.

On the following day, Fremont proceeded to fulfill his
engagement with Castro, and marched forward towards Santa
Clara, but when he reached Sutter's Fort, a mesHage met him
from Commodore Slant, announcing the capture of Monterey.
Upon receiving this news, Fremont laid down his " bear flag,"
and hoisted the Stars and Stripes. Thus California, through
co<; Age and prompt action, become an easy conquest, and was
aa- . .u to the American Union.

Fremont proceeded, however, towards Castro's forces, but
the latter fled at his approach, and the Colonel marched in
triumph to Monterey. Of his entrance into that city we have
the following from the pen of an English author, Hon. Fred-
erick Walpole, who witnessed it: " During our stay in
Monterey, Capt. Fremont and his party arrived. They natu-
rally excited curiosity. Here were true trappers, the class tliat
produced the heroes of Fenimore Cooper's best works. These men
had passed years in the wilds, living upon their own resources;
they were a curious set. A vast cloud of dust appeared first, and
thence, in long tile, emerged this wildest wild party. Fremont
rode ahead, a spare, active-looking man, with such an eye! He

UKf TIIH BOKUKK VfAVtB Ot TWO OKNTUKIEB.

42&

was drossod in a blouso and Icggins, and wore a felt hat. After
him cuino five Delaware Indiuns, who wore his body guard,
and had been wiMi him through all his wanderings; tlioy had
charge of his bagga^r^^ horses. The rest, many of thoni blacker
tluin *;ho Indians, roi o two and two, the rifle held by one hand
ucrotts the pummel of the saddle. Thirty-nine of them were
hid regular men, the rest were loafers picked up lately; his
original band wore principally backwoodsmen from the Stato
of Tennessee, and the banks of the upper waters of the Mis-
gouri. lie had one or two with him who enjoyed a high
reputation in the prairies. Kit Carson was as well known
there as the Duke is in Europe. Tlie dress of those men waa
principally a long, loose coat of deer skin, tied with thongs in
iVont; trowscrs of the same, of their own manufacture, which,
when wet through, they took off, scraped well inside with a
knife, and put on as soon as dry; the saddles wore of various
fashions, though these and a largo drove of horses and a brasa
field gun, were things they had picked up about California.
They wore allowed no liquor, tea and sugar only; this, no
doubt, had much to do with their good conduct, and the disci-
pline, too, was very strict. They were marched up to an open
space on the hills near the town, under some largo firs, and
there took up their quarters in messes of six or seven, in tho
open air. The Indians lay beside their leader. One man, a
doctor, six feet six high, was an odd looking fellow. May I
never come under his hands. In justice to tho Americans, I
must say they seemed to treat tho natives well, and their author-
ity extended every protection to them."

CHAPTER LV.

iHATTRRKOTIOlf TK BOUTIIKHN (.'AMfOllNrA — FllKMONT SunDUKR THI
WxMiA WaIXAB — TlIR WaH in Ht>UTIIRIlN (/AMrOHMA — DeHCIUP-

TION or SouTiiEHN CAi.rroiiNfA — Pico Dkkkatki) — TiiK Peacr.

TnK course piiraued by Colonel Fremont was of ^reat viiliio
to the Unite<l States. It caused Commodore Sloat to tiiko
possession of Monterey on liis arrival at that place, so that
when Sir George Seymour arrived with a British Rquadrot , ho
found the flag of the United States floating over the pliico. It
is evident, then, that California was saved from falling into the
hands of the British, by the grca^ foresight and bravery of Col.
Fremont and his heroic followers.

Immediately after the conquest, Commodore Sloat sailed for
the United States, leaving Commodore Stockton, who had
arrived a few days before, in command. Fremont at once pro-
ceeded to Los Angeles, then the capital of California, where,
on his arrival, ho discovered tliat Commodore Stockton had
arrived before him, and proclaimed American protection.
Castro had fled to Sonoma. From Stockton Fremont received
several appointments, in the government of California, first as
Major of the California battalion, afterwards military com-
mandant of California, and finally, governor and commander-
in-chief in that territory.

Early in September, 1846, an extensive insurrection broke
out in Southern California, and Fremont, having returned to
the valley of the Sacramento, immediately set about raising a
battalion among the settlers, for the purpose of suppressing it.
At the same time the panic was increased by the report of an
Indian invasion from the north. One thousand Walla Walla
Indians were marching on Sutter's Fort. The whole country
vroB now a scene of commotion, and every available force was

(426)

UK, TIIK IIOKDKK WAKN or TWO OKNTtlltllA

427

IT SnnnrjKn xni
ORNIA— Dmcuip.
— TiiK Pbacr.

» of great viiluo
s Sloat to take
it place, 80 that
8h Hcjuadroi ,ho
er the place. It
I falling into the
I bravery of Ci»l.

I Sloat sailed for
•,kton, who had
ont at once pro-
alifornia, where,
e Stockton had
lean protection,
remont received
alifornia, first as
B military com-
tnd commander-

inr recti on broke
ing returned to
about raising a
f suppressing it.
the report of an
md Walla Walla
16 whole country
alable force was

muitorod to moot tluH twvr danger. When tho now* of tho
Indian outbreak reached Fremont, hiH battalion waM already
icven hundred utrong, but thinking that the titory waH greatly
exaggerated, ho took only three mon and Htarted out to moot
the Walla Wallan. lie Hoon camo upon them, and although
they were not bo numerous as had l>oon rumored, they wore
ncvcrthelesH in conHiderable force, and in a state of great angor.
lie marched with his tlir(!e men dire(!tly into their midst, but
they knew him, and instead of giving battle, they gathered
roiitid him, and made their complaint. They liad been robbod,
and, worse than all, one of their best young men had buen
killed by tho whitos. Fremont listened to their tales of com-
plaint, and then promised them rcMlress, on tho condition that
tluy would follow his advice, which was, that they should
retire peaceably to their winter hunt, and meet him in the
spring, lie further agreed to send with them one of liis own
men, to hold the United States Hag over them, and said that
whoever struck that flag struck him. This plan was success-
ful, and the war was averted. The Indians, after contributing
ten of their best warriors to Fremont's battalion, retired to the
winter hunt, returning in the spring to the place agreed upon,
where they were mot by Fremont, who gave them horses for
presents.

On the tweltYh of October, Fremont arrived at San Fran-
cisco with his battalion. Here he embarked his command for
Santa Barbara, in the ship Sterling, but they had not been out
two days when they fell in with a vessel from which Fremont
learned that no horses could be had in the country to which he
was sailing, and he returned to Monterey for the purpose of
inarching overland. While in the latter place, he received
intelligence that he had been appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel
of a rifle regiment in the army of the United States.

He dispatched a messenger to the Sacramento valley for the
purpose of obtaining more men and supplies, and prepared for
a long and tedious winter march. In the meantime the insur-
rection had assumed a formidable shape. A party of four
hundred American sailors and marines, on their journey from
San Pedro to Los Angeles, had been attacked, with the loss of

428

ooNguiiUi'r ov uamkoknia and nkw mkzioo:

•Ix inon killud. Tlioy wuro dufuatod by a itroiig UhiiU of ('ali>
forniaiiii. Ix)a An^olus mid SAtitii I^Hrbara wcrain tholr Itaridi.
'Hic llnitod Stateit Cunaul had Ihscmi tukoii priiunor. Cuptuini
iiiirrouf^lm uiid Fustor, nnd Mr. Ehiiici, woro killud in u nuwre
HkiriiiiHli, wltiiu c«oortiiig a lot of liorHUi to Frotnont*ii c'iuii|>.
Of tliu liittvr, Fremont rccuivud it.foriiintion, nnd with n force
of four hundred mounted men niul tlireo piecen of artillery,
nmrched to meet them. A. liir^ 'Jrovo of beef cuttle hrutiglit
up the rciir, to itervu uh provisiopi on the march. At Sun Jiiuri
Fremont receivwl roenforccmuNts in tho way of n lurp;o hodyof
emif^runts, who hud recently croiHod the country. One of
them, nnmcd Kdwin lirynnt, who, in 1840, puhliiihed u work on
Cullforniu, served um u Firiit Liuutenunt of one of the com-
punicri, und uftcr>vurd8 becumu ulculde of Sun Frunclsco. He
BpeukH of the ref(iment in tho following lunguu/y^o: i

*' There were no plumeii nodding over bruzen helmcttt, nor
conts of brouduloth spungled with luce nnd buttons; a hromi-
brimmed, low-crowiicd hut, n shirt of blue tlannel or buckskin,
with puntuloouM und moccuBins of the Bume, nil generally much
tho worse for weur, und sincurod with mud und dust, iiiuku up
the costume of the p)*rty, otHcers us well us men. A Icuthurn
girdle surrounds the wuist, from which nro suspondid u bowie,
und u hunter's knife, und sometimes u bruce of pistols. Ttieeu,
with the ritlo und holster pistols, nro the urms curried by otH-
cers und privutos. A single buglo composes the bund. Tho
Btutt* otHcers were: Lieut.-Col. John C. Fremont, com-
munding; A. II. Gillespie, Mujor; P. 13. Reading, l*uyjimi»tcr;
Ilcnry King, Commissnry; J. R Snyder, Q.iurtermuster; Wni.
H. Kussell, Ordnance Oflicor; J. Talbot, Adjutant; and J.J.
Myers, Sergeunt-Mujor."

In another place, speaking of Fremont's battulion, Mr.
Bryunt suys: ^'Tho men composing tho Culiforniu battalion
have been drawn from muny sources, and are roughly cliul and
weather-beuten in their exterior uppearunco, but I feel it but
justice to stuto my belief, that no military party ever piisscd
through an enemy's country und observed tho same strict
regard for the rights of its population. I never heard of an
outrage or oven a trespass being committed by ono of tho

nco:

OK, TIIK UOMDKM WAmN or TWo OKNltrUIKM.

42i)

Imna of (Tall-
in tholr littixU.
lor. Cuptiiini

lu(l il) U HUVITO

Qinunt*» ctiiiii).
id with a force
;e» of artillery,
cttttlo brought
At 8iiit Jiiari
a liirgo body of
utry. Otio of
ii»iic<l u work ott
10 of the coin-
Fruncisc'O. lie

en liehr.etH, nor
ittoiiH; a broiid-
nel or buckskin,

j^cjierully much
1 duBt, make up
on. A leathern
pondi'd a bowie,

pitttoU. These,
carried by olli-

tho band. Tlio
''reuiont, com-

ng, Paymaster;

termaBtcr; Wni.

itant; and J.J.

battalion, Mr.
fornia battalion
■ovighly clad ami
but I feel it but
vrty ever passed
the same strict
ivcr heard of an
by one of the

Amorican vohintoont during our nntiro march. Kvury Anter*
Iran nppe>Hr'Ml to nndcrHtund iMJifuctly thu duty which hu owod
to hiniaijlf and othvr.i in this roii|M>ct, and the d(<|>ortnivnt of
the battalion might bo cited an a model for imitation."

After marching one hundred and Hfty miloN, thin little armj
inrpriMod, in a dark night. San Loniii Obinpo, the Hcntof a dii«
trict commandant, and, without llring a gun, captured Don
JfHUH Pico, the leader of tho iuHurrection in that placo. "Two
dnyrt afterwards," says Mr. U))ham, in his valiuible work on
tho life of Fremont, *' December si.xteentli, l*icowas tried by a
court nuirtial and condemned to death for breaking his parolo.
The next day, about an hour before noon, at which time tho
execution was to take placo, a procosHion of females, headed by
a lady of line appearance, proceedeil to the quarters of Colonel
Fremont, and with all tho fervor natural to a mother, wife
ami children and near relations, under such circumstanccg,
implored for mercy, and prostrate an<l in tears, begged for tho
life of tho convict. Their supplication was granted. Pico,
who had borne himself with perfect coolness and firmness at
the trial, and had prepared to die with tho solemn dignity of
a Spaniard, when brought in and informed of his pardon, tlimg
himself with unrestrained emotion before Colonel Fremont,
clasped his knees, swore eternal fidelity, and begged tho priv-
ilege of fighting and dying for him."

Fremont has been censured for liis cleincncy towards Pico,
but when it was considered that an act of morcy had sojnetimcs
more to do with subduing tho people of California, than tho
shedding of blood, tho courso ho pursued can hardly bo ques-
tioned.

"On tho twenty-seventh of December, the battalion entered,
without resistance, tho town of Santa Darbara, where it
rmminod recruiting until tho third of January, ls47." Sev-
eral (lays after, as they were ])ur8uing their march, they were
met by two messengers, who brought the welcome intcUigcnco
tlmt Commodore Stockton had retaken Los Angeles, after a
long and victorious engagement with the insurgents. It was
now ascertained that the enemy's force was within a few miles
of Fremont's camp, which was confirmed by tho sudden appear-

430

0«>NQUK8T OF OALIIN^BNIA AND NKW MKXIOO:

aiiee of two Galitbrnia officers, who visited Fremont to treat
for peace. After some consultation, articloi* were agreed upon
on the thirteenth of January, 1847, which stipulated tliat all
Califurnians should deliver up their arms, return in peace to
their homes, not engage in hostilities again during the war
with Mexico, and do all in their power to keep the country in
a state of peace. Oalifornians or citizens of Mexico, were to
be permitted to leave the country, and none of them were to
be required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States
until a treaty of peace should bo made between the United
States and Mexico. This was called the " capitulation of Cow-
enga." On the following day, Fremont reached Cindad de los
Angeles, having conquered California, and secured peace and
protection to the United States settlers in that territory.

We must now go back a few months to bring forward the
adventures of Gen. Kearney. After linishing the conquest of
California, which Fremont had so effectually begun. Commo-
dore Stockton sent Kit Carson, with fifteen men, to Washington,
D. C, with dispatches, giving full details of what had taken
place. Carson was, if possible, to complete the journey and
return in four months. Ho set out accordingly, and after
traveling eastward for about thirty days, he met Gen. Kearney,
on his way to California, " to conquer the Mexicans." Of
course he received information that he was too late to perform
that work, upon which he divided his command, and with a
portion of it continued towards California. Carson accom-
panied this detachment.

Gen. Kearney had no sooner reached the borders of Califor-
nia, than he was met by the enemy in full force; for, as the
reader will observe, the insurrectionary movement was then at
its height. When within thirty miles of San Diego, he fought
two battles, in which he was partially defeated. Being sur-
rounded by the enemy, and reduced to a state of siege, he was
in great want of grass and water. In this extremity, as in all
others in which he found himself, Kit Carson came to the front
as a volunteer in a bold scheme for relief. In this he was
accompanied by one Beal and a Delaware Indian. They
started out, and, under cover of the night, crawled through the

OR, TUB DOKOEK WARS OF TWO CKNTUK1K8.

431

enemy's' lines. Having taken otf their shoes to lessen the
noise consequent upon their progress, they unfortunately lost
them, and were compelled to continue their route barefooted.
After a cautious journey, they reached their destination, and
procured the necessary relief for Gen. Kearney, which dis-
persed the enemy and led him in triumph to Los Angeles.

Here ditHculties arose which terminated unhappily. Cali-
fornia and the Pacific slope had been conquered, but who was
to command. Commodore Stockton and Gen. Kearney were
both, according to their understandings of the instructions
they had received, appointed to the office; and when we con-
sider that this territory was so far from the seat of government,
it is not surprising that difficulties of this kind should have
occurred. For the most part, dispatches from Washington had
to be sent via Cape Horn, which sufficiently explains the neces-
sity of action on the part of these officers without definite
instructions. At all events we find Kearney and Stockton
disputing the right to command. For a time Gen. Kearney's
forces were so sir.d,ll that he was obliged to yield to Stockton,
but on receiving reenforcements, he entered upon full com-
mand, and seizing Col. Fremont, sent him under arrest to the
United States. He was afterwards tried for disobedience of
orders, and found guilty, but the development of subsequent
circuriistaiices, proved that he acted to the best of his judg-
ment and in a patriotic manner.

For further particulars of the lives of Kit Carson and CoK
Fremont, the reader is referred to the appendix, in which I
have followed out all those circumstances that cannot well be
included in the current of the narrative.

CHAPTER LVI

Gbnehal Keaiinet and Colonel DoFJPnAw — The Conquest of Nett
Mexico— Battle of tue Sacuamento — Cuiiiuaiiua Taken —
Qloiiious VicTOiiY OF TUB MissouiiiANS— TniuMPnAL Entuy into
the Ancient Capital.

In following the adventures of Colonel Fremont and Kit
Carson through the mountains and over the broad prairies of
the great west, I have, I trust, accomplished two ends — >hrst,
in giving the reader a slight description of the outposts of civ-
ilization in the west in 1843-6, and of the physical features of
the country, and second, in furnishing an account of the lives
and public services of two brave men. This part of the narra-
tive has led us into the Mexican war, and we have already seen
the Mexican power overthrown in California and the Pacific
slope. Let us now turn our attention to the events that were
transpiring in New Mexico, and in Mexico itself. Tlie first will
give us something of the lives of General Kearnej', of whom
I have already spoken, and Colonel Doniphan; and the second
a bright page in the history of Generals Scott and Taylor.

First then as to New Mexico. On the thirtith of June,
1846, by order of government. General Kearney marched
from Fort Leavenworth with sixteen hundred regulars, on an
expedition against Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. After
marching eight hundred and fifty miles in six weeks, he took
possession of the place in the following August. Having
accomplished this he published a proclamation in which he
claimed that New Mexico belonged to the United States, and
called upon the inhabitants to submit in peace to tlie new
government. He then started for California, but we have
already seen the results of this expedition. When he was met
by Kit Carson he sent back the greater part of his force,

(432)

OR, TIIK nORDKR WARS OF TWO 0KNTURIK8.

438

NQtiKST OF New
aiDA Taken —

FAIi ENTRTt INTO

mont and Kit
oad prairies of
iro ends — tirst,
mtposts of civ-
ical features of
unt of the lives
|rt of the narra-
ive already seen
Hid the Pacitic
vents that were
The first will
irney, of whom
and the second
and Taylor,
lirtith of June,
arney marched
regulars, on an
Mexico. After
weeks, he took
jgust. Having
on in which he
ted States, and
lace to the new
I, but we have
hen he was met
Irt of his force,

and, with a small troop hurried on to join Commodore
Stockton, while Colonel Doniphan Ud the main body across
the moujitalns for the j)urpo8e of punishing the Indians who
jiiul so long harrassed the people of New Mexico. The
Navahos, the principal hostile tribe in this affair were com-
])elle(l to ask for peace, which Colonel Doniphan granted them
only on the condition that they would desist from further
ajrgressions upon the people whom the Americans had just
conquered — a novel treaty indeed. This object accomplished
and impatient of inactivity, and without deiinite orders, they
turned eastward to "carve some new work for themselves."
Chihuahua now became an object of conquest. Tliis was a
city of nearly thirty thousand souls, the seat of government of
the Mexican state of that name, and at one time the residence
of the Captains-General of the Internal Provinces under the
Vice-Eegal Government of new Spain. Tliis was indeed a
perilous enterprise and a daring one for a thousand men to
undertake, but danger and hardships, in those days lentacharti
to any enterprise, and the adventurous march was resolved on,
and at once commenced. "First," said Hon. Thomas Benton
when addressing Colonel Doniphan's command on its return,
"the ominous desert was passed, its character vindicating its
title to its mournful appellation — an arid plain of ninety
miles strewn with the bones of animals that had died pinched
by hunger and thirst — little hillocks of stone, and the solitary
cross, erected by pious hands, marking the spot where some
Christian had fallen victim to the savage, the robber, or the
desert itself — no water — no animal life — no sign of habita-
tion. There the Texan pioneers driven by the cruel Salazar,
had met their direst sufferings, unrelieved as in other parts of
the country, by the compassionate ministrations of the pitying
women. The desert was passed, and the place for crossing the
river approached. * * * There the enemy in superior
numbers, and confident in cavalry and artillery, undertook to
bar the way. Vain pretension! Their discovery, attack, and
route were about simultaneous operations. A few minutes
did the work! And in this way our Missouri volunteers of the
Chihuahua column spent their Christmas day of the year 1846."
.28

434

CONQUEST OF CAIJFORNIA AND NKW MUXICO!

This victory at tlie river IJrucito opened the way to tlie
crossing of the river Del Norte and to adniiijsion into the
handsome little town ofPa^o Del Norte, "where a neat civili-
zation, a cointbrtable people, tields, orchards and vineyanjs,
and u hospitable reception, oti'cred the rest and ret'rehhim'iit
which toils and dangers and victory had won."

Here they rested nntil the artillery reached them from Santa
Fe, when, in February, 1847, they move<l forward and fuiitrht
the battle of the Ssicramento, one of the military marvels of
that age, which cleared the route to Chihuahua. This state
was entered without further resistance. But let us look in
upon the battle just mentioned.

The force under Colonel Doniphan consisted of nine hundred
and twenty-four eftective men, one hundred and seventeen offi-
cers and privates of the artillery, ninety-three of Lituten.uit-
Colonel Mitchel's escort, and the remainder, the tirst regiment
of Missouri mounted riflemen. They progressed in the direc-
tion of Chihuahua until the twenty-tifth of February, when
they were informed by the spies that the enemy, to the nnni-
ber of fifteen hundred men was at Inseneas, the country seat
of Governor Trias, about twenty-tive miles in advance. On
the twenty-seventh the command arrived at Sans, and learned
that the enemy in great force had fortified the pass of the
Sacramento river, about fifteen miles in advance, and about
fifteen miles from the city which they had set out to conquer.
At sunrise on the last day of February they took up the line of
march and formed the whole train, consisting of three hundred
and fifteen trader's wagons, and the commissary and company
wagons, into four columns, thus shortening the line so as to
make it more easily protected. They placed the artillery and
all the command except the cavalry proper, consisting of two
hundred, in the intervals between the columns of wagons.
They thus fully concealed tlieir force and its position by mask-
ing it with cavalry. When they arrived within three miles of
the enemy they made a reconnoisance of his position and tin,
appointment of his forces. This they easily accomplishetl.
They ascertained that the enemy had one battery of four guns,
two nine and two six pounders on the point of the mountain

ro:

OR, THE BORDER WARS <>F 'HVO CENTCRIES.

435

way to the
ion iiitu the
a nqat civili-
i vineyanls,

ret'reblniiont

w from Suiua
d aiul fuu^'ht
•y inarvfla of
a. This state
3t U8 look in

nine hundred
seventeen otH-
)i Lieuten.mt-
tirst regiment
il in the cUrec-
ebrnary. when
y, to the nuin-
e country seat
advance. On
lis, and learned
|he pasij of the
fice, and ahout
ut to conquer.
up the line of
three hundred
and company
jie line so as to
18 artillery and
Isisting of two
,ns of wagons,
lition by mask-
three miles ot
losition and tUo
accomplishe<.l.
l-y of four guns,
t* the mountain

on their right, at a good elevation to sweep the plain, and at
a point where the nioiintaiti extended farthest into the plain.
On the left of Colonel Doniphan's command the enemy had
erected another battery on an elevation commanding the road,
with three entrenchments of two six pounders, and on the brow
of the crescent near the center, aimther of several heavy ram-
part pieces mounted on carriages; and on the crest of the hill
or ascent between the batteries and the right and left, the
enemy had twenty-seven redoubts dug and thrown up, extend-
ing at short intervals across the whole ground. In these their
infantry were place<i and were entirely })rotected. Their
cnvalry was drawn up in front of the redoubts in the intervals,
four deep, and in front of the redoubts two deep, so as to
mask them as far as possible.

"When Colonel Doniphan had arrived within one and a half
miles of the entrenchments along the main road, he advanced the
cavalry still farther, and suddenly diverged with the columns to
the right so as to gain the narrow part of the ascent on his
right, which the enemy discovered, and endeavored to prevent
by moving forward with one thousand cavalry and four pieces
of cannon in the rear, masked by them. Doniphan's move-
ments were so rapid that he gained the elevation with his
forces and the advance of the wagons in time to tbrm before
the Mexicans arrived within reach of his guns. The enemy
halted, and the Americans advanced with the head column
to within twelve hundred yards of them, so as to let their
wagons attain the high lands and form as before.

The battle commenced bv a brisk lire from the American
batterv, which caused the enemy to unmask and return the
assault. Even at this distance the Americans killed fifteen
Mexicans, and wounded several more, suflering no loss them-
jelves beyond two or three mules. Tlie enemy slowly retreated
behind their works, and the Americans advanced so as to avoid
the batteries. After marching as far as thev could without
going within range of their heavy battery, Capt. Weightman,
of the artillery, was ordered to charge with the two twelve
pound howitzers, to be supported by the cavalry under Capts.
Reid, Parsons and Hudson. They charged at full speed with the

436

OONQIJFST OK OAI.IKOKNIA AND NKW MKXKHj:

howitzers, and were gallantly Hustaincd by Oapt. Reid, but l)v
some niisunderstanding, the Colonel's order was not given tt»
the two companies, but Capt. Hudson antieipate<l the order,
and charged in time to give ample support to the liowitzerH.
Capt. Parsons, at the same moment, UHked for permisbion tor
his company to charge the redoubts on the left, which he did in
a gallant manner. The remainder of the two battalions of the
first regiment were dismounted during the cavalry charge, and
following rapidly on foot, while Major Clarke advanced as fast
as possible with the remainder of the battery, they charged
the redoubts from right to left, with a brisk and deadly fire of
riflemen. Major (vlarke opened a well directed fire on a col-
umn of cavalry which attem])ted to pass to the left, so as to
attack the wagons in the rear. It was forced to fall back, and
the American riflemen, with the cavalry and howitzers, cleared
the parapets after an obstinate resistance, and Doniphan's
forces advanced to the very brink of the enemy's redoubts, and
attacked the Mexicans with their sabres. When the redoubts
were cleared, and the batteries in the centre and on the left
were silenced, the main battery on the right still continued to
pour upon the invaders a constant and heavy fire, as it had
done during the heat of the engagement; but as the whole fate
of the battle depended upon carrying the redoubts and center
battery, the one on the right remained undisturbed, and the
enemy had concentrated there more than five hundred strong.
Of the progress from this point, we have an account in Col.
Doniphan's own words: "Major Clarke commenced a heavy
fire upon it. Lieut.-Cols. Mitchell and Jackson, commanding
the first battalion, were ordered to remount and charge tlie
battery on the left, while Major Gilpin passed the second bat-
talion on foot up the rough ascent of the mountain on the
opposite side. The tire of our battery was so effective as to
completely silence theirs, and the rapid advance of our column
put them to flight over the mountains in great confusion."

Thus ended the battle of the Sacramento. The force of the
enemy was twelve hundred cavalry from Durango and Chihua-
hua, with the Vera Cruz dragoons; twelve hundred infantry
from Chihuahua; three hundred artillerymen, and fourteen

OR, TIIK liOKIIKK WARH OK TWO OKNTIIRIRH.

487

liundrcd and twenty rimclieros, badly armed with lassoes,
liinces and nuichotoes, or corn knives; ten pieces of artillery,
iiiid six ranij)art pieces. Their forces were commanded by
Miijor-Gcnerul Ilendou, general of Dnrango, Chilniahun, Son-
era and New Mexico; lirigadier-Cireneral Jostimani, lirigadier-
(tencral Graoia Conde; General Ugerto and Governor Tria, and
colonels and other oiKcers without number.

The force under Col. Doniphan cor.sisted of nine hundred
imd twenty-four eft'ective men; at least one hundred of whom
were engaged in holding horses and driving teams. The losB
of the Mexicans was their entire artillery, ten wagons, three
liundred killed and about the same number wounded, and forty
prisoners. The battlefield was literally covered with the dead
of the enemy. The loss of the invincible Americans was one
killed, one mortally wounded and seven slightly wounded.
Laiigiuige can form no tribute worthy tlie coolness, gallantry
!uul bravery of the officers and men in Colonel Doniphan's
command.

On the iirst day of March they took formal possession of the
capital of Chihuahua, in the name of the United States govern-
ment. Their entry to this city is thus spoken of by Hon.
Thomas Benton: "It had been entered once before by a
detachment of American troops, but under circumstances how
different ! In the year 1807, Lieut. Pike and his thirty brave
men, taken prisoners on the head of the Rio del Norte, had
been marched captives into Chihuahua; in the year 1847, Don-
iphan and his men entered it as conquerors. The paltry
triumph of a captain-general over a lieutenant, was effaced in
the triumphal entrance of a thousand Missourians into the grand '
and ancient capital of all the Internal Provinces! and old
men, still alive, could remark the grandeur of the American
spirit under both events — the proud and lofty bearing of the
captive thirty — the mildness and moderation of the conquer-
ing thousand."

Doniphan was not merely satisfied with conquering Chihua-
hua, but he bound the enemy so as to protect the American
settlers in the place. Having accomplished this, the ancient
capital became, like Santa Fe, not the terminating point of a

4B8

OONQUWIT OP CALIFORNIA AND NKW MKXIOO.

long oxpudition, but the starting point of a nuw one. SiiyA
Mr. Benton, from whom I have jiiBt (|U(>te(l: " (ien. Tii^lor
WRft some whore — no one knew exuctly where — hut some seven
or eight hundred milca towards the other Hide of Mexico."
J)oni|)hnn Imd heard that Tuvlor hud heen <lefcated; that Jiiicna
Vista had not turned uut well to him. lie did not believe this
report, but he concluded to go and see. A volunteer party of
fourteen undertook to penetrate to Saltillo, and return with
infornuitiou as to the truthfulneHH of the rumor. Amidst many
dangers they accom])lifthed their mis: ion. Then the wIidIo
army marched forward, a vanguard of one hundred men, jod
by Liout.-C-'ol. Mitchell, leading the way. Then followed the
main body commanded by Col. Doniphan. The whole tiihlo
land of Mexico, in all its breadth from west to east, was to be
traversed. A numerous hostile po})ulation in towns — tren.-h-
crous Camanehes in the mountains — were to bo encountered.
Uut even in the face of these ditHculties, the Americans set out,
accomplishing a safe nuirch, evading Mexican towns, and pun-
ishing C/amanches. It was a novel inarch, for, meeting no
armed forces, the Americans acted merely as ]>rotectors to the
Mexicans, and delivered them from their Indian enemies.

In the month of May they arrived in Gen. Taylor's camp,
where they reported for duty. But that general being then
without an army, was compelled to decline their service, and
the famous Missourians returned to their native State.

>>.

• one. Sa}'»
Gun. Tii>lor
t some Btnen
of Mexico."
; tlmt Hutna
>t believe tliis
itwr purty of

return with
Amiilrtt many
}n the whole
I red men, led

foll«>we<l the
Q whole tahlo
>ftst, was to be
owns — treai'h-
! encountered,
iricans set out,
>wns, and pun-
r, meeting no
)tector8 to the
1 enemies.
Taylor's camp,

•al being then
ir service, and

State.

CHAPTER LVII.

Wau Hktwkkn TiiK Unitku Statkb and Mkxico — Oknkuai- Taylob

I'UOCKKDH TO PoiNT IhAIIKI. WITH AN AllMY— IIk IH OuDK.UKD TO

Lkavk tbk Countuy— Hk Ukki'mkb — Hi8 Danoku at tue Uivkr
FoUT — TuK Batti.k ok Pai.o Ai.to.

Wk now coino to tlmt desperate but glorious contest
between the United States and Me.xico. It will be unnecessary
to dwell here upon the causes which led to this war. For the
nuist ]>art u\y readers arc already acquainted with these. In
May, 1845, General Zachary Taylor, of whose heroic defense
of Fort Harrison we have already read in our account of
Tecuinseh's war, received a confidential letter from the Secre-
tary of War instructing him to place his troo])8 at sucli a j)08i.
tion as would enable him to defend Texas in case that Terri-
tory should be invaded by Mexicans. This was immediately
after Texas had been erected into a Territory under the United
States gover' ,nt. As is Mell known this act displeased the
Mexicans. They looked upon it as a violation of tho law of
nations, and as ])rojocted with a view to depriving them of a vast
jiortion of her territory.

In a subsequent letter the Secretary of War addressed
(lencral Taylor in these words. "Should Mexico assemble a
large body of troops on the Rio Grande, and cross it with a
considerable force, such a movement must be regarded as an
invasion of the United States and the commencement of hostil-
ties. You will of course use all the authority which has been
<»r may be given you to meet such a state of things. Texas
'iiust be protected from hostile ijivasion, and for that purpose
joii will of course employ, to the utmost extent, all the means
you possess or can command."

In persuance of these instructions General Taylor took up

(489)

440

roNQUKirr ov uvxico;

1 1

his pottitiun nt CorpuM Criati wliuro lio roiiiiiiriud until tho
eiglitli of $iit'c'ii, 1840. On thiM (iutt> tliu Atiicriciiti unny
CotiiiiU'iK*c'(t itH iiiurch tor thu Kio (iraiulis tliu Hit>^i! tniin
bein^ i»rnt l»y wiitiT to I'oitit Uiiht'l, with ii i-orpn of nij^ini't'iH
and otHct't'H of ordiiunco, eoniniundrd by Miijoi* Mntiroc. A
bo<ly of Mexican troops wuro cMioounttToil iit An'i>yu, C'olonulo,
but the AnuM'icMii unny wiiii pcrinittt'd to $\\m without Uing
attackiul. Tho army hud not procetMh'd far, howt'v«'r, when
Gt'iiorul Tayhjr wrb met b}- a <k'putation from MatmnoniH
which protested apiitiHt his a])parant invasion of that country.
Tlie deputation carried a white Ha^^ and, on approaching; tho
Cieiu'ral, desired an interview with him. He inforn)ed tlio
Me.xicans that he would halt at u suitable place on the ruiid
and hold a conference with them. It was, however, he says,
found necessary, ou account of tho scarcity of water, to >'im.
tiiiue the march to Point IsalH;!, and when within H(;nic ten
milcH of this place the deputation lialted, declining to accom-
pany the army farther, and handed General Taylor a fonual
protest from tho prefect of tho northern district of Taiiiaiilip
as against tho occupation of the country by Americiin troops.

Proceeding forward the General soon discovered that tiie
buildings at Point Isabel were in flames. On observim; tliis
he sent a messenger back to tho deputaion, informing tlicni
that he would answer the protest when opposite Matanioras.
Taylor looked upon tho conflagration before his cyct\ as decided
evidence of hostility, and regarded tho prefect in making the
protest as a tool of the military authorities at Matamoru.s.

The cavalry arrived in season to arrest tho Are, which had
fortunately consumed but two or three buildings, but the port
captain who committed the act escaped before its arrival.
When General Taylor arrived at Point Isabel he found that
the inhabitants had fled to Matamoras.

He at once proceeded to erect a fort on the bank of the Eio
Grande, over which he unfurled the flag of the United States.
The position was well fortifled, the fort being furnished with
six bastions and capable of containing two thousand men. On
the opposite side of the river tho Mexicans erected battcrlea
and made redoubtB.

OR, Tlir IttiKfil'lK WAIfH nr TWO rTNTl'RIKH.

441

Oil tlio tciitli of April Colonel OroHit, wliilt; ridinf^ out for

cxirciHu, wuH iittacki'«l hy «omt) IuwU'kh rauolit'rooH, iiMirdurtnl

und Htri|)|K'<l TliiM tlu tlr«t Amrrifim Mood whh hlicd in tli«

Mt'Nicuii Will'. On tito following diiy (tenuml Ainpndin

iinlvt'd in MutmnoiMs, and witliont (U-liiy cnti'ird \ipon tlio

work of "coini»tdlinj^ tlit) AnnTJcan uriny to Iciivo TrxuH."

Wo wlmll »ee liow fur ho wim HnccoHhfnl. (Mi tiie tutlftli, in

writin;^ to (Jonorul Taylor he concliid«'H art followB: •» Hy

explicit and di'tlnit«' ordorn from my ^i»vt'rnment, whi«*h

iifitlier can, will, nor hliould rt'ct'ivo new outrii^^rs, I n'(|niro

you ill all form and at latent in the peremptory term of twenty-

t'o.ir hours, to break tip your camp und retire to the other

Imiik of the Neueei* river, while our jjovernnu'ntrt are ri'«;ulat«

ill",' the pendin<? (luestion in relation to Texa**. If you iiisiat

oil reiniiiriinjij upon the soil of the department of 'rainanlipnH,

it will clearly result that arniri, and arms alone, must decido

tlic <iuestion; anil in that case I advirto you that we accept the

uiir \it which, with so miudi injustice on your part you

provoke us, and that, on our part, this war shall bo conducted

conformably to the principles established by the most civilized

nations — trusting that on your part the same will be observed."

General Taylor replied to thid communication, informinj^

the enemy that he could not, accordin;;: to his instructions,

withdraw from the territory. Soon after, ho prevented the

8lii|>s that were advancing with supplies for the Mexican

army, from entering the river, and declared the Kio Grande

in a state of blockade.

On the twentieth, all intercourse between the armies was
broken oft', and on both sides of the river pre[)aration8 for the
war were going forward. 8oon after, Taylor received infor-
mation that the Mexicans to the number of three thousand
iiad crossed the river and fortified a position so as to cut off
liis retreat to Point Isabel, where he had stored his principle
supplies. A party of sixty men was sent out under Captain
Thornton to reconnoiter the position of the enemy, but falling
into an abuscade they were all made prisoners and sent to
Matainoras. The Mexicans had concealed themselves in great
numbers behind a chaparral hedge, and the reconnoitering

449

I'oN^trKirr UK Mi'XKii):

piuty ninmluMi int't tlirir iiiiiUt hikI wrrv onptiirtHl. Intoxi*
cntc*! with lliir« HiictTMrt tlm McxicuiiH croHHcd tlit* rivrr in f^ntit
inini'))«>i-rt itiid cotniiU'tnly HtirnMiiKlvd (ii'tifrul Tuvlor'H |H»iti.
tion. For tlirci' <luyM tin* littlt* army ciidnn'd iiM>x|»rrHiiilt|(>
niiB|K'nHi', hut on t\w t'oiirth ('Mpfaiii WiilktT of tht* T«'\iiii
liiui^X*'!''* iirrivnl, hrin^in^tho wi'h'oirn' now.* thiit idl wu»» ntill
HHt'i< ut point Inikhi'l. IIi> added to thiit ird'ornnitioti, however,
that the phice wiih in imminent (hinder. There wuh now no
timo to H|)ure. (k>nt>ml Tiiyh>r ut oneu deeide<l to move with
thu whidu iirmy tu defend thin point, which hiMlid, huvin^
otdy II tew BohlierH to j^iirrinon the river tort. It w»in on the
tirnt (»f Miiy thut the rt'treiit w«m et»mmonco(). The niove-
ment WUH eehdtrated in MatamoruM hy 'Mhe rin^in^ of ItelJK,
expioKJon of tire arms and ev«'rv <»ther nuuufeHtation <»f joy."
The river fort im I heen left under th»' eommand of Aliijitr
Ih'own, and (niieral Arintu, ttf tho Mexii'un fo»eeH at once
commenced extensive operatiouH for the doHtn.ction of tlii>
garrison. On the thirti of May a hattery opened upon the
fort and kept n)» a hri>k fir«' for Homo time, hut to no ttfoct.
However, on tlie mornin<f of the fifth. Major Hrown diHcovered
n hattery in n-ar of tlie fort, which had heen i'rected l»y the
Mexicans during' tlie nij;lit. It opened u severe tiru uj)oii the
fort and was assisted hy the ^uns in Mutamoras. For three
days uji incessant cannonade was kept uj) on both sides, (hniii^
winch Major Hrown was mortally wounded. The coniMmmi
devidved upon i'aptain Hawkins wlio no sooner entered upoii
his lU'W station than he nu>t n summons to surrender, wliicli
he gallantly declint'<l. The assailants renewed the attack with
vi^or, hut on the ni^ht of tho eighth retired, to the ^'reat joy
of the wearied garrison.

Gen. 'J'uylor had no sooner arrived at Point Isahol and
adjusted nuitters at that station, than he commenced the return
march. On the ei<;hth he received information that theciicnij'
was stationed on tlie field of I*alo Alto, not far in advaiico.
The hour for hattle was now at hand, and the soldiers seemed
to realize that th(»v were sorui to test their bravery, and nicas-
ure streuf^th with the Mexicans, The forward march was
continued, and soon the Mexican nrmy was in sight, in battle

OR, TIIK lU^KhKH WAK» or tWo rKNTtrHrKn.

44:1

urv<i. Intnxi'
f rivrr in j;niil

TKvl«»r'* |H»»i-
I iii(*.\|>ri>HMil)K>

of tli« Tt'Min

lit till WUH Htill

ktion, liuwi'viT,
ri' wiiH now no
il ti) UMtsv with
)io (lid, loivini;
It wiiH on the
[\, Tlio move-
ugin^ of Im'IIh,
♦tiition of !•>>•."
iniinil of Major

fo'Ct'H lit OlK't'

trr.ctioii t»f till'

iMMH'd upon the

l»ut to no ctVi'ct.

■(»wn dirtt'ovorcil

»>recti'y the

re tlru npoii tiie

ras. Kor thrre

)tli Bidt'fl, (iiiriiij?

The ooinnmiMl
[.>r ontorod upon
iirronder, which

the attiick witii
to the groat joy

.iiit Isahol and
iced tlio return
that the enemy
far in ntlvanco.
H(»ldierr* M-eincd
iverv, and nieas-
iird inarch was
sight, in battle

I'l

urmy. Tho ordur of IwittU* wii* fonnod in Tu^lor'n uriny ni"
foljowt: "Till) right wing, iindur (/ol. TwiggM, wan conipottod
of the fifth infantry, under Col. MelntoHh; HinggoldV artil
Irry; third infuntry, under ('apt. Maniit; twoeightem poiiuderrt,
under liient. (Ihurehill; fourth infantry, nndi^r Major Allen;
two Hi|nadroiiH of dragooiiM under TuptH. Kerr and May. Tho
Irfr wing, under Col. Itelknap, wan formed of a iiattalion uf
Hrtillery, under ('td. ('Iiildri; DtineairM light artillery, and tho
lif^hth infantry, under (7apt. Motitgoniery.

In thiit urder the army marched forward to hattle. When
within Hovuii hundred yard* of the Mexican foreo, iU right
o|ienc<l with a tr»'meiul(MiH tlineharge of artillery. "Then,"
m« an ahle writi'r, " (Jen. Taylor wan Keen hurrying along his
vitn, deploying it into line, and (>.\horting tlut Holdiei'rt to hu
tiriii. Order wan given to return the tire, and immediately all
otiier hoiindH were drowiu-d in the fearful roar of artillery.
Kt'Higning tho battle to this terrible engine, the infantry and
ritic ct)rph h'lined upon their piec-eH, and watched the opp().^iii^
(iduinnrt an they Hwayed to and fro tinder the coiiHtant fire.
At every diseharge, whole rankH of tho enemy were mowed
down, and neorcs of horttoH and horsemen flung into one uiidiri-
tiii^iilHhable inaHrt."

At length tho Mexican infantry began to give way, and (Jen.
Arista ordered a charge with the cavalry. ^ "Pouring down in
two columns, tho lancerii canio towards the American line, with
a ifiaco and rapidity ])oeuliar to tho Mexicans, lint before
tiii-y reached their objwt, Kidgley and Ringgold opened the
artillery. At the first blast they staggered — again and again
witli stern energy, the cannon broke forth; huge gaps o])ened
ainoiig the horsemen, and scores sunk down beneath the tramp
of their oom|)anion8. Fear sucrceeded enthusiasm. Every
txertion withered before the <lreadful ju'ospect around. They
tiinit'd and fled ])rccipitately, leaving behind them at every
sti'p victims to the iron storm that pursued thcni." The battle
How lifcanie general, and raged for some tinn^ with fearful
(iistnu'tion. Suddenly, from the useharge of the cannon, the
grass of the prairie was ignited, which rolled up volumes of
wnoke and for a while screened the army from view. The

444

coNQUEOT 01 Mexico:

battio ceased, and botli armies formed new lines. Two thou-
sand Mexicans attempted a flank movement, but a sHglit breeze
dispersed tbe smoke, and tbey were discovered. Capt. Duncan
gallantly led his troops against tliem, and arrested their prog,
ress. "The Mexican infantry retired to some neighboring
chaparral, but the lancers stood firm before a fire wiiich cut
deep gaps into their solid masses." But now the infantry
again appeared, and moved slowly in the very I'ace of the storm
from which they had previously fled. But their effort was
productive only of their ruin. At every stej) they were mowed
down with frightful slaughter, and they Avero com])ellcd to
retreat in confusion. The cavalry soon followed, for it had
been literally cut to pieces. Aa night closed in upon the bat-
tlefield of Palo Alto, six hundred Mexicans, dead and wounded,
lay upon the ground, while the loss of the Americans wtis but
nine killed and forty-four wounded. ■ '

On the following morning, the Mexicans were seen in the
distance retreating, and Gen. Taylor, expecting to encounter
them again during the day, advanced in battle order. His
army proceeded nninterrupted until about three o'clock in the
afternoon, when information was brought in that the Mexicans
were posted near the road in full force. The position which
they had taken was most admirably adapted to defensive action,
and, by the Mexicans was called liesaca de la Palma. In this
sort of ditch, and amid the dense thicket on its banks, the
Mexicans were entrenched, with their artillery in such a posi-
tion as to sweep the road.

I •,

CHAPTER LVIII.

The Battlr of Rksaca dk la Palma — A Despkuate Struqolb —
BiuvEiiY OK TiiK Mexicans— The Dead and Dying — Qen. Tat-
Loii'8 VicTOUY — Matamokas Taken — Gen. Taylor's Difficulties
—The Siehe of Montekey— The Victory.

TuK BATiLE of Rcsaca de la Palma was opened by the artil-
lery. Kidgley pushed guns to within less than ono uiindred
yards of the Mexicans, and then sent a shower of iron hail
against the enemy. At the same time the infantry was coming
up, and in a few minutes the riHe corps lent valuable aid to the
artillery. And now the struggle was fierce and 'lesperate.
The Mexicans seemed determined to conquer, and took no heed
to those who were falling thick and fast around them, biit sent
volley after volley into the American ranks. At length, how-
ever, the enemy retreated to a place of security behind a
chaparral hedge, and the Americans pushed forward to com-
plete the v'ctory by a charge, but the position was guarded
with artillery, and the men who stood by the batteries held out
with commendable energy. The effect upon the troops in Gen.
Taylor's army was shocking. In this extremity, the general
ordered (/a])t. May to charge them with his dragoons. '• May
shouted to his men, and the next instant they were dashing
headlong down the narrow road towards the cannon's mouth.
Pausing till liidgley drew the enemy's lire, they again drove
oil, and almost before the eye had time to trace their course,
they were within a few yards of the fatal guns. May's horse
was far ahead of his troops; and as he turned to wave them on,
only the impetuous Inge was near him. Yet that squadron
was not faltering. Fust as their steaming steeds could fly,
they were hastening on, while the flinty ground rocked and
echoed beneath their tread. Suddenly a volley from the higher

(445)

446

(!<>NQUE8T OF MKXICO:

battery swept fearfully upon their column, crusliiii^ seven men
and eight horses to death. But the living puubed not. One
leap, and May was upon the battery. His men followed, uiul
the Mexicans were driven back. But the heroic La Vcirii
rallied them to the charge, and once more seized their pieces.
Thus charge after charge was made until only the Mexiciin
general was left at the guns. Surrounded with piles of dead,
grim with powder and smoke, he rallied his troops to duty,
and faced hi.s fierce enemies unmoved. In the act of discliarir-
ing a piece. May ordered him to surrender, and finding further
resistance vain, he complied." But the struggle did not end
here. The battalion under Tampico, made a charge for the
purpose of retaking their artillery, and at the same time the
contest raged along the whole line. The Mexicans, from the
chaparral hedges, were pouring an effective fire upoji the
Americaui^, and in the wild effort to rout the enemy from this
position, the artillery ceased, • And now the brave soldiers
rushed forward to the charge. The fight became desperate,
and Americans and Mexicans were mixed in thrilliny; disorder.
The bayonet was freely used, and from this the enemy turned
slowly, and stubbornly away. Gen. Arista's camp and head-
quarters had been taken, but the Tampico battalion still defied
till! march of the Americans. The brave men in this force
held out until tliey were literally cut down. The standard-
bearer tore the Hag from the staff, and Hed, but even this last
man was taken prisoner, and his flag carried away by the
victors. The retreat of the Mexicans now became general, and
the artillery having advanced to the action, it opened upon the
fleeing ranks with shoctking effect.

Six thoiisajid Mexicans opposed seventeen hundred Ameri-
cans in this battle, yet after all, so brave and superior were our
men that tlin six thousand were completely routed, and every-
thing in their camp was captured. One thousand Mexicans
were killed, while the loss of the Americans did not exceed
one hundred.

But who shall describe the scene on this battlefield on the
night of the ninth? When darkness gathered over Tlesacado
ll Pajnia, hundreds of wounded, dying, and dead, pale and stiff,

OR, TriK BORDER WARS OK TWO CKNTtntlia.

447

or howling in the ngonicri of mortality, lay upon the ground.
In the awful struggle and Hight hundreds had been erushed
down beneath the feet of the confused artillery, and men were
writhing in a most horrible condition. But such are the results
of war, and such were the results of General Taylor's second
victory over the ^lexicans.

Tlie American army now returned to the river fort, opposite
Matiiinoras, and thence to Point Isabel, where arrangements
were soon completed for an attack upon Matamoras. On the
eigiiteenth he summoned the city to surren<ler, and received for
au answer that he might enter Matamoras without opposition.*
Gen. Taylor accordingly took possession of the city, and
appointed Col. Twiggs to the olhce of its Military Governor.
Gen. Arista, with his army, had retired on the previous night.
The small town of Barita, near the mouth of the Rio Grande,
was also occupied by the Americans.

But no sooner had Gen. Taylor achieved this victory than he
seemed to be visital by a series of troubles. Although he had
unfurled the flag of the United States on the left bank of the
Rio Grande, yet his forces and military stores were so small
that he was obliged to remain inactive during nearly the whole
suniiner. "When re-enforcements were sent him, they were
entirely without means of transportation, and being inexperi-
enced volunteers, many of them were unfit for important duty,
.ring this inactivity of the Americans, the Mexicans were
recruiting their strength for another struggle.

Gen. Taylor was compelled to remain quiet until the fifth
of September, when, with a large army, he inarched for the
interior. Previous to this date, however, the towns of Mier,
Caniargo, Serai vo, and Reynosa had been occupied by Ameri-
can troops. Taylor had not proceeded far when he received
intelligence from Gen. Worth that large re-enforcements of the
enemy were daily arriving at Monterey, the capital city of the
northern division of Mexico. He therefore set out for that
place without delay, leaving Gen. Patterson in command on the
Rio Grande. Taylor's first aim was to join Worth at Seralvo.
He reached this place in due time, where he rested his army

TS^

448

CONQUKST OF MKXIUO:

for several days. On tlie eiglitetMith, liowever, they were at
Walnut Sprin<jf8, three miles from the capital.

At this time Monterey, the capital of New Leon, contained
about fifteen thousand inhabitants. Beinjjj situated near the
base of the grand moun*;ain range called the Sierra Madi'e, par-
allel to which runs the Arroya San Juan, it possessed all the
advantages tor a defensive warfare. In front, and to the right
of the t<»wn, a strong and extensive fortress known as the cita-
del, had for some time been erected. It covered an area of
about three acres, the walls being of solid masonry, thick and
Jiigh, with bastions commanding all approaches from the north-
east, the north, and northwest. On the eastern side of the city
were several redoubts. Near the outskirts on the southwest of
the city were two large forts on the course of the Aroya San
Juan, and on the opposite side ot the river, and also on tin; Sal-
tillo road, the heights wera crowned by two strong fortitications.
Tli>. latter was known as the Bishop's Palace. These well-con-
structed defenses were mounted with forty-two heavy cannon.
In the city itself were also many sources of defense. The stone
walls of the houses rose some distance above the root's, thus
allbrding good parapets. Gen. Ampudia was at this time in
the city with an army of eight thousand regular troops, and
over a thousand militia, with an abundant supply of arms and
ammunition.

Gen. Taylor established his camp at "Walnut Springs, three
miles from Monterey, and determined to approach the city by
way of the Saltillo road. He ordered a close reconnoisaiiceof
this route, which strengthened his determination, and he at
once sent a column forward to turn the works of the enemy in
that direction. Gen. Worth commanded the detachment sent
on this expedition, and marched on the twentieth. His move-
ment was soon discovered by the enemy. The following is his
own account of the contest which engaged the division under
him: '

"My instructions were by o, detour to the right, to endeavor
to find and reach the Saltillo road, efiTsct a thorough reconnois-
sance of the approaches to the city from that direction, to cut

OR, THK BORDEH WARS OF TWO 0ENTITHIK8.

44!»

thoy were at

,eon, contained
uated near the
rra Mad re, par-
)S8e88etl all the
ud to the ri«,'ht
)vvn a3 the cita-
ered an area of
lonrv, thick and
from the north-
1 side of the city
the southwest of
t' the Aroya San
I also on tho Sal-
,ng fortifications.

These well-con-
'O heavy cannon.
'ense. The stone
ve the roofs, thus
Is at this time in

ular troops, and
oply of arms and

[ut Springs, three
wach the city by
reconnoisanceof
lation, and he at
of the enemy in
detachment sent
hetli. His move-
lie following is his
lie division under

ight, to endeavor

lorough reconnois-

direction, to cut

off supplies and re-enforcements, and, if practicable, carry the

heights.

"• Owing to the difRcnlties of the ground after leaving the
Morin^ and before striking the Presquina Grande road, the
divi.sion had reached only six miles, in consequence of the delay
in making the route practicable for artillery, which service was
performed by Capt. Sanders, at six o'clock i". m., and was halted
just without the range of a gun battery on the summit of an
isolated hill called Lorna de Independencia, midway on the
ascent of which was the Bishop's Palace. Thence a rec^onnois-
sance was made, under cover of detachments of Hay's Texans,
to the intersection of the Presquina Grande route, then in our
possession, with the Saltillo road. This examination resulted
in the conviction that the grounds in our front and on our left,
in advance, constituted at the same time the weak and the
strong points of the enemy's position, and entered mainly into
the defenses of the city — the weak point, because commanding
the (jnly lines of retreat and of supply in the direction of Sal-
tillo, and controling that in the direction of Presquina Grande;
the strong point, because of the peculiarly defensive character
of the hills and gorges, and of the very careful and skillful man-
ner in which they had been fortified and guarded. It was also
clearly indicated that our further advance would be strenuously
ret*istod.

" On the morning of the twenty-iirst, the division was put
in motion, and with such formation as to present the readiest
order of battle, on a'ly point of assault. At six the advan(;e,
consisting of llay'^j Texaiis, supported by the light coin[)anies,
first brigade, under Capt. C. F. Smith (both extended as the
valley widened or contracted), closely followed by Duncan's
light artillery and battallion, heads of columns, on turning an
angle of the mountain at a hacienda called San Jeronimo,
caine u])on si strong force of cavalry and infantry, mostly the
former. A conflict immediately ensued. The Texans received
the heavy charge of cavalry with their unerring rifles and usual
gallantry; the light companies opened a rapid and well-directed
fire; Duncan's battery was in action in one minute (promptly
supported by a section of Mackall's), delivering its tire over the
29

460

roNQUKST OF MEXICX):

beads of our men. Ere the close of the coitihat, which lasted
but iifteen minutes, the First hri<(ade had formed to the front,
on the ri^ht and left, and delivered its fire. The Second brig-
ade wa8 hold in reserve, the ground not admitting of its
deployment. The enemy retired in disorder (leaving on the
ground one hundred killed and wounded; among the former,
Don Juan N. Najua, colonel of the permanent regiment of
laiieerrt), upon the Saltillo road, and was closely pursued, until
we got possession of the gorge, where all the dehouche» from
Monterey unite, whereby the force just defeated, as also rein-
forccmentrt and supplies from that direction, were excluded
from entering the city.. At this important point the division
was halted, and attention directed to the mountain forts which
envelope the city on its western and southwestern faces. Soon
discovering, however, that our position brought us within
eftective range of the batteries, the troops were advanced sonif
eight hundred yards further on the Saltillo road.

"The examination thus far had manifested, besides tiic
imj>ortance of the positions, the impracticability of any effect
ive operations against the city, until possessed of the exterior
forts and batteries. Independent, however, of ultorior objects,
the occupation of these heights becan.e indispensible to the
rest >ration of our lines of communication with headquarters,
necessarily abiudoned for the moment in order to secure the
gorges of the Saltillo road. At twelve m. a force was detached
under Capt. 0. F. Smith, with orders to storm the batteries on
the crest of the nearest hill, called Federaclon, and after taking
that, to carry the fort called Soldada^on the ridge of the same
height, retired abt)ut six hundred yards. The two effectually
guarded the slopes and roads in either valley, and couseijuently
tbe approaches to the city. This couitnaud consistcMl of fonr
>^nipanies of the artillery battalion, and Green's, McGowan's,
R. A. Gillespie's, Chandler's, Ballone's, i\nd Mc( ■nliocirs com-
panies of Texan riflemen, under Maj. Ciievalier, acting in
co-operation — in all about three hundred effectives. It was
impossible to mask the movement of the storming party. On
approaching the base of the mountain, the guns of both batteries
opened a plunging tire, and numerous light troops were seen

OB, THE BOKDER WAB8 OF TWO CENTUKIIC8.

461

;, which lasted
,d to the front,
e Second brig-
nitting of its
leaving on the
itig the former,
it regiment of

pursued, until
debouches from
od, as also rein-

were exeUidcd
aint the division
itivin forts which
tern faces. Soon
u«'ht us within
re advanced some

ad.

jted, besides the
lity of any effect
sd of the exterior
f ultorior objects,
lispensible to the
ith headqimrtcrs,
rder to secure the
(■orce was detached
,n the batteries on
,i, and after taking
ridge of the same
jie two eifectually
, and cousc'iuently
consisted of fonr
>en'ft, McGowan's,
McC'nlioch'scom-
Icvalier, acting i"
.ffectives. H was
■ruling party. On
U of both batteries

It troops were seen

descending and arranging thoinselves at favorable points on the
elopes. Perceiving the indications of determined rosistanco,
Capt. MiloH was detached from the Seventh to support and co-
operate with the first party.

"In a short time the iire became general, the enemy gradu-
ally yielding and retiring up the rugged acclivity, and our
men as steadily pursuing. The appearance of heavy rein>
forcemcnts on the summit, and tlie cardinal importance of tho
operation demanding further support, the fifth under Major
Scott, and Blanchard's companies of volunteers were immedi-
ately detached, accompanied by Brigadier-General Smithy
who was instructed to take direction in that quarter. Oix
reaching the advance parties, General Smith discovered that
under favor of the ground, he could, by directing a portion
of the force to the right, and moving it obliquely up the hill,
carry tho Soldada simultaneously with the Federacion. Ho
accordingly very judiciously pointed and accompanied tho
fifth, seventh, and Blanchard's company in that direction.
Captain Smith's command having most gallantly carried tho
first object of attack, promptly turned tho captured gun — a
nine-pounder — upon the second, and moved on with his main
body to participate in tho assault on Soldada, which was carried
in gallant stylo by tho forces under Scott, Miles, Blanchavd,
and Hays (who had been detached on special service, but who
returned in time to share with fifty of his men in tho first
assault, and to take a prominent part in the second), the wholo
directed by General Smith.

"At this point we secured another nine-pounder, and imme-
diately both pieces were brought to bear upon tho Bishop's
Palace, situated upon and midway tho southern slope of tho
hill Independencia, a valley of only six hundred yards inter-
vening. We had now secured an important advantage, and
yet but half the work was done. The possession of these
lieights only made the more apparent the controlling import-
ance of those opposite, and tho necessity of occupying the
palace. A violent storm ensued, and night closing in, opera-
tions for the day ceased. The troops had now been thirty-six
hours without food, and constantly tasked to the utmost physical

453

n)y^. KHT OF MKXido:

i'xortions. Such hh could Ix) permitted Hlopt with artuH in
hand, Huhjuctod to a pcltiti^ Mtorrn, and without covcriiij^ till
three a. m., whoii they were arouHed to carry the hill I rule-
pendciicia.

*' Lieut.-Col. Ciiilds was asRJf^nod to lead tlHiBiorining partios,
conrtintin^ of three coinpanieB, I and d (t'otirth), and A, (third
artillery hattalion;) three coinpanieH eighth infaritry, (A, H.
and I),)under Capt. tv-riven, with two hundred Texan rltleinen,
under Col. I lays and Lieut.-('ol. Walker (captain of rith's),
acting in co-operation. The coinnmml moved at three, con-
ducted to itrt point of aacent hy ('apt. Sanderrt, military, and
Lieut. Meade, top(>:;raplii(!al engineers. Favored by the
weather, it reached hy the dawn of day within about one
hundred yunlH <)f thecrcHt, in whicli poHition, anionj^ the clefts
of rocks*, a Ixtdy of the enemy had hw^n ntutioned tlu; pnvions
evening in apparent anticipation of the attack. The eiieniyV
retreatinjif tire was ineffectual, and not returne<l until ('ol.
Child's and Hays' command had reached to within a few yards
of the summit, when a well-directed and (h.'structive fire, fol-
lowed hy the 1)ayonet of the regulars and rush of the Ttxans,
placed us in po8se8»i()n of the work; the cannon havinif hvm
previously withdrawn, no impression could be made uj)oii thu
massive walls of the palace or its outworks, without artillm,
except at enormous eacritice.

"Lieut. Kowland, of Duncan's battery, was ordered from
the main rank with a twelve-poun<l howitzer, and in two
hours (aided by tifty men from the line, under ('apt. Sunders,
military engineer, for the purpose of selecting the route loiist
difficult) that enterprising and gallant otticer had his guns in
position, having ascended an acclivity as rugged as steep,
between seven and eight hundred feet in two Jiours. A tire
was immediately opened from the howitzer, covered by the
e]):uilottient of the ca])tured battery, upon the palace and its
outworks, four hundred yards distant, and soon produced a visible
sensation. Meanwhile, to re-enforce the position, the tit'th,
Major Scott and Blanchard's volunteers, had been passed fi'oiu
the iirst heights, and reached the second in time to participate
in the operations against the palace.

OK. TICK IIOKDKK WAKH OF TWO (TKN-HTKIRM.

468

with anuH in
it ttoverinj? till
the hill liulu-

oriiiinj? ]mrtie«,
), ami A, (tliinl
nfrtiitry, (A, H.
Texan ritleinoii,
t])tain of ritlt'rtK
li at thri'i', oon-
ft, military, mid
'ttVore(i hy the
ithi" about one
iiinong tlu' clefts
netl the pnvious
k. The eiieinyV
iirnetl until Col.
ithin a few yards
»triictive tire, tol-
di of the Texans,
iiion hrtviiiv; 1)W'"
)e iniide u)>on the
without artillery,

^as ordered from
;zer, and in t^^'<^
er Tapt. Sanders,
n<r the route least
r had his f,'inis in
ru<'<ijed as feteep,
wo 1 lours. A tire
r, covered by the
le palace and its
.produced a visible
,osition, the tifth,
been passed imn
;ime to participate

** After many affairb of lif^lit tro<»p8 and euvoral tbintfi, a
heavy itortiu wan made, HUHtuined hy a Htron^ uorpH of cavalry,
with dvHperato ruHolution, to repoHttvHH tliu heiglits. Such a
move had been anticipated and prepared for. Liuut.CoK
ChildK hud advanced under cover, two eonipanies of li^flit
troopH under tlie command of Oapt. Vinton, acting major, an<l
jiKliciouKly <lrawn up the main body oi' \m command, tlanked
«'U the right by llayH, and left by WulkerV TexaiiH. The
tMieujy advanced bohlly, wan rcpulHcd by one general diseliargo
ti\»iu all arniH, lied in confuHion, cloHcly preisHcd by ('hihlH ami
lliiys, preceded by the light troopH under Vinton; and while
thty tied })a8t, our troops entered the palace and fort. In a
tew Mi(»ments the unpretending flag of our union had replaced
tlic gaudy standard of Mexico. The captured gnna — one six-
inch liovvitzer, one twelve, and two nine-pounder brass guns,
to^'ctlier with Duncan's an<l Mackall's tield-batteries, vvliich
laine up at a galloj), were in full and ettcctive play upon the
retiring and confused masses tliat tilled the street (of which
we had the prolongation) leading to the nearest plaza. La
Vapella, also crowded with troo])S. At this moment the
enemy's loss was heavy. The investment was now complete.
Ex('e])t tlie forces necessary to hold the positions on In<le])en-
dencia and serve the guns (shifted to points wliere the shot
(uuld be made to readi the great plaza), the division was now
concentrated around the palace, and preparation made to
iissiinlt the city on the following day, or sooner, should tlie
genoral-in-chief either so direct, or, before communication be
had, renew the assaidt from the opposite quarter, in the mean
time attention was directed to every provision our circum-
stances permitted, to alleviate the condition of our wounded
soldiers and otiicers; to the decent interment of the dead, not
(iniitting in either respect all that was due to those of the
enemy.

"About ten A. M., on the twenty-third, a heavy tire was
heard in the opposite quarter. Its magnitude and ct>ntiuu-
ance, as well as other circumstances, did not permit a doubt
that the general was conducting a main attack; and that l.'is
orders for my co-operation (having to travel a circuit of some

454

covqtmn or micxioo:

■ix miles) hnd iiiiHcarriocl or failed to roach mo, hy mcnni of
the numuruuH cavalry of tho otunny. IJndor thuMO conviutioni,
the troopH wuro ingtantly ordered to conimonce an operation,
which, if not otherwiHo directed, I hud doHJf^ntHl to cxccuto in
part, iindor favor of tho night. Two coluinnH of attack woro
organized, to move along the two principal gtntots, leadiiijii;
from our poHition, in direction of tho great plaza, compuHcd
of light troopH HJightly extended, with orders to maj«k tho
men whenever practit^ahle, avoid thoso points swept by tlio
cnemy'H artillory, to press on to tho fir«t plaza, (^apella, to got
hold of tho endtt of streets beyond, then enter tho buiidjjigg,
and by meatiH of picks and bars break through tho longitu-
dinal section of the walls, work from house to houac, and
nsecnding the roofs, to place themselves on the same brcaHt-
height with the enemy. Light artillery by sections and pieces,
utider Duncan, Roland, Mackall, Martin, Hays, Irons, C>larkc,
and (1urd, followed at suitable intervals, covered by reaorves to
guard the pieces and the whole operation against tho prohublo
enterprises of cavalry upon our left. This was eftectually done
bv seizing and commanding tho head of every cross Htrcet.
The streets were, at different and well-chosen points, barri-
caded by heavy masonry walls, with embrasures for one or
more guns, and. in every instance well supported by cross bat-
teries. These arrangements of defense gave to our operations
at this moment a complicated character, demanding njiicli care
and precaution; but the work went on steadily, Hlmultanc-
ously, and successfully. About the time our assault coin-
inenced, the lire ceased from our force in tho opposite quarter.
Disengaged on the one side, tho enemy was enaulod to flliit\
men and guns to our quarter, as was soon manifested by accu-
mulation of tire. At dark we had worked through tho walls
and squares, an*d reached to within one block of the great
plaza, leaving a covered way in our rear — carried a largo build-
ing which towered over the principal defenses, and during the
night and ensuing morning, crowned its roof with two howit-
zers and a six-pounder. All things were now prepared to
renew tho assault at dawn of day, when a flag was sent out,

OR, T1IR mmnKR warm or two mcirrtrRini.

4RR

Mking a inoiiu'iitary HiiHpiMiHion of tii*o, which led to tho uupi<
tiilution upun teriiiM ho hoiiorulilu to our nniii.

*' Ah tho cohnntiH of attuck wcru moving from tho pnhiue
hill, Major Muiiroc, cliiff of iirtiliery, rnichcd me with a ton-
inch mortar, whicli wuh immcdiiitoly udvuiici'd to tho plu/u,
ehapcl, put ill pohitioii maHkud hy tho church wiill, \U bod
adjiiHtt'd HH rupidly U8 poHHihh', and i)y MUiiHot opvnod upon the
gi'fut H(|uaro. At thiM peri(Ml, our troopH had workod to with*
in on«j H(|uaro of tho phi/a; tho oxact poHition of our cornradoM,
on tho opposito sidu, wan not known, and tlio distaiico of tho
[xmition to ho aHHaih'd by tlio hoint) hattory, hut i-oiiji>ct\iring
('i^ht liundrod }ardH waH asHumod, and tho tu/.o and char^o
ri'^'ulatcd accordingly; tho Hrnt Hhell foil a littlo nhort of tho
point on wiiich it waH directed, and hoMi<lo our troopa; a nli^ht
increutfO of the j)rojoctinj^ chrtr^o pravo oxact roHultH. Tho
wliolo Rcrvico waa managed hy Major Munroe, most admira-
bly, and, combined with other oporationH, cxorcihcd a deci(h>d
iiithienco ti])on tiio tituil roHultH, Early on tho morning of tho
twcnty-tinrd, Major Brown's artillery battallion waw des-
{mtclicd with a Molect eomnumd, and one Hoction of Mackairs
battery, under Lieut. Irons, to occupy tho Htom; mill and
mljucent grounds, coiistitutinji;, one league in advance, the
iiiirrosv gorge near St. C/atariiui. The major took poBsession,
repulsed tho enemy's pickets, and was preparing his eomnumd
to resist any attack, when lie received my ordt^rs to retrace his
stops, enter the city, and form the main reserve to the iissault-
iii<i; columns. Jle came up in good time and in good order,
iind was at once under fire.

"On the twenty-tifth, in conformity to tho articles of capit-
ulati(»n, tho citadel M'as taken possession of by a eomnumd
consisting of two comj)anics of each regiment, and one section
of each battery, second division. Gen. Smith was directed
to tiike command of this corps, and conduct tho ceremony;
wliich duty lie executed with delicacy to the unliappy and
huiniliated foe.

Let us now read Gen. Taylor's account of his operations in
co-operation with tho division under Gen. Worth:

"Early on tho morning of tho twenty -first, I received a note

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

(./

^^.

^^1.

/.A

^#-^

1.0

1.1

1.25

lii|2I |2..'.

>^ lU 12.2

9%^ J^f

Hiotographic

Sciences

Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

}

450

ooNQUKfiT or MEXIOO:

from Gen. Worth, written at lialf-past nine o'clock tie night
before, suggesting what I had already intended, a strong divur-
Bioii against the center and left of the town, to favor his enter-
prise tigainst the heights in the rear. Tiie infantry and artil-
ler;y of the first division, and the field division of volunteers,
wtre ordered under arms, and took the direction of the city,
leaving one company of each regiment as a camp guard. Tlie
second dragoons, under Lieut.-Col. May, and Col. Wood's reg-
iment of Texas mounted volunteore, under the immediate
direction of Gen. Henderson, were directed to the right to
support Gen. Worth, if necessary, and to make an impression,
if practicable, upon the upper quarter of the city. Upon
approaching the mortar battery, the first and third regiments
of infantry, and battalion of Baltimore and Washington vol-
unteers, with Capt. Bragg's field battery — the whole under
the command of Lieut.-Col. Garland — were directed towards
the lower part of the town, with orders to make a strong
demonstration, and carry one of the enemy's advanced works,
if it could bo done without too heavy loss. Major Mansfield,
Engineere, and Capt. Williams and Lieut. Pope, Topographi-
cal Engineer, accompanied this column. Major Mansfield
being charged with its direction, and the designation of points
of attack.

" In the meantime, the mortar, served by Capt. Ramsay, of
the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under Capt. Webster,
first artillery, had opened their fire upon the citadel, which was
deliberately sustained, and answered from the work. Gen.
Butler's division had now taken np a position in the rear of
this battery, when the discharges of artillery, mingled finally
with a rapid fire of small arms, showed that Lieut.-Col. Gar-
land's command had become warmly engaged. I now deemed
it necessary to support this attack, and accordingly; ordered
the fourth infanti*y, and three regiment's of Gen. Butler's
division, to march at once, by the left flank, in the direction of
the advanced work at the lower extremity of the town, leaving-
one regiment (first Kentucky) to cover the mortar and hovvit-
zer battery. By some mistake, two companies of the fourth

OR, THE BORDER WAR8 OF TWO 0BNTURIB8.

46T

infantry did not receive thia order, and, consequently, did not
join the advance companies until some time afterwards.

'^ Lieut.-Col. Garland's cuinmund had approached the town
in a direction to the right of the advanced work (No. 1,) at tlie
noi'theastern angle of the city, alid the engineer officer, covered
by skii'mishers, had succeeded in entering the suburbs and
gaining cover. The remainder of this command now advanced
and entered the town under a heavy lire of artillery from the
citadel and the works on the left, and of musketry from the
houses and small works in front. A movement to the right
was attempted, with a view to gain the rear of No. 1, and carry
that work, but the troops were so much exposed to a fire which
they could not efiTectually return, and had already sustained
such severe loss, particularly in officers, that it was deemed
best to withdraw them to a more secure position. Gapt.
Backus, first infantry, however, with a portion of his own and
other companies, had gained the roof of a tannery, which
looked directly into the gorge of No. 1, and from which he
poured a most destructive fire into that work and upon the
strong building in its rear. This fire happily coincided in
point of time with the advance of a portion of the volunteer
division upon No. 1, and contributed largely to the fall of that
strong and important work.

" The three regiments of the volunteer division, under the
immediate command of Major-Gen. Butler, Imd, in the mean-
time, advanced in the direction of No. 1. The leading brigade,
under Brig.-Gen. Quitman, continued its advance upon that
work, preceded by three companies of the fourth infantry,
while Gen. Butler, with the first Ohio regiment, entered the
town to the right. The companies of the fourth infantry had
advanced within short range of the work, when they were
received by a fire that almost in one moment struck down one-
third of the officers and men, and rendered it necessary to
retire and effect a conjunction with the two other companies
then advancing. Gen. Quitman's brigade, though sufferings
most severely, particularly in the Tennessee regiment, con-
tinued its advance, and finally carried the work, in handsome
style, as well as the strong building in its rear. Five piecea

408

ooNQUEn' or mkxioo:

of artillory, a considerable supply of ammunition, and thirty
prisoners, including three oiticers, fell into our hands.

"Major-Gen. Butler, with the iirst Ohio regiment, after
entering the edge of the town, discovered that nothing was to
be accomplished in his front, and at this point, yielding to the
suggestions of several officers, I ordered a retrograde move-
ment; but learning almost immediately from one of my staft'
that the battery No. 1 was in our possession, the order was
o/tuntermanded, and I determined to hold the battery and
defenses already gained. Gen. Butler, with the iirst Ohio reg-
iment, then entered the town at a point further to the loft, and
marched in the direction of the battery No. 2. While making
nn examination with a view to ascertain the possibility of car-
rying this second work by s^orm, the general was wounded and
soon after compelled to quit the field. As the strength of No.
2, and the heavy musketry fire fianking the approach, rendered
it impossible to carry it without great loss, the first Ohio rcgi-
mnnt was withdrawn from the town.

" Fragments of the various regiments engaged were now
under cover of the captured battery and some buildings in its
front, and on the right. The field battery of Gapts. Bragg and
liidgely was also partially covered by the battery. An inccs-
SHnt fire was kept on this position from battery No. 2, and
other works on its right, and from the citadel on all our
approaches. Gen. Twiggs, though quite unwell, joined me at
this point, and was instrumental in causing the artillery cap-
tured from the enemy to be placed in battery, and served by
Capt. Ridgely, against No. 2, until the arrival of Capt. Web-
ster's howitzer battery, which took its place. In the meantime,
I directed such men as could be collected of the first, third and
fourth regiments and Baltimore battalion, to enter the town,
penetrate to the right, and carry the second battery if possible.
This command, under Lieut.-Col. Garland, advanced beyond
the bridge ' Purisima,' when, finding it impracticable to gain
the rear of the second battery, a portion of it sustained them-
selves for some time in that advanced position; but as no
permanent impression could be made at that point, and the
main object of the general operation had been efiected, the

OR, THB 'VnDRR WARS OF TWO CEMTURIBB.

469

fbeen effected, the

command, including a section of Capt. Ridgoly's battery,
which had joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1. During
the absence of this cohimn, a demonstration of cavalry was
reported in the direction of the citadel. Capt. Bragg, who
was at hand, immediately galloped with his battery to a suita-
ble position, from which a few discharges effectually dispersed
the enemy. Capt. Miller, first infantry, was dispatched with a
mixed command to support the battery on this service. The
enemy's lancers had previously charged upon the Ohio and
a part of the Mississippi regiments, near some fields at a dis-
tance from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed with
considerable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on the opposite
side of the river was also dispersed in the course of the after-
noon by Capt. Eidgely's battery, and the squadrons returned
to the city. At the approach of evening all the troops that had
been engaged were ordered back to the camp, except Capt.
Ridgely's battery and the regular infantry of the first division,
who wero detailed as a guard for the works during tlie night,
nndcr command of Lient.-Col. Garland. One battalion of the
first Kentucky regiment was ordered to re-enforce this com-
mand. Intrenching tools were procured, and additional
strength was given to the works, and protection to the men,
by working parties during the night, under the direction of
Lieut. Scarritt, Engineers.

" The main object proposed in the morning had been effected.
A powerful diversion had been made to favor the operations of
the second division, one of the enemy's advanced works had
been carried, and we now had a strong foothold in the town.
But this had not been accomplished without a very heavy loss,
embracing some of our most gallant and accomplished oflicers.
Capt. Williams, Topographical Engineers; Lieuts. Terrettand
Dilworth, first infantry ; Lieut. Woods, second infantry; Capts.
Morris and Field, Brevet Major Barbour, Lieuts. Irwin and
Hazlitt, third infantry; Lieut. Hoskins, fourth infantiy; Lieut-
Col. Watson, Baltimore battalion; Capt. Allen and Lieut. Put-
nam, Tennessee regiment, and Lieut. Hett, Ohio regiment,
were killed, or have since died of wounds received in this
engagement, while the number and rank of the oflicers wounded

460

00MQCE8T OF MEXICO :

gives additional proof of the obstinacy of the content, and the
good conduct of our troops. Tlie number of killed and
wounded incident to the operations in the lower part of the
city on the twenty-iirst, is three hundred and ninety-four.

" Early in the morning of this day (twenty -tirst,) the advance
of the second division had encountered the enemy in force, tiiid
after a brief, but sharp conflict, repulsed him with heavy loag.
Gen Worth then succeeded in gaining a position on the Sal-
tillo road, thus cutting off the enemy's line of communication.
From this position the two heights south of the Saltillu road
were carried in succession, and the guns taken in one of them
turned upon the Bishop's Palace. These important successes
were fortunately obtained with comparatively small lo«8: Capt.
McKavett, eighth infantry, being the only officer killed.

"The twenty-second of September passed without any active
operations in the lower part of the city. The citadel and other
works continued to fire at parties exposed to their range, and
at the work now occupied by our troops. The guard left in it
the preceding night, except Capt. Ridgely's company, was
relieved at mid -day by Gen. Quitman's brigade. Capt. Bragg's
battery was thrown under cover in front of the town, to repel
any demonstration of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of
day the height above the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon
after meridian the Palace itself was taken, and its guns turned
upon the fugitive garrison. The object for which the second
division was detached had thus been completely accomplished,
and I felt confident that with a strong force occupying the
road and heights in his rear, and a good position below the
city in our possession, the enemy could not possibly maintain
the town.

" During the night of the owenty-second the enemy evac-
uated nearly all his defenses in the lower part of the city.
This was reported to me early in the morning of the twenty-
third, by Gen. Quitman, who had already meditated an assault.
upon those works. I immediately sent instructions to that
ofticer, leaving it to his discretion to enter the city, covering
his men by the houses and walls, and advance carefully so far
as he might deem prudent.

Jit^

4 ^

OK, THE DORDKR WAm OF TWO OKNTURIRS.

461

s company, was

" After ordering the remainder of the tro<i))H as a reserve,
undur tlie orders of Brig.-Gon. Twiggs, I repaire<l to theaban«
doned works, and discovered that a portion of Gen. Quitman's
brigiide hod entered the town, and were successfully forcing
tlieir way towards the principal plaza. I then ordered up the
second regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, who entered
thu city, dismounted, and, under the immediate orders of Gen.
Henderson, co-Operated with Gen. Quitman's brigade. Capt.
Brugg'i* battery was also ordered up, supported by the third
infantry, and after firing for some time at the cathedral, a por-
tion of it was likewise thrown into the city. Our troops
advanced from house to house, and from square to square, until
they reached a street but one square in the rear of the princi-
pal plaza, in and near which the enemy's force was mainly
concentrated. This advance was conducted vigorously, but
with due caution, and although destructive to the enemy, was
attended with but small loss on our part. Capt. liidgely, in
the meantime, had served a captured piece in battery No. 1
against the city, until the advance of our men rendered it
imprudent to fire in the direction of the Cathedral. I was
uow satisfied that we could operate successfully in the city, and
that the enemy had retired from the lower portion of it to
make a stand behind his barricades. As Gen. Quitman's
brigade had been on duty the previous night, I determined to
withdraw the troops to the evacuated works, and concert with
Gen. Worth a combined attack upon the town. The troops
accordingly fell back deliberately, in good order, and resumed
their original positions. Gen. Quitman's brigade being relieved
after nightfall by that of Gen. Hamer. On my return to
camp, I met an officer with the intelligence that Gen. Worth,
induced by the firing in the lower part of the city, was about
making an attack at the upper extremity, which had also been
evacuated by the enemy to a considerable distance. I regretted
that this information had not reached me before leaving the
city, but still deemed it inexpedient to change my orders, and
accordingly returned to camp. A note from Gen. Worth,
written at eleven o'clock p. m., informed me that he had
advanced to within a short distance of the principal plaza, and

46S

ooNQuicn' or mxzioo:

that tho mortar (which had been sent to hin division in the
morning) was doini( good execution within effective range of
the enemy's position.

" Desiring to make no further attempt upon the city without
complete concert as to the lines and mode of approach, I
instructed that officer to suspend his advance until I could
have an interview with him on *.he following morning, at hii
headquarters.

" Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth I received,
through Ool. Moreno, a communication from Qen. Ampudia,
proposing to evacuate tho town; which, with the answer, were
forwarded with my first dispatch. I arranged with Col. Moreno
a cessation of fire until twelve o'clock, at which hour I would
receive the answer of the Mexican general at Gen. Worth's head-
quarters, to which I soon repaired. In the meantime. Gen.
Ampudia had signified to Gen. Worth his desire for a personal
interview with me, to which I acceded, and which finally
resulted in a capitulation, placing the town and the materials
of war, with certain exceptions, in our possession. A copy of
that capitulation was transmitted with my first dispatch.

"Upon occupying the city it was found to be of great
strength in itself, and to have its approaches carefully and
strongly fortified. The town and works were anued with forty-
two pieces of cannon, well supplied with ammunition, and
manned with a force of at least seven thousand troops of the
line, and from two to three thousand irregulars. The force
under my orders before Monterey, as exhibited by the accom-
panying return, was four hundred and twenty-five ofiicers, and
six thousand two hundred and twenty men. Our artillery
consisted of one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four pounder
howitzer's, and four light field batteries of four guns each—
the mortar being the only piece suitable to the operations of a
siege.

" Our loss is twelve ofiicers and one hundred and eight men
killed; thirty-one officers and three hundred and thirty-seven
men wounded. That of the enemy is not known, but is believed
considerably to exceed our own.

** I take pleasure in bringing to the notice of the govern-

OB, Tni OOBDKH WAKN or TWU ('iCN'riIKIICB.

468

division in the
footive range of

the city without

of approach, I

;e until I could

morning, at hit

arth I received,
Gen. Ampudia,
the answer, were
vith Col. Moreno
ch hour I would
BD. Worth's head-
meantime. Gen.
jire for a personal
id which finally
md the materials
sion. A copy of
'st dispatch.
I to be of great
les carefully and
janiied with forty-
ammunition, and
knd troops of the
[ulars. The force
id by the accom-
•five officers, and
. Our artillery
nty-four pounder
four guns each—
le operations of a

^d and eight men

and thirty-seven

m, but is believed

of the govern-

ment the good conduct of the troops, both regulars and
volunteera, which has been conspicuous throughout the opera-
tions. I am proud to bear testimony to their coolness and
constancy in battle, and the cheerfulness with which they iiave
submitted to exposure and privation. To the general officers
commanding divisions — Maj.-Geiis. Butler and Henderson, and
Brig. Gens. Twiggs and Worth — I must exprens my obligations
for the efficient aid which they have rendered in their respective
commands."

Tlie following sketch of a portion of the engagement, fVom
the pen of an officer in a Baltimore battalion, who participated
in the hottest of the fight, will give the reader some idea of
the sufferings endured, and gallantry evinced by many of tho
companies:

*' I saw Col. Watson shouting, but as to hearing a command,
that was an impossibility, owing to tho deafening roar of the
cannon and musketry. I saw the head of our line changing
its direction, and I knew at onco that tho point of attack was
changed, and ran to the head of my company to intercept the
head of the column. I reached it just as Col. Watson was
dismounting from his horse, which the next moment fell from
a shot. The colonel cried out to tho men, ' Shelter yourselves,
men, the best way you can.' At this time, the battalion was
scattered over a space of about an acre, and the men were lyir^>
do^vn, the shot in most instances flying over our heads ; but
the guns were soon depressed and the shot began to take effect.
" I was lying close to Col. Watson, alongside of a hedge,
when he jumped up and cried out, ' Now is the time, boys,
follow rael ' We were now in a street, or lane, with a few
houses on either sido, and within a hundred yards of three bat-
teries which completely raked it, in addition to which, two
twelve-pound guns were T>1anted in tho castle on tho right, and
completely enfiladed the whole distance we had to make. Add
to this the thousand musketeers on the house-tops, and in the
barricades at the head of the street up which we advanced, and
at every cross street, and you may form some idea of the deluge
of balls that poured upon us. (Bear in mind that the four
companies of regulars were now with us, the one intermingled

464

tx)ii<iuiarr or mbzkx):

K -'-^

tilt j^: :.v

'a.

with the other.) Onward we wont, men and horMw 'riUlnfj^ at
ovory Ht«|>. Cheers, shrieka, gnmnH and wordi of command
added to the din, whiUt tlie roar of the guni was abitohituly
deafening.

" We had advanced up tlie itreot under this awful and fatal
fire nearly two hundred yards, when we reached a cross struct,
at the corner of which all those who had succeedtnl in getting
this far halted, as if by mutual consent. I was shaking Col.
Watson hy the hand, while he was complimenting me, wlioti a
sliower of grape, round and canister shot came from the corner
above, andjfi'f^ officers fell, and I know not how many privates.
Each man sought some place of apparent shelter.

" I sat down on the ground, with my back to the wall of a
house. On my loft were two men torn nearly to pieces. One
of them was lying Hat on his back, with his legs extdt <liiif(
farther in the street than mine. Crash came another tdiower
of grape, which tore one of his wounded legs off. He reared
up, shrieked, and fell back a corpse. I never moved, for I was
satisfied that one place was as safe as another. Directly oppo-
site to me was my Brevet Second-Lieutenant Aisquith; on the
right hand corner was Lieut. Bowie, also of my company; and
close to me sat Col. Watson and Adjutant Schooler. In a
few minutes I saw our color sergeant, old Hart, come past
with his right arm shattered, and in a few minutes there came
our battalion flag, borne by one of the color guards — our }f\o-
rious stars and stripes — and note this, that it was thu first
American flag in the city of. Monterey, an honor which we
know belongs to our battalion.

" No man there ever thought for a moment that he would
get out alive, and most of them did not. The firing still con-
tinued without the slightest intermission, whilst we remained
at this memorable corner, which was perhaps for fifteen minutes.
When we were ordered to charge up the street, a slight hesi-
tation was manifested by both regulars and volunteers, but the
officers sprang to the front in double file. We advanced, I
suppose, about fifty "yards, when Col. Garland, of tlio army,
ordered us to retire. We still advanced, and he again ordered
lis to retire, adding this time in good order. I now became

K' :-::'rs,:

OR, TIIK BOIIDKll WAM OF TWO OKMTDKim

465

)one« Mling at

ds of command

WM ftbHoliituly

iiwtul and tatnl
u(l a oroM «truct,
;eedu<l in gutting
M Hhaking ('ol.
itlng me, when a
e from the corner
»w many privates.
Iter.

to tlie wall of a
y to piece*. One
IB leg» extdiding
5 anotlier »liower
^ off. He reared
r moved, for I was
Directly oppo-

Ai8(iuith; on the
my company; and
,t Sclioeler. In a

Hart, come past
inutea there came

gnards — onr f,'lo-
it was the tirst

honor which we

ent that he would

le firing Htill con-

lilst we remained

or fifteen mi ntites.

reet, a slight hesi-

rohinteors, but the

We advanced, I
and, of tlio army,

he again ordered
r. I now became

i«p*rAted fW>m Col. Wataon, and never mw him again. He
took the left hand aide of the atroet and I the right hand,
and when I reache<l the open field whore he had flnit ordered
111 to lie down, I was joined by Lieut. Alaqulth, who, to my
inquiry, aniwered that he had juat loft the colonel, and aup.
poaed that he would aoon be with ua. Seeing no other ofBtter
around me, 1 rallied tlie batUlion, and led them down to make
another attack upon the fort.**
80

,-%

CUAPTKU LIX.

Obnnhai. Tatixir at Montrrrt — Bai.tim/) Takrn — Omn. Santa
Anna — VicroHiA Takrh — liJcoTT BuriRORURi Tatluh — Tim Bat-
TLR or Burma V»ta.

Gknrkai. Tatix)u now eAtablished hii hoadqtmrtora At Mont«-
ray. HediiipRtelied Geii. Worth with twelve hundred nuui and
eight pieces of artillery against Saltillo, of which he took pot-
session without the slightest opposition. Hero he reinainul until
the middle of January, when he was orderad to proceed with
the regulars and volunteers of the army to join Oon. S<;utt at
Vera Cruz.

13rif;.-0en. Wool was sent against Parras with a detaclimont
of twonty-four hundred men. Meanwhile a revolution at the
capital of Mexico had placed Oen. Santa Anna at the head of
Mexican affairs. He did not accept the Presidential chair, hut
placed himself at the head of the army, and commenced extrav-
agant preparations for raising and equipping a force sufHciont
to arrest the progress of Gen. Taylor. The United States
government was alarmed at the appearance of his movements,
and orderad Taylor to terminate the armistice which had been
granted. Receiving this information, he marched a force to
Victoria, and entered that place without opposition. At this
time Maj.-Gen. Scott had been appointed to supercede Taylor
in the command of the army in Mexico, and finding his force
insufficient to attack Vera Oruz, the first object of his cam-
paign, he made a heavy draft on Taylor's army. In obedience
to this demand nearly all the regular troops, comprising the
divisions of Gens. Worth and Patterson, the brigades of
Quintam and Twiggs, and all the other corps that could be
drawn from the Rio Grande, started out for Vera Oruz. Five
hundred regulars and four thousand newly arrived volunteers

(466)

OR, Till nORDRR WARA OF TWO CRNTITRrail.

467

ATum-TiiK Bat.

uartori nt Monte-
liundrod um\ and
Inch he took \)0*-
Uoremain«l"»til
[ to proceed with
join Qon. Scott at

with a detachment
, revolution at the
na at the head of
kidential chair, l)ut
ommenced extrav-
f a force autHcient
'lie United States
jf iiis movementa,
Ice which had been
larched a force to
►OBition. At this
supercede Taylor
J finding his force
lobject of his cam-
my. In obedience
ps, comprising the
, the brigades of
>rp8 that could be
VeraOruz. Five
arrived volunteerB

wore all that romaliiod with (^on. Taylor. A» »oon aa the troopt
d<<pArto<i to join Scott, Taylor rotirtxl to Monterey, whore ho
remained until informed that ilicn. Santa Anna was approach'
Ing. He then tot out for Agua Nueva, which ii alMmt twenty
mild louth of Saltillo. At thia point ho remained until the
twunty-flmt of February, when, being informed that the Mexi-
can! were approaching in great force, he retired to *' the defile
called Ango.4tura, which fni«a the hacienda of Huona Viata."
In this itrong poHition ho }K)stcd hii little army of five
thousand, and awaited the approach of twenty thousand Mex-
icans. On the twenty-second of February the Mexican army
blackened the distant hills, and Taylor's men beheld their
approach. *' It was a glorious spectacle," says an able writer,
"and even those who had never faced an enemy felt their
bosoms bounding with courage and onthusiaHm as the glitter-
ing masses of Santa Anna's cavalry poured down into the
plains below. All fear was flung to the winds; silently and
stornly that little band gathered around its leader and awaited
the fearful shock."

The American army was drawn up nearly at right angles to
the road, its chief force being on the east side. This force con-
stituted the loft wing, and faced the south; a battery of light
artillery occupied the road, and the right wing rested on the
hill west of it. On the twenty-first a flag approached Gen.
Taylor's headquarters, and the latter was treated with the
following communication, from Qen. Santa Anna:

" You are surrounded by twenty thousand men, and cannot,
in any human probability, avoid sufiering a rout and being cut
to pieces with your troops; but as you deserve consideration
and particular esteem, I wish to save you from a catastrophe,
and for that purpose give you this notice in order that yon
may surrender at discretion, under the assurance that you will
be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican
character; to which end you will be granted an hour's time to
make up your mind, to commence from the moment when my
of truce arrives in your camp."
Oen. Taylor refused to surrender, and the celebrated battle

468

CONQUKSY OF MEXICO:

of Buena Vista followed, the general's own account of which
is as follows:

" The information which reached me of the advance and
concentration of a heavy Mexican force in my front, had
assumed such a probable form as to induce a special examina-
tion far beyond the reach cf our pickets, to ascertain its
correctness. A small party of Texan spies, under Maj. Mc-
Culloch, dispatched to the hacienda of Encarnacion, thirty miles
from this, on the route to San Luis Potosi, had reported a cav-
alry force of unknown strength at that place. On the twentieth
of February a strong reconnoissance under Lieut.-Col. May was
dispatched to the hacienda of Heclionda, while Maj. McCul-
lough made another examination of Encarnacion. The result
of these expeditions lei't no doubt that the enemy was in large
force at Encarnacion, under the orders of Gen. Santa Anna,
and that he meditated a forward movement and attack upon
our position.

" As the camp at Agna Nueva could be turned on either
flank, and as the enemy's force was greatly superior to our own,
particularly in the arm of cavalry, I determined, after much
consideration, to *&ke up a position about eleven miles in rear,
and there await the attack. The army broke up its camp and
marched at noon on the twenty-iirst, encamping at the new
position a little in front of the hacienda of Buena Vista. With
a small force I proceeded to Saltillo to make some necessary
arrangements for the defense of the town, leaving Brig. Gen.
Wool in the immediate command of the troops.

" Before those arrangements were completed, on the morning
of the twenty-second, I was advised that the enemy was in
sight, advancing. Upon reaching the ground it' was found
that his cavalry advance was in our front, having marched
from Encarnacion, as we have since learned, at eleven o'clock
on the day previous, and driving in a mounted force left at
Agua Nueva to cover the removal of public stores. Our troops
were in position, occupying a line of remarkable strength.
The road at this point becomes a narrow defile, the valley on
its right being rendered quite impracticable for artillery by a
system of deep and impassible gullies, while on the left a sue-

OR, THK ItORDRR WARS OF TWO 0KNTURIK8.

409

5ount or which

cession of rugged ridges and precipitous ravines extend far
back toward the mountain which bounds the valley. The
features of the ground were such as nearly to paralyze tlie
artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while his infantry could not
derive all the advantages of its numerical superiority. In this
position we prepared to receive him. Oapt. Washington's bat
tery (Fourth artillery) was posted to command the road, while
tlie First and Second Illinois regiments, under Cols. Hardin and
Bissell, each eight companies (to the latter of which was
attached Capt. Conner's company of Texas volunteers), and
the Second Kentucky, under Col. McKee, occupied the crests
of the ridges on the left and in the rear. The Arkansas and
Kentucky regiments of cavalry, commanded by Cols. Yell and
H. Marshall, occupied the extreme left near the base of the
mountain, while the Indiana brigade, under Brig.-Gen. Lane,
(composed of the Second and Third regiments, under Cols.
Bowles and Lane), the Mississippi riflemen, under Col. Davis,
the squadrons of the First and Second dragoons, under Capt.
Steen, and I ^eut.-Col. May, and the light batteries of Captains
Sherman »nd Bragg, Third artillery, were held in reserve.

" At eleven o'clock I received from Gen. Santa Anna a sum-
mons to surrender at discretion, which, with a copy of my
reply, I have already transmitted. The enemy still forbore his
attack, evidently waiting for the arrival of his rear columns,
which could be distinctly seen by our look-outs as they
approached the field. A demonstration made on his left
caused me to detach the second Kentucky regiment and a sec-
tion of artillery to our right, in which position they bivouacked
for the night. In the meantime, the Mexican light troops had
engaged ours on the extreme left (composed of parts of the
Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry dismounted, and a rifle battal-
ion from the Indiana brigade, under Major Gorman, the whole
commanded by Col. Marshall,) and kept up a sharp fire, climb-
ing the mountain side, and apparently endeavoring to gain our
flank. Three pieces of Capt. Washington's battery had been
detached to the left, and were supported by the second Indiana
regiment. An occasional shell was thrown by the enemy into
tins part of our line, but without eflfect. The skirmishing of

I'''

I I

470

00NQDE8T OF MKXICO:

the light troops was kept np with trifling Iobs on our part until
dark, when I became convinced that no serious attack would
be made before the morning, and returned, with the Missis-
sippi regiment and squadron of second dragoons, to Saltiilo.
The troops bivouacked without fires, and laid upon their arms.
A body of cavalry, some fifteen hundred strong, had been vis-
ible all day in rear of the town, having entered the valley
through a narrow pass east of the city. This cavalry, com-
manded by Gen. Minon, had evidently been thrown in our rear
to break up and harass our retreat, and perhaps make some
attempt against the town if practicable. The city was occupied
by four excellent companies of Illinois volunteers, under Major
Warren of the first regiment. A field work, which commanded
most of the approaches, was garrisoned by Capt. Webster's
company, first artillery, and armed with <;wo 24-pound howit-
zers, while the train and headquarter camp was guarded by two
companies of Mississippi riflemen, under Capt. Eogers, and a
field piece commanded by Capt. Shover, third artillery. Hav-
ing made these dispositions for the protection of the rear, I
proceeded on tl\e morning of the twenty-third to Buena Vista,
ordering forward all the other available troops. The action
had commenced before my arrival on the field.

" During the evening and night of the twenty-second the
enemy had thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side,
with the purpose of outflanking our left; and it was here that
the action of the twenty-third commenced at an early houn
Our riflemen, under Col. Marshall, who had been re-enforced by
three companies under Major Trail, second Illinois volunteers^
maintained their ground handsomely against a greatly supe-
rior force, holding themselves under cover, and using their
weapons with deadly eflfect. About eight o'clock a strong
demonstration was made against the center of our position, a
heavy column moving along the road. This force was soon
dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from Capt.
Washington's battery. In the meantime the enemy was con-
centrating a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover of
the ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing our left,
which was posted on an extensive plateau. The second Indi-

OR, THE BORDKR WARfl OF TWO OENTURIKB.

*71

[1 our part until
B attack would
th tl.e Missis-
ons, to Saltillo.
pon their arms.
^, had been vis-
ered the valley
[8 cavalry, com-
rown in our rear
laps make some
ity was occupied
ers, under Major
hich commanded
Capt. Webeter'a
24-pound howit-
,8 guarded by two
pt. Rogers, and a
I artillery. Hav-
|on of the rear, I
to Buena Vista,
)op8. The action

wenty-second the
le mountain side,
1 it was here that
at an early hour,
sen re-enforced by
inois volunteers,
a greatly supe-
and using their
o'clock a strong
of our position, a
.8 force was soon
shots from Capt.
) enemy was con-
iry under cover of
forcing our left,
The second Indi-

ana and second Illinois regiments formed this part of our line,
the former covering three pieces of light artil.ery, unaer the
orders of Oapt. O'Brien — Brig.-Gen. Lane being in the imme-
diate command. In order to bring his men v/ithin effective
range. Gen. Lane ordered the artillery and second Indiana
regiment forward. The artillery advanced within musket
range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, and was served
against it with great effect, but without being able to check its
advance. The infantry ordered to its support had fallen back
in disorder, being exposed, as well as the battery, not only to
a severe fire of small arms from the front, but also to a mur-
derous cross-fire of grape and canister from a Mexican battery
on the left. Capt. O'Brien found it impossible to retain his
position without support, but was only able to withdraw two
of his pieces, all the horses and cannoneers of the third piece
being killed or disabled. The second Indiana regiment, wliich
had fallen back as stated, could not be rallied, and took no
farther part in the action, except a handful of men, who, under
its gallant colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment,
and did good service, and those fugitives who, at a later period
in the day, assisted in defending the train and depdt at Buena
Vista. This portion of our line having given way, and the
enemy appearing in overwhelming force against our left fiank,
the light troops which had rendered such good service on the
mountain were compelled to withdraw, which they did, for the
most part, in good order. Many, however, were not rallied
nntil they reached the depdt at Buena Vista, to the defense of
which they afterward contributed.

" Col. Bissell's regiment (second Illinois,) which had been
joined by a section of Capt. Sherman's battery, had become
completely outflanked, and was compelled to fall back, being
entirely unsupported. The enemy was now pouring masses of
infantry and cavalry along the base of the mountain on our
left, and was gaining our rear in great force. At this moment
I arrived upon the field. The Mississippi regiment had been
directed to the left before reaching the position, and immedi-
ately came into action against the Mexican infantry which had
turned our flank. The second Kentucky regiment and a sec-

172

OOMQUEBT or MEXICO:

tion of artillery under Capt. Bragg, had previously been
ordered from the right to ro-enforce our left, and arrived at a
most opportune moment. That regiment, and a portion of the
first Illinois, under Col. Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy,
and recovered a portion of the ground we had lost. The bat-
teries of Gapts. Sherman and Bragg were in a position on the
plateau, and did much execution, not only in front, but partic-
ularly upon the masses which had gained our rear. Discover-
ing that the enemy was heavily pressing upon the Mississippi
regiment, the third Indiana regiment, under Col. Lane, waa
dispatched to strengthen that part of our lino, which formed a
crotchet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At the same
time Lieut. Kilburn, with a piece of Capt. Bragg's battery,
was directed to support the infantry there engaged. Tlie
action was for a long time warmly sustained at that point —
the enemy making several efforts both with infantry and cav-
alry against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy
loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry and Capt. Pike's
squadron of Arkansas horse under the orders of Brevet Lieut.-
Col. May, with directions to hold in check the enemy's column,
still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain,
which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky and Arkan-
sas cavalry under Cols. Marshall and Yell.

" In the meantime our left, which was still strongly threat-
ened by a superior force, was farther strengthened by the
detachment of Capt. Bragg's and a portion of Capt. Sherman's
batteries to that quarter. The concentration of artillery fire
upon the masses of the enemy along the base of the mountain,
and the determined resistance offered by the two regiments
opposed to them, had created confusion in their ranks, and
some of the corps attempted to effect a retreat upon the main
line of battle. The squadron of the first dragoons, under
Lieut. Rucker, was now ordered up the deep ravine which these
retreating corps were endeavoring to cross, in order to charge
and disperse them. The squadron proceeded to the point
indicated, but could not accomplish the object, being exposed
to a heavy fire from a battery established to cover the retreat
of those corps. While the squadron was detached on this

OB, TUE BORDER WARS OF TVfO GENTURIEB.

478

)reviou8ly been
nd arrived at a
a portion of the
ove the enemy,

lost. The bat-

poaition on tlie

;ront, but partic-

rear. Discover-

1 the Mississippi

Col. Lane, was
, which formed a
le. At the same
Bragg's battery,

engaged. The

at that point—
infantry and cav-
ulsed with heavy
ind Capt. Pike's
of Brevet Lieut.-

enemy's colunni,
)f the mountain,
ueky and Arkan-

strongly threat-
igthened by the
t Capt. Sherman's
n of artillery lire
of the mountain,
le two regiments
their ranks, and
at upon the main

dragoons, under
•avine which tliese
n order to charge
led to the point
set, being exposed

cover the retreat
detached on this

service, a large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate
on our extreme left, apparently with a view of making a
descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our train
and baggage were deposited. Lieut.-Col. May was ordered to
the support of that point, with two pieces of Capt. Sherman's
battery under Lieut. Beynolds. In the meantime, the scat-
tered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of Majors
Trail and Gorman's commands, had been to some extent organ-
ized under the advice of Major Monroe, chief of artillery, with
the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff, and were
posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached
the hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack; having
been handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry
under Cols. Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column imme-
diately divided, one portion sweeping by the dep6t, where it
received a destructive iire from the force which had collected
there, and then gaining the mountain opposite, under a fire
from Lieut. Reynolds' section, the remaining portion regaining
the base of the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena
Vista, Col. Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; we
also lost adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry — a young
officer of much promise. Lieut.-Col. May, who had been
rejoined by the squadron of the first dragoons and by portions
of the Arkansas and Indiana troops, under Lieut.-Col. Eoane
and Major Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain,
holding in check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose
masses, crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artil-
lery was doing fearful execution.

"The position of that portion of the Mexican army which
had gained our rear was now very critical, and it seemed
doubtful whether it could regain the main body. At this
moment I received from Gen. Santa Anna a message by a staff
officer, desiring to know what I wanted? I immediately des-
patched Brig.- Gen. Wool to the Mexican general-in-chief, and
sent orders to cease firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines
Gen. Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their fire, and
accordingly returned without having an interview. The
extreme right of the enemy continued its retreat along the

474

ooivQuser or mexioo:

base of the mountain, and finally, in spite of all our efibrts^
effected a junction with the remainder of the army.

" During the day, the cavalry of Gen. Minon had ascended
the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from
the city to the field of battle, where they intercepted several
of our men. Approaching the town, they were fired upon by
Gapt. Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company,
and then moved off towards the eastern side of the valley, and
obliquely towards Buena Vista. At this time, Gapt. Sbover
moved rapidly forward with his piece, supported by a miscel-
laneous command of mounted volunteers, and fired several
shots at the cavalry with great effect. They were driven into
the ravines which lead to the lower valley, closely pursued by
Gapt. Shover, who was farther supported by a piece of Capt.
Webster's battery, under Lieut. Donaldson, which had
advanced from the redoubt, supported by Gapt. Wheeler's
company of Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or two
efforts to charge the artillery, but was finally driven back in a
confused mass, and did not again appear upon the plain.

'' In the meantime, the firing had partially ceased upon tlie
principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his eflbrts to
the protection of his artillery, and I had left the plateau for a
moment, when I was recalled thither by a very heavy musketry
fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that our infantry
(Illinois and second Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior
force of the enemy — evidently his reserve — and that they had
been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most criti-
cal. Gapt. O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this
heavy charge to the last, and was finally obliged to leave his
guns on the field — his infantry support being entirely routed,
Capt. Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was ordered
at once into battery. Without any infantry to support him,
and at the imminent risk of losing his guns, this ofiicer came
rapidly into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards
from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of canister
caused the enemy to hesitate, the second and third drove him
back in disorder, and saved the day. The second Kentucky
regiment, which had advanced beyond supporting distance in

OR, T1IE BORDBR WARS OF TWO CENTURIK8.

475

this affair, was driven back and closely pressed by the enemy's
cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Oapt.
Washington's battery, their pursuers became exposed to his
fire, which soon checked and drove them back with loss. In
the meantime the rest of our artillery had taken position on
the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and third Indiana
regiments, the former of which had reached the ground in
time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and thus
contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict we had the
misfortune to sustain a very heavy loss. Cul. Hardin, first
Illinois, and Col. McKee and Lieut.-Col. Clay, second Ken-
tucky regiment, f(^ll at this time while gallantly leading their
commands.

" No farther attempt was made by the enemy to force our
position, and the approach of night gave an opportunity to
pay proper attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the
soldiers, who had been exhausted by incessant watchfulness
and combat. Though the night was severely cold, the troops
were compelled for the most to bivouac without fires, expect-
ing that morning would renew the conflict. During the night
the wounded were removed to Saltillo, and every prepartion
made to receive the enemy, should he again attack our position.
Seven fresh companies were drawn from the town, and Brig.-
Gen. Marshall, with a re-wiforcement of Kentucky cavalry and
four heavy guns, under Capt. Prentiss, first artillery, was near
at hand, when it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned
his position during the night. Our scouts soon ascertained
that he had fallen back upon Agua Nueva. The great dis-
parity of numbers, and the exhaustion of our troops, rendered
it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pursuit. A staff
officer was dispatched to Gen. Santa Anna to negotiate an
exchange of prisoners, which was satisfactorily completed on
the following day. Our own dead were collected and buried,
and the Mexican wounded, of which a large number had been
left upon the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as
comfortable as circumstances would permit.

" On the evening of the twenty-sixth, a close reconnoissanco
was made of the enemy's position, which was found to be

476

ooNQUEffr OF Mexico:

occupied only by a small body of cavalry, the infantry and
artillery having retreated in the direction of San Luis Putoni.
On t! -) twenty-seven th, our troops resumed their former cuiii])
at Agua Nuova, the enemy's rear-guard evacuating the place
as we approached, leaving a considerable number of woundod.
It was my purpose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacion
early the next morning, but upon examination, the weak con-
dition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisablo to attempt
so long a march without water. A command was finally des-
patched to Encarnacion, on the first of March, under Col.
Belknap. Some two hundred woundod, and about sixty Moxi-
(»n soldiers were found there, the army having passed on in
the direction of Matehuala, with greatly reduced numbers, and
suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were
strewed upon the road, and crowded the buildings 0.'' the
hacienda.

" The American force engaged in the action of Buena Vista
is shown, by the accompanying field report, to have been three
hundred and thirty-four officers, and four thousand four
hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small command
left in and near Saltillo. Of this number, two squadrons of
cavalry and three batteries of light artillery, making not more
than four hundred and fifty-three men, composed the only
force of regular troops. The strength of the Mexican army is
stated by Gen. Santa Anna, in his summons, to be twenty
thousand; and that estimate is confirmed by all the informa-
tion since obtained. Our loss is two hundred and seventy-
seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-
tliree missing. Of the numerous wounded, many did not require
removal to the hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively
small number will be permanently disabled. The Mexican loss
in killed and wounded may be fairly estimated at one thousand
five hundred, and will probably reach two thousand. At least
five hundred of their killed were left upon the field of battle.
We have no means of ascertaining the number of deserters
and dispersed men from their ranks, but it is known to be very
great."

10 infantry and
an Luis Putoxi.
eir former camp
iuating the place
bor of wounded.
) at Encarnacion
n, the weak con-
ieablo to attempt
I was finally des-
arch, under Col.
ibout sixty Mexi-
nng passed on in
eed numbers, and
and dying were
buildings of the

n of Bnena Vista
o have been three
r thousand four
e small command
wo squadrons of
making not more
tn posed the only
Mexican army is
)nB, to be twenty
all the informa-
red and seventy-
ided, and twenty-
my did not require
t a comparatively
The Mexican loss
d at one thousand
ousand. At least
;he field of battle.
mber of deserters
known to be very

CHAPTER LX.

Okw. Scott'b Campaign — The Sieob of Vbiia C?ihjk — Victory of
Cerro Gordo — Capturk op Puebla — Advance on Mexico —
Battle op the Contreras— The Victory— Other Battles-
Battle OP CuuRUBCBCO— The Armistice.

Leavino Gen. Taylor at Montorey, to wliich place he marched
eoon after the battle of Buena Yista, let us turn our attention
to the campaign of Major-Gen. Wiufield Scott, who was
advancing into Mexico from another quarter. After muster-
ing an army of nearly twelve thousand men, part of them
having been drawn from Gen. Taylor's force, he proceeded
against the city and castle of Vera Cruz, the first object of the
campaign. On the fifth of March, 1847, Gen. Scott's fleet
arrived in the port of Anton Lizardo, presenting a grand scene.
"The whole eastern horizon," says an eye witness, " looked
like a wall of canvass. Tlie usually quiet harbor was soon
astir with the fleet, which presented a perfect wilderness of
spars and rigging. For five days the excitement raged; drums
were beating, bands of music playing," and everything told of
an approaching conflict. On the tenth, the ships of war were
got under way for Vera Cruz, and the army was transported
from the transports to them in surf-boats. The ships then
set sail for the city, and, in the passage, presented a beautiful
sight. " The tall ships of war sailing leisurely along under
their topsails, their decks thronged in every part with dense
masses of troops, whose bright muskets and bayonets were
Hashing in the sunbeams; the gingling of spurs and sabres;
the bands of music playing; the hum of the multitude rising
up like the murmur of the distant ocean ; the small steamers
plying about, their decks crowded with anxious spectators;
the long lines of snrf-boats towing astern of the ships, ready

(477)

4-' '

! I

4-'

ft ^i?,* fa 'ml

«r8

ooNQUion' or mexioo:

to disembark the truops; all these tended to render tlie icone
one of the deepeit interest." About titreo o*oluok in the after
noon, the army beheld in the distance, the time-worn wiilU
and baUlements of Vera Oniz, and the stately old castle of San
Juan d'Ulloa, with their ponderous cannon, tier upon tier,
ilashinfif in the yellow rays of the sun.

The scone of embarkation and the siege, is thus described bj
an eye witness, whose language has been preserved in a neat
little work, entitled "The Mexican War and its Heroes:" <«It
WM a most beautiful, nay, a tublims sight, that embarkation,
I still retained my position in the fore-top, and was watching
every movement with the most anxious interest; for it was
thought by many that the enemy would oppose the landing of
our troops. About four o'clock, the huge surf-boats, each capa-
ble of conveying one hundred men, were hauled to the gang-
ways of the different men-of-war, and quickly laden with their
* warlike fraughtage;' formed in a single line, nearly a mile in
length; and at a given signal, commenced slowly moving
toward the Mexican shore. It was a grand spectacle! On, on
went the long range of boats, loaded down to the gunwales
with brave men, the rays of the slowly-departing sun resting
upon their uniforms and bristling bayonets, and wrapping tlie
far inland and fantastic mountains of Mexico in robes of gold.
On they went; the measured stroke of the countless oars ming-
ling with the hoarse, dull roar of the trampling surf upon the
sandy beach, and the shriek of the myriads of sea-birds soar-
ing high in air, until the boats struck the shore, and quick as
thought our army began to land. At this instant, the Amer-
ican flag was planted, and unrolling its folds, floated proudly
out upon the evening breeze; tlie crews of the men-of-war
made the welkin ring with their fierce cheering; and a dozen
bands of music, at the same time, and as if actuated by one
impulse, struck up

' 'Tis the staMpangled banner I 0, long may it wave,
O'er the land of the flree, and the home of the brave I'

" Early the next morning, the old grim castle of San Juan
d'Ulloa commenced trying the range of its heavy guns, throw-

OR, TIIR BORDKK WAM OF TWO OKNTUNiKS.

479

ing Paixhan iholli at tho army, and cuntinued it at intervaU
for a week; but with the exception of an ooouional ■kirraiih
with a party of the oiioiny's lancori, tlioy had all the Ain to
thomielvea. In the moantiino our furoei wont qniotly on with
their preparations, stationing their pickets, planting their
heavy mortars, landing their horses, provisions and munitions
of war, constantly annoyed with a ceaseless fire from the
Mexican batteries, which our troops were as yet too busy to
return.

" On the twenty-fourth, Lieut. Oliver Hazard Perry, with a
zeal worthy of his illustrious father, < the hero of I^ke Erie,'
dismounted one of the waist guns of the ' Albany,' a sixty-
oight pounder, procured a number of volunteers who would
willingly have charged up to the muzzles of the Mexican can-
non with such a loader, and taking forty rounds of Paixhan
ihells, proceeded on shore, where, after dragging his gun
through the sand for three miles, he arrived at a small fortifi-
cation, which the engineers had constructed of sand-bags for
him, and there planted his engine of destruction, in a situation
which commanded the whole city of Vera Cruz. Roused by
tnch a gallant example, guns from each of the other ships of
the squadron were disembarked and conveyed to tho breast-
work, which was as yet concealed from the eyes of the Mexi-
cans by being in the rear of an almost impervious chaparral,
and in a short time a most formidable fortress was completed,
which was styled the Naval Battery.

" At this period. Gen. Scott, having quietly made all his
arrangements, while a constant shower of shot and shell were
thrown at his army by the enemy, sent a flag of truce, with a
summons for the immediate surrender of the city of Vera
Cruz, and the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, and with a full
understanding that unless his demand was immediately com-
plied with, an attack would follow. As a matter of course, the
Mexicans, expecting an assault, for which they were well pre-
pared, and not a bombardment, returned an indignant refusal,
and were told that at four o'clock p. h., they should hear farther
from us. In tho meantime, the chaparral had been cut away,
disclosing tho Naval Battery to the gaze of the astonished

480

ooNQunrr or mrxu»:

i *.

Moxicftn*, And th« morUn and heavy artillery, which had txMtn
planted upon the hilU overlo(>kin(( the city, and were ready to
vomit forth their Area of death. Every poraon wan now wait,
ing with trembling anxiety the commencement of the fray.

** About four o'clock p. m., whilo the orewi of the triuiidrDn
were all at tupfMr, a ludden and tremenduut roar of artillery
on ihore proclaimed thiU the battle had begun. The tea-
things were left to ' take care of themtelvei,' and pell-mell
tumbled nick and well up the* ladden to the ipar-deck. I fol-
lowed with the human tide, and loon found myeelf in the
fore-top of the * Albany,' and looking around mo a Bublime
but terrific sight my elevated perch presented to the view.
Some two hundred sail of vessels were lying immediHtcly
around us, tlieir tops, cross-trees, yards, shrouds — everything
where a foothold could be obtained — crowded with Human
beings, clustered like swarming bees in mid-summer on the
trees, all intently watching tlie battle. I turned my eye* on
shore. Jonathan had at last awakened from his slumber, and
had set to work in earnest. Bombshells were fiying like hail-
stones into Vera Cruz from every quarter; sulphurous flashei,
clouds of smoke and the dull boom of the heavy guns arose
from the walls of the city in return, while ever and anon a red
sheet of flame would leap from the great brass mortars on the
ramparts of the grim castle, followed by a report, which fairly
made the earth tremble. The large ships of the squadron
could not approach near enough to the shore to participate in
the attack upon the city, without exposing them to the fire of
the castle; but all the gunboats, small steamers and everything
that oould be brought to bear upon the enemy, were sent in
and commenced blazing away; a steady stream of fire, like the
red glare of a volcano! This state of things continued until
sunset, when the small vessels were called oflT; but the mortars
kept throwing shells into the devoted town the live-long night.
I was watching them until after midnight, and it was one of
the most striking displays that I ever beheld.

" A huge black cloud of smoke hung like a pall over the
American army, completely concealing it from view; the Mex-
icans bad ceased firing, in order to prevent our troops from

ON, tllK NiiKnKII WAKN <tr TWO r>K>nuRrY9k

which hft() tMwn
id were waiiy to
I WM now walt-
t of the frny.
}f the ■quiidron
roar of artillery
ignn. Tlie tea-
i,' and pell-mell
|)ar-dcck. I fol-
kd myielf in the
d mo a Bublime
ted to the view,
ing immcdiRtcly
)iui» — everything
led with kumnn
i-8ummer on the
rned my eyes on
his •lumber, and
B Hying like hail-
alphnrouB tlashei,
icavy guns arose
er and anon a red
IB mortarB on the
port, which fairly
of the squadron
to participate in
lem to the fire of
ira and everything
emy, were Bent in
m of fire, like the
^ continued until
but the mortars
le live-long night,
tnd it was one of

a pall over the
, view; theMox-
our troops from

dirvtUing their gunn by tin* t^vshcfl from t^^ wallfi: but tht

t)«>irtl)Hniieni hadobtniniMl theoxucr 'M)k<> l>e^t)r& (Inrk. and kept

thundering away, ev«>ry nIiuII falling dir^-tly into the dooFTK^d

city. Suddenly, a vivid, lightning-like fla«h would gleam for

an inatant u)M)n the black )>all of tntoko hanging over our liriea,

and then m the ntnr of the great mortar oanio Intrne to otir

ear*, the ponderoun mIioII would IwHuun to dart upward like a

meteor, and afler duHuribing a Buini-uirule in the air, destwnd

with a loud unwh u|K)n the houMo-topH, or into the resounding

itrvota of the fated city. Then, after a brief but awful ntonient

of iiuB|>onBe, a lurid glart), illuminating for an inKtant the white

(iuinuB and grim fortrcMitoB of Vera (Jruz, falling into ruiuR

with the Bhock, and the echoing crash that uame borne to our

earM, told that the Bhell hud expMod, and executed its terrible

mission t

''Throughout the whole night thcHO fearful iniHHileH were
traveling into the city in one (Hintinued Htrenm; but the enemy
did not return tlie tire. At daylight, however, the MexieauB
Afi^un opened their i>attcrieH upon our urmy, with the most
determined bravery.

" Al>out eight o'clock a. m., the gallant Perry and his brave
as^ueiates, having finished the mounting of their guns, and
completed all their nrrangcmcittH, oi)ei)ed with a tremendous
roar the Naval Battery u{)on the west side of the city, and
were inmiediately answered from four distinct batteries of the
enemy. The firm earth trembled beneath the discharge of
tliesu {mnderous guns, and the shot fiow like hail into the town,
and were returned with interest by the Mexicans. Their heavy
{i;un8 were served with wonderful precision; and almost every
Bhot struck the little fort, burst open the sand-bags of which it
was constructed, and covered our brave officers and men with
a cloud of dust. Many shot and shell were thrown directly
tiirough the embrasures; and to use the expressions of one of
our old tars who had been in several engagements, ' the red*
slcins handled their long thirty-two's as if they had been rifles I'
Several of our men and one oflScer had fallen, but the remain-
der of the brave fellows kept blazing away; while the forts and
ramparts of the city began to crumble to the earth. This
81

482

OONQUKOT OF MKXKV):

state of things continued until the twenty-seventh ; the anny
throwing a constant shower of bombs into the city, and the
Naval Battery (manned (hiily by fresh officers and men,) heat-
ing down the fortifications, and destroying everything within
its range, when a flag of truce was sent out with an offer,
wliich was immediately accepted, of an unt mditional surren-
der of the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Jiian
d'Ulloa."

The American army under Gen. Scott entered Yera Cruz in
triumph, where it remained about two weeks, when the Gen-
eral marched his army for the Mexican Capital. On the
Beventeenth of April he arrived at the pass of the Sierra Gorde,
where Gen. Santa Anna was posted with eleven thousand men.
Scott made preparations for attacking the enemy on the fol-
lowing day, planning an attack which has become famous for
its perfection and results. In his report of the engagement,
Gen. Scott says: "We are quite embarrassed with the results
of victory — prisoners of war, heavy ordnance, field batteries,
small arms, and accoutrements. About three thousand men
laid down their arms with the usual proportion of field and
company officers, besides five generals, several of them of great
distinction, Pinson, Jarerro, La Vega, Noriega, and Obando.
A sixth general, Vasquez, was killed in defending the battery
(tower) in the rear of the whole Mexican army, the captin-e of
which gave us those glorious results." The loss of the Amer-
icans in this terrible battle was light, while that of the Mexi-
cans was, as in most of their engagements with the United
States troops, veiy heavy.

A detachment under Gen. Worth captured Puebla on the
fifteenth of May, where the army remained until the seventh
of August, when the whole army marched for the city of
Mexico. On the afternoon of the third day's march, a sudden
turn in the route revealed a scene that was well calculated to
excite the weary soldiers. The whole vast plain of Mexico
was before them. The coldness of the air, which was most
sensibly felt at this great elevation, their fatigue and danger
were forgotten, and their "eyes were the only sense that
thought of enjoyment." Mexico with its lofty steeples and

OR, THE BORDKK WARS OF TWO OKNTUKII<X

483

venth; the army
the city, and the
s and men,) l)eiit-
iverything within
•nt with an offer,
(nditional surren-
istle of San Jnan

Bred Vera Cruz in
ks, when the Gen-
Capital. On the
f the Sierra Gorde,
ven thousand men.
enemy on the tbl-
)ecome famous for
f the engagement,
ed with the results
nee, field batteries,
ree thousand men
>ortion of field and
•al of them of great
,riega, and Obando.
[fending the battery
my, the capture of
|e loss of the Amer-
. that of the Mexi-
;8 with the United

ired Puebla on the
Id until the seventh
lied for the city of
ly's march, a sudden
Is well calculated to
Ist plain of Mexico
[ir, which was most
fatigue and danger
ae only sense that
[s lofty steeples and

chequered domes, its bright reality, and its former fame, itu
modern splendor and its ancient magnificence, was before them,
while around on every side its thousand lakes seemed like
silver stars on a velvet mantle. Scott's army encamped that
night at the base of the mountains with tlie enemy's scouts
on every side. On the following day the army halted al
Ayotta, only fifteen miles from Mexico. "We were separated,"
says one who bore the fatigues of the march, "from the city
hy the marshes which surround Lake Tezcuco, and by the lake
itself." The road from thia point was commanded by a steep
and loftly hill called El Pinnal, which had been strongly forti-
fied by Santa Anna. Batteries mounting over fifty guns in
all, had been placed on its sides, and a deep ditch, twenty-four
feet wide, and ten deep, filled with water, had been cut, con-
necting the ports already surrounded by marshes. On this
side Santa Anna had twenty-five thousand men against the
American force of a little over nine tliou^and.

On the twenty-second of August, the Americans made a
reconnoisance of the work which was pronounced impractica-
ble, as the lives of half the troops vrould be sacrificed before
the ditch could be crossed. After a long search another road
was found, which led around on the left, but which was guarded
with five strong batteries at a point about five miles from the
city. All approach to the city seemed to be cut ofi^, but at
length, by means of his scouts. General Worth, who was
encamped about five miles distant found a path around the
left of Lake Chalco, which led to the western gate of the city,
and which had not yet been fortified. On the fourteenth the
army commenced its inarch by this route. On the nineteenth it
arrived at San Juan Worth's division being considerably in
advance. When the Americans arrived at this place, they
received orders to sling their blankets across their shoulders,
put their knapsacks into their wagons, and to put two day's
bread and beef in their haversacks. When this order came the
men knew that the work was at hand. The enemy was
reported to be in position as follows: Santa Anna with twenty
thousand men was at St. Augustine; Valencia with ten thous-
and was at an elevation called Contreros which commanded

484

OONQUK8T OF MEX1(>>:

the road in that direction. It now became Scott's object to
drive Valencia from his position, and thus get in between
Hanta Anna and the city. With a view to effecting this, Gen.
Wortli was directed to keep Santa Anna in check, while a
portion of the army under Gen. Twiggs was to rout Valencia.
The progress from this point is thus described by one who
particij)ated :*

*" We left San Juan about one o'clock, not particularly desir-
ing a %ht so late in the day, but still not shunning it in case
we could have a respectable chance. About two p. m., as we
had crawled to the top of a hill, whither we had been ourselves
pulling Magruder's battery and the mountain howitzers, we
suddenly espied Valencia fortified on a hill about two hundred
yards off, and strongly re-enforced by a column which had just
come out of the city. We laid down close to avoid di-awing
their fire, while the battery moved past at a full gallop. Just
then. Gen. Smith's manly voice rung out, ''Forward the nfle%
— to support the battery.^ On they went until we got about
eight hundred yards from the work, when the enemy opened
upon them with the long guns, which were afterwards found
to be sixteen and eight-inch howitzers. The ground was the
worst possible for artillery, covered with rocks large and small,
prickly-pear and cactus, intersected by ditches filled with water
and lined with maguey-plant, itself imperviable to cavalry,
and with patches of corn which concealed the enemy's skir-
mishers, while it impeded our own passage. The artillery
advanced but slowly under a most tremendous fire, which
greatly injured it before it could be got in range, and the
thickness of the undergrowth caused the skirmishers thrown
forward to lose their relative position, as well as the column.
About four, the battery got in position under a most murder-
ous fire of grape, canister, and round-shot. Here the superi-
ority of the enemy's pieces rendered our fire nugatory. We
could get but three pieces in battery, while they had twenty-
seven, all of them three times the calibre of ours. For two hours
our troops stood the storm of iron and lead they hailed upon
them, unmoved. At every discharge they laid flat down to

* The Mexican War and Its Heroes.

OK, TIIK HOKDEK WAK8 OF TWO CKN'rUKII<:8.

485

Scott's object to
get in between

fecting this, Gen.

n check, while a

to rout Valencia.

ribed by one who

particularly desir-
mnning it in ease
t two p. M., aft we
liad been ourselves
;ain howitzers, we
ibout two hundred
mn which had just
e to avoid drawing
I full gallop. Just
Forward the rifies
until we got about
the enemy opened
e afterwards fonnd
he ground was the
iks large and small,
les filled with water
rviable to cavalry,
the enemy's skir-
,ge. The artillery
sndous fire, which
in range, and the
ikirmishers thrown
Iwell as the column.
Ider a most murder-
Here the superi-
ire nugatory. We
they had twenty-
lurs. For two hours
they hailed upon
laid flat down to

avoid the Btorni, and then sprung up to serve tlie guns. At
the end of that time, two of the guns were dismounted, and
we badly hurt: thirteen of the horses were killed and disabled,
and fifteen of the cannoniers killed and wounded. The regi-
ment was then recalled. Tlic lancers had been repelled in
three successive charges. The third infantry and first artillery
had also engaged and successfully repelled the enemy's skir-
mishers without losing either officers or men. The greatest
loss had been at the batteries. Officers looked gloomy for the
first day's fight, but the brigade was formeu, and Gen. Smith
in person took command. All felt revived, and followed him
with a yell, as, creeping low to avoid the grape, (which was
coining very fast,) we made a circuit in rear of the batteries;
and, passing off to the right, we were soon lost to view in the
chaparral and cactus.

" Passing over the path that we scrambled through, behold
us at almost six o'clock in the evening, tired, hungry, and sor-
rowful, emerging from the chaparral and croosing the road
between it and Valencia. Here we found Cadwalader and his
brigade already formed, and discovered Riley's brigade skir-
mishing in rear of the enemy's works. Valencia was ignorant
of our approach, and we were as yet safe. In front of us was
Valencia, strongly entrenched on a hill-side and surrounded
by a regular field-work, concealed from us by an orchard in
our rear. Mendoza, with a column of six tliousand, was in
tiic road, but thinking us to be friends. On our right was a
large range of hills whose continued crest was parallel to the
road, and in which were formed in line of battle five thousand
of the best Mexican cavalry. On our left we were separated
from our own forces by an almost impassible wilderness, and
it was now twilight. Even Smith looked round for help.
Suddenly a thousand vwas came across the hill-side like the
yells of prairie wolves in the dead of night, and the squadrons
on our right formed for charging. Smitli is himself again!
'Face to the rear!' 'Wait till you see their red caps, and
then give it to them!" P'uriously they came on a few yards,
then changed their minds, and, disgusted at our cool reception,
retired to their cxjuclies.

486

(K)NQlI|«r OK MKXHiO:

" On the edge of tho road, l)etween us and Valencia, a Mexii-un
hunilet spread out, with its mud huts, hirgu orciiards, due})-(;iit
roads, and a strong church; and througli the centre of this
hamlet ran a path parallel to tlio main road, but concealtMJ
from it; it is nearly a mile long. In this road Smith's and
Kiley's brigade bivouacked. Shields, who came up in the
night, lay in the orchard, while Oadwalader was nearest the
enemy's works. As we were within range of their batteriert,
which could enfilade tlie road in which we lay, we built a utoiie
breastwork at either end to conceal ourselves from their view
and grape. There we were, completely surnjunded by the
enemy, cut off from our communications, ignorant of the
ground, without artillery, weary, dispirited, and dejected. We
were a disheartened set. Witli Santa Anna and Salas's promise
of ' no quarter,' a force of four to one against us, and one-
half defeated already, no succour from Puebla, and no news
from Gen. Scott, all seemed dark. Suddenly the words came
whispered along, ' We storm at midnight.^ Now we are cur-
Bel ves again! But what a horrible night! There we lay, too
tired to eat, too wet to sleep, in the middle of that muddy road,
officers and men side by side, with a heavy rain pouring down
upon us, the officers without blankets or overcoats (they liad
lost them in coming across), and the men worn out with fatigue.
About midnight the rain was so heavy that the streams in the
road flooded us, and there we stood crowded together, drenched
and benumbed, waiting for daylight.

" At half-past three the welcome word ^fall in ' was passed
down, and we commenced our march. The enemy's works were
on a hill-side, behind which rose other and slightly higher
hills, separated by deep ravines and gullies, and inter-
sected by streams. The whole face of the country was of stiff
clay, which rendered it almost impossible to advance. We
formed our line about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's
works, Riley's brigade on our right. At about four we started,
winding through a thick orchard which effectually concealed
us, even had it not been dark, debouching into a deep ravine
which ran within about five hundred yards of the work, and
which carried us directly in rear and out of sight of their bat-

OK, TIIK ItOKDKK WA«^ OF TWO (IKNTL'UIKX

487

teries. At duwn of day we reached our place, after incredible
exertioiiB, and got ready for our charge. The men threw oiY
their wet blankets and looked to their pieces, while the otticers
got ready for a rush, and the first smile that lit up our faces
for twelve hours boded but little good for the Mexicans. On
the right, and opposite the right of their work, was Riley's
brigade of the Second and First infantry and Fourth artillery,
next the rifles, then the First artillery and Third infantry. In
rear of our left was Cadwalader's brigade, as a support, with
Shield's brigade in the rear as a reserve — the whole division
iiiider command of Gen. Smith, in the absence of Gen. Twiggs.
They had a smooth place to rush down on the enemy's work,
with the- brow of the hill to keep under until the word was

given.

'•At last, just at daylight, Gen. Smith, slowly walking up,
asked if all was ready. A look answered him. ' Men, for-
ward/ ' And we did ' forward.' Springing up at once, Riley's
brigade opened, when the crack of a hundred rifles startled the
Mexicans from their astonishment, and they opened their fire.
Useless fire! for we were so close that they overshot us, and
before they could turn their pieces on us we were on them.
Then such cheers arose as you never heard. Tlie men rushed
forward like demons, yelling and firing the while. The carnage
was frightful, and, though they fired sharply, it was of no use.
The earthen parapet was cleared in an instant, and the blows
of the stocks could be plainly heard mingled with the yells and
groans around. Just before the charge was made, a large body
of lancers came winding up the road, looking most splendidly
in their brilliant uniforms. They never got to the work, but
turned and fled. In an instant all was one mass of confusion,
each trying to be foremost in the flight. The road was literally
blocked up, and, while many perished by their own guns, it
was almost impossible to fire on the mass from the danger of
killing our own men. Some fled up the ravine on the left, or
on the right, and many of these were slain by turning their
own guns on them. Towards the city the rifles and Second
infantry led off the pursuit. Seeing that a large crowd of the
fugitives were jammed up in a pass in the road, some of our

488

CONQUE8T OK MKXICO:

men ran through the cornfield, and by tluis heading them oif
and firing down upon tlieni, about tliirty men toolc over five
hundred prisoners, nearly a hundred of them officers. After
disarming the prisoners, as the pursuit had ceased, we went
back to the fort, where we found our troops in full possesKlon,
the rout complete.

"We found that the enemy's position was much stronger
than we had supposed, and their artillery much larger and
more abundant. Our own loss was small, which may be
accounted for by their perfect surprise at our charge, m to
them we appeared as if rising out of the earth, so unpen-
ceived was our approach. Our loss was one officer killed, Cnpt.
Hanson, of the Seventh infantry, and Lieut. Van Buren, of the
rifles, shot through the leg, and about fifty men killed and
wounded. Their force consisted of eight thousand men, under
Valencia, with a reserve, which had not yet arrived, under
Santa Anna. Their loss, as since ascertained, was as follows:
Killed, and buried since *,he fight, seven hundred and fifty;
wounded, one thousand; and fifteen hundred prisoners, exclu-
sive of officers, including four generals — Salas, Mendoza, Garcia,
and Gaudalupe — in addition to dozens of colonels, majors,
captains, etc. We captured, in all, on the hill twenty-two pieces
of cannon, including five eight-inch howitzers, two long eight-
eens, three long sixteens, and several of twelve and eight inches.
In addition were taken immense quantities of ammunition
and muskets; in fact, the way was strewd with muskets, esco-
pets, lances, and flags for miles. Large quantities of horses
and mules were also captured, though large numbers were
killed.

" Thus ended the glorious battle of Contreros, in which two
thousand men, under Gen. P. F. Smith, completely routed and
destroyed an army of eight thousand men, under Gen. Valenci..,
with Santa Anna and a force of twenty thousand m^n .'tliin
five miles. Their army was so completely routed tliat not
fifteen hundred men rejoined Santa Anna and participated in the
second battle. Most people would have thought that a pretty
good day's work. Not so. We had only ^aved ourselves, not
conquered Mexico, and men's work was bifore us yet.

OK, TICK BORDRK WARS OF TWO OBNTimilOi.

481)

leading them oif
n took over five
I officers. After
ceased, we went
n full poasebKion,

is much stronger
nuch larger and
, which may be
lur charge, as to
earth, so unper-
fficer killed, Cnpt.
Van Burcm, of the
1 men killed and
usand men, under
^et arrived, under
d, was as follows:
undred and fifty;
\ prisoners, exclu-
, Mendoza, Garcia,
colonels, majors,
twenty -two pieces
rs, two long elght-
e and eight inches.
9 of ammunition
ith muskets, esco-
antities of horses
ge numbers were

eros, in which two
pletely routed and
ler Gen. Valenci..,
usand n)«^n \;'t]iin
routed that not
participated in the
ught that a pretty
,ved ourselves, not
a-e us yet.

''At eight A. M. wo formed again, and Gen. Twiggs having
taken command, wo started on the rdad to Mexico. We had
hardly marched a mile l)efore we were sharply tired upon from
both sides of the road, and our right was deployed to drive the
enemy in. We soon found that we had caught up with tho
retreating party, from tho very brisk tiring in front, and we
drove them through the little town of San Angelo, where they
had been halting in force. About half a mile from this town
we entered the suburbs of another called San Katherina, when
ft large party in the church-yard tired on the head of the col-
umn, and tho balls came right among us. Our men kept
rushing on their rear and cutting them down, until a discharge
of grape-shot from a large piece in front drove them back to
the column. In this short space of time tive men were killed,
ten taken prisoners, and a small color captured, which was
carried the rest of the day.

" Meanwhile Gen. Worth had made a demonstration on San
Antonio, where the enemy was fortified in a strong hacienda;
but they retired on his approach to Churubusco, where the
works were deemed impregnable. They consisted of a fortified
hacienda, which was surrounded by a high and thick wall on
all sides. Inside the wall was a stone building, tho roof of
which was flat, and higher than the walls. Above all this was
a stone church, still higher than the rest, and having a large
steeple. The wall was pierced with loop-holes, and so arranged
that there were two tiers of men firing at the same time.
They thus had four difterent ranges of men tiring at once, and
four ranks were formed on each range, and placed at such a
height that they could not only overlook all the surrounding
country, but at the same time they had a plunging fire upon
U8. Outside tho hacienda, and completely commanding the
avenues of approach, was a field-work extending around two
sides of the fort, and protected by a deep, wet ditch, and armed
with seven large pieces. This hacienda is at the commence-
ment of the causeway leading to the western gate of the city,
and had to be passed before getting on the road. About three
hundred yards in rear of this work another field-work had been
built where a cross-road meets tho causeway, at a point where

<%■

400

CONQrKHT OK MKXICo:

it uroHHVH n rivt>r, thus forming u Wridgu )iea«l, or t^ii) de pt)nt.
Thin wuH nl8u vci*)* Htron^, and armed with throe hirgu piocett
of onniioii. The works were Burrounded on every side hy lurj;»'
corn-Holds, which were filled with the enemy's skirmisherA, ko
that it was diflicult to make a reconnoissance. It wati therefore
ilorided to make the attack immediately, as they were full uf
men, and extended for nearly a mile on the road to the city,
completely covering the causoMiiy. The attack commenced
ahout one r. m. General Twiggs' division attacked on the side
towards which they approached the fort; that is, op])08ite the
city. Gen. Worth's attacked the bridge head, which ho took
in about an hour and a half; while Gens. Pillow and Qiiittnuii
wore on the extreme left, l)etweon the causeway and Twiggs'
division. The rifles were on the left and in roar of the work,
entrusted by Gen. Scott with the task of charging it in uaa*
Gen. Pierce gave way. The firing was most tremendous— in
fact, one continued roll while the combat lasted. The enemy,
from their elevated station, could rea<lily see our men, who were
unable to get a clear view from their position. Three of the
pieces were manned by ' the deserters,' a body of about one
hundred, who had deserted from the ranks of our army during
tlie war. They were enrolled in two companies, commiuuled
by a deserter, and wore bettor uniformed and disciplined than
the rest of the army. These men fought most desperately,
and are said not only to liave shot down several of our officers
whom they knew, but to have pulled down the white flag of
surrender no less than three times.

" The battle raged most furiously for about three hours, when,
both sides having lost a great many, the enemy began to give
way. As soon as they commenced retreating, Kearney's 8(iuad-
ron passed through the t^te de pont, and charging tlirough the
retreating column, pursued them to the very gate of the city.
When our men got within about five hundred yards of tlie gate
they were opened upon with grape and canister, and several
oflftcers wounded. The official returns give our loss in killed
and wounded at one thousand one hundred and fifty, besides
officers. The Mexican loss ia five hundred killed in the second
battle, one thousand wounded, and eleven hundred prisoners.

OB, TIIK mmDKK WAIW OF TWO CRNTITRIRH.

491

or t(^tti de [Hint .
iree largo piecPK
ory Bido by hup'
H Hkiriuishore, m

It WRH thej-etbre
hoy woro full of
road to the city,
tnck comineiKjed
ockod on the side
C Ih, opposite the
tl, which he took
low and Qiiittnun
,vay and Twiggs'
rear of the work,
larging it in ciwe
t tremendous— in
;od. The enemy,
ur men, wlio were
^n. Three of the
ody of about one
■ our army during
mies, comnuuuletl

disciplined than
most desperately,
ral of our officers
the white flag of

exclusive of ottlcers. Three more generals were taken, among
thuin Gen. Rincon, and Anaya, the Provisional President; also
ten ])iocc8 of cannon, and an immense amount of ammuni-
tion and stores. Santa Anna, in his report, states his loss in
killed, wounded, and missing, at twelve thousand. lie has
only eighteen thousand lotl out of thirty thousand, which he
gives as his force on the twentieth in both actions.

''Thus ended the battle of (^hurubusco, one of the most
furious and deadly, for its lengtli, of any of the war. For rea-
sons which ho deemed conclusive, Gen. Scott did not enter
the city that night, but encamped on the battle-fleld, about
four miles from the western gate of the city. The next day
a flag of truce came out, and propositions were made whicli
resulted in an armistice."

three hours, when,
my began to give

Kearney's squad-
rging through the

gate of the city.

yards of tlie gate
lister, and several
our loss in killed
and fifty, besides

lied in the second
undred prisoners,

CHAPTER LXI.

Tmbmikatiok o» this Armibticr — Tiir Batti.b or Momnoi dki, Ret
— TiiR SiKOK or TiiK Caimtai. — TiiK City or Mkxico Occi'imkd —
TiiK Amkkican Fi.ao Floatino riioM tub Mkxican National

Pa LACK.

An AKMI8TICK WHS concluded on the twenty-fourth of Au'^'ust
between Gen. Scotland President Santa Anna, with a view of
terminating the war and effecting a treaty of peace. Negotia-
tions at once conunenced, but terminated on the seventh of
September, when both armies assumed hostile attitudes. On
the date hist mentioned, a hirge body of Mexicans was diHcov-
ered hovering about Molinos del Key, within a mile of the
American camp and Gen. Scott's lieadquartvus. Gen. Worth
was at once ordered to attack the enemy at this point, and liia
division being re-enforced, he moved forward to battle. Tlio
position of the Mexicans was well taken. Their left rested
upon and occupied a group of strong stone buildings, culled
El Molino del Key, adjoining the grove at the foot of the hill
of Clmpultepec, and directly under the guns of the castle wliich
crowned its ruinmit. The right of his line rested upon
another stone building, called Casa Mata, situated at the foot
of the ridge that slopes gradually from the heights above the
village of Tacubaya to the plaii. below. Midway between tiiese
buildings was the enemy's field battery, and his inftiiitry
forces were disposed on either side to support it. " The early
dawn," says "Worth, "was the moment appointed for the
attack, which was announced to the troops, by the opening of
Huger's guns on El Molinos del Key, upon which they contin-
ued to play actively until this point of the enemy's line became
sensibly shaken, when the assaulting party, commanded by
Wright, and guided by that accomplished officer, Capt. Mason,

(493)

OR, TIIR BORDRR WARM OP TWO OKNTtrRIRA.

498

of the oii}i;itu*vri, utsiitted hy Liuut. Fo«tur, (IuhIuhI gulluiitly
furwurd to tlio HMitnult."

* UiiMhiikuii hy tin- K'^lling flro of inuHkntry ami cnniRtcr
that wa» Hhowerud upon tluMii, on t\wy ruHliud, driving tliu
iiit'untry un<l urtilloryuiun ut tlut point of tliu bHyonvt. Tliu
cnoiny'H Held bnttery watt tnkun, and \i\» own guns wuru trailed
upon his rutroating niaMHes; butbro, howuvur, thoy could bo
dioi'bargod, purcuiving that hu had bcun diHpoHHUHHod of this
Btroiig potiition by coinparativuly a handful of men, ho niadua
(iuHpi'ratu otlbrt to regain it. Accordingly, hiti retiring torcuo
rallied and formed with this object. Aided by the infantry,
which covered the houHC-tupti (within rea(;h of which the bat-
tery had been moved during the night,) the enefkiy'ti whole lino
opened upon the asHaulting party a terrific tire of muHketry,
which struck down eleven out of fourteen otHcers that coni-
poHod the coinnumd, and non-conuniasioned otticers and men in
proportion; including among the ofticera Jirev.. Major Wright,
the commander; Capt. Manon and Lieut. boHter, engineera; all
severely wounded. This Bover'i shock staggered for a moment
that gallant band. The light battalion, held to cover liuger's
battery, under Capt. £. Kirby Smith, and the right wing of
Ciidwalader's brigade, were promptly ordered forward to stip-
port, which order was executed in tlio most gallant style; the
enemy was again routed, and this point of his line carried, and
fully possessed by our troops. In the meantime, Garland's
brigade, ably sustained by Capt. Drum's artillery, assaulted
the enemy's loft, and, after an obstinate and very severe con-
ttst, drove him from this apparently impregnable position,
imuiediatoly under the guns of the castle of Chapultepec.
Drum's section, and. the battering guns under Capt. linger,
advanced to the enemy's position, and the captured guns of the
eneniy were now opened on his retreating forces, on which they
continued to fire until beyond their reach. While this work
wa& in progress of accomplishment by tlie center and right, the
troops on the left were not idle. Duncan's battery opened on
the right of the enemy's line, up to this time engaged; and
the second brigade, under Col. Mcintosh, was now ordered to

♦ Gen. Worth's Report.

PI'

404

onNQiKXT or Mvxu'o;

HMHHiilt tlti^ oxtriMiic ri^lit of tlii> ciiciiiy'H linu. Tint <lirit'tiiiii
of tliiit l)ri|{H<l(t H(K»ti ciiiimimI it to muHk DiincikirM hiittrry, tiio
Hni of wliicli, for tlii^ iiiotiuMit, wait (liMnuitiiiiinl; uidI i||i>
l»ri^iiil<* mi«')V(m1 Htcudily oii to tlio uMHUult of Cumii Mittit, wliirh,
iriHti'iid of uti ordiiiury tU'M ('riticiiclttiicul, uh whm hii|)|iii«i'i|,
provtMl to Ih) u Mtt'oii^ Htoiio citudi'l, HiirroiiniU><t with lMiKtii)tii<<|
tMitri>ii(>liiiuMitrt liiid iiiipHHMuhlo ilitchcK utt old SpuuiHli M-ork,
r(!C(>ritly rcpiiiri'd mid ctiliit'^iil. VVIirti witliiii cuhv iiiiinkti
mii^is tli« ciiiMiiy op«>tu'd u niont driidly tin; upon tliu itdviuK-
ii\^ troopH, which wum kept up, without iiitcriniHHioii, until tlid*
^lilluut iiiiMi ri<iu'h(!d thft very H|op«> of tht) piiriipet of the \v<<rk
that HuiTouiidcd tlii> citadi'l.^ My thirt time ii luiyc proporti iii
of tho coiuiiiaiid wan cithoi' killed or Wouiidcd, ani«>n^ wli' iiii
were the three Henior ofllcerH prt-Hent, Mrevet-(y(d. Mdiitmli,
Hrevet Iiieut.-C«)l. Scott, of the tifth infantry, and Major M n\U\
eighth infantry; the Kecond killed, and the Hrnt and IuhI ilen-
perately wouruh'd. Still, the tire from tiie citadel waH uiuihiitHl,
In tluH criHiri of tho attack, the eonunand wan nioincntarily
thrown into disorder, antl fell hack on the left of Diniicaii'n
battery, whore they rallied. A« tho second brigade niovnl to
the asBault, a very large eavalry and infantry force wa^ diKcov-
ered approaching rapidly U]»on the left flank, to re-enforce the
enemy's right. Ah soon as Duncan's battery was nwiHkc'i, m
before mentioned, Bupporte<l by Andrews's voltigeurs, of Cud-
walader's brigade, it moved promptly to tho extreme left of the
lino to check the threatencti assault on this ])oint. The ene-
my's cavalry came rapidly within canister range, when the
whole battery opened a most effective fire, whiel'i s<»on broke
tho squadrons and drove them back in disorder. Dtiriiig this
fire upon the enemy's cavalry. Major Sumner's couuihuhI
moved to the front, and changed direction in admirable order,
under a most appalling fire from tlie (Jasa ISfata. This tnove-
ment enabled his comnuind to cross the ravine immediately on
the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing noble
service until the close of the action. At the very moment the
cavalry were driven beyond reach, the American troops drew
back from before the Casa Mata, and enabled tho guns of Dun-

* Gen. Worth's Ueport.

• Ill, Till t> UMKH WAKM or iWii r|>:Nt (-|(l>9'.

'Y\u> <lir«rtiiui
jiiiV huttrry, tho
iniinl; iukI Ihi)
iiHii Mtita, wliicli,

114 WIIM Kllpji'iil'il,

'*| with Itiihtiiitii'il
III Spiinixli Work.
Jiin fiirtv MMinkt't
ipon tlu^ lulvuiu-
iiiiHHioii, until tii)o
riiju't of tliu wi>rk
i lurjijt' |tr«»|inrti«(»n

Ifd, llMM'll^' wll' illl

■t)t-(!«»l. Mrliit'Hli.
liiul Major M iiiti',
Hi'Ht iiiul liii^t 'l<'«-
luU'l wilt* uniil>tii<'«l.
wiiH uioiiK'iitarily
p U'ft of Diiinciui'rt
brij^iulo miA'i'tl to
y force wiii> (lifcov-
c, to rt'-t'ii1iirci' the
■ry wn» inuHkcl, at*
roltigeurs, of (ikI-
cxtreinc left of the
point. The cnc-
rangc. wht'ii tlic
whids S(»on Iti'oke
•der. During tliis
unnt'r'rt comniiuul
n lulmirahle order,
Mata. Tliis niove-
iie iininttliately on
aiiied, doing noble
very moment the
lerican troops drew

the guns of Dun-

(<nii*ii hutti'ry to n < pi'ii iipoii thin position, whitdi, at't« r a
fhort and >v»dl-<liiv' ^d tirr, th«' riioiny ahaiidoind. 'Ilu* gim*
of tht* hiitti*r\ wi'^re <i)\v ttiriM'd upon th«> D-thating f<diiiiiiiH,
nnd contiiint'd t>i jilay upon thriii until hcyoiid n-ach. Tho
Mfxiraiin wcro riow drivfii from t-vcry point of tho ticid, and
th«'ir Hti'oiig liiu'K, which had certainly hccii drt'cndcd wcll,w'i'ru
ill NVorth'it poHHtuKioii. In fiiUllliiiciittd' tlu' iiihtructituiHof (ten.
Scott, the ('ana Mata wan Idown up, and Huch of the capturi'd
uininunition ai» waM UHtdcHM to the AiiicriciiiiK, an widl aH tho
cannon-ntouldh found in K\ Molinon del \lv\, were t|(>Htroyc«h
After which, Worth's coiiiniaiKJ, under the ordi-rH of tho
general- in chief, returned to (piarterH at Tacuhaya, with three
of the t'!u-itiy*ri four giiUH, an iiIho a large (piantity of xiiiali
ariiiH, with gun and musket aiuinunition, and exceeding eight
hundred priHoneiv, including tifty-two coniiiUHHioned otllcers.
* My the concurrent te«tiinony of priKonerH, the t'liemyV fiu'co
I'xceedeil fourteen thoUHiind men, coininanile<| hy (ren. Santa
Anna in perri«>n. II Ih total Iohh, killed (including the Kccoml
and third in eumtnaiul, GeiiH. Valdarez an<l Leon), wounded,
mid priMonei'H, amounted to three thousand, exduHive of Home
two tln»U8and who deHerted after the rout. WorthV command,
re-enforced as before stated, oidy reached three thouBand one
hundred men of all arms. The contest continue<l two hours,
mid its severity was painfully attested hy tho heavy loss of
American otticers, non-commissioned otticers, and privates,
including in the tirst two classes sumo uf the brightest orna-
ments of the service.

Hut why horrity the reader with all the bloody details of this
siege? A series of battles of forty -eight hour's continuance
followed AVorth's triumph at Molinon del Key, after which, on
the fourteenth of Sej)tember, l>s47, (len. Scott's gU>riou8 army
hoisted tlie flag of the United States on the walls of tlio
National Palace of Mexico. Imimidiately ou entering the
Palace, the f»)llowing i)rder was issued:

" The general-in-chief calls upon his brethren in arms to
return both in public and private worship, thanks and gratitude
to God for tlie sigmd triumphs which they have recently

• Cien. Worth's Ut'iiort.

496

ooNQUwrr of mexioo:

achieved for their country, lieginninp with the nineteontli of
August, this army has gallantly fought its way through the
fields and forts of Contrcras, San Antonio, Ghurubusco, Molinos
del Rey, Chapultupec and the gates of San Casone and Tacii-
baya or Bel6n, into the Capital of Mexico. W^hen the very
limited numbers who have performed these brilliant deeds shall
have become known, the world will be astonished and our own
countrymen filled with joy and admiration. But all is not yet
done. The enemy, though scattered and dismayed, has still
many fragments of his late army hovering about us, and, aided
by an exasperated population, he may again reunite in treble
our numbers, and fall upon us to advantage if we rest inactive
on the security of past victories." * *

Retiring from the capital. Gen. Santa Anna collected several
fragments of his army, and laid siege to Puebla, whicli was
poorly garrisoned. The siege was prosecuted with considerable
vigor for twenty-eight days, and nobly repulsed by the com-
mander, Col. Childs, who had been left to guard the place with
a feeble garrison. And here, without following Gens. Scott
and Butler through all the war of detail that completed the
conquest of Mexico, or the military and diplomatic disputes
that finally terminated in a peace between that country and
the United States, we will return to the main current of our
narrative, from which I have so widely diverged — the wars with
the Indians.

', )

lie ninetecntli of
ray through the
rubuBco, Molinos
laBone and Tacn-

When the very
illiant deeds shall
ihed and our own
But all is not yet
smayed, has still
out UB, and, aided

reunite in treble
f we rest inactive

a collected several
?uebla, whic.i was
I with considerable
ilsed by the com-
lard the place with
wing Gens. Scott
hat completed the
iplomatic disputes
that country and
lin current of our
red — the wars with

CHAPTER LXII.

Wars with thb Indians in New Mexico— The Masbacre of thb
White Family — Brdtality of the Apaches — Tub Warb with
Utahb and Apaciieb— The Settlements in New Mexico In-
vaded bt Hostile Indians — A fiRiLLiANT Comfant ~ Seven
Battles — Peace.

Let us now return to New Mexico, which has become a
part of our own truly great nation. No sooner had the
United States forces occupied that territory than the neigh-
boring Indians raised the hatchet in defiance. The insolence
of the Mexican settlers had wrought hard upon their native
tiiirst for vengeance, and the presence of an American mili-
tary force irritated their rage to fury. At this time, 1848-9,
Col. Beall was commanding the United States forces in New
Mexico, and had established his headquarters at Taos. The
Indians with whom he liad to deal were, for the most part,
Apaches, who, among all the western tribes have given the
United States government the most trouble. They were
never to be trusted. In war they were treacherous, in peace
tliey were always finding cause for new quarrels. But
we must not suppose that these constant outbreaks were
always without a reason — a cause sometimes founded in
just complaint. The savages were not always to blame.
They were not responsible for their creation, and it is unrea-
sonable to suppose that they should have put themselves to
death, with a view to accommodating American pioneers —
or even to quietly submit to having their best hunting
grounds taken from them without making a faint resistance.
The Indian had a right to make war upon the Americans;
his only wrong was in not conquering them — a wrong for
vliicli his race has suffered total extermination. As a rule,
32 (497)

408

TROUUr.K WITH THE WIOSTEIIN INDIANS!

the Indians, and more especially the western tribes, have been
held to a strict account for their depredations upon the whites.
No one should complain of this, not even the Indians them-
selves. Unhappily, on the contrary, those who have been
appointed ovei them in otficial position by the United States
government, have not been held to a strict account for tlieir
depredations upon the savages. But the savages had no repre-
sentatives in Congress; they had orators, but no statesmen,
and the story of their wrongs will die with them, unless a
jealous nation shall perpetuate it in history.

The Apaches were an obstinate race of Indians. They were
brave, too, for the chief source of their ruin has been the
battle-field. Long before the United States troops entered
Now Mexico, these tierce natives had been a terror to the
Spanish settlers there. They had invaded the settlements from
every quarter, and it required every exertion of the Mexicans
to hold "them in check. For ten long years the Apaches had
at frequent intervals, invaded the settlements of this interior
Mexican state with furious onset, spreading the terrors of massa-
cre throughout the peaceful villages. But now, in 1848, their
progress was barred by the arms of a superior foe.

No sooner had Col. Beall been appointed to the office already
mentioned, than he became possessed of the conviction which
has ever invaded the breasts of United States officers on attain-
ing a similar position — that the only sure plan of making
peace with the Indians was to exterminate them. Witli thi?
righteous determination he despatched a junior officer with a
strong force, with orders to pursue the Apaches, overt«ke
them, and punish them. The order was obeyed, and the expe-
dition started. Tliis time, however, providence had defended
the savages. The snow was too deep for the pursuit, and the
gallant array returned to Taos. But Col. Beall was dissatisfied,
and atlter listening to the report of his subordinate officer he
replied: " that there was no such word as impracticability in
the soldiers vocabulary, and that nothing ought to be impossi-
ble for the first regiment of United States Dragoons to accom-
plish." Col. Beall took the detachment under his own imme-
diate command, and with the famous Kit Carson as guide, he

duns:

a tribes, have been
[19 upon the whites,
the IndianB theni-
se who have been
• the United States
it account for their
vages had no repre-
, but no statesmen,
with thorn, unless a

[ndians. They were
ruin has been the
;ate8 troops entered
,een a terror to the
the settlements from
tion of the Mexicans
iars the Apaches had
nents of this interior
r the terrors of massa-
t now, in 1848, theii
jrior foe.

d to the office already
the conviction which
ites officers on attain-
lure plan of making
itethem. With this
junior officer with a
le Apaches, overtake
[obeyed, and the expe-
ridence had defended
the pursuit, and the
Beall was dissatisfied,
subordinate officer he
as impracticability in
ought to be impossi-
!B Dragoons to accom-
under his own imme-
t Carson as guide, he

OR, THE BORDKR WARS OF TWO ORNTURIDS.

499

set out for the country of the Apaches. It was a long and
fatiguing march, and required all the courage and persever-
ance of the men and animals, but the rugged mountains were
crossed, and fruitless days spent in the valley beyond in the
search for the enemy. At length, when signs of Indians were
no where to be found, the dragoons turned their faces homo-
ward, but as they were slowly making a difficult mountain
pass, known as the Sangre de Christo, a village of the hostile
Indians suddenly appeared before them. A charge was
ordered, but the tired animals could make so little progress in
the deep snow that all the savages, except two old chiefs, made
their escape in safety. Col. Beall gave these men a severe
"talk" and dismissed them, after which his tired dragoons
were permitted to return to Taos.

It was not long before the military commander of New Mex-
ico received intelligence that his Apache enemies had committed
another wicked murder, the details of which are heartrending.
A Santa F6 merchant had been to the United States for the
purpose of purchasing a supply of goods. On his return the
train was escorted by a small f^rce of men. The prairies and
mountains had been crossed in safety, and the caravan was
nearing Santa F6, when Mr. White, thinking that all danger
had been passed, drove in advance with his private carriage, in
which he was accompanied by his wife and child. A few men
brought up the immediate rear as an escort. He had proceeded
but a few miles when he was attacked by a band of Apaches.
The Indians had concealed themselves in the rocks on either
Bide of the trail, and as the carriage neared their hiding places
they poured forth a volley upon the travelers with terrible
effect. Every man in the escort, including Mr. Wliite, fell
pierced by Indian bullets. But Mrs. White and her child were
reserved for the horrors of captivity.

As soon as the news of this disaster reached New Mexico, a
command was organized for the purpose of pursuing the Indi-
ans, and, if possible, rescuing Mrs. White. In due time this
party arrived at the place where the butchery had been con-
summated. Here were many evidences of Indian cruelty, but
the exasperated party did not wait long to examine these.

500

TKOIMII.K Wmi TlIK WFKFKKN INPIANS.

Finding tiie trail, they purBiied the savages for twelve days
before coming up with them. During the march tliey met
many evidences wliich convinced them that Mrs. White was
still living. At the camping grounds of the savages wore
found several remnants of her dress, which appeared to have
been torn from her in a struggle with lier captives. At len^ifth
the enemy was in full view. At this critical point the Amer-
icans stopped to hold a consultation as to the best mode of
attacking the savages. This was a fatal mistake, for liad tliey
charged upon the enemy Mrs. White might have been rescued
alive. Yet there was little to be regretted. Her person was
so fearfully mutilated that she could not have long survived
the shock. The position of her body showed that a bullet had
pierced her heart while attempting to escape to her friends,
whom she had observed. Her child had fallen a prey to the
merciless tomahawk, many days before.

In this affair the Americans succeeded in killing but three
warriors, wounding several others, and capturing the camp
equippage. On their return they wei . overtaken by a terrible
snow storm, from which one of their men perished.

But it will be impossible to mention all the outbreaks which
have characterized the border wars between the settlers of New
Mexico and the Apache Indians, in this volume. I have space
only to describe some of the more important battles of tliis
war. When Kit Carson was appointed to the position of
Indian Agent at Taos, in New Mexico, the Apaches were at the
height of their discontent, and with every day came reports of
theif lawless acts. The settlers in Northern New Mexico had
been driven from their homes, robbed and murdered, and the
savage invaders, gloating over their success, were fast becoming
bolder in their attacks. Lieut. Bell, of the Second Regiment
of United States dragoons, waa now sent against these Indians.
After a short march he came upon them on the Red river, and
at once made an attack. At first the savages returned their
fire, but the soldiers made repeated charges, and penetrated
through and through the Indian ranks. They were compelled
to fall back and retreat. In this battle the Apaches lost many
warriors. Among the slain was their principal chief, whose

OR, 'HIE IK>RnKR WAR8 OF TWO (JKNTURIKH.

ftOl

death was a severe blow to the tribe. The ArnericaiiH lost two
soldiers killed, and several seriously wounded.

Not more than ten days after this battle news was received
at Taos that a strong band of Apache warriors was encamped
ill the mountains, not twenty miles distant. This report was
soon confirmed by the hostile appearance of these Indians
among the settlements, which resulted in one of the most
thrilling battles ever fought by American soldiers against ihe
Apaches. It was as follows: Lieut. Davidson (now Lieulen-
ant-Colonel of the Tenth United States cavalry), with »
command of sixty men belonging to the P^irst regiment of
United States dragoons, started out to repulse the savage
invaders. He marched to the Emhuda mountains^ where he
came upon the enemy. The Indians were prepared for the
assault, having taken a strong position. The strength of the
Apaches in this contest was two hundred and forty warriors,
and the advantages of their position seemed to defy approach.
After a consultation with his officers, Lieut. Davidson concluded
to make an attempt to draw the savages from their position by
proposing to hold a talk with them. This plan failed, and he
next resolved to hazard an attack. He ordered his men to
dismount, and leaving the horses in charge of a small guard,
the soldiers began the ascent of the mountain for the purpose
of reaching the stronghold of the enemy. They succeeded in
dislodging the savages, with the loss of five of their men
killed, notwithstanding they met with a desperate resistance;
but when the brave soldiers reached the top of the mountain,
they found, to their great disappointment, that instead of taking
to flight, the Indians were surrounding them. Lieut. Davidson
now faced his little command about and commenced the return
march, with a view of saving their horses. During this march
botli soldiers and Indians fought with commendable courage.
The latter obstinately contested every inch of the ground, but
the former, after a severe struggle, secured the animals. How-
ever, the fight did not end here. The Indians became bolder
at seeing the weakness of the Americans, and, confident in the
superiority of their own numbers, they continued tlie pursuit
with great energy. When the horses had been reached, the

502

TKOIIHI.K WITH TIIK WKHTKUN INDIANM:

soldiers faced about and threw back a volley at their puraiiurD,
but the Indians were so well secured behind trees that the bulU
were spent in vain. At this point Lieut. Davidson ordered a
retreat. Seeing this the savages took new courage, and charged
down the mountain, yelling the war whoop, and rushing upon
the soldiers. The latter beat them off with their guns, but
the Indians pursued the retreating party with such boldness,
that, by the time they reached the road in the valley atthetuot
of the mountain, twenty of their men had been killed, and
nearly all the survivors wounded. Thus two hundred and forty
Apaches had driven back sixty soldiers, killing one-third of
them, and wounding nearly every one who escaped death.

When the news of this disaster reached Taos, the inhabitants
became greatly excited. An expedition was immediately
formed for the purpose of bringing in the dead bodies of the
fallen soldiers, in which both Americans and Mexicans freely
volunteered. On reaching the field the dea(^ were found, but
the bodies were horribly mutilated and stripped of all clothing.

No sooner had this expedition returned to Taos than a large
body of American troops were made ready to pursue and
punish the Apaches, who had gained a victory over Lieut.
Davidson's command. This expedition was commanded by
Ool. Cook, of the second regiment of United States dragoons.
Besides the regulars, Col. Cook employed for this expedition
some forty men selected from the Mexican and Pueblo Indians.
These were to be used as spies, on account of their familiarity
with Indian habits. They were commanded by James H.
Quinn, a well known and prominent citizen ot New Mexico.

Col. Cook's command marched from Taos, ten miles north
to a stream known as Arroya Hondo, and thence to the Eio
del Norte. The fording of this river was attended with many
difficulties, but was executed in a gallant manner by the
soldiers. On the opposite shore new difficulties were presented.
In their front rose a precipice at least six hundred feet in
height. Up the zigzag trail in this rocky bank, the soldiers
bent their course, and after a tedious effiart they mounted the
summit and commenced their journey over a rough country, in
which they continued for six davs before the Indians were

OK, TIIK IMHU)KK WAKfl OK •WO CKNTUKIKh.

S()3

overhauled. Tlie band of Apachus liad been traveling
slowly, and their aniinula were, consequently, in good spirits,
while, on the contrary, the horses of the Americans were nearly
exhausted. Thus when their strength was most needed, it was
too far spent to be of much service. Tlie Indians discovered
their pursuers in time to make their escape, not however,
without losing many of tlieir warriors and most of their camp
equipage. Thus, after a long and wearisome march, the
soldiers were compelled to return, without rendering their
enemies the justice they so richly deserved.

Soon ailer, another expedition against the Apaches was
undertaken by Major Brooks, of the Third Eegiment of United
States dragoons. He had no difficulty in discovering the trail
of the enemy, but it soon led him into the country of the
Utahs, where it was crossed and re-crossed by the trails of the
Utahs until his guides could not tell the Apache from the
Utah trail. The result of this was that his command, after
being on the march fifteen days, was compelled to return with-
out accomplishing anything.

But these hostile Indians were not permitted to escape
without further punishment. Another expedition was made
ready and placed under the command of Major Carlton, of the
First Eegiment of United States dragoons. The march was
taken up, and in due time the trail was discovered which led
to the Indian encampment on " Fisher's Peak " in the Eaton
mountains. Climbing to the summit, they routed the Indians
with a heavy loss, capturing about forty horses and nearly all
their camp equipage.

But these details soon resulted in a formidable Indian war.
Outrages had been committed upon the Utahs, and this nation
waited only the distribution of their annuities before joining
the Apaches against the settlements. And now the forests of
New Mexico were filled with hostile savages, who were pre-
paring to rush upon the villages, painted for battle. Travelers
were waylaid and murdered, towns were attacked and the
inhabitants murdered or made captives. Thus matters con-
tinued until evej'y settlement in New Mexico was filled with
consternation. Terror seized the defenseless inhabitants, but

TKOUBLK WITH TIIK WKHTKKN IMMANn:

thoro WM no way open for mercy in Hight, tor the isolate*]
towHH of this territory wore fur nwuy from a place of refuse.
Iiuliati (leprediitioiiH wore cotitiniied until nearly half the hor8es,
mules, cattle and sheep in the territory were captured by the
aavHgvs.

The Utuhs, by whose strong, fierce warriors the ApuchcH hud
been re-enforced, were led to battle by their renowned war
chief Blanco, who had become famous in all the west for great
bravery and skill in war. Being thus strengthened, the ravages
set the Unite<l States forces at defiance. At Fort Massachii.
setts, in northern New Mexico, attaira soon became critical.
It was impossible to leave the fort without falling into the
merciless hands of the lurking savages, and the towns for
many miles around disappeared in smoke and flame, while the
inliabitants either perished under the tomahawk, or were
made prisoners. At length the fort became an object of con-
quest, and the savages congregated in tlie neigliboring forest
for the purpose of laying plans for the destruction of the little
garrison. Every precaution was taken by the troops to save
the fort. Breastworks were thrown up on the block house
attached to the fort, so that the soldiers could be well protected
in case of an attack. Sentinels were posted in these, and the
the guards were doubled. Preparations were also made against
fire, and every step calculated to ensure safety was taken, and
it was well that these precautionary measures wei'e taken, for
it was afterwards discovered that the savages remained in the
vicinity of the fort several days, waiting in vain for an oppor-
tunity to attack it.

It was not possible that this state of affairs should long con-
tinue without some opposition on the part of the United States
authorities in New Mexico. The Governor issued a proclama-
tion calling upon the people to volunteer for the purpose of
defending their lives and property, and of repelling the savages.
The call was promptly responded to, and in a few days six com-
panies, each containing eighty volunteers, were mounted and
equipped. The troops had the power to elect their own ofiicers,
by and with the advice and consent of the Governor. Each
man furnishetl himself with a horse, and was to receive thirty

anh:

OH, TIIK IMtRDKR WaW n¥ iWO ('KNTURIIW.

ft05

, tor tlio isoUtct]
, a place of refill'.
rly Imlf the liorscs
iMiptiired by tlie

H tlie Apuelies hml
eir renowned wur
the west tor greiit
thoned, tlio saviiges
Lt B^ort MuBsacliii-
in became criticiil.
it falling into the
and the towns for
nd tlanie, while the
omahawk, or were
le an object of con-
neighboring forest
auction of the little
iT the troops to nave
n the block houso
d be well protected
in these, and the
re also made against
fety was taken, and
urea wei-e taken, for
res remained in the
vain for an oppor-

irs should long con-
of the United States

issued a ^roclauia-
for the purpose of
spelling the savages.

a few days six coni-
werc mounted and
!t their own officers.
Governor. Each
as to receive thirty

(Inllars |)er month from the government for bis scrviceM. Mr.
Ceran St. Vruin, of T«oh, was selected as the leader of the \oU
unteers, luiving the rank of Lieutenant-CJoIonel conferred upon
him by the Governor. His appointment was received by the
people with approval, for with such a force, and witb m» bravo
and judicious a commander, they felt that they wer<y*'to bo
delivered from the constant and increasing hostilitiWi' of tho
Indians. Early in February, 1856, Col. T. T. Fauntleroy
arrived at Taos from Fort Union, a post not very far distant,
in that Territory. By orders from the War Department, C^)l.
Fauntleroy had been appointed to the chief command of the
whole expedition. His command, when completed, consisted
of four companies of Mexican volunteers, two companies of
dragoons, one company of artillery, who were performing duty
as a ritle corps, and one company of spies. Tho other two
companies of volunteers were sent out to protect some of the
frontier towns from further Indian depredations. The artillery
company was not mounted, but succeeded in keeping up with
the horses when the mountains had been reached.

With Kit Carson as guide, tho troops under Col. Fauntleroy
set out for Fort Massachusetts. Reaching this post, they wasted
no time, but continued in the direction of tho hostile Indians.
The march from Fort Massachusetts to the mountains by
the route of the great cation of the Rio Grande del Norte, was
attended with many hardships^, which were not decreased by
its continuation to the Saquachi Pass, bordering the valley of
San Luis. At this point the main trail of the Indians was
discovered, and subsequently the Indians themselves. The
latter were in their war dress, about two hundred and Hfty
strong, and on seeing the advance company of spies, arrayed
themselves in battle order to receive them. Tlie spies pre-
tended to be arranging for an attack, when really they were only
holding the attention of the savages until the volunteers should
arrive. In the meantime the great war chief, Blanco, was seen
riding to and fro in front of his lines, giving orders, and appar-
ently in high hope of victory. When the main body had
advanced to the proper point, being still unobserved by the
savages they prepared for the charge. In a moment more the

«06

TROUIiUC WITH TIIK WMirKKM INIHANM:

bugle Bonndod thu command, and away daiihod the onthniiiaiitic
Buldiuni, eager for the buttle. Ah they galloped in sight the
Indians Haw the truth of their situation, and turned to tly, but
for many of them it was too late. In a few minutes the hoI-
diers were among them, and the work of slaughter commenued.
The savages wasted no time to return the Hre, but kept up the
flight, their ranks thinning by the steady tire of the volunteiTS
us they advanced along the valley. Tlie running fight was con>
tinned for nearly eight miles, when the Indians who hud not
fallen escaped to the mountains. On the following morning
the volunteers made preparations and started in pursuit of tiui
Indians, which they kept up for several days. Finally they
discovered the enemy, and after a hard fight they routed them
a second time, with severe loss. Having thus thoroughly pun-
ished these hostile Indians, the whole command returned to
Fort Massachusetts. In tliis campaign Col. Fauntleroy*s little
Army suflfered no loss beyond a few sliglitly wounded. The
Mexicans had shown themselves worthy so bruve a commander,
and had executed his orders with a firmness and gallantry truly
commendable.

Tlie command remained at this post for several months,
recruiting their tired and^woary animals, and preparing for a
new campaign. When the preparations had been completed,
the soldiers were divided into two parties, one under Col. St.
Vrain, and the other under Ool. Fauntleroy. The latter com-
mander proceeded to the headwaters of the Arkansas, where he
<same upon a fresh trail, which led directly to u large village of
Apaches and Utahs, which was discovered by the Americans,
whose presence was unobserved by the Indians. When the
command reached an eminence commanding a view of the vil-
lage, its occupants were engaged in a war and scalp dance,
making such hideous noises that they did not hear the sound
of the approaching soldiers. They were having a merry time,
not dreaming of danger, when a volley of rifle balls was poured
in upon them, striking down many of the foremost partici-
pants. The surprise was complete, and so benumbed with fear
and consternation were the savages that they knew not which
way to turn for flight. Many of their bravest warriors were

OK, TIIK IKiKhKK WAKM OK TWo ( KNTirKIIOI.

pilot down heforo tho real daii^tr wa* undurMtood. Tlio nun-
vivori fluw to tho wood* for refuge, leaving evorytliing lH)hiii(i.
A few of tho warriori), however, soized their ritlos and rctunic<l
tho tiro of tho loldierH, killing two, and ftoverel}^ wounding four
others.

In this contest our soldiora won a splendid victory for }H!ace,
for the lesson, although severe, proved a lusting roinindor to
those forgetful savages. In this affair the Indians lost all their
provisions, ammunition, horses, and camp equipage, besides
a large stock of valuable furs. It was the severest blow the
IJtuhs and Apaches ever received at the hands of the United
States government, and was richly deserved.

Not satistied with this victory. Col. Fauntleroy pnrsnod a
trail which led to a village in which the celebrated Blanco
resided. Coming upon this, the savages were routed with a
heavy loss of their best warriors; and so hotly were they pur-
sued that the bravo Blanco came out upon a rock in the
mountain side and asked the white chief in the plain below to
grant him a '' talk." lie said liis men were tired of war, and
were anxious to conclude a lasting peace with their white
brethren. In another moment a ball went whizzing by his
head, which had been discliarged from a Mexican's rifle for the
purpose of dispatching him, but which had missed its object.
Blanco disappeared suddenly. After scouring the country for
many miles around, and severely chastising the Indians where-
evor they could be found, Col. Fauntleroy returned to Fort
Massachusetts, where, to his great satisfaction, lie learned that
€ol. St. Vrain, who had been sent out as before mentioned,
had also encountered several strong bands of Indians, and dis-
persed them all with a severe chastisement.

I ought, perhaps, at tl»is point, to explain that the Fort
Massachusetts here referred to is not the one occupied at the
present time. The one spoken of here was abandoned some
years ago, and another bearing the same name was erected six
miles from the original site, on the river Trinchera.

Cols. Fauntleroy and St. Vrain had thus terminated a bril-
liant Indian campaign. The Utahs and Apaches had been

608

TKiu'm.K wrnt iiik wmtiun imuann;

«>ngi4(U(l iti Huvcn ItuttloH, luxl liml Im'^ii routol m uuiuy tiiiif«-
with tlio loHH ot'iill tliuir oiiiiip oriiiipii^o utid over fivu hiiii(lri!(l
horitt'H. liviufif tliUM (lut'eiitod urul puii.Hhod on vvvry liuml, tlay
§\m\ for pc>aco, wliicli wnMgruiitud tlieiii in H)(riiii<l council hfld
nt Siuitii Vd.

OIIAPTKU LXIII.
TiiR Navajo Indianh Join tiik Ukiikiji-^ Tiikih IIohtii.r Am-nmE

— (UnNON liRAM AM ARMT AOAINIT TIIRM— TrN TllODHANtl INDI-
ANA TAKRN PUIMONKHH — ADVOI'ATKM Or TIIK NRW ItKHKIIVATtON
I'OI.ICY — TlIK MiMTAIlV DiVIHION Off TIIK M WHOUKI -- ITU KXTRNT

— CoNurrioN or riir. TiiiiiKa in tiiih Divuion in IHflO.

In IHOO, and, in t'nut, diirinf( tlio wiiole of tlio civil war in
tho United States, Iiidiun atlairs in Now Mexico woro unHOt-
tied. Miiny of tiio Btruii^^otit Imnds l)0(;aino tlio allioH of tlio
TexHiiH, and invadod tho Hottloments that woro suppuaod to ho
friendly to tho Union, without niorcy. PorhapH, atnon^ tho
trihoA which thus aMBUtncd a himtilo attitude, the Navajo Indi-
aiiH woro tho most troubiesomo. Indeed, for more than ten
yi'iirri they liad defied tho United States i^ovornment, and now,
iillicd with the roboU, they wore unusually bold and dangerous.
Tli(!ir warriors numbered into the thousands, and were consid*
ered as formidable enemies. Soon after tho War of tho Kobol-
lion broke out, two thousand ])icked men were placed imdor
the command of Kit Carson, then Coionel of Volunteers, and
ordered to march against these hostiie Indians. Carson's com-
nmnd performed this sorvieo in a very satisfactory manner.
Driving tho Indians into a narrow ravine, and disposing of liis
forces so as to command every approach, Carson effected tho
snrrcndor of ten thousand Indians, which is said to bo tho
largest single capture of Indians over known. For this gallant
Boivice Kit Carson was breveted with tho rank of Brigadier-
General of Volunteers. Soon after, the captured Indians were
l)lftcod on a reservation on one of the tributaries of the
Arkansas river, and, at a later day, under Gen. Sherman's
nmuageinont, the same Indians were removed to a reservation
in their own country, where they still remain, though reduced
in numbers, and fallen from their primitive state.

(509)

610

TROUBLE WITH THE WESTERN INDIANS!

This splendid victory over the savages most hostile to tlie
people of New Mexico, put an end to the formidable Indian
wars in that territory, with one or two exceptions, which I have
yet to mention.

But with the termination of the war with the Sioux, a
change in the Indian policy was felt to be much needed, both
by the government and the people, as well as by the Indians
themselves. Many of my readers will remember the appeal
sent out by Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota, in which he said:
" There is not a man in America who ever gave an hour's calm
reflection to this subject, who docs not know that our Indian
system is an organized system of robbery, and has been for
years a disgrace to the nation. It has left savage men witiiout
governmental control; it has looked on unconcerned at every
crime against the law of God and man; it has fostered sa/age
life by wasting thousands of dollars in the purchase of paint,
beads, scalping-knives and tomahawks; it has fostered a system
of trade which robbed the thrifty and virtuous to pay the
debts of the indolent and vicious; it has squandered the funds
for civilization and schools; it has connived at theft; it has
winked at murder; and at last, after dragging the savage down
to a brutishness unknown to his fathers, it has brought a har-
vest of blood to our own door."

This appeal met with a hearty support in all parts of the
United States, and led to the petition from the Episcopal
bishops and clergy of the Northern States to the President, in
which the following timely suggestions were set forth :

" Fi/rat — ^That it is impolitic for our government to treat a
heathen community, living in our borders, as an independent
nation, but that they ought to be regarded as our wards.

" Second — ^That it is dangerous to ourselves and to them, to
leave these Indian tribes without a government, not subject to
our laws, and when every corrupt influence of the bordci
would inevitably foster a spirit of revenge leading to murder
and war.

^^ Third — That the solemn responsibility of the care of a
heathen race requires that the agents and servants of the govern-
ment who have them in charge, shall be men of eminent

OB, TIIK BOttDKR WAR8 OF TWO CENTURIES.

611

iitneos, and in no case should such offices be regarded as a
reward for political service.

" Fourth — That every feeling of honor and of justice
demands that the Indian funds which we hold for them as a
trust, shall be carefully expended under some well devised sys-
tem which will encourage their efforts toward civilization.

" Fifth — That the present system of Indian trade is mis-
chievous and demoralizing, and ought to be so amended as to
protect the Indian and wholly to prevent the possibility of the
sale of the patrimony of the tribe to satisfy individual debts.

" Sixth — That it is believed that the history of our dealings
with the Indians has been marked by gross acts of injustice
and robbery, such as could not be prevented under ihe present
system of management, and that these wrongs have often
proved the prolific cause of war and bloodshed.

* It * * Hi * ii. y^Q fggi that these results cannot be
secured without much careful thought, and, therefore, request
you to take such steps as may be necessary to appoint a com-
mission of men of high character, who have no political ends
to subserve, to whom may be referred this whole question, in
order that they may devise a more perfect system for the
administration of Indian affairs, which shall redress these
wrongs, preserve the honor of the government and call down
upon us the blessings of God."

In these sentiments the press of the country, for the most
part, heartily concurred, and during President Grant's first
term of office, the commission asked for in the foregoing peti-
tion, was appointed, but not until great evils had grown out of
the old policy, as we shall see.

We must now go back a few years and bring forward the
history of the wars between the United States and the Indians
in regular order. At the close of the war of the rebellion in
1865-6, the whole territory of the United States was divided
into five great military districts. The first of these to which
our attention is directed, and which has, for many years, been
the center of border warfares, is styled the Military Division
of the Missouri. This military division embraced, iu 1866,
the vast region from the Mississippi river to the Rocky Moun-

612

TKOUHLK WITH TMK WKSTEItN INDIANS:

tains, and from the south border of New Mexico to the British
lino on tlie north. In speaking of the condition of this
important and extensive tract of territory in 3866, Gen. W. T.
Slierman said: "The land on the eastern border is fertile and
well adapted to settlement, but the western parts are a prairie,
with good grasses, but generally devoid of trees or minerals,
are subject to droughts, and are not inviting to settlers. Next
in order are the mountainous Territories of Montana, Utah,
Colorado and New Mexico, composed of high plateaus and
mountains, containing minerals of every kind, with forests of
timber and numerous valleys susceptible of high cultivation,
either by means of the ordinary rains, or the more certain sys-
tem of irrigation that has been begun within a comparatively
recent period, and has been pushed with an energy and success
that promises the best results. These new and mountain ter-
ritories present a most interesting feature in our future
development as a nation, and are, in my judgment, worthy the
liberal and fostering care of the general government. Between
these mountain territories and those of the river border lie the
great plains of America, which have been well mapped and
described by the hundreds of explorers that have traversed
them from the time of the expeditions of Pike, and Lewis and
Clark, as early as 1803, until the present moment. These plains
can never be cultivated like Illinois, never be filled with inhab-
itants capable of self-government and self-defense as against
Indians and marauders, but at best can become a vast pasture-
field, open and free to all for the rearing of herds of horses,
mules, cattle and sheep. The mountain territories seem to be
more rapidly improving and assuming a condition of self-pro-
tection and defense, because the people can acquire fixed
habitations and their property is generally grouped in valleys
of some extent, or in localities of mines capable of sustaining
a people strong enough to guard themselves against the preda-
tory bands of nomadic Indians. Still, they occupy at this
time an isolated position, presenting a thinly settled frontier
in every direction, with a restless people branching out in
search of a better place, or of better mines. To defend them
perfectly is an utter impossibility, and all we can do is to aid

Ns:

OR, THE nORDKK WARS OF TWO CENTURIW.

613

•o to the British
ludition of this
866, Gen. W.T.
ier is fertile and
rts are a prairie,
ees or minerals,
D settlers. Next
Montana, Utah,
igh plateaus and
1, with forests of
high cultivation,
more certain sys-
[ a comparatively
lergy and success
,nd mountain ter-
e in our future
ment, worthy the
rnment. Between
ver border lie the
well mapped and
it have traversed
ke, and Lewis and
ent. These plains
filled with inhab-
lefense as against
.e a vast pasture-
If herds of horses,
litories seem to be
edition of self-pro-
in acquire fixed
Touped in valleys
fable of sustaining
against the ]>reda-
jy occupy at this
lly settled frontier
branching out in
To defend them
^e can do is to aid

the people in Belf-defense, until in time they can take care of
themselves, and to make the roads by which they travel or
bring their stores from the older parts of our country as safe ai
the case admits of."

A review of the condition of the Indians in tliis military
division in 1866, will afford us a good starting point for an
account of the wars that followed. The wandering and war-
hke Sioux, who inhabited the country from Minnesota to
Montana, and down as far as the Arkansas, had, for the pre-
vious ten years, been committing acts of hostility, that have
been pronounced as impossible to foresee or to prevent. In
like manner, the Arapahoes and Oheyennes, Kiowas, Camanches
and Apaches, Navajoes and Utahs, though supposed to have
been restric'- i to reservations, were, in 1866, unsettled, dissat-
isfied and ' ' ing to assume a hostile attitude.

With ti. .pleasant condition of Indian afiPairs in the
military division of the Missouri, something must be done,
and General Sherman was called upon for his advice. He
proposed to restrict the Sioux north of the Platte, west of the
Missouri river and east of the route to Montana which leads
from Fort Laramie to Virginia City, by way of Forts Ileno,
Philip, Kearney, Smith, etc. All Sioux found out of this
reservation, without a proper pass from the military authori-
ties, were to be duly punished. He further proposed to restrict
the Arapahoes, Oheyennes, Camanches, Kiowas, Apaches and
Navajoes south of the Arkansas and east of Fort Union.

It will be observed that Sherman's policy would leave to
settlers the exclusive use of the wide belt, east and weet,
between the Platte and the Arkansas, in which lie the two
great railroads, and over which at that time, passed all the
travel to the mountain territories. The Indian wars of the
previous year had been of such a character as to require such
steps as General Sherman recommended, which led to the
hearty co-operation of the war department with his plan.
Yet after all, when we consider the causes of Indian hostility
at this period, a feeling of sympathy is awakened. And it is
"necessary to turn away from official reports to find good
grounds for this feeling. Gen. Pope, in reporting from Fort
33 *

514

TROUBLR Wrril TIIK WPJSTKUN INDIANS:

Union, New Mexico, in 18(16, speaks of the condition ot the
Indians in his department as follows: "The condition and
feeling of the Ute Indians are unsatisfactory, not to say alarm-
ing. In addition to other causes of trouble, the southern
bands of these Indians are suffering for food, many of them,
indeed, are in a starving condition. Venison has become very
scarce, and in the several attempts they have made to supply
their actual necessities by hunting buffalo on the plains, they have
been beaten in tight by their hereditary enemies, the Camanches,
Kiowas, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, and driven back to the
mountains. The Indian department has refused to supply
them even witli the scantiest food, and it is neither the busi-
ness of the military, nor, in fact, as matters stand, is it in their
power to supply these deticiencies. In this state of things,
the Utes are compelled either to starve to death or supply their
pressing wants by depredating upon the herds and Hocks ot
the nearest settlements. These depredations, although tririing
in the quantity of stock taken, occasion, of course, great dis-
satisfaction and uneasiness among the settlers, and have led to
various violent acts which will very soon culminate in open
and extensive hostilities, unless something is done to remedy
this deplorable condition of things. The Indians are anxious
to be at peace as they have always been, but they must kill a
few cattle and sheep now and then, or starve. For such acts
I can not consider them at war."

Here is a case, whicli has hundreds of parallel cases in the
history of the American aborigines, where the Indians, having
been deprived of their hunting grounds, brought upon them-
selves an avalanche of American bayonets for stealing the
cattle and sheep of the settlers to prevent starvation. While
at the same time the government refused to provide them the
means of subsistence.

CHAPTER LXIV.

Indian Troubles in tub Militahy Division of the Mibsouiu in
1807 — The IIokhihi.b Massacuk at Port Phil. Kbarnbt — Indian

OCTBRBAKfl IN MONTANA ~ OlITRAOE AT SmOKT HiIJ,, AND AlONO
THE ROVTE TO CaIJFOUNIA — TlIB PbAOB COMMTSfllON Poi.IOY —

Inactivity of the Military.

About tlie close of the year 1866, a wagon train started
from Fort Phil. Kearney — one of the outposts established the
previous year to protect the wagon road leading from the North
Platte to the new mining territory of Montana — after timber
for the saw mill, and had proceeded but a short distance, with
an armed escort, when tiring was heard, and the alarm given
that the train was attacked by Indians.

At this time Col. H. C. Carrington was commanding at
Fort Kearney, and he immediately sent out a detachment of
forty-nine men under the command of Capt. W. J. Fetterman,
with orders to overtake the train, escort it back to the fort in
safety, but not to pursue the enemy. Lieut. Grummond, with
twenty-seven men, of the Second cavalry, Wh6 afterwards dis-
patched to report to Capt. Fetterman, and reiterate the orders
he had already received. The detachment was joined by Capt.
Brown and two citizens, making, in all, three commissioned
officers, seventy-six enlisted men, and two citizens. This
detacliment, instesd of going to the threatened train, diverged
very considerably to the right, crossed Big Piney creek, and
passed over a high piece of ground that covered them from
view.

Soon after, sharp firing was heard from that direction, which
lasted about half an hour. Hearing this, Col. Carrington
dispatched Capt. Ten Eyck with a small detachment, with
orders to hasten to Fetterman's assistance. He at oace set out,

(515)

516

Titoinii.K wmi TiiH wHirrKRN indianh:

but nrrivod too late to Ih) of anj aorvico, uxuopt to obtuin the
dead and miitilatud bodiiw of t)u> unft)rtuiiato (lutuchinont.
Every man in Fetternian's dutauhinont was uhot down, not one
<Mcapinj( death. In the diutaneo (>apt. Ten Eyiik obaorvod
ai)out two thousand Indiana retreating in good order, llo
oollected the bodieH of the dead and etirried thcni back to tho
fort, whore they wore properly buried. Tiie wagon train
al8o returned to the post in Hafety, and tho Indians diHnppeiired.

Subsequent aucounts from tlie Indians indicated tliat they
Lad expected to draw out and murder tlie whole garrison, but
tlieir loss in the conflict with Capt. Fetterman was such that
they abandoned any further eiforts. During the same winter
a strong detachment was sent against these Indians, but the
weather was so severe that the command was forced co return
without accomplishing anything. The Indians who perpe-
trated this bold massacre were the Sioux.

With the opening of the spring of 18()7, Indian affairs iu
the Military Division of the Missouri assumed an unpleasant
attitude. Large bands of hostile Sioux and Crows were pour-
ing down upon the settlements in the valley ()f the Oallatian,
and the inhabitants were fleeing for tlieir lives. About the
same time, the Indians, both from the north and the south,
began a systematic attack upon the Platte route, while along
the Arkansas river route to New Mexico, and the Smoky Hill
route to California, bands of Cheyennes, Kiowas, and Arapa-
hoes had boldly notified the commanding officers of posts, and
stage-drivers, and agents, that as soon as the grass grew they
would insist on their withdrawal from these roads. These
Indians were also joined by strong bands of Ogalalla and
Brul6 Sioux, and were pushing preparations for genera) hos-
tilities, having already commenced the work by committing
several cold-blooded murders.

Gen. Hancock, with a small detachment, marched against
these Indians early in the spring of 1867, and after dispersing
them burnt the principal villages of the Cheyennes and Sioux
on the Pawnee Fork. . But for the most part during the year
1867, only a defensive Indian war was prosecuted, in ojder to
oo-operate with the new Peace Commission policy which had

anm:

OB, TIFR nORPF.R WAR« Of TWO OKNTlfRIM*.

617

)|)t to obtrtin the
iiato (lutauhniont.
hot down, not one
jn Kyck observed
gootl order, llo
them back to the
The wjigon train
idiansdUappeared.
idicated that they
hole garrison, but
I an was such that
5 the same winter
e Indians, but the
AS forced to return
ndians wlio perpe-

r, Indian affairs iu

uied an unpleasant

i Crows were pour-

>y (»f the Gallatian,

lives. About the
rth and the south,

route, while along
nd the Smoky Hill
[iowas, and Arapa-
fficers of posts, and
he grass grew they

lese roads. These
is of Ogalalla and

18 for genera) hos-

)rk by committing

marched against
md after dispersing
leyennes and Sioux
irt during the year
aecuted, in ojder to
policy which had

l)cen commenced. Tliereforo, an no decisivo blow was struc .
against tlie hostile Indians that year, murders and massacreB
were of frequent occurrence, and the settlers, from Montana to
New Mexico, and from the Mississippi to the Rocky Moun-
tains, were wrouglit up to a state of exceeding alarm. The
military authorities in the West, particularly Gen. Sherman,
were exasperated with the slow and uncertain movements of
the Commissioners, and with the constant outbreaks of the
Indians, which, for the most part', went unpunished. Even
the bold band of hostile Sioux which had massacred the detach-
ment under Fettorman, were still roaming at large, committing
new depredations, and boasting of the scalps they had taken.
While at Smoky Hill, and all along the road to California, the
various bands of the Cheyennes, Kiowas and Arapahoes, joined
by the Ogalallas and Brul6 Sioux, were daily committing
depredations, such as horse stealing, murdering pioneer settlers,
and carrying women and children into a barbarous captivity.
And yet, in the face of all these outrages, the military were
held inactive, being ordered not to eng'iire and punish the
Indians unless a formidable Indian war should be thr;'st upon
them. Thus it will be seen that however much good wi,s des-
tined to come out of the policy of a Peace Commission, while
that Board was deliberating at St. Louis, trying to solve the
Indian question, thousands of hostile savages were invading
the settlements of the West from countless directions, anrl
murdering the defenseless inhabitants, with but a defensive
opposition, which was incapable of extending itself to but few
of the settlements.

OHAPTKU LXV.

Wars witu tiir Inuiamb in tiik Mimtakv Divihion or tiik Mishuuki —
Oi'KUA'rioNM or tiik Pkach ('OMmihhion — (Uiunc'ilh with tiik

InDIAMH — (k>NUIlKHM rAII« 'VO (/O-Ol'KHATK — A FoUUIDAIII.K INDIAN

Wah — Hkkakinu OUT or Hohtii.itikh — Mijudkh, Mahhachii: and

IIOItltOK— A ()llAI>TKH or OUTItAOKH.

Wk will uontinuu for the present to follow out tlu; militui'v
oporatioiiH in tlie division of thu MisHouri, which, at) I Imve
HlrcHdy oliHcrved, included that vast extent of territory hLtwceii
the Mississippi and the Kocky Mountains, and the Huutlioni
l)ouudary of New Mexico, and the northern boundary of Mon-
tana. At the time of whi(rh 1 write, 18(57-8, the divlwjun was
under the coiuinand of Lieut.-Gen. Sherman, and was divided
into three departments, the Missouri, the Platte, and the
Dakota, commanded respectively by Gen. Sheridan, Aiigur,
and Terry. As stated in a j)reviou8 chapter the militarv in
Ci.'iB wliole division had been instructed to prosecute only a
defensive war, in order to oifer all possible advantages to the
plans of the new Peace Commissioners. Indeed, the move-
ments of tlie United States forces in this territory were suhject
to tlie direction of that IJoard. The Commissioners, after
long and careful deliberation, had unanimously a<i;reud to
remove all the Indians in Sherman's division, on resorvii-
tions as far removed as possible from white settlements and
lines of travel, and that they should be maintaiiKjd at the cost
of the United States until they could partially or wholly pro-
vide for themselves. The two principal reservations indicated
by the commission were north of the State (»f Nebraska, and
west of the Missouri river, and south of the State of Kansas
and west of the Arkansas. This general plan was justilied by
the facts existing at the time, and its wisdom has been
demonstrated by subsequent events.

(518) , .

OK, TIIK HOKDKK WAItN OK TWO OKMTUKII'K

619

For tho piirpoHo of obtniniiig the M>tiHOiit of tlio Tndinim to
tliiH plan, tlu; ])caco cotiitiiiKHion, during tliu full und wint<>r of
1H(S7, un<l tho M])ring nnd Hiiinnier of 18(18, hiM councilH with
nil, or nourl)' all tho tril -t cast of tho Uocky Mountaina,
making liberal ]>rovi8ion tur, and proBontH to all w\u. cninu to
tlio apjJointcHl places of council, accor«ling to tho forms and
corcuioniort to which thoy woro long accuHtoniod. Formal
written treaties wore made with each weparato Irihe, signed
with duo formality, und transmitted to tho United States for
mtitication.

It is helieved by many that tho bloody war which followed
in 18(18 miglif have boon avoided had tho Congress of the
United States promptly co-oporated with the j)eaco commis-
rtioti, but for some reason this matter was «)vorlookod. Tho
treaties with the (Jhoyonncs, Arapahoes, Kiowas, (amanchog,
Navajoos, and Crows were duly confirmed, but those witli the
various tribes of the Sioux, Snakes, etc., were not acted upon.
Hut tho worst blow of all was the failure of Congress to take
action upon the chief proposition of the comujissioners, viz.:
that which related to the sotting apart the two reservations
ah'eady spoken of, and j)roviding governments therefor, M'hich
was designed to precede any of tho treaties, and which was the
vital principle of them all. It hardly admits of doubt that
this want of prompt action led, in a great measure, to the
I'oruiidable war with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and
Canuuichos in 1808.

This war took place in the department of the Missouri,
wiiich was then under the immediate command of Gen. Sheri-
dan, being a part of the military division of the Missouri,
under the chief command of Lieut.-Gen. Sherman. The
hostilities of the Indians began with the opening of spring,
and although Gen. Sheridan did all in his power to promote
peace, the Kiowos, Camanches, Arapahoes and Cheyennes
continued their depredations without intermission. Their
prontises were kept only while they were in council. And it
was imi)0S8ible to place any reliance upon their engagements.
About the fourth of July the Kiowas and Camanches arrived
at Fort Larned, and demanded rations, making many threats

520

THOUBLK WITH TIIK WK^'rll:KN IMIIANM:

of whnt they would <lo hIiouM thuy l)o rvt'iittcHl. To prnvnnt
uii oiitbri'uk, Oeu. Slivriilun ordurcd mtiuiiH to bo IhiiikmI to
tliein, wiiicli, togtsthur with the prvKvnce ut' u lur^ cuvulry
turco, kvpt thviii ({uiet.

Hoon ut'tttr, urdurx weru iMMiicd to dintrihiitu tliu ruguliir
aiirniitioM tu tho ChoyennuH, witldiolding KHIih, piHtuK<, iitul
uiiiiniinition. This iiicoiiiicd thu hidituiH, who told tho iij^iit
in A very itiHolcnt inniinur, whilo thu teuiiiH were hiiuliiig thu
g04Kirt to tlit'ir c'Hiiip, that he could haul thuui back again, hh
they would have nothing uuIchh they were given their tire
arni8 and nnnnunition. Tho agent nent for tho wagons utid
had them returned to Fort Lirned. Thitt took place in the
latter part of .Inly, J8«{8.

Karly in August, a mixed party of (yheyennen, Arapahoe*
and Sioux, organized a war expedition, and procee<le<l from
their camp on Pawnee creek, to the Saline valley BettlenieiitM,
north of Fort Ilarkor. They were kindly received by tho
fanncrH living on the outtikirtti of the settlements, and given
coffee, etc. After throwing the coffee into the tiwes of the
women serving it to them, because it was given to them in tin
cups, they commenced tho robbery of the houses, and insultiiij^
the women in a brutal manner. After committing countlosH
acts of crime among the settlers in the Saline valley, they
crossed over to the settlements on the Solomon, where they
were also kindly received and served with coffee, but where
they repeated the hostile and barbarous acts which they had
perpetrated in the former place. In the latter town they mur-
dered thirteen men and two women. At this point they
divided, a small party passing over to the Republican, where
tliey also murdered several of the settlers. The larger party
returned to the settlements of the Saline, where they again
commenced to murder peacefiil settlers. Fortunately, however,
Col. Benteen, with his company of the seventh cavalry, which
had marched rapidly from Zarah, arrived, routed the Indians
and ran them about ten miles.

In speaking of this situation in our Indian history, Lieut-
Gen. Sheridan, in his report, says: ''Lieut. Beecher, who
was with his scouts on Walnut creek, hearing there was trouble

anh:

wi\. To prcvmtt

to 1)0 iMmuMl ti»

f II lurgo cuvulry

lmt») tho roguUr
[IIIIH, piMtolit, utid
»o toltl tho iiKt'iit
were liHiilint; tliu
in buck liKuiii, iw
« ^iveii tlieii' Hie
• tho wagons und
took i>laco in tho

ennert, Arapiilioes
1(1 |»roct't'«leO from
vuliey Bettlenieiitrt,
r received by tho
eujentB, and j<iveu
to the faces of tiiu
ven to them in tin
uses, and insultiiiK
iiinitting oountU'«»
Saline valley, they

omon, where they
coffee, but where

ts which they had

;er town they iniir-
tins point they

Republican, where
Tho larger \>i\ny

where they again
tnnately, however,

nth cavalry, which

outed the Indians

an history, Lieut.-
eut. Beecher, who
g there was trouble

OR, TUN IIOKDKK WAKM OV nVO CKNTtrKIHI.

A2t

on tho Solomon and Siiline, but without knowing itn nature,
liiHpatched Comstock and (irovur to tho cnmp of Turkey Keg,
on thu Solomon, to Im; ready to QX[)lain, in ca«o the white pcopio
were at fault. They weni onloretl out of Turkey Log camp,
Mid Wi'ro followed by a party of seven hulians, professing
friendship; and while conversing with them were both shot
in the back — Conistoek killed instantly, and Grover ba<ily
woundo<l; but by lying on thu ground, making a defense of
Coinstock*s body, he kept the Indians off, and made his escape
in the darkness of the night. From this time out, and almost
hefore information could be communicated by the Indian run-
nerH, |M>oplo wore killed an<l seal po<l from the Cimarron river,
tiouth of the ArkauHos, ti* the Republican, and from tho settle-
ments on the Solomon an<l Sulino west of the Rocky Mountains;
stock run of}', trains burned, and tlioso accompanying them, in
some cases, thrown into tho Hamcs and consumed. Tho most
horrible barbarities were per|X5trjite<l on tho dead bodies of
thcrio victims of savage ferocity. There was no provocation
on tho part of the white people during the whole summer,
although some of them ha<l to abandon their ranches. Friendly
Ikkucs were made at the military posts to the Indians visiting
them, and largo issues nuvdo by tho Indian department of
rations and goods."

As if to nuiko matters worse, tho Indian agent, after order-
ing the wagt)ns containing tho Cheyenne annuities back to
Fort Lirned, immediately afterwards distributed them to these
Indians, with arms and ammunition. They had already been
insulted by the refusal to their demand for arms and ammuni-
tion a short time previous, and, goaded on by their principal
medicine man, they were soon in the front ranks of the most
hostile tribes. Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan, in closing his report, in
1868, says: " I am of the belief that these Indians require to
be soundly whipped and the ringleaders in the present trouble
hung, their ponies killed, and such destruction of t;heir prop-
erty us will make them very poor. These Indians are now
rich ill houses, stock and other property suitable for their com-
fort in their manner of life. From my best information, the
Cheyennes and Arapalioes will average from twenty to two

AS»«

TKol III >; WITH TIIK WKMTKKN INDUNA:

ItuiulrtHi liorMim to u I<mI^> of mIx pcrMottM. MoMt of tliiit ntiN-k
liUH U'ftn ntH'iiiiitiliittHi ill tlirlr |M<rio<li('ikl wiirM, |{«<for«' wuro
\m>cuiiu> h nourri' of profit to tlinn, tlicv lin»
AiKJ liiiCM of coiiitniiiiicatioii iiitcrriiptiMl, (.tir Moldici'H living in
ilu^-oiitH from lliiys to |)«'iiv«>r, iitui from the tiioiitli tt( tin-
liittio ArkiuiKUH to INicMo, ami lar^c expciiHt' pcriodicallv
iiu'urr(«<l l»y tlii» jfovt>riiiiu'iit, without 'iny ft<U'<|uiitt! chaHtlM'
mont, rtooiiiH to (U'peiitl on tlu' imTc wliim of the Huva^eK."

It would Im' «lifll('ult to imiij;ine the extent of alarm mi'l
anxiety that wan t'elt hy the Heftlern in the hroad t'xteiit ol'
country inclmled in the Military Division of the MinHoiiri, in
18(18. Many exaggerated reportn were on foot, Imt, for the
iiioHt part, tho thrilling iiecountrt horm; on thu ton^iiert «>f run
ner« were t)nly too true. (Jen. Sheridan'H headtpiartern at I'ort
llayH wag eoiiBtuntly besiejftsd with Htartliiif^ report*, hiicIi u-
thuHe:

On the twenty. fifth (»f Aii^UHt, Acting Governor Hall. i»t'
('olorado, reported by telej^raph that over two hundred IndiuiiH
were dcvastatinjif Southern (Jolorado. On the Hume day, tlio
Haino person tele<rra{)hed to Gen. Sheridan iih follows: "Tlii'
ArapahooH are killin<f HottlorB, dentroyin^ ranehen in all din'i'-
tions. For (Jod'H nake give* me authority to take Holdierh IVkiii
Fort Reynoldrt. 'I'he people; are arming and will imf t»
reHtruincd," A few hours later and the riame gentleiimn
reported that he was surrounded by hostile Indians. Stii^'tv
were stopped, stock was being taken, and the people wort'
organizing volunteer c<)in[)anic8 to nvenge the atrocities com-
mitted.

But these were not all; for not an hour ])afcsed which di'i
not bring the news of some new disaster. Ix't usglmiccat tlu'
uutlientie reports as they came to Gen. Sheridan's headqimr-
ters at Fort Hays, between the twenty-eighth of August ami
tiie twenty-first of October, 18C8.* Mr. Powers (wood mid Im.v
contractor) and party, were attacked by a bo«ly of Indiaiip.
three of tlieir number being killed, and all tlieir stock driven otl.

* Gen. Sheridan's Hoport, 1808.

riiAyR:

OR, tllR t«>KI>KK WAKH nf TWO rKNTitKI)]!.

0SB

MoHl «»f thin Ht<M k

*iirK. Mt't'orr warn

to piu'k tlit'ir liners

OW i^O illlll'|M>l|i|t>llt,

chmI, (»ur iniiil lim-
ir Holilici'n liviii).' ill

t\w inoutli of tilt'
i|H'nHt' ]M'rio<liciillv

n<l(>(|iiiiti! cliiiHtiM*'-
)t' tin) Huviij^cM."
xUMit ot* aliirm aii-l
ln« l»rt<ii(l extent of
of the MiHrtoiiri. in
» foot, l»ut, for tlif
tlio tonj(iieM of run
leudcjuiirterrt at Fort
iiig report*, uucii u-

Governor Hall, of

wo hundred Itidiiiii«

\ the name day. tin-

1 art folloWrH "Tlif

raneliert in all din'C-

) take Holdierh iVoiii

^ and will not U'

le riaiiic gentleumii

le Indians. Stii^'i>

id tlie people were

the atroeities coin-

ur passed which di'l
lift lis f^lann' at tlu'

>heridanV heathpmr-

^rhth of Auj^iist and
)wertt(,wood and hay
a body of Indiana

heir wtock driven off.

Mr. Stiekiiey, Htiitjtiii kee|H<r lit Kiuwu Spriti^M, truveiin^
with our mull in a wh^mi, ahoiif dark, wuh uttueked hy tlfteeii
or twenty Indiana, ;ind the wu^on And live niuh<H ca|>tiiri>d.
Mr. Stiekney waM wounded. The inideH were wihl and ran
away. Ni^ht eornin^ on they nia(h> their erieupe.

Thi' Mer^^eant at Lake Htatiun n-portn two einploy«'eH driv»'n
in, and aUo Htution ket{M>r and ntoek tender at Keeil'n Spring
driven oti' from atution, and forty head of Mti)ek run ot)' from
Kiowa Htution.

(Jen. I'enrone, eomnnindin^ Fort Lyon, reportM on the twenty-
tliitd, at midthiy, a hand of CheyentieH at Kent*!) Fort, tw(>nty
inileM distant from Fort Lyon, drove oti' tlftei>n head of horneH
and niiden and four heiid of heef eatth<. On the tweiity-fourth
Iiidianrt charted the rtta;i^e from the eaHt hack. He aUo Htatort
from reportrt, that the Denver i^Ui'^v lint*, thtt timtiky Hill, and
between Fortrt Lyoit and Dod^e, are overrun l)y hoHtile IndiauH.
On the twenty-Heeond of AngUKt a train of thirteen wagonu,
Itelon^in^ to S«Mior Don Uamire/, waM attacked by Heventy-tivo
or one hundred IndiaiiH, eighteen milurt from thu ArkauHUH
river, thu oxen killed and the train destroyed, the men in
oliar<^»', twt.'lvu in numbur, utteaping to Fort Lyon in the dark-
lU'MK of ni^ht.

Lieut. T. A. liiley, fifth infantry, reports tliat Indiana ran
oW two hundred horses belonging to tho KansaH Stage Com-
|)!i .y and the I'nited Status Express Company, and that the
staj^e liiu> is interruptetl.

J. H. .loiujs, agtnit of stage lino, reports one wonum and a
child killed and scalped, and thirty head of stock run oil hy a
body of Indians west of Lake station.

A wagon guarded by four men of the seventh cavalry was
attacked by a large body of Indians near Little Coon creek.
Three of tlio men were badly wounded. One of their number
bravely volunteered to go to Fort Dodge for aid, giving his
arms to his comrades, saying, " Here, boys, you want them
uioro than 1 do." They were tinally relieved by a party from
Fort Dodge under Lieut. Wallace, of tho third infantry.

Brevet Lieut.-Col. J. G. Tilford, conmuiiiding Fort Reynolds,
reports four persons killeil near Colorado City. He is in great

624

TKOUBLR WITH TIIE WKffTKKN INDIANS:

need of cavalry to pursue hostile IndiauB. A large body of
Indians attacked the station at Hugo Springs, firing on the
guards and circling round, but were repulsed.

A body of Indians drove off five head of stock from the
station at Hugo Springs, and then went off and burned Willow
Springs. The commanding officer of Fort Reynolds urges, in
consequence of Indian depredations and outrages, that the
troops, and especially the cavalry at that post, be not reduced.
The settlers are clamorous and excited, and ask for arms and
ammunition, but ho has none to give them. He believes that
if the troops were withdrawn the settlements would be
devastated.

The Hon. Schuyler Colfax telegraphs from Denver: " Hostile
Indiana have been striking simultaneously at isolated settle-
ments of Colorado for a circuit of over two hundred miles.
Men, women, and children have been killed and scalped daily,
and hundreds of thousands of dollars of property stolen.
These atrocities have been mainly near the three great lines
of travel from this focal point. ^ * * The Territory has
no means to put volunteers in the field, and is literally defense-
less," and suggests that a strong cavalry force be sent there,
and that a supply of arms and ammunition be sent the terri-
torial authorities.

Col. H. C. Bankhead, commanding Fort Wallace, reports that
a body of Indians, twenty-five in number, killed and scalped
two citizens one and a half miles west of Sheridan. Tlie same
party drove off between seventy and eighty head of mules from
Clark & Co.'s train at the hay carnp on Turkey creek.

Maj. Douglas forwards the report of Lieut. D. W. Walling-
ford, seventh cavalry, sent out to assist a wood train of thirty-
five wagons, said to be attacked at Cimarron crossing, twenty-
eight miles west, and fifty men with it. He had been fighting
Indians for four days; had two men and two horses killed, and
seventy -five head of cattle run off, and a great many mules
wounded. Five and a half miles further west the remains of
a train of ten. wagons that had been captured and burned were
found. Nothing but the iron work remained. There were
fifteen persons with it, supposed to have been killed, and their

[AMS:

OR, TUB BORDKR WARS OF TWO OKNTUEIES.

625

A large body of
jgs, firing on the
(1.

)t' stock from the
,nd burned Willow
Reynolds urges, in
outrages, that the
Bt, be not reduced.

ask for arms and

He believes that

ements would be

I Denver: " Hostile
y at isolated settle-
(vo hundred inilea.
I and scalped daily,
f property stolen.
le three great lines
The Territory has
is literally defense-
force be sent there,
[I be sent the terri-

'allace, reports that
killed and scalped
beridan. Tlie same
lead of mules from
cey creek.
It. D. W. Walling-
ood train of thirty-
u crossing, twenty-
Q had been fighting
o horses killed, and
great many mules
'■est the remains of
id and burned were
lined. There were
en killed, and their

bodies burnod with the train, as the peculiar stench and large
quantity of bones found among the debris indicated.

Mr. C. W. M. Ruggles, of Sheridan, reports that the Indians
burned a ranch and killed its occupants six miles from Sheri-
dan, on the road to Wallace. The same ranch was also burned
two weeks before and had been rebuilt.

Gen. Penrose reports two men killed and one wounded of L
troo]), seventh cavalry, in a fight with hostile Indians.

Capt. Butler, commanding Fort Wallace, reports the stage
fired into by Indians four miles east of Lake station. On the
first of September three men were killed by a band of Indians
four miles east of Reed's Spring station.

Clark & Co., hay contractors, telegraph that they have lost
eighty-one head of stock, and will have to give up contract
unless protected.

Gen. Nichols, traveling to Fort Reynolds, was attacked by
Indians, but they drew off when they saw the arms of the
guard. They then ran off the stock of Thompson and McGee,
(i})})osito Bent's Old Fort, then made a raid on a house at Point
of Kocks, and ran off four head of stock.

Ellis station was burned and one citizen killed. Gen. Sully
reports two killed and one wounded of his command.

Col. Bankhead reports that a body of fifteen Indians fired
into the Mexican ranch, four miles east of Big Timbers station.

Acting Governor Hall, of Colorado, telegraphs : " Indians
more numerous and bold than ever before. It is impossible to
protect the families and property of the people and fight them
at the same time. We now find ourselves helpless, exposed
daily to assaults, accompanied by horrid butcheries."

Gen. Hazen reports attack on Fort Zarali by about one
hundred Indians, who were driven off. They then attacked a
provision train, killed one teamster and secured the mules from
four teams; then attacked the ranch eight miles below, and
drove away all the stock.

Gen. Sully reports attack by Indians on a train between
Lamed and Dodge. Three citizens were killed and three
wounded, and over fifty mules run o&. /

Maj. Douglas reports : " On Thursday Indians appeared

iii ■' '-f

596

TROUBLK Wmi TIIR WKSTKRN INHIANfl:

under cover of a tliick fog, wounded a Mexican at Lime Kiln,
three miles off; then attacked a train about ten miles down the
road, killed two men and wounded two; destroyed stores ami
ran off stock."

Gen. Penrose reports three hundred Indians on Purgatory,
on the seventh instant. They killed one Mexican and ran otf a
quantity of stock.

Brevet-Maj. E. A. Belger reports a party of Indians nearElls-
wortli City. They killed one man and Koveral are misBlng.

Lieut. Kaiser, third infantry, reports that a party of Indians
surrounded and drove off six horses and two mules from citi-
zens near Zarah.

Gen. Penrose reports a train attacked by Indians at Sand
creek, who ran off the cattle and captured Mrs. Blinn and her
chijd. These Indians were led by Satan ta, chief of the Kiowas.

Col. Koyall reports attack by Indians on his camp on Prairie
Dog creek, killing one man, wounding one, and running off
twenty-six horses.

Col. Bankhead reports Col. Carpenter's command of tenth
cavalry attacked by four hundred Indians on Beaver creek.
Three men wounded and two horses killed.

CHAPTER LXVI.
WiNTEii Cami'aion ok Lieut. -Gkn. HnBRiDAN IN 1868 — A Brilliaut

TUIUMPII OVER THE INDIANS EaST OF TUB RoCKY MOUNTAINS —
SlIllIlENUER OF TUE TuiUEH — TlIEY ARE PLACED ON THE ReSERYA.

T10N8 — TiiK Way Opened for the Labors of the Peace Com-
mission.

To MEET this hostile force of Indians that was now sweeping
all before them, Gen. Sheridan had bnt one thousand two hun-
dred cavalry, and about one thousand four hundred infantry,
and this force was distributed throughout New Mexico, Indian
Territory, Kansas, Upper Arkansas and the State of Missouri
as garrisons to the different military posts. " With this small
force," says Gen. Sheridan, " for offensive operations, it was
impossible to accomplish a great deal in so extensive a country.
The Indian, mounted on his hardy pony, and familiar with
the country, was about as hard to find, so long as the grass
lasted, as the Alabama on the ocean."

With the accession to the ranks of the hostile Indians of
the Kiowas and Camanches, the Indian forces opposed to Gen.
Sheridan's command amounted to six thousand warriors. This
force being altogether too strong to be operated against suc-
cessfully with Sheridan's little army, he called upon the Gov-
ernor of Kansas for a regiment of one thousand two hundred
cavalry, which was promptly responded to.

Gen Sheridan, who had now assumed the duties of com-
mander-in-chief of the Military Division of the Missouri, in
place of Gen. Sherman, made preparations in the fall of 1868
for a winter campaign. This was a bold undertaking, but
through great effort proved abundantly successful and resulted
in subduing the most important Indian tribes. It is not
difficult to judge of the fruits of the peace commission had

(527)

£28

TKOUULE WITH THE Wl-STKHN INDIANS:

this cam])ai^n not bocii iimdo. All nttuin])tH at ejecting a
peace must have been futile.

In Bpeakingof the condition of atfairn winch led to his
great winter campaign Lieut. -Gen. Sheridan mya:

''The Indians, commencing about the tenth of August, had
distributed themselves in small ])arties along the western line
of the settlements in Kansas, and the eastern Une of settle-
inentB in Colorado, and the lines of travel up Smoky liill
river to Denver, and on the Arkansas river and Santa F^
roads, driving in the settlers, stopping all commercial traffic,
murdering many defenseless persons in the most brutal man-
ner, and escaping from the troops sent against them by travel-
ing at night, or by the swiftness of their hardy grass-ted
ponies. This kind of work they expected to keep until the
a})proach of winter, when the inclemency of the weather would
give them ample security, and they could live on their
})lunder, glory in the scalps taken and the debasement of tlie
poor unfortunate women whom they held as prisoners.

" The experience of many years of this character of Indian
depredations, with security to themselves and families in the
winter, had made them very conlident and bold; especially
was this true of the previous summer and winter. So boldly
had this system of murder and robbery been carried on, that
not less than eight hundred people had been murdered since
June, 1802 — men, women and children. To disabuse the
minds of the savages of this confident security, and to strike
them at a period at which they were the most if not entirely
helpless, became a necessity, and the general-in-chief then in
command of this division authorized a winter campaign, und
at or about the same time directed that the reservation set
apart for the Kiowas and Camanches at the "Witchita Moun-
tains should be considered k place of refuge, where, if the
savages would go and submit, they would be exempt from the
operations of the troops. The authority for this winter cam-
paign was received October 9, 1868. At this time the opera-
tions of the Indians had been mostly transferred to the line
of the Arkansas river and Santa Y6 road, owing to the o])era-
tions of troops under Col. Forsyth, Gen. Bradley, and Gen.

IIANS:

ptH at effecting a

wliich led to his
I says:

ith of AuguBt, had
ig the wentern line
tern Uno of Hettle-
el up Smoky Hill
ver and Santa F6
conunercial traffic,
e most hrutal nuvu-
TiBt them by travel-
>ir hardy grass-fed
I to keep nntil the
f the weather would
uld live on their
debasement of the
18 prisoners,
character of Indian
and "families in the
,nd bold; e8j)ecially
winter. So boldly
;en carried on, that
len murdered Bince
To disabuse the
;;urity, and to strike
most if not entirely
ral-in-chief then in
inter campaign, and
the reservation set
the Witchita Moun-
ifuge, where, if the
be exempt from the
for this winter cam-
this time the opera-
ansferred to the line
owing to the opera-
Bradley, and Gen.

OR, THK BORDKR WARS OP TWO CENTURIi<:fl.

599

Carr, north of the Smoky Hill river and on tlie Kepublican,
as well as to the near approach of winter, which caused the
Buvages to work in the direction of their families, tlien sup-
posed to be on the headwaters of the Ked river, immediately
Kuiith of the Antelope Hills."

Preparations were made and Sheridan's forces concentrated
at (Jamp Supply. From tliis point it was expected that tlie
main column would strike the Indians either on tlie head-
waters of the Wasliita or still further south, on the Sweet
Water and otlier brandies of the Red river. Gen. Sheridan
arrived at Camp Supply on the twenty-first of November,
where he found the troops under Gen. Sully engaged in the
construction of a block-liouse, wells, and store-house, for the
protection of the supplies. In si)eaking of the progress of
Lis campaign from this point, Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan says:

" A furious snow storm commenced on the same evening,
which continued during the night and next day, making the
situation very gloomy, especially on account of the non-arrival
of the Nineteenth Kansas, which I had expected would have
reached Camp Supply about the same time as myself. This
was a great disappointment to me, as I had expected to unite
this regiment with the Seventh Cavalry and launfh them both
on the Indians, whom I still supposed to be just south of the
Ante] pe Hills. This disappointment was further increased
by the appearance of Indians on the distant hills as I came
down, just north of Bluff Creek, and the discovery of a large
fresh trail by Sully's command — traveling due north; and I
thought the discovery of the troops would cause the Indians
south of Antelope Hills to take to flight. I therefore, on the
second day after my arrival at Camp Supply, directed Gen.
Custer to move his regiment, storm or no storm, on the morn-
ing of the twenty-third of November. This order was
responded to with alacrity by the officers and men of the Sev-
enth Cavalry, and on the morning of the twenty-third the
regiment moved at daylight, although the snow continued to
fall with unabated fury.

" On the evening of the twenty-sixth, Gen. Custer struck
the trail of the war party before alluded to as having passed
34

b'M

TKoriU.K WITH TIIK WKHTICKN INDIANH:

north, and whidi liiul been soon by Sully's comrnand, and mmo
ot' the Maine party luwl been seen by my escort, near HIiiU'
Creek. This war [tarty wan eoinposed, i\n I afterward learned
from Indiaiid, of lUack Kettle's bund of CI icy en nen; also ((tlur
Clieyeniu's and Arapahoes. They had lu-en north, kill«'»l tlio
mail eaii'iv 1-8 between Dodge and iiiirned, an old hunter at
Dixlge, mid l,wo of my expressmen, whom I iuul sent back
with letters from Blutf Creek to Dodge. As soon as (yuster
struck the trail ho C(»rraled his wagons, left a small escort with
them, and followed the Indian trail, which was very fresh and
well marked in the deep snow, until it led into Black Kettle's
village. The next morning, before daylight, the Osage Indian
trailers discovered the village and stock of the Indians, and
notilied Custer, who at once made the most admirable disposi-
tion of his command for the attack and capture of the village.
At dawn the attack was made, the village captured and burncti,
eight hundred horses or ponies killed in accordance with my
positive orders, and one hundred and three warriors killed,
and fifty-three women aiul children captured.

" While this work was going on, all the Indians, for a dis-
tance of Hfteen miles down the Washita, collected and attacked
Custer. These Indians were Cheyennes, Camanches, Kiowas,
and Apaches; but were driven down the stream for a distance
of four or iive miles, when, as night was approaching, Custer
withdrew and returned to a small train of provisions which he
had directed to follow up his movements. Our loss at tlie
attack on the village was Capt. Louis M. Hamilton, and three
men killed, and three officers and eleven men wounded; but,
unfortunately. Major Elliott, of the regiment, a very gallant
and promising young officer, seeing some of the young boys
escape, followed, with the sergeant-major and fifteen men, to
capture and bring them in; after capturing them, and while
on their way back to the regiment, they were surrounded and
killed. It occurred, I think, in this way: Elliott and his
party followed the boys shortly after the attack on the village,
taking a course due south and nearly at right angles to the
Washita river, which was here very small ; after traveling
south one mile and a half from the village, a very small branch

icort, neiir HlutV
it'tervvnnl U'linutl
onnen; also (»thir

north, kill«'*l tho
an old hunter at

I luul tit'ut hiu'k
^B Boou ii« Custer
I HUiaUcBct.rtwilh
^vas very tVesh and
nto Black Kettle's
, tho Ot^aj^o In<liiu\
,t' tho Indian?, and

rtdmirahle disposi-
,tnro of the village.
ptm-ed and hurncd,
lecordance with my
ree warriors killed,

pd.

e Indians, for a dis-
Uected and attacked
Janianchcs, Kiow.v,
[tream for a distance
.ipproaching, Cu*^ter
Iprovisions which he
>,. Our loss at tlie
laniilton, and three
men wounded; hut,
[lent, a very grtlla"^
, of the young boys
and fifteen men, to
ling them, and while
Ivere surrounded and
^y: Elliott and \m
attack on the village,
, right angles to the
,all ; after traveling
,, a very small branch

OK, TIIK nORDKK WAKH t>h' TWO rKNTCKIKK.

081

of tho Warthita wart croHKod, and an open prairio rraclud; on
thirt prairio tho hoyrt wore captured and wore hiMiig brought
ba<!k, when tho party waa attaek«'<l by Indianrt from IH3I0W,
numbering from ono thouHund to Hfteon hundrtxl; it fought
its way back toward tho Hmall creek before named until within
ririo range of tho creok, when it was stopped by tho Tudiana
having taken position in tho bod of tho creek, ami picking off
the men, who had formed a little circle, around which their
dead and horribly mutilated bodies wore foimd. No one, so
far as I could learn, of those back with the regiment, knew of
their having followed the Indian boys; no ono heard the report
of their guns, and no ono knew of their exact fate until they
wore discovered, some two weeks afterward."

On tho thirtoentli of N'ovomber, tho Nineteenth Kansas
arrived at Camp Supply, after a lorig and tedious journey in
which tho regiment lost its way, being thereby delayed. The
blow that Custer had struck was a hard ono and fell on the
guiltiest of all tho bands — that of Black Kettle. It was this
band, says Gen. Sheridan, that, without provocation, had mas-
sacred the settlors on the Saline and Solomon, and perpetrated
cruelties too fiendish for recital.

But Gen. Sheridan was not satisfied with this victory, but
continued the pursuit of the Indians until every hostile band
in his division surrendered themselves. In this work Gen.
Sheridan and the officers and soldiers under him rendered theii
country a service which wo cannot commend too highly.
During tho summer preceding his campaign, while the peace
commission was deliberating as to the best means of civiliz-
ing and christianizing the Cheyennes, Oamanches, Kiowas,
Apaches, Arapahoes and Sioux, these Indians were committing
merciless depredations upon the settlements between the Mis-
sissippi and the Rocky Mountains with the full hope that the
severity of winter would protect them from just punishment;
but, as we have seen, they were disappointed in this hope.
Many of their warriors paid the penalty of their crimes by
their lives upon the battle-field, while the others were forced
to submission and compelled to retire to their reservations.
Thus, through the courage and foresight of Gen. Sheridan the

689

TKOIIBI.K WITH TUB WRVnCKM INDIANS:

Indians wuro thoroughly oonquorod and tho way oponed for
that long, and, in many respects, prosperous peace which has
followed. The Indians oast of the liooky Mountains have
given tho government but little trouble since this campaign, the
Western settlements Itave been ])rotectod from a barbarous
invasion, women and children have been shielded from a iiend-
imh captivity, and the Indians theniHelves have fared much
liettcr than when dependent upon depredations for the means
of subsistence. For this brilliant service Liout.-Oen. P. II.
Sheridan has his reward in the respect and esteem in which
ho is hold by the whole people of the United States.

CHAPTER LXVII.

Indian THouBiiEs Wmt or rnn Uooky Mountainb — Hohhiblii Mas-
HACKBOF Indians— DirpiouLTiEi or Making War on tuuSavaOks
IN TUB Wilds oir tub West— Tub Pbaob Commission khb in Ari-
zona AMD CAi^iroRMiA — Curious Spbkcubs or CiiiBrs.

Let ub now turn our attention to tho wars witli the Indians
west of the Rocky Mountains, and more particularly in Ari-
zona. Mere, too, we find the good reeulta of the labors of the
Peace ComniisBioners, but not without being preceded by the
evils consequent upon a change in the Indian policy. Perhaps
the new pence policy met with more opposition among the
white settlers west of tlio Rocky Mountains than in Sheridan's
military division, east of them. In the former country the
pioneers of civilization who had suffered all manner of hard-
Bhips and cruelties at the hands of the savages, seemed to look
upon them with p jling of revenge. Tliis revenge often
found vent in open hostilities, and sometimes in massacres that,
for cruelty, equalled the deeds of the Indians themselves. In
1871 a number of Apaches were murdered on their reservation
in Arizona, by whites, there being no cause for the outrage
beyond past liostilities. Lieut. R. E. Whiteman, of the United
States army, and commander at the post near which the mas-
Bacre took place, gives a very good account of the affair in his
report: " Many of the men whose families had all been killed,
when I spoke to them and expressed sympathy for them, were
obliged to turn away, unable to speak, and too proud to show
their grief. The women whose (jhildren had been killed or
Btolen were convulsed with grief, and looked to me appealingly,
as tiiough I was their last hope on earth. Children who, two
dajB before, had been full of fun and frolic, kept at a distance,
expressing wondering horror. I did what I could ; I fed them,

(533)

584

TKOtmi.K WITH TIIK WKMTKKN INIHANM;

Hiid tHlktNl to tlioin, bikI lirttoiuMl |iiiti(<iitly to their McctMiiitH. I
Hoiit liorHUM into tliu inoiiiituiriM to liriii^ in two t)iMll,ywoiin<I(><1
women, ono Khot thronj^li tlic left liin)(, Hhd oii«> with lui nru\
HhHttei'«*(i. ThoHO wore iitteniied to, und are doin^ well, iui*l
will rin'ovor. Their cHUip whm surrounded uiid iittiieke<l litdny-
hntttk. Ho Hudden Hud unox|>e('ted wart it, that no one wua
HWHke to give the alarm, and I found ({uittui nuinlH^r of women
HJiot while artleep hoHidu their hundlert of hay, which they hiid
ctdleeted to hring in on that morning. The wounded who
were unable to get away, hH<l their hraiuH JH'aten out with
eluhH or HtonuH, while Homo were Hhot full of arrows after having
heen nu)rtally wounded by guuhhot. The hodieH were ull
fitripped. Of th(! whole numl)or burieil, one wuh an <»Id nniii
and (mo a well-grown hojr — nil the roHt, women and chil
dreii. Of the wliolo number killed and miKtdng, about unu
hundred and twenty -iivo, eight only wore men. It ha^ been
Raid'that the men wore not thoro; tliey were all there. On the
twenty -oighth, we counted one bundre<l and twenty-eight men,
a Hmall number being abuent for moHcal, all of whom liiivo
Bince been in. I have spent a good deal of time with them,
8inco the affair, and have boon aatonislied at their continiud
uuHhaken faitli in mu, and their perfectly clear uitderHtandiii;^
of their niiHfortune. They say: ' Wo know there a great many
white men and Mexicans who do not wish us to live at peiice.
Wo know tliat the l*aj)agoB would not have come out after iw
at this tiino unless they had l)cen })er8uaded to do so.' WliHt
tliey do not understand is, while thoy are at peace, and are coii-
BciouH of no wrong intent, that they should be murdered l)y
government arms in the hands of Papagos and Mexicans.
One of the chiefs said: ' I no longer want to live; my wouicn
and children have been killed before my face, and 1 Imve been
unable to defend them. Most Indians in my place would take
a knife and cut his throat, but I will live to show these j)e()i)ie
that all thoy have done, and all thoy can do, shall not make nie
break faith with you, so long as you will stand by us and defend
us, in a language we know nothing of, to a great goverror we
never liave, and never shall, see.' About their captives they
say: 'Get them back for us; our little boys will grow up

OH, 1IIK ll<>u|>KI( WAKM i» TWn (KMI HIM.

585

hluvro, Hll«l olll* ^il'ln, ni^ HiHtll HM thl<y HI'l! Illl'^t' «'rii)U^ll, will t»c

iJiHoiiHud proHtitiitc^, to ^t't iiidticy tor wliuvxcr owiih tliciii
Our .wotiu'ti Work liiinl, luwi are j^ood woinuri, uikI t\ivy un<i our
(•liil(lr»Mi liuvtf no (liHcuMcrt." # * « « « *

'I'lio I'xtriict from hu'iit. Wliitnimii'H r«'|.orl will not Ik- rnul
wiflioiit trrliii^rt ot' |»it_v i"<ir tlio mivii^ch wlio wrro ho ^llllllU'tullY
tifutcd. Vft after ull, tlicv liiul vinitrd u niorc cruel aiul liar-
liiirourt tdt'tiire, uiid a more wicked dciitli, upon the uid'ortuiiHte
wliitcH who had from timi* tu time fulteii into their han<lH, nnd
itltliou^h tliirt fact docrt not justifv the lawlcMM courMi* tukuii
ill tluM maHHacre, it redcceu, to Home extent, the ju*>t indi^niatioti
iii^aiuHf the perpetrators.

We liave an additional account of thin horrid affair tVom the
pen of one of the post hur;.jeons attached to Lieut. Whiti-man'rt
coiiinumd. Ho say«: "hii'Ut. Whitenum ordered nte to p>to
the Indian cump to render medical aHsintatice, and hrin^ down
uiiv wounded I mi((ht iind. I took twelve men (mounted) and
H wafi;ou, and ])r«)ceeded without delay to the Hcene «if tiie mur-
der. On my arrival I found that I nhoidd have hut little u-^e
for wa^on or medicine; the work had been to(» thorou;,ddy
(lone. The camp had hecu tired, and the dead hodioK of some
twenty-one women and chililren were lyin«^ wcattered over the
ground; those who had been wounded in the first instance had
their brains beaten out with stones. Two of the best looking
of the Bquaws were lyin<jj in such a position, and from the
appearance of the genital orgatis and of their wounds, there
cim be no doubt that they were first ravished and then shot
dead. Nearly all of the dead were mutilated. One infant of
some ten months was shot twice, and one leg hacked nearly ofl*.
While going over the ground we came upon a squaw who was
unhurt, but we were unable to gt^t lier to come in and talk, she
not feeling very sure of our go(»(l intentions. Finding nothing
further coidd be done, I returned to the post and reported the
state of affairs to Lieut. Whiteman, commanding post."

It will be im])ossible, in view of the sjtace now left for tlie
completion of thi> volume, to enter into a narrative of nil the
petty wars with the Indians on the Pacific slope. From the
earliest settlement of the country by the Mexicans, and at a

ft»6

TKorni.r. with nir WKirriMew iNpr^Nn:

little tiitiu' (turiiMl by thu AtiiuricuiiM, down to thu Mixloc* vtar,
thore will* h contititiouii wnr with the Iiulinii tril>o«, ninonf^ tli9
inoMt prom iititn tot' wliiuli wvrw the A|Mifllioii, KlttiiiHtli^, Mot^x^t,
and othor ImukIm. fti tliix country, which wm io well A<lnpt(>(t
to t\n\ rndiiiri nio<iu of tlf^htin^, it wan alnioMt iinpoMiblo to
dufoiU thu Mivugurt, no nukttur how Htrong thu i'urcu coinniaiuKid
Hfi^ainitt thutn. Thoy could retreat to thu moiintiiin rccciic*, in
chaMiuM, or uinonf( the dark piWHUM in thu lava hudM, where
Aineriuin troopM found it iniimnHihlu to follow. And if, by
dint of Htrugglu and Hacriticu, thu Duininit wan gained, or the
chamn penutrated, it only opened a field of nufw dangers, uiid
expoHed them to thu deadly tire of a barharouM enemy, wh! 'h
could not be eftcctually returned.

Hut thu Hurging tide of Huch a war wati kept up on the
Pacific bIojhj for iniiny years. Fiong buforo Col. Fremont pono-
trated this country with hit) hardy mountainecrH, thu BJiarp
report of the unerring rifle was heard among the wa8tc0, telliiijj;
of the death of Hotnu lurking Huvage, or unfortunate trapper.
Bands of hostile Indlanx, pain^od for the battle, ranged over
thu deserts, on mounttiin summitH, or among tho deep reccHHot^
of the wild, uneven (Country, watching tho shiw progresH of
immigrant trains, and pouncing upon them as soon as a favora-
ble opportunity presented itself, murdering tho men, plundering
the train, and carrying tho women and children into a harhiir-
ous captivity. The pen refuses to write of tho horrors which
surrounded these captive women. Their suftbrings were often
beyond description, and always replete with the most barhuroiig
acts.

But after many years of war between these Indians and the
whites, with victories first for civilization and then for barhur-
ity, tho peace commission went among them to hold Bucred
councils, and promote the reservation policy. The head cliieta
of tribes were invited to meet the disciples of peace, and, actu-
ated by the hope of receiving liberal presents and of deliverance
from the poverty and bondage into which a long and cruel war
had forced them, they came in great numbers to shake the
white chiefs by the hand, and toll the story of their wrongs.

The deliberations between the commissioners and the liuli-

on, TIIK lloHOKK WAKM or TWO ('KfrriMIKM.

837

Hriii woru KHiiotiiiiuii full ot' inturuMt, nml iimiiy of i\w iihltMt
•IM-ifhoM of tlio chiufN art) worthy of prunurvHtioii in tlii« vol*
iiiiii^ AM tlu^ will pruaciit to thu world, to h gri^at dogroo, the
condition of tlio Indiuiu at tho pruncnt day. IIowliNh-Wani*
|N), liuud chiuf of thu C!uyuiiv, aftur liititnitig to thu addros* of
tlio coniiniHMioncr, ruplivtl in thoitu wordit: '* Vou talked with
» gooil hoart when you told nio that you bt)liuvuil in Hod. I
thought that wuh gtxxl; that Im my hoart, tix), whilu I Htand
upot) this ground. What you havu i){H)lcon t!nu it with our uyoit, and our huurtH, wo all hold
it with our IxHlioit an<l with «Mir houIh. Kight out hero are my
tiithcr uixl mother, and hrothorM and HiHtortt, and children, all
buried; I um guarding their graveti. My frioiul, thiti roHcrva-
tion, thiit Hiuall piece of land, wo look upon it aH our mother —
HH if oho were raiHing \\h. You come to ask mo for my land.
It irt like art if we, who are Indiann, were to bo Hcnt away and
Kft loHt. [ look upon all nidoM. On tho outeido of tho rcHer*
vution I rtoo your hounen; they have vjudows, they are good.
Vou are bringing up your children well. What is the reason
you white men who live near tho reservation like my land, and
want to got it? You muHt not think bo. My friondd, you
inuHt not talk too utrong about getting my land. [ like my
IhuiI, and will not lot it go. You have been nBking my heart
about the reservation. This ia my heart."

Wenap-snoot, of the Umatillas, said: "Our red people
were brought up hero, and some one had to teach them as they
grew. Those who were taught grew up well. I believe the
man who understands and follows the way ho is taught, grows
up well. 1 learned from tho way in which I was brought up,
and I am going to have my children taught more, and they
will grow up better than I um. When my father and mother
(lied, I was left hero. They gave mo rules, and gave mo their
lands to live upon. They left me to take care of them after
they were buried. I was to watch over their graves. I do not
wish to part with my land. I have felt tired working on my
land, so tired that tho sweat dropped off me on the ground*

Ir!t

X.3S

TROUlll.K WITH THK WEHTKKN INUIANH:

Wliore i8 all tluit (Jovonior Stevens and Gen. Pulmcr said? T
am very fond of this land that is marked out for me, and the
rest of the Indians have no more room for their stock tlmii
they need, and I do not know where I'd put them if I had to
confine myself to a small ])iece of ji^round; should I take only
a small piece of ground, and a white man sit down Iniside me,
I fear there would be trouble all the time."

A chief called William, sjmke in these words: "God is
my Heavenly Father; yon are my father from Washington.
If you look at our houses you will see they are very poor. I
tell you we are very poor; me the tools we work with (exhib-
iting a stone hammer and other Indian tools); it is with these
we have to build our houses; we use a stone for a hammer.
We are almost all dead, but we are glad to see you. One of
our employers treats us like dogs; he uses us like slaves. I
tell you the truth, he struck an Indian on the face, and the
blood gushed out. You tell us to talk freely, and I do so.
The wliites cheat us, and some of our agents cheat us. I speak
to you; I talk in the presence of the God who made us. I
talk to you as my father. I am glad to see you; I came from
one of these tribes, I have no land now. 1 am u poor old
man. God made me; the whites took our land. Here is iny
country below this reservation; near it is the Tulalip. I want
a paper to keep any white men away when they come. They
scare the old men and want to kill us."

Billy Williamson spoke in council as follows: "Since Mr.
Meachara came, this summor, our eyes have been oj)ened. Our
saw-mill is almost done, and we expect to have a grist-mill
soon. Mr. Brunot comes from Washington, and I want to
know whether what I said before, and that now, was put on
paper — did my words go to Washington? Then the Indians
were all separated; now they are all here, If you go to see
their homes, you will find many things they made themselves.
They learned it from the whites outside. The men on the reser-
vation did not learn us. When the treaty was made we were
very poor. For fifteen years we have been talking about what
was needed. Do they know it at Washington? Some white
men e. y we will only get twenty acres. Where I came from I

ianh:

Palmer said? T
t tor ine, and the

their stock than
them if I had to
lotild I take only
down iKJside me,

vords: "God is
I'om "Washington.
are very jioor. I
work with (exhib-
); it U with these
ne for a hammer,
pee you. One of
us like slaves. 1
the face, and tlie
reely, and I do so.
cheat us. I speak

wlio made us. I
you; I came from

I am a poor old
and. Here is my
! Tulalip. I want

hey come. They

OR, THK HOKDKK WARS OF TWO CENTIIRIK8.

589

had not only twenty acres, hut a hundred. Everyhody knows
we are poor. I had a <'0W and a yoke of oxen long ago; that
iri all I have now. I don't want to lie .to God. I don't think I
am a very good man. 1 may tell a lie; I am an Indian. I
8j)eak the truth. I don't drink. I don't do as Indians did in
old times; I have quit that. AVe can't do everything in a day.
If we get our land, we need cows and hoi'ses and plows and
wagons. Then we won't go outside; we will stay liere. Tliere
are a few half-breeds here. 1 think nothing about that; they
have families here. I want to know if money was sent liere
for us. Now we are like white men. You know about God;
80 do these Indians; I speak no bad words. White men and
Indians are all alike. Some Indians liere have been shot a'" 1
whipped by white men for nothing. Two of our people are in
Salem penitentiary. We want to get them out; they did
nothing. White men gave them whisky and got them drunk,
and now they have got them into the penitentiary."

Such were the men and such the complaints which met tlie
members of the Peace (Commission in the far West, but while
these speeches indicate the understanding of wrongs perpe-
trated upon themselves, they also show that these savages were
not ignorant of the crimes which they themselves had com-
mitted. Thus while their complaints beget sympathy on the
one hand, they elicit indignation on the other.

)ws: "Since Mr.
)een opened. Our

have a grist-mill
1, and J want to

now, was put on
Then the Indians

If you go to see

made themselves.

men on the reser-
as made we were

Jking about what
m? Some white
jrc I came from I

CHAPTER LXVIII.

HiBTORT OF THE MODOCS — UORRIBLB MaSBACRB OF A PaRTY OK IhMI-

QKANTS— Ben Wriqht'8 Venqkancb— Terrible Destruction o»

THE MODOCB FROM STARVATION — CaNIBAMBM — THE RESERVATION
TROUB'-iiib.

Perhaps no other portion of this narrative will be more
interesting to the general reader than that which now follows,
giving a history of the Modoc Indians and their recent wars
agiiinst the whites. Their wild homes among the lava beds of
Arizona and Northern California, which have been rendered
famous by the thrilling sketches that have, from time to time,
appeared through the newspapers and periodicals of the United
States, liave added not a little to the interest felt in these
peculiar savages. But above all else, the recent Modoc war
has given this tribe a world-wide notoriety.

The number of this people when in their primitive glory
and power, must have been many Hioiisnnds. The remains ot
their ancient villages, found along the shores of the lakes, the
streams, and the forest springs, go very far to establish the fact
of their former greatness. But this greatness has fallenf
Their power has passed away, and as a nation they are now
nearly extinct. Only three or four hundred of these brave
natives now live to tell us the singular traditions of the tribe.
These will soon pass on to oblivion, in the dark, my8t(3rioii8
way in which all llin red men of the American forests have
been driven by civiliaation.

i3ut there have lieeu sources for the destruction of this peo-
ple other than that which civilization has produced. 1 refer
to the deadly conflicts which have been waged upon them by
the flerce Indians in the wilds of the neighboring forests, vague
ftccoiiiiliii of which have come to us upon the current of their

(540)

OR, THE BORDBR WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

.strange traditions. But these were not more effective of their
ruin than tlie wars which liave taken place between tliem and
the early settlers of Northern California and Southern Oregou.
They have ever been an obstinate, unconquerable race, merci-
leH8 in war, full of treachery and possessed of the blackest
stratagem. Nor has the romantic country in which they built
their homes, failed in furnishing them every facility for the
prosecution of war after their treacherous designs.

As early as 1847 we find trains of Oregon immigration pass-
ing through their country. The road was a dangerous one,
winding through dark caflons, and passing under precipitous
cliffs that afforded secure and impenetrable ambuscade. At
every opening through the craggy cliffs bands of mounted war-
riors were revealed, who seemed to be watching for a favorable
0])i>()rtunity to capture and plunder the travelers. If, per-
chance, the train was weak, the warriors would rush upon it,
slaughter the immigrants and capture the supplies. Such out-
rages seem to have been, for many years, their chief occupa-
tion.

The first in this dark catalogue of which I have any well
authenticated information was in 1852. In this year a small
train, comprising only eighteen souls, men, women and children,
made an attempt to reach central Oregon, by the Rhett Lake
route, ^.eaving Pitt Eiver they journeyed for several days
withoiJ molestation, not having observed a single Indian.
Reaching the eastern shore of Rhett Lake they encamped under
a bluff, now called " Bloody Point." Here the weary travelers
rested — rested forever from earthly toils. They sat down
together and began to partake of some refreshments, under the
great rocks that hung in grandeur over them ; and scarcely had
they begun to congratulate each other upon the unexpected
quiet of the Indian country, when the air rung out with the
deafening yells of ferocious savages. In another instant count-
less painted Indians poured down from the rocks overhead.
But tlieir bloody work was soon ended. Only one escaped to
tell the horrors of the massacre.

In reference to the revenge upon the Indians for this terri-
ble massacre, William M. Turner, in an able article in the

542

TKornt-K wrrii tiik wkstkkn Indians:

Ooeriund Montldij, wiys: "The men of eurly times in rlioise
mountivin.s wero bravo iiiul chivalrous iiirii. Fii less ilmii
twenty-tour hours, a mounted t'oroo t>t' minorH, puekerH, tiiid
prospcetors — men who feared no livin<^ tiling — wero at tlio
scene of the massacre. The remains of the vietims wero foimd,
nhockingly niutihited, lying in a pile with their broken wagon,--,
and half charred; but not a Indian could be found. It wm
not until tlie next year that the Modocs were jjunished for this
ernel deed. An old mountaineer named lien Wright — one of
those strange beings who imagine that they are born as instru-
ments for tho fulfillment of tlie red man's <lestiny — organised
an independent company at Yreka, in 1853, and went into the
Modoc country. Tho Fudians wero wary, but Ben was patient
and enduring. ACeeting with poor success, and aceompHsliiiig
nothing but protection for inc(jming emigrants, he improvised
an 'emigrant train' with which to decoy the enemy from the
cover of the hills and ravines. Winding slowly among the
hills and through the sage-plains, lien's canvass covered wagons
rolled quietly along, camping at the usual watering-places, and
apparently in a careless and unguarded way. Every wagon
was tilled with armed men, anxious and willing to be attacked.
The ruse failed, however; for the keen-sighted Indians soon
perceived that there were no women or children with the train,
and its careless movements were suspicious. After several
months of unsatisfactory skirmishing, Ben resolved on a change
of tactics. Surprising a small party of Modocs, instead of
scalping them, he took them to his camp, treated them kiiidiy,
and making them a sort of Peace Commission, sent tliem with
<.dive- branches, in the shape of calico and tobacco, bnck to their
people. Negotiations for a general council to arrange a treaty
were opened. Others visited the white camp; and soon the
Modocs, who had but a faint appreciation of the tortuon.! ways
of white diplomacy, began to think that Ben was a very harm-
less and respectable gentleman. A spot on the north bank of
Lost River, a few hundred yards from the Natural Bridge,
was selected for the council. On the appointed day, iifty-one
Indians (about equal in number to Wright's company)
attended, and, as agreed upon by both parties, no weapons

SDIANS:

OR, TlIK noKDKIt WARS OK TWO ( KNTURIKP.

543

'iirly times In tlicse

lU'ii. In lens tliiiii

iuerrt, piiekiTH, mid

thing — were tit tlio

vii'tiins were toimd.

lioir broken Wiifron,,,

I be found. It wiw

re punished tor this

en Wright — tme of

y are born ha iiiHtru-

•destiny — orgiuiized

), and went into the

but Hen was patient

, and aceonipHsliiiig

ants, he improvised

the enemy from the

; slowly among the

vass covered wagons

svntering-place.x, and

kvay. Every wagon

ling to be attacked.

hted Indians soon

dren with the train,

ous. After several

resolved on a change

Modocs, instead of

reated them kindly,

ion, sent them with

bacco, bnck to their

I to arrange a treaty

jamp; and soon the

)f the tortuou.3 ways

n was a very harra-

i the north bank of

le Katural Bridge,

inted day, fifty-one

Wright's company)

arties, no weapons

were brought to the ground. A niimlnu' of beeves had been
killed, presents were distributed, and the day passed in mutual
professions of friendship; when Wright — whose quick, restless
eye had Ihumi busy — (piietly lilled his pipe, drew a match and
lit it. Tliis was the pre-concerted signal. As the first little
cnrling wr(>ath of smoke went up, fifty revolvers were drawn
from their places of concealment by Wright's men, who were
now scattered among their intended victims; a few moments
of ra])id and deadly firing, and only two of the Modocs escaped
to warn their people 1"

In giving a sketch of the history of the Modocs, the same
writer says: '' In 1804, when old Schonchin buried the hatchet
and agreed to war with the pale-faces no more, he said, mourn-
fully: 'Once tny people were like the sands along yon shore.
Now I call to them, and oidy the wind answers. Four hun-
dred strong young' men went with me to the war with the
wliites; only eighty are left. We will be good, if the white
man will let us, and be his friends forever.' And this old
chief has kept his word — better, perhaps, than his concpierors
have theirs. The Modocs thetnselves offer a better reason for
the great decrease of their people. They say that, within the
memory of many of this generation, the tribe was overtaken by
a famine that swept off whole ■anches, and they speak of it as
if remembered like a fearful (beam. As is usual with savages,
the chief labor of gathering supplies of all kinds, except those
procured by fishing and the chase, devolved upon the Modoc
women. Large (juantities of himas t,nd wocas were already
harvested, but the predatory character of the surrounding tribes
made it dangerous to store their food in the villages; and it
was customary to cackd it among the sage-brush and rocks,
which was done so cunningly that an enemy might walk over
the hiding-i)laces without suspicion. Snow rarely fell in this
region sufficiently deep to prevent access to tlie cacJu's ; but
tha iCodocs tell of one winter when they were caught by a ter-
rible storm, that continued until the snow was more than seven
feet in depth over the whole country, and access to their win-
ter stores impossible. The Modocs, like all other Indians,
have no chronology; they do not count the years, and only

«44

TKOUULB WITH TIIK WIMTKKN INDIANS:

reckon their uhangen hy the Beasons of summer and winter.
Komarkable events are remembered only as coincident witii the
marked periods of lite; and, judging from the probable ago of
the survivors of that terrible famine, it must have occurred
over forty years ago, long before any of the tribe had ever looked
upon the face of a white stranger. These wild people generally
regard such occurrences with superstitious horror; they rarely
speak of the dead, and even long residence among the whites
tloes not remove a superstition that forbids them to mention
even a dead relative by name. From those who have lived
among the whites since early childhood, the particulars of this
season of suffering and desolation are obtained; and they say
that their parents who survived it still speak of that dreadful
winter in shuddering whispers.

" It seems that the young men of the tribe had returned,
late in the season, from a successful hunt, when a heavy snow-
storm set in; but these people — like children, in many
things — had no apprehension, as their present wants were
supplied. But the storm increased in fury and strength; the
snow fell in blinding sheets, for days and days, till it had cov-
ered bush, and stunted tree, and plain, and rock, and mountain,
and every landmark was obliterated. The survivors tell of fran-
tic efforts to reach the cacluls: liow strong men returned to their
villages, weak and weary with tramping through the yielding
snov.', in search of the hidden stores. They tell how the little
brown faces of the children, pinched with hunger, drove tlie
men out again and again in search of food, only to returi.
empty-handed and hopeless; how everything that would sus-
tain life — deer and antelope skins, their favorite dogs — even
the t;kin8 of wild fowl, used as bedding, were devoured: how,
■when erery thing that could be used as food was gone, famine
made women out of strong, brave warriors, and a dreadful
stillness fell upon all the villages. They tell how death crept
into every house, till the liWng lay down beside the dead and
■waited. After weeks of pinching hunger, and when in the
last extremity, an opportune accident saved the largest village
on the south-eastern extremity of llhett Lake from complete
extinction. A large band of antelopes, moving down from the

IA.N8:

miner rtnd winter,
coincident with tlio
;he probable ago of
»u8t liave occurred
•ibe had ever looked
ild people gencriilly
horror; they rarely
e among the whites
H them to mention
ose who have lived
e pavticularri of this
ftined; and they say
sak of that dreadful

tribe had returned,
when a heavy enow-
children, in many
present wants were
•y and strength; the
iays, till it had cov-
rock, and mountain,
lurvivors tell of fran-
len returned to their
irough the yielding
3y tell how the little
hunger, drove the
ood, only to retun.
,ng that would sus-
favorite dogs— even
ere devoured : how,
od was gone, famine
ors, and a dreadful
tell how death crept
beside the dead and
^r, and when in the
d the largest village
Lake from complete
iving down from the

OR, TIIK IM)RDKR WARS OF TWO (?KNTURIIC8.

546

hills, probal)ly in search of food, attempted to cross an arm of
the lake, only a short distance from the village, and were
caught in the breaking ice and drowned. Those who had snf<
ticient strength left, distributed antelope meat among the fami-
lies, and it was then tliat the shocking fact was discovered
tiiat some of the starving people had been driven to canni-
balism. In one house, a woman was found with the half-eaten
foot of her husband concealed beneath her bed. When whole«
some food was given her, she went raving mad, and confessed
that she had killed him to save her life and the life of her lit-
tle one. The survivors tell how, when the spring came, and
the grass grew green again on the hills, thi" poor demented
creature was missing — decoyed away, perhaps, by some friend
of her husband, and murdered. Some of them, with that fond-
ness for the supernatural so strong among all savages, aver
that, even to this day, that woman's voice its heard in mourn-
ful lamentation, borne on the night-wind from the rugged
cliffs on the western shore of the lake, often and often; and
they tell of little piles of rock raised by unseen hands along
the western mountain — Indian signs of sorrow and mourning.
"All accounts agree that, at the opening of spring, it was
found that fully one-half of the people had perished, and that,
in many houses, there was not a single survivor. The details
of this fearful famine are related so circumstantially by dif-
ferent narrators, that there can be but little doubt of their
correctness. But the Modoc nation, certainly once so numer-
ous, is easily counted now, and their days are numbered. The
spirit of the majority of the tribe is broken; they are content
to he cooped up within the limits of their reservation, in a
country where once they were lords, and the superior race
claims their former possessions by the right of might. They
are part and parcel of that problem — the red race, created by
the same power as we, for God's own purposes. Like the rest
of the red people they are destined to speedy extinction ; and
the last of the Modocs, powerful as they have been, will
pi'obably be seen by the present generation of white men."

And now more particularly as to the Modoc war. In 1864,
a treaty was made with the Modocs, Snakes and Klamaths, by

646

TROUBLE WITH TlIK WKirrKRN INDIANR:

which it was agreed tliat thoHu Indians would iinmediatoly
repair to a reservation set apart tor thuni in the Bouthcrn part
of Oregon. The Snakua and Klainaths moved on to the
rc8crvation cont'urniably to the treaty, aH also did a part of tlio
ModocB under Chief 8chonchin. A Htrong band of those
Indians under Captain Jack remained at their old homes near
(vlear Lake, about sixty miles frum Klantath, without being
seriously disturbed until 18((U.

) /

lANH*.

i)u\d immediately
the Boutliern part
moved on to tlie
J did a part of tho
jg band of tliese
uir old hon»e8 near
ftth, without being

(;ha?t(:u lxix.

Ql'AHHKI.H AmoNO TlIK InUIANH (»N TIIK UkHEHVATION — DkPAHTUKB OF

Captain Jack and Hih Hand kou thk Lava Beds — The TnooPt
I'lmsiK TiiKM )N Vain — Katai. Attempts or thk Peace Commh-

KI(»N — Ml'UDKIl OK TIIK CoMMIHHIONKIlB — EXECUTION OF TUK
MolMHTB.

In thk year 1869, Captain Jack's band was indnccd to go
onto the reservation, but tliese Indians liad not been long in
their new quarters before the Klamaths picked a quarrel with
thejn which terminated in disaster. These quarrels on the
reservation were laid before the authorities at Washington,
whereupon orders were issued to have the Modocs removed
to another part of the reservation where they would not come
in contact with their enemies, the Klamaths; but, unfortu-
nately, this did not put an end to the hostilities on the reser-
vation, and soon after Captain Jack's band resolved to depart
for tlieir old homes among the lava beds.

Soon after Superintendent Odeneal succeeded in holding a
Odiiiicil with Captain Jack's band, when they positively refused
to return to the reservation. Tlie military were now called
upon and Capt. Jackson, of the United States army, with
thirty men, was ordered to visit "Jack's " headquarters with
instructions not to fight except in defending themselves
against injury. Capt. Jackson delivered his message to the
Modocs, and asked them to lay down their arms, but they
refused. One of the leaders, Scar-Faced Charley, mised his
gun, and with an oath said he would kill one officer to begin
with. He fired at Lieut. Boutelle, who was in front of his
men, shooting four bullet holes through his coat-sleeve. Tliis
led to a battle which lasted about two hours, when the Indians
escaped. Their rage was now excited to the highest pitch, and

(547)

■im>iiHi,K wnii iiiK WMIKKN inimanm:

iKit'oro tilt* ihiy cltrntHl tliuy iiiiiniorctl itluvuii citi/otiH. Iininudi-
Ht(«l;y nt'tor timy r«tirt'<l to tlio ('.t'l»U)mti*<l Ijivh IkmIh, wlicmro t\wy
Y/vvii |iurHiui(l Uy h Htroiig IhxIv of (IiiittHi HtatcH tronpH, but to
no piiipoHit. Within tlie MtMMiro r«'tr«>utH of tliiH wild coiiiitr}'
i\wy (IcHtui tliu Btron^tHt forcu of trooph tliiit coiilil bu niurcliud
Hf^tiiiiHt tbuni, uuxuy tiiiiuH (<]iiir^iii^ upoti thuin from their
HiiibiiHouhm with futul ruHultH, Hhootiii^ down Holdierrt, Hi!al|)iii^
tho fHlhtii and thun (<M;npin^ within thuir chuHni, hiding phieort.

Aftur th(t troopH hud don» ull th<>y could do, boing Htill
uniiblo to drivu thoHit fiorcu IndiiiiiM frotn tlutir Htron^hulds,
tluty tiirnt'd th« nmttiu' over to the p<'H(u' ('«)nimiHHioner« who
tindurtook to hottht the ditliculty. The conimiHrtion Hppoititt><l
to thiH (Inty conHiHtud of lion. A. H. Mtuichuin, (yimiriniin;
lion. .IertH«! Apple^ato and Samiud (yano, of Orej^ori. This
peace board (!t)ninien(!ed itH nogotiatioiiH on the twentieth of
February, and after holding; Heveral talk.** with the leaders of
Captain Jack'H band they acknowledged their cauHe as hope-
IcHH. At length a new connni8Bion was formed coiiriiHtin;; of
Gen. E. K. 8. (Janby, the Itev. Dr. K. Thonnw, a leudinj^
Methodist divine of California, Mr. A. i). Meacham, Judge
Uosborough, of California, and Mr. Dyer, of Orej^on.

Soon after. Gen. (^anby telegraphed to (Jen. Sherman his
0])inion of Modoc affairs in wliich lie said: ^'1 think tliiit a
system of gradual compnlsion, with an exhibition of the tun '
that can be used against them, if the commiHsion should ii<^'iiin
fail, will satisfy them of the hoj)eh!ssne88 of any further resin-
tance, and give tlie j)eace party sntKcient strength to control
the whole band. Time is becoming of tlie greatest importance,
as the melting of the snow will soon enable them to live in
tlie mountains. This will greatly increase the ditKcnlties we
have to contend with, as they will then break up into Himili
parties, and can more readily make their escape from their
present location.'

The new peace commission received the following instrno-
tions from Secretary Delano, of the Interior l>o]>artinent:
"The objects to be gained by this ('ommission are these: First,
to ascertain the causes which have led to the ditiiculties and
hostilities between the troops and the Indians; and, secondly,

ti/.oiirt. linintxli-
IkmIh, wIk'Mco th«7
iiti'K troopH, hut ti>
tliiH wilil couiitr)'
«Hml(l 1)0 iimri'licd
thoin from tln-ir
\ «oltlierH,HCul|)iii|J:
iHiM, hldiiiK ])lii<'t'^.
Ill (U), Rising rttill
their rttronj^hoUlrt,
oinMnrt«i<mt'r« wlio
niiii<rtii)n iippoiiittHl
jicham, Ohiiinniui;
of Oregon. This
11 the twentieth t>t'
witli the loaderrt i)t'
heir cjuihc as hope-
•med coMrtiHtiug «»t'
riiomiifl, a leadinj?
i. Meaeham, .liid^'O
A' Oregon.
(}et>. Sherman his
id: " I think tiiiit a
dhition of tlie ton ^
lission Hhouhl a<,'iun
>f any fnrtlier resin-
Btrengtli to control
greatest importaiico,
able them to live in
,e the ditHcultiert we
break up into hiiuiH
escape from their

le following instruc-
iterior Department:
sion are these: First,
, the ditficulties and
lians; and, secondly,

W^HO^'^«•'

CAPTAIN JACK, Til£ MODUC CHIEFTAIN.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

ut lU 12.2

'-''liJi^Ui&

— 6"

►

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WIST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. MSBO

(716) 873-4503

^^^

^V^

)

l^'*^^

!, i- V

>'■ 'S.J ir - -

OR, THE BORDER WARS OV TWO OKNTURIBfl.

549

to devise the most effective and jndioions ineasuras for prevent-
ing the continuance of their hostilities and for the restoration
of peace. It is the opinion of the Department, from the best
information in its possession, that it is advisable to remove the
Modoc Indians, with their consent, to some new reservation;
and it is believed that the coast reservation in Oregon, lying
between Gape Lookout on the north and Cape Perpetua on
the south, and bounded on the east by the coast range of
mountains, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean, will be found
to furnish the best location for these Indians. The Commis-
sion will therefore be directed to make an amicable arrange-
ment for locating the Indians on some portion of this reserva-
tion, provided it is possible for it to do so, and provided that
said Commission is not of opinion, after fully investigating
the case, that some other place is better adapted to accomplish
the purpose of the Department; in either of which events the
Commission will, before finally concluding an arrangement
with the Indians, hold communication with the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs and receive f\irther advice.

"The Commission will in no wise attempt to direct the
military authorities in reference to their movements. It will
be at liberty, however, to inform the commanding officer of
the wish of the Department, that no more force or violence be
used than in his opinion shall be deemed absolutely necessary
and proper, it being the desire of the Department in this, as
well as in all other cases of like character, to conduct its com-
munications with the Indians in such a manner as to secure
peace and obtain their confidence, if possible, and their volun-
tary consent to a compliance with such regulations as may be
deemed necessary for their present and future welfare."

Tlie new Commission succeeded in holding several " talks "
with Captain Jack and his leading men, but at all of these
they assumed a defiant attitude, appearing in several instances
with the scalps of their victims fastened to their belts. On
the evening of the tenth of April, 1873, Bogus Charley visited
the camp of the Commissioners, and informed them that Cap-
tain Jack and several others of the band would meet for a talk
at the spot near the lake, about three-quarters of a mile from
the camo of the Commissioners, on the next day. Bogus

11:1

550

TROOIII.K Wmi TH« WRBTKRN INDIANS!

1 , If.

Oharley remained with the Commissioners all niglit, and early
on the following morning Boston Oharley, also, visited the
camp, and stated that Oaptain Jack and the others were pre-
paring for the council. In a few hours after the peace party,
composed of Gen. Canby, A. B. Meacham, Dr. Thomas, Mr.
Dyer, Riddle the interpreter, and his squaw, with Bogus
Charley and Boston Charley, wont out to the place agreed upon,
where they met Captain Jack, John Schonchin, Black Jim,
Schaok Nasty Jim, Ellen's Man and Hooker Jim. They had
no guns, but each was provided with pistols.

At the place selected, the party sat down in a circle, and Mr.
Meacham commenced the talk, and told them that the govern-
ment and people of the United States wanted to do them good.
He was followed by Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, who said
much that was calculated to pacify the Indians. When the
last speaker had finished, John Schonchin began a reply, but
he had said but a few words, when, as if they were the signal
for the attack, the work of treachery began. A dozen shots
were fired in less than a minute, and the massacre completed.
The first shot was fired by Captain Jack himself, who shot and
killed Gen. Canby. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schonchin, and
Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped,
being fired at twice. Kiddle, the interpreter, and his squaw,
also escaped.

The troops immediately rushed to the spot, where they
beheld the dead bodies of Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas. Mr.
Meacham, who was badly wounded by a pistol shot over the
left eye, was taken back to the camp, where he received the
necessary medical treatment, but the troops pushed forward
aflter the murderers, but the latter reached their retreats in the
lava beds before they could be overtaken, and the soldiers were
forced to return without vengeance,

At this point the reader will naturally inquire as to the diffi-
culties which prevented the pursuit of these guilty Indians.
To this I will answer that the retreats of these savages in the
lava beds were utterly inaccessible by troops. Only these cun-
ning Modocs knew the paths leading through the fearful chasms
in this mountainous country. A more definite description of
this wild and broken countrv is found in the report of Dr. J.

«?Il3h' '1--i--'T-

OK, Tilli: BORDER WARS OF TWO GBNTURIBB.

661

8. Newbury, geologiB- , who visited it in 1849, with a surveying
expedition. He says: "The valley is bounded by walls of
more than one thousand feet in height, composed of dark, lava<
like trap or red scoria, the interval between them forming a
nearly level lava plain, a kind of congealed sea, of which the
surface was everywhere roughened by waves, cooled while flow-
ing; their crests black and ragged, the troughs containing a
little ash-like soil, which supported a tangled growth of sage
nianzanita. At numerous points of this lava plain we passed
miniature volcanic vents or chimneys, which had evidently
been formed by the bursting out of steam or gases from below;
and, in more than one instance, we noticed subterranean gal-
leries or caverns having a diameter of fifteen or twenty feet, an
irregularly circular section, and extending indefinitely in either
direction. The chimneys to which I have referred probably
communicAted with these passages. Near Wright Lake occurs
a conical mountain of trap rock, which rises to a height of
perhaps fifteen hundred feet from the plain on which it stands.
The south shore of this lake is bordered by a mountain range
of nearly equal altitude, which has here a course nearly east
and west, curving round toward the north. Its western extrem-
ity terminates in bold headland on the shore of Khett Lake,
and is connected by a low ridge with similar hills lying north
of these lakes. This connecting ridge forms the barrier
between Hhett and "Wright Lakes, is composed exclusively of
trap, and bears on it a conical hill of blood-red scoria, which
has evidently, at no distant day, formed a volcanic vent. On
the eastern shore of the lake is a conical hill, considerably
removed from the cliifs referred to, but having apparently the
same structure. Following the boundary line with its initial
point on the twelfth mile, we reach the high divide of moun-
tains overlooking Goose Lake, which, almost at our feet, bears
off some twenty miles to the north and south, with fertile bot-
tom lands on its east side. On the -west side steep ridges put
down bluff to the water's edge. Still further, the country is
covered with juniper timber. In the distant horizon, Rhett
or Tule Lake is barely discernible. Much nearer to the south-
west is Wright or Clear Lake. To the southward the country

te't':

663

TROUBUC WITH THE WKOTERN INDIANS.

lit '

r.'f.

if streaked with sparse timber, and presents a more broken and
mountainous appearance. To the west southwest the great
Shasta Butte towers with its bi-capped peak, whitened with
eternal snows. Passing west from Goose Lake, a measured
distance of forty-four miles, the country is timbered and cov.
ered with masses of broken and loose rocks, cut in various
directions by deep ravines, through which it would not be pos-
sible to operate with cavalry. The remains of many old Indian
fortifications are to be found in this district, in the erection
and location of which much skill and judgment would appear
to have been manifested. This region is well watered, and
there are also numerous small patches of meadows, a few acres
in extent, covered with luxuriant grass. Here large numbers
of deer abound, also brown and grizzly bears, and numbers of
'jackass rabbits.' In the lakes and streams are to be found an
abundance of fish."

In the following May, Boston Charley gave himself up and
volunteered to guide the troops to Captain Jack's stronghold.
This led to the capture of Captain Jack and his whole band, a
number of whom, while being transported in wagons to head-
quarters were murdered by Oregon volunteers. These Indians
were held as prisoners until July, when their trial took place,
which resulted in the conviction of Captain Jack, Schonchin,
Boston Charley, Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed Jim, and
Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. The sentences were
approved by the President (with the exception of Broncho and
8lotuck, whose sentences were commuted to hard labor for life),
and the guilty parties were duly executed at Fort Klamath, on
the third of October, 1873. Thus ended the Modoc troubles.

A good deal has been said against the execution of these Indi-
ans by the clergy and religious press of the United States, but
time and experience have shown that had they been shot at the
first outbreak on the reservation, several valuable lives would
have been saved, and a needless expenditure avoided. No band
of Indians ever so richly merited extermination as the Modocs.
Their depradations and treachery have resulted in a loss to the
nation, in the untimely death of Gen. Canby and his associates,
which cannot soon be forgotten.

CHAPTER LXX.
Tbb Sbminolb War— Earlt SBrriiBRS or Florida Ain> Okoroia —

Iin)IAN AND NeORO SlAVBRT— DIFFICULTIES AxOMQ THE CrBBKB —

8ba Coffbb'b Band — Slaveb Flee to Florida — Trbatt with

THE CrEBKI.

And now, in conclusion, let us notice briefly the principal
features of the Seminole war, which, among the dark annals
of Southern border warfare, h the only contest that deserves
particular mention. This will carry us back many years.

Florida was settled by the Spaniards, in 1558, who were the
first of the American colonists to engage in the African slave
trade. The Garolinas were settled about the year 1630, under
charters which embraced a great portion of the territory of
Florida. This boundary conflict between the Spanish settlers
in Florida and the colonists of the Garolinas soon led to open
hostilities. The Carolinians also held many slaves, among
whom were many Indians who resided in the vicinity. When
the boundaries of Florida and South Carolina had been estab-
lished, "*the colonists found themselves separated by the
territory now constituting the State of Georgia," which at this
early day was principally occupied by the Greek Indians.

The Indian slaves belonging to the Carolinians soon became
tired of the restraints of bondage, and escaped into the country
of the Greeks. Their example was soon followed by the Afri-
can slaves, who also fled into Georgia, and thence with the
Indian fugitives to the Spanish State of Florida, where they
soon became a separate community, protected by Spanish laws.
In 1736 the numbers of this community were greatly increased
by the large desertions from the Garolinas, and many of them
were formed into companies, and relied on by the Floridians as
allies to aid in the defense of that Territory. Fostered by

* The Exiles of Florida.

(553)

064

VTRUOOLKR WITH TIIK BKMINOIJ»:

1^'

recognition and protection from the Florida Spaniards, these
exiles soon increased in numbers and strength, and hccanio
formidable enemies to their former masters.

In 1738, tlie Colonial Governor of South Carolina sent a
messenger to the Governor of St. Augustine, with a dt>mand
for the return of the fugitive slaves in Florida, which was
promptly rejectetl. This was the cotnmencement of a long
and bloody struggle between these colonies, which soon led to
the establishment of the colony of Georgia. It was thought
that this colony, being free, would afford the planters of Caro-
lina protection against the further escape of their slaves from
service. These exiles were called by the Creek Indians,
" Seminoles," the same name that was afterwards given to a
very strong band of their own nation. The name, in Indian,
signifies " Runaways."

Georgia had not been established a decade when she became
a slave-holding colony, bringing the slaves of her planters,
both Africans and Indians, into the very neighborhood of the
exiles, who had long been free under Spanish laws. In 1750,
a difficulty arose among the Creek Indians, " which eventually
becoming irreconcilable, a chief named Sea Coffee, with a large
number of followers, left that tribe — at that time residing
within the present limits of Georgia and Alabama — and con-
tinuing their journey south, entered the Territory of Florida,
and, under the Spanish colony policy, were incorporated with
the Spanish population, entitled to lands wherever they could
find them unoccupied, and to the protection of Spanish laws."
From that day Sea Coflfee and his numerous followers refused
to acknowledge Creek authority, or be represented in Creek
councils. Tlicy elected their own chiefs, and in all respects
became a separate tribe, embracing the Michansukies, with
whom they united. " They settled in the vicinity of the exiles,
associated with them, and' a mutual sympathy and respect
existing, some of their people intermarried, thereby Strength-
ening the ties of friendship, and the Indians having fled from
oppression, and taken refuge under Spanish laws, were also
called the Seminoles, or runaways."*

• The Exiles of Florida.

OR, TIIK HOKDKK WAHM OK TWO CBNl-UKIia.

666

From tlio titno that Georgia becanio a slavo-holding colony
to thu coininoticomont of tlie lievoliitioiiary War, parties of
slaves in Georgia and in South Carolina wore constantly leav
ing their inaHters and joining the Soininoles in Florida. This
practit**) was largely increased by the movements of a strong
faction in Georgia opposed to slavery, and led to the exercise
of the greatest severity over, and suflfering among, the slaves.
However, the Seminoles enjoyed their liberty among the Span
lards until after the War of the Kevolution, many of them
becoming rich in Hocks and herds. At the close of this war
the authorities of Georgia began negotiations with the Greeks
for the return of their fugitive slaves, which soon led to hos-
tilities, and a long series of complications between the Federal
government and the local government in Georgia.

On the first of August, 1790, President Washington, through
the Secretary of War, Gen. Knox, effected a treaty with the
Creeks, who were represented by all their chiefs and princiiml
men of their tribe in New York. The third article of the
treaty stipulated that: "The Creek nation shall deliver, as soon
as practicable, to the commanding officer of the troops of the
United States stationed at Kock Landing, on the Oconee river,
all citizens of the United States, white inhabitants or negroes,
who are now prisoners in any part of said nation; and if any
such prisoners or negroes should not be so delivered, on or
before the first day of June ensuing, the Governor of Georgia
may empower three persons to repair to the said nation, in
order to claim and receive such prisoners and negroes."
Although the Seminoles were not represented in this council,
and were in no way parties to this treaty, the Creeks proceeded
to act for them, and to bind them to deliver their prisoners
and negroes, or themselves, up to their former persecutors. It
was a novel treaty for the fathers of our liberty to frame, and,
as we shall see, produced one of the most horrid border wars
that has ever been waged between the United States and the
Indians.

CHAPTER LXXI.

. (

Tmb Hbhiiiolb War — DirFiovLTiBi with tub Chrbki— Thsih Ima-

BIUTT TO RbTCRR TOB PdOITIVB BLAVBI — COMPLAUITt Or Trb

8latbhou>brs or Oboroia — Tbb Oboroiari Irvadb Fix>rida —
Thbir DBrBAT— Crobltt to SBTTiiBRi— Thb Sboomd Iryaiion—

MORB ScrrBRINO — BrITIIR iHTBRrBRBROB ARD OOCOPATIOR IR
ObOROIA ARD FtX>RtDA — TUH FORT Or TUB ExiIiBS — Trb FoRT

Bu)WR UP— Orbat Drstrcotior or Humar Lira— Comiibro»
MBHT or tub Firit Sbmirolb War. i

The Greeks soon found it impoBsible to koop the treuty
which they had made. Tlie Seminoles, of course, refuHe<l to-
recognize or be bound by it. They claimed to be a separate,
independent tribe, and declared that the attempt of the Creeket
and the United States authorities to dictate what they should
do, or should not do, was an insult to their dignity, and worthy
only of their contempt. " The Greeks dared not attempt to
bring back the exiles by force, and the government of the
United States was unwilling to invade a Spanish colony for tlie
purpose of recapturing those who had escaped the bond^ of
oppression and had become legally free." In 1792, when this
unpleasant state of affairs existed, an agent by the name of
Leagrone, was sent to Florida for the purpose of negotiating '
with the Spanish authorities for the return of the fugitive
slaves. Tlie sa'me person had been agent to the Greeks, and he
well understood their views in regard to the treaty. On reach-
ing Florida, he found the authorities of that province entirely
opposed to the surrender of any subjects of the Spanish crown
to slavery. The Seminoles and the slaves who had become a
part of their community, were regarded as holding the same
rights which the white citizens of Florida held ; but this was
not all. The representatives of the King of Spain in Floridii
encouraged both the Seminoles and tlio exiles or fugitives to

(SBO)

OK, TtIR UORDKK WAKN Of TWO UMNTdHini.

fiS7

reAite coinplianct! with the troftty. Nor wore tho Cn^nka united
in support of the trcftty. Those known at the '* Lower Oreeks,"
or those residing on the southern horder of Georgia, were half
inclined to join the Spaniards, and McGellivray, their prinoi-
pHl chief, was alrtwly raising his voice against the IJnited
States. "This man," says Mr. Giddings, "exerted groat
influence with the Indians. He was the son of an Indian
trader, a Scotchman, by a Creek woman, the daughter of a d{s>
tinguished chief. He had received a good English education;
but his father had joined the English during the lievolution,
and he, having been offended by leading men of Georgia, had
tiiken up his residence with the Indians, and became tlieir prin-
cipal chief, in whom they reposed implicit confidence."

But the difliculty was not confined to the Indians and the
United States. The people of Georgia were dissutisfied with
tho treaty, since it ceded some valuable portions of their land
to the Indians, and they were loud in their expressions of con-
tempt for the actions of the Federal government. The agent,
Leagrone, writing from Georgia to the Secretary of War, uses
theHe words: "To such lengths have matters gone, that they
(the Georgians) now connider the troops and servants of the
United States, who are placed among them, nearly as great
enemies as thev do the Indians."

With this (X>ndition of afiairs, the Governor of Georgia
ruised and equipped a military force, invaded the Greeks,
destroyed one of their principal villages, and killed several of
their warriors. But notwithstanding, the Creeks were unable
to return the fugitive slaves; and in 1794, President Washing-
ton, in a special message to Congress, announced the failure of
all efforts to maintain peace between the people of Georgia and
the Creek Indians.

It will be observed that the slaveholders of Georgia had
sustained considerable I'^ss by the escape of their slaves to the
Seminole community in Florida; and now that tlie United
States government had failed to secure the return of these fugi-
tives by treaty, Congress was called upon to make an appropri-
ation out of the public treasury, to pacify these much-abused
slaveholders, but that body was already beginning to see the

65b

RMttUOLtJI WITH TIIK RKMlNoLIOi:

M^»^

A. ^ » i

evili of lUvery, unci vrlmAy rrf^iMHl to iiinke tin* dmirf^ iippfo-
priation.

It Wdiild RM^iii tliAt tliv HeiiiiiiolvN liiul tnktm tliv t'ii|(itiv«
•Uv(« iiiidor thoir iminwliuto pruttwtiuii, aiuI Uiin^ tlioiiiMlvnk
At oiimity witli tiie ('rcol», from whom tlioy IimI RO|Ninit(>(l,
thoy worn Arm in thoir dotormiimtion to prumoto thv lilwrty
which botli thtty «nd thoir brothom, tho exilot, wore onjoying
under tho Hpuniili Irwi. From tliii timo until 1811, tli« fugi*
tivut rcmninod touuro with their friondi tliu Hominolvi in
Floridn, altliough tlio pooplo and f(ovorrimont of C^oorgiu vxcv-
oiied conitant effort to dfoct thoir return to lK>ndiiKo. In tlio
lait mentioned year h Ihw wm immmxI by ( longroiN, in tnw.ivt
•OMion, and approved by the Pn*sidont, for tnl(ing {K>iiKoiiHi(»ii
of Florida.

But the movement* of the federal government were too hIow
to MtiRfy tho Georgians. " In 1812," sayH Mr. (biddings, '' tlio
Executive of Georgia, apparently entertaining the idea that his
State was comiwtont to declare war and make peace, raised an
army, which, under tho command of the Adjutant-General,
entered Florida with tho avowed intention of exterminating
the Somirioles M'ho had so long refused to surrender tho exiles;
wliile the real object was the recapture and re-en slavomont of
the refugees. The Creeks of the liower Town, however, to(»k
sides with the Sominoles, in opposing this piratical foray of
slave-catchers. The army having penetrated a hundred miles
or more into Florida, found itself surrounded with hostile sav.
ages. Their supplies were cut off; the men, reduced almost to
a state of starvation, were compelled to retrace their steps, and,
with great loss, the survivors reached Georgia. But they
robbed those Spanish inhabitants who fell in their way, of all
their provisions, and lotl them to suffer for the want of food.
Nor wore the Georgians satisfied with taking such provisions
as were necessary to support life; they also took with them a
large number of slaves, owned by Spanish masters, with whom
they resided."

Not long after this the Legislature of Georgia, impatient
with the inactivity of the Federal government, passed an act
for raising a force " to reduce St. Augustine, and punish tho

OR, rilK Hi>HI>KN WAMN «>r IWU CKNTUHIM.

659

h(< il»'i»ir«»<l »ppfo-

IndUni." Another Rriny ot' htiiitort, tnippeni, vn)(A)>oti()H nnd
iiivn of dviperatu tbrttinuH, wn« rniM*<i; iiiiinlwriii^ Hvc hiin.
(Irofi, «nd FloriiU whk iigiiiii iiivndt>tl. Thii ()X|K)Uiti<>n was
inoro NticcimNt'lil than thu flrtt. Hovoral iniall 8t*niin(>Ut tuwim
wore burnmi; oorn-Heldn woru dvMtrtt^fd, and UrKtt lumU of
cAttlo were captured. Ifuwevor, none of thu uxiloa were
captured. This state of warfare waa continu(>d until 1818,
when Georgia, being unable to obtain any of her fugitive
•laves, gave up thu contest. Tliese transactions in the South
excited very little attention at the National Capital, on account
of the dcc{K*r interest fult in the issues of the War of 1812,
which, as we have scon, was then raging. But h' the Anieri*
can Congress failed to bestow proper attention upon tlto })end-
ing Seminole War, the British were not wanting in their regard
for its possible advantages. In 1814, a hostile fleet under
I/r)rd Coohran, entered ('hcsa|)cake Bay. This British com-
mander issued a proclamation, inviting all persons, including
slaves, who desired to leave the United States, to go on board
IiIh Britannic Majesty's ships of war. The proclamation
offered them homes in either of the British West India Islands.
This act created great alarm in Georgia and even in the
Carol! nas.

About the same time two British sloops-of-war and a ntim>
ber of smaller vessels, suddenly appeared in Appakchicola Bay,
when a body of British troops was landed under Lieut.-Col.
Nichols, with the avowed intention of protecting the exiles
and the Seminoles. Tliis officer wasted no time in furnishing
them with arms and ammunition, which they gladly accepted,
and, at his call, fell into the ranks of his army in great num-
bers. In November, ho built a strong fort on the cast side of
the Appalachicola river, about thirty miles above its mouth.
This fort came into the hands of the Seminoles and fugitive
slaves in the spring of 1815, when the British withdrew from
the South, and was afterwards known as the " Negro Fort."
In the same year, a part of the American army under the
immediate command of Gen. Gaines, was sent to the Georgian
frontiers to maintain ])eace between the slaveholders and the
Indians, and the ^' Negro Fort," as well us the fugitives and

irruiroof.KM with riiK hkminomcm:

■

>^ininoli>H who ^iirrMoiicd it, luKm \n!(:nuu: an object of c/m-
(|iieHt. On till) Hixtoentli of May, 181<(, (itn. Ja^skiKin wrote
Oon. Gninc'H, Maying: " I have littlo doiilit of the fact that
thiH fort haH hcon OHtahliHhtHl hy Home villains for the jiiirjioHo
of rapine and phinder, and t.'iat it ought to be blown ii[)
regardicBH of the fj^nnuu] on whieh it otandH; and if your mind
Hhonid have t)ie Hatne concliiHion, destroy it and return the
stolen negroeH and |»roiH;rty to their rightful owners,"

The receipt of this order was all that Oen. Gaines waited for.
lie immediately deHpatched ('ol. ('linch, of the regular troopa,
and five liundred friendly (/reeks, under their favorite chief
Mclntiish, with two pieces of artillery, to blow up tlie "Negro
Fort." A naval force was seit to co-operate with Col. Clinch,
and on the morning of the tweuly-seventh of July, it anchored
in the river opposite the fort. The land force had apprfiachcd
t<» within a few hundred yards of the fort three days before,
and erected a battery from which a heavy cannotiade was con-
stantly kept up, and now, joined by the guns of the naval
re-enforcements shot and ahells were poured in uj>on tlie poor
exiles — men, women and children, to the number of three hun-
dred — murdering them without mercy. There were also about
forty Seminole Indians in the fort.

In speaking of this siegr, Mr. Giddings, in his valuable little
book, says: "Mothers and children now slirieked with terror,
as the roar of the cannon, the wliistling of balls, the explosion
of shells, the war-whoops of tlie savagei;, the groans of the
wounded and dying, foretold the sad fate which awaited them.
The stout-hearted old men cheered and encouraged their friends,
declaring that death was to be preferred to slavery. Tlie
struggle, liowever, was not protracted. The cannon balls not
taking effect upon the embankments of earth, they prepared
their furnaces and commenced the fire of hot shot, directed at
the principal magazine. This mode proved more successful.
A ball, fully heated, reached the powder in the magazine. The
small size of the fort, and the great number of people in it.
Tendered the explosion unusually fatal. Many were entirely
buried in the ruins, others were killed by falling timbers, while
many bodies were torn in pieces. Limbs were separated from'

OK, THE WmUKU WARA OF TWO CESTrUBIBI.

561

hii object ot' o/tu-
1. JwskiKjn wrote

of the fact tliiit
J for the j)ur|K»H(j

to b« blown np
and if your mind
t and return the
DwncrB."

UaineB waited for,
;he rej^ular troops,
eir favorite chief
,w up the " Negro
! with<ol. Clindi,
f July, it anchored
cc had apjjrfiached
three dayH before,
mnonade was con-
pins of the naval
d in uiK>n the poor
inUr of three liun-
ere were also about

his vahiable little
irieked with terror,
balls, the explosion
the groans of the
Ihich awaited them,
iraged their friends,
to slavery. The
►e cannon balls not
irth, tliey prepared
[ot shot, directed at
more successful.
Ithe magazine. The
ber of people in it,
Many were entirely
Eling timbers, while
rere separated from

the boilien to which they }\aA been attached, and death in all it«
horrid formB was visible within the doomed fortreM. Of three
hundred and thirty-four bouIs within the fort, two hundred and
flcventy were instantly killed, while of the sixty who remained,
only three escaped without injury. Two of the 8urvivor&— one
negro and one Indian — were selected as supposed chiefs of the
allied forces within the for;t. They were delivered over to the
Indians who accompanied Col. Clinch, and were massacred
within the fort, in presence of our troopit; but no report or
record shows the extent of torture to which they were snb>
jected." Those who survived their wounds, were taken back
to Georgia and re-enslaved — a fate but little better than that
of those who had perished in the ruins of the fort. The prop-
erty captured by the military in this campaign, amounted in
value to over two hundred thousand dollars.
86

CHAPTER LXXII.

The First Semimolb Wau — Mabsaciik of Likutenant Scott —
Jackbon'8 Army Invades Florida, and Burns Seminole Towns—
Peace — Porch asino Slaves From Indians With Whisky— A
Movement to Remove the Sbminoles West of the Mississippi —
Osceola, His Wife, Her Fate, and His Revenoe — The Massa-
cre at Fort Kino — Louis, the Guide — Terrible Massacre at
the Great Wahoo Swamp.

The massacre of exiles and Seminoles at the "Negro Fort"
led to the first formidable Seminole war, in which the surviving
fugitives joined. Early in the spring and summer of 1817,
Gen. Gaines's scouts brought in the intelligence that the Sem-
inoles and exiles were preparing for the contest, they having
purchased arms and ammunition from the Spanish and British
merchants, and being then undergoing the necessary drill.
Gen. Gaines also began active preparations. Thus matters
continued until November, when a boat belonging to the
United States was ascending the Appalachicola river with sup-
plies for Fort Scott, " under the escort of a Lieutenant and
forty men, in company with a number of women and children."
As soon as the fugitives and Seminoles became aware of tie
approach of the convoy, they raised a band of warriors for the
purpose of revenging the death of their relations who perished
at the fort-massacre. The party proceeded to the river, and
drawing this convoy into an ambuscade, massacred Lieut. Scott
and all his men but six, and all the children, and all the women
but one. The woman was carried to Suwanee a prisoner, and
the six soldiers escaped. Forgetting the fort-massacre, where
so many fugitives and Seminoles were needlessly destroyed by
the United States troops, the American government, press and
people, denounced the Massacre of Lieut. Scott's party as
wholly unprovoked. Gen. Gaines was now ordered to carry

(562)

OR, TIIK nORDRK WARS OF TWO OKNTDRIKfi.

503

ilKTJTBHAUT SCOTT —
g SEMINOIiB TOWNB —

8 With Whisky — A
' OF TUB MiBSiseippi —

IVEHOB — TlIK MA88A.
iRHIBLE MA89ACUB AT

t the "Negro Fort"
which the surviving
ad Slimmer of ISlif*
igence that the Sem-
conteat, they having
Spanish and British

the necessary drill,
ons. Thus matters
,t belonging to the
licola river with snp-
of a Lieutenant and
/omen and children."
>ecame aware of tie
^ of warriors for the
slations who perished
,ed to the river, and
iiassacred Lieut. Scott
sn, and all the women

'anee a prisoner, and
fort-massacre, where
jdlessly destroyed by
)vernment, press and
mt. Scott's party as
^ow ordered to carry

an oflfensive war into Florida for the purpose of punishing the
Seminoles, and Gen. Jackson was sent to the iiold in person,
with power to call on tlie States of Tennessee and Georgia for
such militia as he might deem ned'essary for the due prosecu-
tion of the war. On entering the field he called on the State
of Tennessee for two thousand troops. lie also organized a
very strong force of Georgia volunteers. The Creek Indians,
under llieir favorite leader, Mcintosh, also joined Jackson's
force in large numbers. With this army he moved upon the
Negro and Seminole towns near Lake Mickasukie, defeating
the allied forces, burning about three hundred dwellings, and
capturing a considerable supply of provisions.

The American army, under Gen. Jackson, moved on to St.
Marks, a Spanish fort situated on the river of that name.
While Jackson was capturing this fort, the fugitives and Sem-
inoles concentrated at the " Old Town " of " Suwanee," where
they prepared to meet the Americans in battle. In due time
Jackson approached, and atYer a severe battle, in which the
negroes lost many dead upon the field, the allied forces were
again defeated. The Americans entered the villages and
burned all the dwellings for several miles on either hand.
Tliey also captured three hundred women and children, while
those belonging to the fugitive negroes had been prudently
rejnoved beyond reach of the invading army.

After this battle Gen. Jackson, being unable to follow the
exiles and Seminoles into the Southern portions of Florida,
withdrew with his army to St. Mark's, where the trial and exe-
cution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, which has been celebrated
in history, took place. Soon after this event Jackson declared
the war at an end, and withdrew from the field to his home in
Nashville.

Thus the fugitive negroes, although badly defeated in battle,
were still at liberty, and the vast expenditure ol blood and
treasure on the part of the United States was unavailing in the
effort to re-enslave them. This led to many new desertions in
Georgia, and as a consequence of the latter, revived the dispo-
sition of the Georgian slave-masters to put an end to Spanish
rule in Florida. The purchase of Florida now became the all-

664

fTTRDaOLKS WITH TIIK flKMINOLKS:

absorbing theme, and in Februry, 1819, a treaty was negotiated,
and in consideration of five millions of dollars, Florida was
transferred to the United States, and the Seminoles and fugj.
tive negroes were brought within the jurisdiction of the United
States.

The policy of removing the Seminoles west of the Missis-
sippi was now introduced, and every means adopted to effect
their removal. Meantime, slave-catching parties invaded Flor*
Ida and carried off many of the fugitives into bondage. Not
long previous to the second Seminole war the practice of pur-
chasing these fugitives from their friends, the Seminoles,
was protected by the authorities, which gave rise to inde-
scribable cruelties. The purchase was generally made with
whisky and false promises, and the cruelty with which the
betrayed negroes were treated, was truly shocking. This
state of things became so notoriously wicked that orders were
at length issued to suppress the practice.

Meanwhile the representatives of the United States govern-
ment had effected a treaty with the Seminoles, in which they
were made, through the influence of intoxicating liquors and
bribery, to consent to remove west of the Mississippi, and
before the treaty was ratified by the Senate, or approved by
the Seminole nation, the President issued an order to the mili-
tary for their immediate removal. As soon as the Seminole
chiefs recovered from the infiuences which had been brought
to bear upon them at the council, they denied having made
such a treaty, and refused to remove from the reservations
whifjh had been assigned to them by former treaties. This led
to the second Seminole war. The number of fugitive negroes
in Florida at this time, including women and children, was
about twelve or fourteen hundred.

The Seminoles, who had previously maintained only a
defensive war, were now excited to fury, and cruel depredations
followed. " A young and gallant warrior," says Mr. Giddings,
" named Osceola, was the principal actor in one of these scenes.
He was the son of an Indian trader, a white man named
Powell. His mother was the daughter of a Seminole chief.
He had.recently married a woman said to have been beautiful.

OR, THE BORDER WARS OF TWO C1LNTURIK8.

66A

maintained only »
and cruel depredations
)r," saysMr.Giddings,

in one of these scenes.

ft white man named
r of a Seminole chief.
to have been beautiful

She was the daughter of a chief who had married one of the
exiles; but as all colored people, by slave-holding laws, are said
to follow the condition of the mother, she was called an AfVi-
can slave. Osceola was proud of his ancestry. He hated
slavery, and those who practiced the holding of slaves, with a
bitterness that is but little understood by those who have never
witnessed its revolting crimes. He visited Fort King in com-
pany with his wife and a few friends, for the purpose of trading.
Mr. Thompson, the agent, was present, and while engaged in
business, the wife of Osceola was seized as a slave. Evidently
having negro blood in her veins, the law pronounced her a
slave; and as no other person could show title to her, the pirate
who had got possession of her body, was supposed, of course,
to be her owner. Osceola became frantic with rage, but was
instantly siezed and placed in irons, while his wife was hurried
away to slave-holding pollution. He remained six days in
irons, when, Gen. Thompson says, he became penitent, and
was released. From the moment when this outrage was com-
mitted, the Florida War commenced. Osceola swore vengeance
upon Thompson and those who assisted in the perpetration of
this indignity upon himself, as well as upon his wife, and upon
our common humanity. * * * Other Indians and exiles
were preparing for other important operations; but Osceola
seeuied intent, his whole soul was absorbed, in devising some
plan by which he could safely reaph Mr. Thompson, who was
the object of his vengeance. He, or some of his friends, kept
constant watch on the movements of Thompson, who was
unconscious of the danger to which he was exposed. Osceola,
steady to his purpose, refused to be diverted from his favorite
object. Thompson was at Fort King, and there were but few
troops to protect that fortress. But Indians seldom attempt
an escalade, and Osceola sought an opportunity to take it by
Burprise. With some twenty followers he lay secreted near the
fort for days and weeks, determined to find some opportunity
to enter by the open gate when the troops should be off their
guard. On the twenty-eighth, in the afternoon, as he and
his followers lay near the road leading from the fort to the
house of the sutler, which was nearly a mile distant, they saw

V
•1-
„(

666

HTRITOOLHH Wmi TIIR »KMINOLi<»:

Mr. Thompson and a friend approaching. At a Hignul given
by Osceola, the Indians fired. Thompson fell, pierced hy four-
teen bullets; Smith received about as many. The shrill war
whoop followed the sound of the rifles, and alarmed the puoplu
at the fort. The Indians immediately scalped their victiiiiD,
and then hastened to the house, where Mr. Rogers, the sutler,
and two clerks were at dinner. These three persons were
immediately massacred and scalped. The Indians took as many
valuable goods as they could carry, and set fire to the build-
ing." Osceola and his companions e8cai)ed, quite satisfied
with the vengeance they had wrought, but Htill not compensated
for the enslavement of Osceola's wife.

At this point, I have to present to the reader the naint; of
Louis, that intelligent slave who became so conspicuous in this
contest. Major Dade had been ordered to march with hib com-
mand to Fort King. The distance to be traveled was about
one hundred and thirty miles, through an unsettled forent,
'' much diversified with swamps, lakes and hammocks." No
white person could be found who was able to guide the com-
mand over the route. On making inquiry for a suitable guide,
the attention of Major Dade was directed to Louis, the slave
of a respectable Spanish settler, who resided near B'ort Brook.
Louis was recommended by his master as a faithful, trustworthy
man, and was engaged to guide the party over the dangerous
wastes.

Louis thought the matter over long and carefully. He did
not wish to betray his new master, yet he felt deep syinjw-
thy for the exiles, and did n^t wish them to be re-enslaved, and
with that faith which has enabled many a slave to foresee Ids
freedom, he believed that the hour had come for him to strike
an important blow. He called some of his most trustworthy
friends together and informed them that Major Dade, with his
troops, would leave Fort Brook about the twenty-fifth of
December, for Fort King, and that he was to act as their guide;
that he would lead them by way of the Great Wahoo Swamp,
and pointed out the proper place for an attack. This informa-
tion was soon communicated to the exiles and the Seniinoles,
and preparations were at once commenced among them for

OK, THE noKDRR WAItfl OF TWO OENTURIKB.

At a aigiml given
ill, pierced hy tour-
y. The Bhrill war
alarmed the peuplo
,lped their victims,
Rogers, the sutler,
three persons were
ndiaiiB took as many
jt lire to the Imild-
,|)ed, quite satifltied
itill not compensated

reader the name of
» conspicuous in this
march with hii» coni-
j traveled was about

an unsettled forest,
id hammocks." No
)le to guide the coni-
y for a suitable guide,
d to Louis, the slave

ed near Fort Brook.

faithful, trustworthy
y over the dangerous

,d carefully. He did
18 felt deep sympii-
to be re-enslaved, and
a slave to foresee ids
)me for him to strike
lis most trustworthy
Major Dade, with his
the twenty-fifth of
to act as their guide;
:>reat Wahoo Swamp,
ttack. This informa-
38 and the Seminoles,
ced among them for

meeting the troops at the point designated. Thither marched
a large force determined on striking a fatal blow upon the
approaching soldiers. On the twenty. seventh of December,
Dade's command had reached a point wJthin three miles of the
Great Wahoo Swamp, where the battle was to be fought.

Mr. Giddings gives a very pleasing account of this contest
in his noted little book on the "Exiles of Florida," in these
words: "At early dawn, the men were paraded, the roll called
and the order regulating the day's march given. Tliey were
then dismissed for breakfast, and at eight o'clock resumed their
march, and proceeded on their way in the full expectation of
reaching their destination on the evening of that day. But
an insidious foe had been equally vigilant. They had left their
island encampment, with the first light of the morning, and
each had taken his position along the trail in which the troops
were expected to march. Some thirty or forty yards dis-
taut each man was hidden behind a tree, which was to be his
fortress during the expected action. A few rods on the other
side of the trail, lay a pond of water, whose placid surface
reflected the glittering rays of the morning sun. All was
peaceful and quiet as the breath of summer. Unsnspicious of
the hidden death which beset their pathway, the troops entered
this defile, and passed along until their rear had come within
the range of the enemy's rifles, when, at a given signal, each
warrior fired while his victim was in full view and unpro-
tected. One-half of that ill-fated band, including the gallant
Dade, fell at the first fire. The remainder were thrown into
disorder. The officers endeavored to rally their men into line,
hut their enemy was unseen, and ere they could return an
effective shot, a second discharge from the hidden foe, laid one-
half their remaining force prostrate in death. The survivors
retreated a short distance towards their encampment of the
previous night, and while most of the exiles and Indians were
engaged in scalping the dead and tomahawking those who were
disabled, they formed a hasty breastwork of logs for their
defense. They were, however, soon invested by the enemy,
and the few who had taken shelter behind their rude defenses,
were overcome and massacred by the exiles, who conversed

668

nnuuoLics WITH tiik hiciiinomcs:

with them in £ngliBh, and dispatched them. Only two indi-
viduals besides Louis the guide made their escape. Their
gallant commander, his officers and soldiers, whose hearts had
beat high with expectation in the morning, at evening lay pros-
trate in death; and as the sable victors relaxed from their
bloody work, they congratulated each other on having revenged
the death of those who, twenty years previously, had fallen at the
massacre of Blount's* Fort. The loss of the allied forces was
three killed and iive wounded. After burying their own dead,
they retired to the island in the swamp, long before nightfall. To
this point they bA)ught the spoils of victory, which were
deemed important for carrying on the war. Night had scarcely
closed around them, however, when Osceola and his followcra
arrived from Fort King, bringing intelligence of the death of
Thompson and fiieut. Smith, together with the sutler and his
two clerks. There, too, was Louis, i;he guide to Dade's com.
mand. He was now free I He engaged in conversation with
his sable friends. Well knowing the time and place at which
the attack was to be made, he had professed a necessity for
stopping by the wayside before entering the defile, thus sepa-
rating himself from the troops and from danger. As soon a»
the first fire showed him the precise position of his friends, he
joined them, and, swearing eternal hostility to all who enslaved
their fellow-men, lent his own efforts in carrying forward the
work of death, until the last individual of that doomed regi-
ment sank beneath their tomahawks. The massacre of the
unfortunate Dade and his companions, and the murder of
Thompson and his friends at Fort King, occurred on the same
day, and constituted the opening scenes of the second Semi-
nole war."

* Previously spoken of as the " Negro Fort."

CHAPTER LXXIII.

The Srcomd Sbminolb Wau — Thb Battlb or thb WiTntACOOOBBB—
Bravery of Osceola— The Semimoles and Neorobb DsrEATBD—

QKNBHAIi OaINEB'B FhUITI.BM CAMPAIGN — ObOEOLA ATTAOKB MiCON

oft — IIeilman's Gallant DBrBNSB— Tub Battle Bbtwbbn
Pbarob and Osceola — Sbvbral Severe Battles — Tub Semi-
NOLEB Hard to Conquer.

These massacres fully inaugurated the second Seminole war
Gen. Clinch, with tM'o thousand regulars and four hundred
Florida volunteers, under Gen. Call, advanced into Florida, and
were met at the Withlocoochee by one hundred and fifty
Seminoles and fifty exiles under Osceola and Halpatter.
Tustenuggee, where a deadly battle ensued on the thirtieth of
December. " As Osceola," says Giddings, " now, for the first
time, engaged in battle, ho felt anxious to distinguish himself
by his intrepidity. His voice was heai'd on every part of the
field, urging on his troops to deeds of daring. Undaunted by
the shrill war whoop and the constant report of Indian rifles,
and the whistling balls around him. Gen. Clinch charged his
enemy. The allies fell back, and he continually advanced until
he drove them from the thick horamock into the open forest.
Tlie gallant general coolly passed along the lines during the
action, encouraging his men, and stimulating them to eflfort by
his presence and bravery. A ball passed through his cap, and
another through the sleeve of his coat, to which he paid no
attention, but continued to encourage his men."

But the exiles were not wanting in bravery. They fought
with desperation, and their aim was fatal. Eight of tho reg-
ular troops were killed, and forty wounded, of whom more
than one-third died of their wounds. Several officers were also
wounded. The loss of the allied forces were two negroes and

(569)

670

nuvoui.KB WITH riiK hkminomm:

uno Indian killed, and three nugruci and two Indians wonndod.
The allicH drew off, leaving Gen. ('linch in poHHCHHion of the
field.

In January, 1880, Maj.-Uen. 8cott was ordered to the Held
as Commanding General of the army in Florida, with authority
to call on the Governors of South Carolina, Georgia, and Ala-
bama for necessary troops. Gen. Eustis, commandiug at
Charleston, South Carolina, was directed to repair at once to
Florida with the forces stationed in that city and Savannah,
and with such volunteers as he might require. On the tenth
of January Gen. Gaines arrived in Florida from New
Orleans with a brigade of eleven hundred men; and in a few
days, while attempting to cross the Withlacoochee, encountered
the allied forces to a considerable number under " Ino," and
Osceola. Being driven from the river, and being unable to
retreat, Gen. GaincH dispatched a messenger to Gen. Clinch,
who was at Fort Drane, directing that oificer as soon as puH-
pible to his relief with such troops as he could at the moment
bring with him, and retired with his forces into a pine barren
half a mile from the river, where he threw up a breastwork of
logs for the protection of his men, and awaited assistance.
The allies invested his camp for three days, when, seeing Gen.
Clinch's forces approaching, they dispersed and fled.

Osceola, afier the massacre of Thompson and others at Fort
King, had become very influential among tlie Seminoles, and
liis bravery in the several battles in which he had been engaged
added much to his good name among the allies. He had been
raised to the dignity of a chief, and " he now conceived ajid
executed one of the boldest movements ever made by savages
against a fortified post manned by regular troops." On the
ninth of June, with three hundred warriors, about one-quarter
of whom were negroes, he attacked the fort at Micanopy,
which was then defended by a garrison of soldiers equal in
numbers to his own force. The fort was under the commiind
of Major Ileilman. " The assault," says Mr. Giddings, " was
maintained with determined obstinacy for an hour and a half,
the assailants boldly facing the artillery which was brought to

UK, TIIK noKIIKK WAKN or TWO CKNTtrKllOI.

671

lM>ur upon tlit'iii, uiui wliuii t\wy U'W tho icuiie of uetion, tliujr
carried txwny tliitir dvud und woundiHl.'*

A Hhort tiinu pruvioiifl to tliiH Imttlu, Gf>n. Scott waa with
drawn tVoin tlu; Huld and (k>M. JuMMtip appointed to his place.
Tlie hitttT had Hucct'HHi'ully utfuctod the removal of tliu Creeks
from Georgia to their reservation in tlio West, and it was
hofHid by tlie government, tiiat he would induce the Seminole*
to remove there also.

On the twelfth of August, Major Poarco, being in command
at Micanopy, left that place with one pieceof artillery and one
hundred and ten regular troops, for the puqxtse of attacking
the allies at Fort Drano. In due time he reached this post,
where he met Onceola with about one hundred followers, ready
to meet him and give him battle. After an engagement of an
hour and a quarter, Major Pearce was compelled to fall back,
aud Osceola, being unwilling to pursue him, he retreated to
Micanopy with a loss of one killed and sixteen wounded.

"But tho Indians and exiles," says Mr. Giddings, '*now
found themselves almost daily threatened in their own fast-
nesses. Along the Withlacoochee were many small villages
and plantations occupied almost exclusively by exiles. Large
croj)S of com and other vegetables had been raised there
during the season, and it was known that stores of provisions
were located upon various islands surrounded by the swamps
lying along that river, and in tho great morass called the
'Wahoo Swamp;' while it was equally known that many
families of the exiles were residing in that vicinity. It was
therefore deemed important to destroy those villages and
obtain the supplies which they contained. Gen. Armstrong,
with live hundred mounted men, wliile marching toward these
villages on the fourteenth of November, encountered a strong
force consisting of Indians aud exiles. Tho conflict was
spirited. In forty minutes, eleven of Armstrong's men fell
before the deadly aim of the allies. He, however, drove them
from the field, but they took with them their dead and wounded.
This fact with savages is regarded the only test of success in
battle; they never acknowledge defeat while they hold posses-
sion of their dead and wounded. But the time drew near

579

rriiuuuLn wmi tub ikminolw:

■'I

when they were conttimlned to Mknowledge % d^«aL On the
eighteenth of November, % regiment of TennefiecftUN, conitiiit-
Ing of about five hundred, encountered a b4Kly of the enemy
whoM numbere are not given by any ofllcor or hiktorian
whom we have consulted. Tliey were |X)ated in a hommock.
Tlio Tenneeaocana were the aaaailing party. The battlu con*
tinned more tlian two honra, when the alliot Hed, leaving \\\\on
the field twenty-flvo Indians and Africans tlain in battle; while
the loss of the assailants was still larger. This was tlio bust
contested battle which occurred during the campaign of 1886,
and the first in which the allies \i:h their dead in posseMsion of
our troops. This detisat appears to have taught the allies to be
cautious, and stimulated a desire to wipe out the imprcssiun
which their defeat was calculated to make upon the public
mind. Gen. Call having formed a junction with Mnj. Penrce
of the regular service, with nearly three hundred regular
trouiis under his command, making in all more than one thou*
Hand men, entered the Great Wahoo Swamp on the twenty-
tirttt of November. Their intention was to obtain the provisions
supposed to be deposited in the villages situated upon the
islands in tliat extensive morass. But they were attacked soon
atler entering the swamp. The fire at first was principally
concentrated upon the Creek Indians, the mercenary troops
employed by Gen. Jessup. Major Pearce hastened to their
relief. The fire then became general. The men were in a
swamp which was nearly covered with water, and much of it
with a thick underbrush. Atler maintaining the battle for a
time, the Indians fell back, crossed the river and formed
upon its bank, each man protected by a log or tree. Tlie river
was turbid and appeared difiicult to pass. As our troops
approached it, the fire upon them was severe. Capt. Moniac,
of the Creek warriors, was killed while examining the stream
to ascertain if it could be forded. Others were wounded. Tlie
allied force apjiearod determined to make their final stand upon
this stream. Behind them were their wives and children, their
provisions, their homes and- firesides. Gen. Call and his troops
now obtained an opportunity of fighting the enemy; a privi-
lege which he had long sought, though he embraced it under

OH, THK MDlUiKM WAIW ()» TWO OlOiTUHIl

»78

dimdvantageoui oircumtUnoOi.* Onr truepie had i^umi indnce-
mtmU to mlvaiiois hut the dAn||r«T8 corF^ii|#>nded with tlio
advnntAges to hu Kainud. Gon. CaII. )i<>wcvor, cou^lnded to
withdraw; and after auttaining a heavy 1o«m he rutrcatod and
left the allien in pot«OMion of the fl»ld. Tlioy very correctly, ftiel-
irig that their iiicceM de|)ended greatly U))on the poaitiun jthoy
had taken, did not purine Gen. Call, who, with hit whole force,
retired to Volusi to recruit, llig lou wna fifteen kiUed and
thirty wounded. It is cffrtuin that the alliet manifeated gi^^t
•kill in Helecting their place of attack, and the position for their
final stand. Tlieir Muccess greatly encouraged thorn, and the
gallantry displayed hy the exiles served to increase their influ-
ence with the Indians. The Greek warriors had sliown
themselves very ofHcient in this expedition, but they suffered
severely ; and at no subsequent }>eriod did they maintain their
former character as warriors. They had been greatly stimu*
lated in this conflict with the expectation of capturing women
and children, whom they expected to seize and sell as slaves.
But so far as that object was concerned, their warriors who
fell in this battle died ingloriously, and the result discouraged
the survivors."

CHAPTER LXXIV.

CONCIiUBION OF. TUB SECOND SkMINOLK ' WaK — SevKRAL BxTTIiBB —

Gen. Jebbup'8 Peace Policy— Hobtiutieb Renewed — SiiAVE-
Catching Parties — The Skminoleb and Exiles persuaded to go
West — Efforts to Sdhject them to Creek Authority — Invaded
BT the Creeks — Emigration of the Exiles to Mexico.

In December, 1836, Qev. Jossup entered the field in person.
He had eight thousand troops well provided with all materials
of war, which were, to a great extent, concentrated against the
villages of the exiles on the Withlacoochee. He directed a
battalion of mounted men, under Major Crawford, accom-
panied by two battalions of Creek Indians, to make a sudden
descent upon them, but most of the settlers, being made aware
of the approach of this force, made their escape to the swamps.
Tlie troops, however, seized lifty-two women and children.

The next effort, however, was directed by the allies against
Fort Mellon, near Lake Monroe. Tlie forces, two hundred and
fifty strong, were commanded by "Wild Cat" and Louis.
The attack was made with great determination, and continued
for three hours, but the assailants were driven back by superior
numbers. They sustained no loss, however, while on the side
of the Americans, Capt. Mellon was killed and several others
mortally woundea.

Soon after the allies were defeated at Ahapopka Lake, when
chief Osuchee and three warriors and nine exiles were killed.
All of their women and children were taken prisoners. " *AU
the disposable forces under Gen. Jessup were now put into
active employ. With the main body of the army he pene
trated far into the Indian territory." At Tahopkaliga Lake
he captured seven hundred head of cattle, which afforded sub-

♦ Exiles of Florida.

(574)

OR, THK UOKDKK WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

575

Bistence for his army. Near the Cypress Swamp, the enemy
was attacked and all his horses and baggage captured, with
twenty-five Indians and negroes, principally women and chil-
dren. On the day alter the battle, one of the prisoners was
directed to return to the two principal chiefs, Abraham and
Alligator, with a message of peace, desiring them to meet the
commanding general in council. The chiefs complied, and
visiting the general's camp, arrangements were entered into
for holding a general council at Fort Dade, on the eighteenth
of February.

A successful excursion into the Indian country was also made
by Eieut.-Col. Henderson, with a strong force of mounted
men. He captured twenty-three negroes, young and old ; over
a hundred ponies, with packs on about fifty of them; together
with all their clothes, blankets and other baggage. In this
expedition his loss was two men killed and five wounded.

Hoping to get the negro and Indian chiefs to assemble in
council, Gen. Jessup now ordered a cessation of hostilities,
and on the sixth of March a few of their principal men assem-
bled at Fort Dade, among whom were Halatoochie and Jumper.
After much diflficulty a treaty was agreed upon, wherein it was
stipulated that the Seminoles would go west of the Mississippi
provided their allies, the fugitives, were allowed the same priv-
ilege and guaranteed the same protection, " ^Abraham now
entered upon the work of inducing all his brethren, both Indi-
ans and negroes to go to the Western country, where they
could be free from persecutions. Those willing to emigrate
were to assemble within a district of ten miles square, marked
out for that purpose, . ear Tampa Bay. Many of the Indian
chiefs visited that station; spoke encouragingly of the pros-
pect; that the whole nation would emigrate at no distant day.
Even Osceola, the most inveterate of all the Seminole chiefs,
visited Fort Mellon, avowing his intention to emigrate; while
Abraham made report of a like feeling among the exiles.
Twenty-six vessels, employed to transport the emigrants to
New Orleans, were anchored in Tampa Bay. Hundreds of
Indians and negroes had reached the camp assigned to the

* Gidding's Narrative.

676

CTRUaOLES WITH TilK HEMINOIJCS:

emigrants, near ' Fort Brooke.' Tlieir names were duly reg.
istered; they drew their rations, and made every preparation
to go West. Gen. Jessup announced the war at an end, dis-
missed the militia and volunteers, and asked of the Department
leave to retire from active duty."

But no sooner had Gen. Jessup made this report, than new
difficulties began to arise, which soon resulted in renewing hos-
tilities. The slave interest was dissatisfied, and the people of
Georgia and Florida demanded the return of their lost slaves,
and seeing that the fugitives were not to be benefitted by the
treaty, the Seminoles withdrew from Tampa Bay, and the
exiles retired to their fastness. In renewing hostilities. Gen.
Jessup appears to have fully determined on carrying out the
designs of Gen. Jackson, iji 1816, when he directed Gen.
Gaines to " destroy the fort and return the slaves to their
owners." From this time forward, says Mr. Giddings, he
lent his energies, and the power of the army, to the object of
capturing and returning slaves. He also changed his mode of
prosecuting the war, and adopted a series of forays for the
capture and enslavement of the exiles. In the previous year
he had entered into a contract with the Creek Indians, by
which he stipulated to pay them a large pecuniary compensa-
tion, and to allow them to hold all the plunder (negroes) whom
they might capture, as property. The same inducements were
held out to the militia. The Choctaws and Delawares also
joined these slave-catching expeditions, while their more
enlightened brethren, the Cherokees, refused to engage in hos-
tilities towards the Seminoles, but offered to send a delegation
of their people among them to advise them to emigrate west of
the Mississippi. John Ross, the half-breed, was at this time tlie
principal chief of the Cherokee nation. But it will be impos-
sible, with the limited space now left, to follow out this war of
detail, on the one hand, or the negotiations of peace on the
other. Tlie war raged with fury until 1843, up to which time
more than five hundred persons were seized and enslaved. To
eflfect this, forty millions of dollars were supposed to have been
expended. " ^Eighty ' thousand dollars were paid from the

* Qidding'8 Narrative.

OR, TUB BORDKR WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

677

es were duly reg-
every preparation
ar at an end, dis-
)f the Department

, report, than new
id in renewing hos-
and the people of
»f their lost slaves,
5 benefitted by the
npa Bay, and the
ig hostilities, Gen.
n carrying out the
he directed Gen.
he slaves to their
Mr. Giddings, he
ny, to the object of
hanged his mode of
»8 of forays for the
1 the previous year
Creek Indians, by
ecuniary compensa-
der (negroes) whom
le inducements were
and Delawares also
while their more
;d to engage in hos-
;o send a delegation
to emigrate west of
was at this time the
!ut it will be impos-
lllow out this war of
ns of peace on the
, up to which time
and enslaved. To
Ipposed to have been
ere paid from the

public treasury for the enslavement of each person, and the
lives of at least three white men were sacrificed to insure the
enslavement of each black man. The deterioration of our
national morality was beyond estimate, and the disgrace of our
nation and government are matters incapable of computation.
The suffering of the Indians and exiles, amidst such prolonged
persecution, such loss of life and property, we cannot estimate.
The friends and families who were separated, the number of
those who wore made wretched for life, the broken hearts, we
will not attempt to enumerate. Nearly one-half of the whole
number were consigned to this moral death of slavery, and
numy to that physical death which was dreaded far less than
slavery. After wandering in the wilderness thrice forty years,
they fell under the oppression, the persecution, the power of a
mighty nation, which boasts of its justice, its honor and love
of liberty. We lament the sad fate of those who died in that
struggle; but with deeper anguish, and far keener mortifica-
tion, we deplore the unhappy lot of those who were doomed to
drug out a miserable existence, amidst chains and wretchedness,
surrounded by that moral darkness which hovere over the
enslaved portion of our fellow-beings in the Southern States. "
The result of this war was, that the exiles, not re-enslaved
by capture, were removed to the Cherokee lands west of the
State of Arkansas. * " They had been removed from Florida
at gi'eat expense of blood and treasure, but they were yet free
and the object of the administration had not been attained.
Conscious of the designs of the Creeks, the Seminoles and
exiles refused to trust themselves within Creek jurisdiction.
They were tenants at will of the Cherokees, whose hospitality
had furnished them with a temporary home until the govern-
ment should fulfill its treaty stipulations, in furnishing them a
territory for their separate use."

In this situation the exiles became dissatisfied, and hostil-
ities being apprehended, a plan was set on foot to place them
under Creek authority on the Creek reservation. Tliis nation
had several years previously been removed to a reservation
west of the Mississippi.

* Gidding's Narrative.

678

STHUaOLKS WITH TIIK BKMINOI.KS:

The Creeks and Seniinoles had been separated tor nearly a
century, and had lived under governments entirely independent
of each other. But this is not all. They had, during tliibi
time, often been at war with each other, and the most deadly
feuds had been engendered, and still existed among them
"To unite them with the Creeks, and blot the name of 'Sem-
inole ' from the page of their future history, in order to involve
the exiles in slavery, had long been a cherished object with the
administration of our government. It was now fondly hoped
that that object would be accomplished without further dilK-
culty. But at no period had the Seminole Indians regarded
the exiles with greater favor than they did when remaining on
the territory assigned to the Creeks. Although many of them
had intermarried with the Seminoles, and half-breeds were now
common among the Indians; yet most of the descendants of
the pioneers who fled from South Carolina and Georgia main-
tained their identity of character, living by themselves, and
maintaining the purity of the African race. They yet cher-
ished this love of their own kindred and color; and when they
removed on to the Creek lands, they settled in separate villages;
and the Seminole Indians appeared generally to coincide with
the exiles in the propriety of each maintaining their distinct-
ive character. During the summer and autumn both Indians
and exiles became residents within Creek jurisdiction; and
the Executive seemed to regard the trust held under the
assignment made at Indian Spring, twenty-four years pre-
viously, as now fulfilled. Regarding the Creeks as holding the
equitable or beneficial interest in the bodies of the exiles, under
the assignnient from their owners to the United States, and
they being now brought under Creek jurisdiction, subject to
Creek laws, the Executive felt that his obligations were dis-
charged, and the whole matter left with the Creeks. This
opinion appears also to have been entertained by the Creek
Indians; for no sooner had the exiles and Seminoles located
themselves within Creek jurisdiction, than the exiles were
claimed as the legitimate slaves of the Creeks. To these
demands the exiles and Seminoles replied, that the President,
under the treaty of 1845, was bound to hear and determine all

irated for nearly a
tirely imlep»!iul(!nt
r had, clurinj; thii*
(\ the most deadly
ited among them
the name of ' Sem-
in order to involve
hed object with the
H now fondly hoped
thout further dilH-
ile Indians regarded
when remaining on
lOiigh many of them
lalf-breeds were now
' the descendants of
t and Georgia maiu-
by themselves, and
,ce. They yet cher-
olor; and when they
I in separate villages;
-ally to coincide with
,ining their distinct-
lutumn both Indians
[ek jurisdiction; and
'rust held under the
inty-four years pre-
3reeks as holding the
■8 of the exiles, under
[le United States, and
risdiction, subject to
[obligations were dis-
li the Creeks. This
irtained by the Creek
^nd Seminoles lociiteil
:han the exiles were
Creeks. To these
,, that the President,
tear and determine all

OR, TIIR liORDRK WAliU OF TWO 01*:NTUKIi<S.

679

questions arising between them. The demands were, there-
fore, referred to the proper department for decision. But this
sitting in judgment upon tlie heaven -endowed right of man
to his liberty, seemed to involve more personal and moral
responsibility than was desirable for the Executive to assume,
and the claims remained undecided. The Creeks became impa-
tient at delay; they were a slavcholding people, as well as their
more civilized but more iniidel brethren, of the slave States.
The exiles, living in their own villages in the enjoyment of
perfect freedom, had already excited discontent among the
slaves of the Creek and Choctaw tribes, and those of Arkansas.
The Creeks appeared to feel that it had been far better for
them to have kept the exiles in Florida, than to bring them to
the Western country to live in freedom. Yet their claims
under the treaty of 1846, thus far, appeared to have been dis-
regarded by the President; they had been unable to obtain a
decision on them; and they now threatened violence for the
purpose of enslaving the exiles, unless their demands were
peacefully conceded. The exiles, yet confident that the gov-
ernment would fulfill its stipulations to protect them and their
property, repaired in a body to Fort Gibson, and demanded
protection of Gen. Arbuckle, the officer in command. He had
no doubt of the obligation of the United States to lend them
protection, according to the express language of the articles of
capitulation entered into with Gen. Jessep, in March, 1837.
He, therefore, directed the whole body of exiles to encamp
and remain upon the lands reserved by the United States, near
the fort, and under their exclusive jurisdiction, assuring them
that no Creek would dare to set foot upon that reservation with
intentions of violence towards any person. Accordingly the
exiles, who yet remained free, now encamped around Fort
Gibson, and were supported by rations dealt out from the
public stores. Soon as he could ascertain all the facts. Gen.
Arbuckle made report to the War Department relative to their
situation, and the claims which they made to protection under
the articles of capitulation, together with the rights which the
Creeks set up to re-enslave them. This state of circumstances
appears to have been unexpected by the Executive. Indeed, he

trrKrtun.Kii with tiik HKMiNoi.Kt):

Rp{M>Hrrt t'ruin tlie coininciutMuont to linvv uniiernited tlio ilifH-
cnlticB which Iwaot the onsUvonuMit ot' a j)0«)plo who wore
detorminod uix)ii the enjoyment of freedom; he Heems to hnvo
ex{>octod the negroes, when once phicwl within Creek juriadic
tion, would have yielded without further ett'ort. l)ut ho wiirt
now placed in a position which constrained him either to repu-
diate the pledged faith of the nation, or to protect the exiles
In their pernons and property^ accortling to the solemn cove-
nants which Gen. Jessup had entered into with theni. Yet the
President was disposed to make further ettorts to avoid the
responsibility of deciding the (piestion before him. Gen. Jes-
sup had entered into the articles of capitulation, and the
President appeared to think ho was competetit to give construc-
tion to them ; he therefore referred the subject to that officer,
stating the circumstances, and demanding of him the substance
of his wnd'Crtakitig in regard to the articles of capitulation
with the Exiles."

Gen. Jessijp's reply was that his understanding of the treaty
was that the Seminoles were to be separate from and independ-
ent of the Creeks in every respect, and that the Seminole
negroes were to be protected from slavery. This ex})lanation
prevented the Executive from handing the Seminoles over to
the Creeks, and, for a tinie, all remained quiet. The prospect
that the Seminole negroes were to enjoy })eace in their new
country, seemed very bright, until an individual, a slave-dealer,
appeared among the Creeks, and ottered to pay them one hun-
dred dollars for each exile they would seize and deliver to him,
he stipulating to take all risk of title. " This temptation,"
gays Mr. Giddings, " was too great for the integrity of the
Creeks, who were smarting under their disappointment, and
the defeat of their long cherished schemes, of re-enslaving the
exiles. Some two hundred Creek warriors collected together,
armed themselves, and, making a sudden descent upo;; the
exiles, seized such as they could lay their hands u])on. The
men and most of the women and children fled ; but those who
had arms collected, and presenting themselves between their
brethren and the Creeks who were pursuing them, prepared to
defend themselves and friends. The Creeks, unwilling to

OR, TIIK ItoKDKK WAKH Of TWO OKNTUKIKK.

eiiconnU'r tho diuigor which thrcHtono<] thom, cchmhI fnun fur-
ther |>ur8uit, hut, turuiiifj: hm'k, dra^^d their frightontHl
victiniH, who hiul Imhmi alnwly CHpturtnl, to tlio CrwV viWiagm,
and doliviMiHl thuin over to tlu> Hlavo-denlor, who paid thiMu tho
Htipulati'd price. The StMiiinole a^nt, U^rniii^ tho outra^,
at once repaired to thcncare8t Jud^> in ArkanHas, andohtainofon? him
in ol)edience to the command of the writ, and a hiuiring wa«
liad. The i^^ent nhowtMl tho action of (}on. JeMHup; tho nano-
tion of the capitulation of March, 1887, hy the Kxecutivo; tho
opinion of the Attorney -General, and tho action of tho l*re«i-
dent, deciding the exiles to Ih) free, and in all roH|HM>tH entithxl
to their liherty. Ihit tho , fudge decided that tho (vrt^ckH had
ol)taino<l title hy virtue of their contract with (Jen. .IcHHup;
that noithor Gon. ,lc88up nor tho PrcBidont, had power to eman-
cipate tho exiles, even in time of war; and tho Attorney-
General had mi8und(>ratood tho law; that tho title of thol^roek
Indians was legal and perfect; and they, having sold them to
tlio claimant, his title must bo good and perfect. No sooner
was tho decision announced, than tho manacled victims woro
luirriod from their friends and the scenes of such transcondont
crimes and guilt. They wore placed on board a steamboat,
and carried to New Orleans. There thoy were sold to different
purchasers, tiiken to different estates, and mingling witli tho
tide of humaTi victims who are septonnially murdere<l u])on
the cotton and sugar plantations of that State, thoy now rest
in thoir quiet graves, or perhaps have shared the more unhappy
fate of living and suffering tortures incomparably worse than
death."

****¥t*** "There yet remained some hun-
dreds of exiles in that far-distant territory unsubdued, atul
enjoying liberty. They had witnessed the duplicity, tho treach-
ery of our government often repeated, towards theuiselves and
their friends — they had, most of them, been born in fretHlom
— they had grown to manhood, liad become aged amidst per-
secutions, dangers and death — they had experienced the constant
and repeated violations of our national faith; its perfidy was
no longer disguised; if they remained, death or slavery would

OTKUOOLRM WITH TIIR HKMINDI.KH:

oonstituto their only alturnativo. One, and only one, mode of
avoiding bucIi a fate remained — that waH, to leave the territory,
the jurisdiction of the United States, and flee beyond its
])owor and influence. Mexico vim free! No slave clanked Iuh
chains under its government. Could they reach the Rio
Qrando — could they place themselves safely on Mexican soil,
they might hope yet to be free. A council was held. Some
were connected with Seminoles of influence. Those who were
intimately connected with Indian families of influence, and
most of the half-breeds, feeling they could safely remain in the
Indian territory, preferred to stay with their friends and com-
panions. Of the precise number who thus continued in the
Indian country, we have no certain information; but some
three hundred are supposed to have determined on going to
Mexico, and perhaps from one to two hundred concluded to
remain with their connections in the Indian country. Abra-
ham had reached a mature age; had great experience, and
retained influence with his people. Louis Pacheco, of whom
we spoke in a former chapter, with his learning, his shrewd-
ness and tact, was still with them, and so were many able and
experienced warriors. Wild Cat, the most active and ener-
getic chief of the Seminole tribe, declared his unalterable
purpose to accompany the exiles; to assist them in their
journey, and defend them, if assailed. Other Seminoles vol-
unteered to go with them. Their arrangements were speedily
made. Such property as they had was collected together, and
packed for transportation. They owned a few Western ponies.
Their blankets, which constituted their beds, and some few
cooking utensils and agricultural implements, were ]>laced upon
their ponies, or carried by the females and children; while the
warriors, carrying only their weapons and ammunition, marched,
unencumbered even by any unnecessary article of clothing,
prepared for battle at every step of their journey. After the
sun had gone down (Sept. 10), their spies and patrols, who had
been sent out for that purpose, returned, and reported that all
was quiet; that no slave-hunters were to be seen. As the
darkness of the night was closing around them, they com-
menced their journey westwardly. Amid the gloom of the

OK, rilK IIOKIIKK WAHI* ol- TWO CKNTUKIKH.

683

evonln^, gllent and biuI they took loavo of thoir W^CHtorn homeit,
and flt'<l from the jiiriHclictlon of a jH'opUi who had centuries
previonely kidnapped their anceHt«n'H in their native homes,
brought tliom to thin country, euHhived thoni, and during many
genemtionH Iiad porsocuted them. Many of their friends and
rohitiveH luid Injcn murdered for their love of lilMjrty by our
government; others liad been doonied to suffer and languish
in slavery — a fate far more dreaded than death. At the period
of this exodus, their number was probably less than at the close
of the Revolution. When the slaveholding Creeks learned
that the exiles had left, they collected together and sent a war
party in pursuit, for the purpose of capturing as many as they
could, in order to sell them to the slave-dealers from Louisianp
and Arkansas, who were then present among the Creeks,
encouraging them to make another piratical descent upon the
exiles for the capture of slaves. This war party came up with
the emigrants on the third day after leaving their homes. But
Wild Cat and Abraham, and their experienced warriors, were
not to be surprised. They were prepared and ready for the
conflict. With them it was death or victory. They boldly
faced their foes. Their wives and children were looking on
with emotions not to be described. With the coolness of des-
peration, they firmly resolved on dying, or on driving back the
slave-catching Creeks from the field of conflict. Their nerves
were steady, and their aim fatal. Their enemies soon learned
the danger and folly of attempting to capture armed men who
were fighting for freedom. They fled, leaving their dead upon
the field; which is always regarded by savages as dishonorable
defeat. The exiles resumed their journey, still maintaining
tlieir warlike arrangement. Directing their course south-
westerly, they crossed the Rio Grande, and continuing nearly
in the same direction, they proceeded into Mexico, until they
reached the vicinity of the ancient but now deserted town of
Santa Rosa. In that beautiful climate, they found a rich, pro-
ductive soil. Here they "halted, examined the country, and
finally determined to locate their new homes in this most
romantic portion of Mexico. Here they erected their cabins,
planted their gardens, commenced plantations, and resumed

584

■TKUOULKM WITH TIIK UMINUI.Km:

their fornior Ifkbitit of agriciilturiil lite. Tlioro they yet remain.
Forcibly torn tVoni thuir natlvu land, opprvMseti, wronged and
dogradiMJ, they Inscanie voluntary exiloH from South Carolina
and (]}corgia."

Ijy the foregoing inconiploto iketch of tlie Hetninolo war,
the reader ha» been able to understand some of the hard«hip»
that l)efel the Indians of the South who attempted to shield
the negroes from slavery. It is useless to follow the fate of
the Seminoles farther. Tlieir name was applied to both Indi-
ans and negroes, and, although in the Indian langungc it has a
distasteful signitiuance, it has become justly celebrated in his-
tory and honored as l)elonging to a })eoplo whoso gallant deeds
hastened emancipation. The Seminole negroes fled from a
tyrannical bondage, which they could no longer bear, hoping to
find freedom and protection under the Spanish laws. In this
they were actuated by one of the noblest impulses of human-
ity — a desire for liberty. The Seminole Indians fled into the
same country on account of their displeasure of their brothers,
the Creek Indians; and, through a wise providence, became
instrumental in protecting the fugitive negroes fi<^m re-en-
slavement. Such was the first war against slavery, and to the
honor of the savages, be it said, it was waged by that tribe ol
Indians known as the Seminoles.

/ '

(MIAPTEU LXXV.

The Indian Wahs ok tiik Houtiikun Htatkm — Tiuhkk, Ktc— Kin«
ToNMniiKiii and Hih (jttKKN— Hohomwohtii and Maiiy — a Tiihii.*

MNO InoIDKNT— A UKNKHAI. WaU— UKN, JaCKWJN'B (^AMI'AION-^

Trhriui.k Mabbacukh— IIahu Fouoiit Batti.kh — Comi-i.ktk Sub-

JirOATION OK TIIK InUIANH — UUAVEUY OK TUK CKLKUHATKU WUATII*
EltKOUD.

Our flhort and Boinowhat incomplete narrative of tlie Sonii-
nole war, Iiub created a domand for a brief account of the
Indian tribes and Indian wars of the Southern States, and for
our information in this regard we will again turn to Mr.
Brownell's "Indian Ifeces of North and South America."
The Creeks, Cherokces, Choctaws, Ghickasawas, Gatawbas,
Uchees, etc., were, by early English colonists, all held under a
common name — the Creeks. These tribes were pretty much
alike in all the general characteristics, and were affected by the
same political events and changes, and should, therefore, be
considered collectively.

The Catawbaa dwelt between the Carolinas and the country
of the Cherokees, and had, in 1750, through intercourse with
the whites, become more degraded than other tribes of the
same nation. They were a numerous and warlike people when
South Carolina was first settled, numbering about fifteen hun-
dred warriors; but small-pox and the use of ardent spirits
reduced them to a few scattering bands. As mentioned in the
opening chapter of this volume, they were the ancient enemieft
of the Six Nations, with whom they had waged long and sav-
agu wars. One writer says of these Indians that, " by some
fatidity they were much addicted to excessive drinking,
and spirituous liquors distracted them so exceedingly, that
they would even eat live coals." The Upper Cherokees inhab-
ited the high and mountainous region of the Appalachian

(585)

08«l

TIIK HotlTIIKKN INDIANN:

rHii^i), nnil that iipoti tlio upper ixtrtioiin of t)io Timimcmim*
Tilt* lt>\v«>r trilHt (M'(Mipi«<<l tli» coiiiitry iiroiind tint lioiid N\nti>rii
lit' tlio Siiviitiimh iuul C))iutuh(H)rli«>f\ to the iiortliwtii'il (»t' the
MiiBi'oj^eeH or (Jrcekn pro|K>r. In the veiir IT.Mft, rliey were
t'oiiipiited hy ohi truiiem to niitnhur Mix thomtiuid tifj;litiri^ iiioii.
Ttiey had Mixty-tmir pttpidouM towiiH. In 17i)M, nearly halt' of
them poriHhed hy Hniall-pox. Like all the other iintauf^ht
nations of America, they wore driven to perfect doMporation hy
the ravages of thitt diHeaso. The Rauoe to which they aHcrilMHi
it, and tho fltranf^) romedies and enchantmentH used to Htay its
progress, ar«> alike reniarkahle. One rourHC was to plunge the
patientM into cold running water, the reHult of which operation
wuH K|)ee<lily fatal. *A gn«at many killed themHclveH; for,
iHMng naturally proud, they are always peeping into their look-
ing-glaHsoH — by which moans, seeing thomselvos disfigured,
without hope of regaining their former honuty, some shot
themselves, others cut their throats, some stahhed themselves
with knives, and others with sharp- pointed canes; many threw
thcmselvos with sullen madness into tho fire, and there slowly
expired, as if they had been utterly divested of the native
])ower of feeling pain. One of them, when his friondrt had
restrained these frantic ofTorts, and deprived him of his weapons,
went out, and taking a thick and round hoe-helve, fixed one
end of It in tho ground, and repeatedly threw himself on it till
he forced it down his throati when ho immediately expired,
f " These tril)C8 were formerly continually at war with the Six
Nations, at the North, and with the Muscogecs at the South;
but previous to their war with the English colonies they had
been for some time comparatively at poaoo, and were in a thriv-
ing and prosperous condition. They were excellently well
supplied with horses, and were 'skillful jockios, and nice in
their choice.' Tlie lower settlement of tho Muscogecs or
Creeks, was in tlie coimtry watered by tho Chatahoochce and
Flint; tho upper Creeks dwelt about the head waters of tho
Mobile and Alabama rivers. Their neighbors, on tho west,
were the Choctaws and Chickasaws. The Creeks were a nation

* Adair's NurriiUvo.

f Browncll's Indian liiinob.

=1-

ON, TIIK IIORDKM . AKM or T>VO <!|i;N I UKIKK.

ftS7

fortni><l \>y tlir union of « iiiiinlN«r ol* minor trihoit with tliu
Miii«('o|(i*(>i(, who (•onititiii(< tht) niioloui of tho roinhinntionii.
Ahoiit tho ni!<lillo of t\m «tighteonth century, they woru com-
puted to nun)lM*r no Iuh^. titan thr«>o thotntund (ivo hundred Mii>n
cnpithle of l)CArln^ arniH. They hml loHrne<l tlio nectmriity of
Heuludii\^ thoHO infectmi with tho iininll-pox, lo lu to livoid the
■proad of thi* uontn^ioii, and tlieir g(>neral liahitM and uMu^crt
w«>ro nuoli that they watts faHt increaoin^, iuHtead of diniiniMh-
in^, lil<M all tlie fiurro«tnding tril)ert. While the FloridaH were
in posHCSfiion of Kpain, tlie OreeltM wore Hurrounded hy hclli^-
erent powers, both nntiv«« and Kuropean, and they apfivar to
have adopted a very shrewd and artful poliey in their inter-
courRO with each. There wm a French garrison in their
country; tho EngliHh HettletneittH lay to the north and cast, and
those of the Spaniards to the south ;^ and the old sages of tho
tribe being long informed by the opposite parties of tho dift'er-
ent views and intrFgues of those foreign ])owor8, who pai<l
them annual tribute under the vaguo appellation of presents,
were be<'ome surprisingly cratly in every turn of low politics.
Tho French were very succes^iful in their efforts to conciliate
tho good-will of the Muscogeos, and in alienating them from
the English. The country of the Choctaws extended from that
of the Muscogees to tho Mississippi, reaching northward to
tho boundaries of tho (/hickasaws; tho lower towns on tho
rivor were about two hundred miles north of Now Orleans.
Adair gives these j)eopIe a very bad character, as being treach-
erous, dishonest, ungrateful and nnscrupidous; but ho bears
witness to their admirable readiness of speech. Thoy vvoro
' ready-witted, and endued with a surprising How of smooth,
artful language on every subject within tho reach of their
ideas.' The strange custom of flattening the head, ])revalent
among some other American tribes, obtained with the (Ihoc-
taws. The operation was performed by the weight of a bag of
sand kept upon the foreheads of the infants before the skull
had hardened. This process not improl)ably affected the powers
of the mind; at all oventrf, Adair says: 'Their features and
mind exactly correspond together; tor, except the intense love

♦ Brownell's Nurratlve.

588

THE SOUTH KKN INDIANS:

tliey bear to their native country, and their utter contempt of
any kind of danger in defense of it, I know no other virtue
they are possessed of; tlie general observation of the traders
among them is just, who affirm them to bo divested of every
property of a human being, except shape and language.' The
French had acquired great influence over the Choctaws, as,
indeed, over nearly every tribe in North America with wliom
they had maintained friendly intercourse. Adair enlarges upon
tlie artful policy with which they conciliated and bribed the
leaders and orators of the nation. Besides this, he says: Uhe
masterly skill of the French enabled them to do more with
those savages, with trifles, than all our experienced managers
of Indian affairs have been able to effect by the great quanti-
ties of valuable goods they gave them with a very profuse
hand. The former bestowed their small favors with exquisite
wisdom; and their value was exceedingly enhanced by the
external kindly behavior and well-adapted smooth address of
the giver.' The nation of the Chickasaws, at the time of which
we are speaking, was settled near the sources of the Tombigbee,
a few miles eastward of the head waters of the Tallahache.
They numbered about four hundred and fifty warriors, but were
greatly reduced since their ancient emigration from the West.
They were said to have formerly constituted one family with
the Choctaws, and to have been able to bring one thousand men
into the field at the time of their removal. Due allowance
must of course be made for mistake and exaggeration in these
early traditions. The Chickasaws were ever inimical to the
French and friendly to the English colonists. It was by their
efforts that the neighboring tribe of the Natchez was stirred
up to attack the French settlements, in 1729. The French had,
unadvisedly, imposed a species of tax upon the Natchez,
demanding a dressed bick-skin from each man of the tribe,
without rendering any return; but, as some of that people
afterwards reported to Adair, ' the warrior's hearts grew very
cross, and loved the deer-skins.' The Chickasaws were not
slow to foment a disturbance upon intelligence of this proceed-
ing, and sent messengers, with presents of pipes and tobacco,
to counsel an attack upon the exercisers of such tyranny.

OR, THE nORDKR WARS OF TWO CENTURIES.

589

Kothing BO strongly excites an Indian's indignation as any
attempt at taxation, and the Natchez were easily })er8uaded
that the French had resolved to crush and enslave them. It
took about a year to ripen the plot, as the Indians are ' slow in
their councils on things of great importance, though equally
close and intent.' It was in the month of November (1729,)
that the Indians toll upon the French settlement. The com-
mandant had received some intimation of the intended attack
from a woman of the tribe, but did not place sufficient depend-
ence upon it to take any efficient steps for the protection of his
charge. The whole colony was massacred; men, women and
children, to the number of over seven hundred — Adair says
fifteen hundred — perished by the weapons of the savages. The
triumph of the Natchez was, however, but of short duration.
The French came upon them in the following summer with a
large army, consisting of two thousand of their own soldiers
and a great array of their Choctaw allies. The Natchez were
posted at a strong fort near a lake communicating with the
Bayou D'Argent, and received the assailants with great resolu-
tion and courage. They made a vigorous sally, as the enemy
approached, but were driven within their defenses, and bom-
barded with three mortars, which forced them to flv oflf difterent
ways. The Choctaws took many prisoners, some of whom
were tortured to death, and the rest shipped to the West Indies
as slaves."

The Natchez survivors fled for safety to the Chickasaws,
which resulted in a war between the French and that tribe, in
which the Indians were the conquerors. In one engagement,
says Adair, the French and their Indian allies had surrounded
the Chickasaw settlements in the night, with the exception of
one which stood at some distance from the rest, called Ama-
lahta. The besiegers beset every house, and killed all who
came out; but at the dawn of day, when they were capering
and using those flourishes that are peculiar to that volatile
nation, the other town drew round them, stark naked, and
painted all over red and black; thus they attacked them, killed
numbers on the spot, released their brethren, who joined them
like enraged lions. The Indians belonging to the French party

690

THE 80UTIIEKN INDIANS:

fled, but the whites were all killed except two, an i)fflccr, and
a negro, who faithfully held his horse till he mounted, and then
ran along side of liini. A couple of swift riinners were sent
after them, who soon came up with them, and told them to
live and go home, and inform their people, that as the Chicka-
saw hogs had now a plenty of ugly French carcasses to feed
on till next year, they hoped then to have another visit from
them and their red friends; and that, as messengers, they
wished them safe home.

In 1733 when James Edward Oglethorpe commenced the
settlement of Georgia, the Creeks laid claim to the whole ter-
ritory southwest of the Savannah. Hoping to avoid a war
with these Indians he employed a half-breed woman named
Mary Musgrove, who could speak English, and by her influence
ejffected a conference with the chiefs of the Savannah Indians.
Tliis Mary had formerly married a white trader from Caro-
lina. She had great influence over her tribe, and afterwards
became a source of danger and annoyance to the English.

At the council which was held at the infant settlement of
Savannah in 1733, were fifty celebrated Creek chiefs, who were
presided over by their King, Tomochichi. The latter made an
eloquent speech. "A treaty," says Mr. Brownell, " was con-
cluded, subject to the ratification of the English crown, by
which the Indians were to consider themselves the subjects of
tne king, and to live in peace and friendship with his white
colonists. The lands lying between the Savannah and Alta-
maha, were made over to the English, with all the islands on
that coast, except St. Catharine's and two others, which were
reserved for the use of the Indians as bathing and fishing sta-
tions. A tract was also set apart for them to encamp upon
when they visited their white friends, a little above the Yama-
craw bluff, where Savannah now stands." /^

In 1734 Mr. Oglethorpe visited England, taking with him
Chief Tomochichi, his Queen, and several other Indians.
They were presented to the king, " and every pains was taken
to produce a strong impression upon their minds of the Eng-
lish power and magnificence."

Mr. Brownell, in his book, gives the following curious

OR, TlIK noKDEK WARS OF TWO 0KNTURIE8.

691

account: "The year 1749 was memorable for a most audacious
attempt on the part of oneThonias Bosomworth to aggrandize
himself by attaining a supremacy over the Creeks. He had
been formerly a chaplain in Oglethorpe's regiment, and had
married Mary Musgrove, his half-breed interpreter. In
December, 1747, this man fell in with a company of chiefs,
belonging to the nation, then on a visit to Frederica; and per-
suaded them to sign certain articles, acknowledging one of
their number, named Malatche Opiya Meco, as righftul king
over the whole Creek nation. Bosomworth then procured
from Malatche a conveyance, for certain considerations — among
other things, a large quantity of ammunition and clothing —
of tlio islands formerly reserved by the Indians, to himself and
his wife Mary, their heirs and assigns, ' as long as the sun shall
shine, or the waters run in the rivers, forever.' This deed was
regularly witnessed, proved before a justice of the peace, and
recorded in due form. Bosomworth made someeftbrts to stock
and improve these islands, but, his ambition becoming aroused
by success in his first intrigue, he entered upon one much more
extensive. By his persuasions, his wife now made the extra-
ordinary claim that she was Malatv^ie's elder sister, and enti-
tled to regal authority over the whole Creek territory. A
great meeting of the tribe was procured, and, whatever of
truth Mary's claims might be founded upon, she appears to
have succeeded in persuading large numbers of the Creeks to
espouse her cause, and acknowledge her as an independent
queen. Accompanied by a strong force of her adherents, she
proceeded incontinently to Savannah, sending emissaries before
ner to demand a surrender of all lands south of the Savannah
river, and to make known her intention of enforcing her claim
3y the entire destruction of the colony, should her demands
be resisted. The militia were called out by the president
and council, and the Indians were kept quiet by a display of ■
confidence and firmness, that matters might be fully discussed
by their leaders and the colonial authorities. 'Bosomworth,'
says McCall, ' in his canonical robes, with his queen by his
side, followed by the kings and chiefs, according to rank^
marched into town on the 20th of July, making a most for-

592

THE 80UTIIKRN INDIANS:

midtible appearance. Tlio !ii habitants were struck with terror
at the sight of this ferocious tribe of savages.' Lengtliy dis-
cussions ensued, between Bosomworth and Mary on the one
hand, and the president and council on the other. The fickle
and impressible savages leaned alternately to either opinion
according as they were harangued by their new leaders, or lint-
ened to the explanations of the other party. They were told
that Mary's claims to royal descent were entirely false; that
she was the daughter of a white man by a squaw of no note,
and that the mad ambition of her reprobate husband had led
to the whole movement. They expressed themselves convinced,
but no sooner had IVIary obtained another o])portunity to com-
municate with them, than she succeeded in intlaming and
bewildering their minds. It was found necessary to confine
her and her husband before the savages could be quietly dis-
persed. Before this was accomplished, the town was in a
situation of the most imminent danger, as the Indians vastly
outnumbered the whites; and a very slight matter might have
80 roused their fury that the whole colony woul*' have been
annihilated. The intriguing chaplain had a brother, Adam
Bosomworth, agent for Indian affairs in Carolina, who after-
wards espoused his interests, so far as the claim to the islands
of St. Catharine, Ossabaw, and Sapelo was concerned. This
coadjutor visited the Creek nation, procured a new conveyance,
and prosecuted the claim before the courts of Great Britain.
The case proved almost as tedious and complex as that of the
celebrated Mohegan land question in Connecticut. Bosom-
worth and his wife obtained a decision in their favor, in 1750,
by virtue of which they took possession of St. Catharine's
island, and resided upon it the remainder of their lives. Ossa-
baw and Sapelo were decreed to be sold for the benefit of the
successful parties, but further litigation arose from the claims
' of one Isaac Levy, to whom they had sold, us was asserted, a
moiety of that portion of the grant."

In the early border wars between the settlers of AVest Vir-
ginia and the Delaware Indians, the Southern Indians were
engaged on the side of the English, and upon the evacuation
of Fort Duquesne, numbers of these warriors, whose services

Olt, THK liOKDKK \VAK8 OF TWO OKNTllRim.

were no longer required, set out upon their return home. As
they wore passing through Virginia, they jHissesHed themselves
of Buch horses as they found grazing in the woods. For this
act the German settlers fell upon them, and murdered and
scalped a considerable number. These outrages, and tlie influ-
enco of the French, com'oined to stir up a war, and the Cherokees
determined upon immediate retaliation for tlie massacres by
the Germans. A party, bound on this errand, after killing tM'o
soldiers near Fort Loudon, spread themselves among the west-
ern settlements of North Carolina, killing such of the whites
as fell in their power. " It was their first intention," says Mr.
Brownell, " to take scalps only equal in number to that of their
murdered kinsmen, but, once having their hand in, they could
not resist the temptation of going much farther." The same
author further informs us that " William H. Lyttleton, Gover-
nor of Soutli Carolina, set himself strenuously both to prepare
for the defense of the colonies, and to bring about an adjust-
ment of difficulties. At Fort St. George, on the Savannah, he
held a conference with six Cherokee chiefs, on the twenty-sixth
of December (1759), and foi'uied a treaty of peace, secured by
the delivery of thirty-two Indian hostages. These were placed
in close confinement in a small and miserable hut, and the
governor returned to Charleston. According to the usual
course of events, the Cherokees denied the authority of the
chiefs who had concluded the above treaty, and hostilities broke
out afresh. The two most celebrated chiefs and leaders among
them, at this time, were old AttakuUakulla, a promoter of peace,
and long the fast friend of the English, and Occonostota, a
noted war-chief. Capt. Coytmore, commandant at Fort St.
George, was an object of the bitterest hatred on the part of
the Indians, and a large body of them, led by Occonostota,
besieged the fort in February of 1760.* The place was too
strong to be taken by assault, but the Indian chief managed to
entice Coytmore out of tlie defenses into an ambush, where he
was shot dead, and Lieuts. Bell and Foster, who accompanied
him, were wounded. The hostages who were confined within
the works, shouted to encourage their friends without, and
* Brownell's Narrative.
' 38 . '

604

TlIE 80UTIIRRN INDIANH:

when an attempt was made to put them in irons, resistocl man*
fully, stabbing one soldier, and wounding two others. Upon
this, a hole was cut in the roof over their heads, and the cow-
ardly garrison butchered them by shooting down from above.
Tliis war now commenced in earnest, and Indian ravages
extended far and wide upon the frontier. Troops were ordered
from New York by Gen. Amherst, comnumder-in-chief of the
IJritish forces in America; and the neighboring colonies appro-
priated liberal sums for the purjwse of buying the aid of the
Creeks, Chickasaws and Catawbas. Col. Montgomery reached
Carolina in April (17C0), and hastened, in command of the
regulars and ])rovincial8, to make an effective inroad upon the
hostile Indians. His progress through the lower Cherokee
country was nmrked by the entire destruction of the Indian
to^^^ls. The first place attacked, called Keowee, was sur-
n>unded, and the men of the town were put to the sword.
Estatoe, containing two hundred houses, with great quantifies
of provisions, was entirely destroyed; but the inhabiumts
were saved by a timely flight. ' Every other settlement east of
the Blue Uidge,' says McCall, 'afterwards shared the same
fate.' The army made some stay at Fort Prince George, and
useless endeavors were put forth to bring about a pacification
with the upper portion of the Cherokees. In the month of
June the troops were again on their advance into the wilder-
ness of the interior. Near tl)e Indian town of Etchoe, the
native warriors prepared a most skillful ambuscade to check
the advancing forces. It was in a deep valley, through which
ran a muddy stream, with steep banks; on either side of which
the way was completely choked with tangled brushwood.
Some hard fighting took place at this spot, in which twenty of
the whites were killed and seventy-six wounded. The loss on
the side of the Indians was much less, and, although driven
from the spot w'here the first stand was made, they intrenched
themselves a little farther on. Under these circumstances,
Montgomery determined to secure the safety of his troo^js, and
to provide for the requisite attention to his wounded men, by
a retreat. He soon after sailed for New York, leaving four
companies of regulars, under Major Hamilton, for the protec-

OK, TIIK FUtRDKR WAFtH OK TWO OKNTUKIKH.

695

tion of tlie frontier. The gnrriHon at tlio iHolated Fort lx>iidon
was now in a Htate of inwnincnt peril. Tiio proviHiotm of tho
place were nearly exliansted, and the redoiihtable OwionoHtotii
watj laying close hiege to it with IiIh fierce and enraged warriors.
After suftering great extremes of privation, and experiencing
disappointment in all their hopes of relief, the two hundred
men stationed at this place were obliged to capitulate, and trust
to the honor of their savage enemy. Capt. Steuart, an officer
greatly in favor with all the friendly [ndians, arranged tho
terms upon which tho fort shouUl be evaciuited. The troops
were to be allowed a free and unmolested passage to Virginia,
or Fort Prince George, and a detachment of Indians was to
accompany them for tho purpose of supplying provisions by
hunting. The garrison marched out on the seventh of August
(1760.) Occonostota himself, with a number of other natives,
kept company with the whites, during the first day's march of
fifteen miles; but these all disappeared when they reached the
place of encampment, near an Indian town called Taliquo. On
the next morning, just before day (the time generally selected
by Indians for a surprise, as men sleep more soundly then than
at any other hour,) a large body of armed savages, in war-
paint, were seen by a sentinel, creeping through the bushes
and gathering about the camp. Hardly was the alarm given
when the attack was made; twenty-six of the feeble and half-
starved soldiers were killed outright, and the rest were pinioned
and marched back to the fort.* Capt. Steuart was among the
prisoners, but his evil fortune was alleviated by the stiiunch
friendship of the benevolent AtakullakuUa. This chief, as soon
as he heard of Steuart's situation, hastened to Fort Ix)udon,
aiid purchased him of the Indian who took him, giving him
liis rifle, clothes and all that lie could command by way of ran-
som; he then took possession of Capt. Demere's house, where
he kept his prisoner as one of his family, and humanely shared
with him the little provisions his table afforded, until an oppor-
tunity should offer of rescuing him. A quantity of ammuni-
tion was discovered by the Indians, buried in the fort, and
Occonostota determined to proceed at once to lay siege to Fort

* Browucll's Niirnitive.

TIIK HDUTIIKKN INDIANH:

TVinee Goor^. (yapt. Stuiiart was intbrniod that tlio asriist-
anue of hiinsolf and his inon would bo roqiiirud in tiie
niatiageiiibnt of thu gruat guns, and that, fiirthurinoru, if the
garrison Hhoiild rofuso to ca)>itulatc, all the ]>ritionerii now in
the liands of the Indians should, one by one, be burned ia
sight of the fort. Perceiving the difficulty of his situation,
the captain begged his kind old proprietor to assist him in
effecting an escape, and Attakulhiknlla readily lent his aid.
Upon pretense of taking his prisoner out for a hunt, he left
Fort Loudon, with his wife and brother, and two Englinh sol-
diers, and took a direct course for the Virginia frontier. AtYer
a most toilsome and dangerous march, they fell in with a party
of three hundred men, sent out for the relief of such of the
garrison at Fort Loudon as might have effected their esca])e.
Being now in safety, Capt. Steuart dismissed his Indian friends
with Iiandsome rewards, to return and attend to the welfare of
his former fellow-prisoners. Such of them as had survived
were afterwards ransomed and delivered up at Fort Prince
George."

In 1762 a general agent and superintendent of Indian
affairs at the South was ap])ointed in the person of Captain
John Steuart. Upon entering on the discharge of the duties
of liis office Capt. Steuart assembled the chiefs of all the
Southern tribes in council and ex})lained to them how the
French had been conquered, and that thenceforth they could
look only to the British for support and j)rotection. He com-
mended those tribes who had fought in the English cause and
excused those who had allied themselves to the French. The
Southern Indians remained quiet from that time until 1811,
when the great Shawanoe Chief, Tecumseh * "in pursuance
of his bold and extensive plans for a universal association of
the Indians against the whites, made a tour among the south-
ern tribes. His eloquent appeals, anc. the overpowering
energy which distinguished this truly great man, jiroved suc-
cessful in the winning over to his views of no small number
of the Indian warriors, even among those who had long main-
tained a friendly intercourse with the Americans and the gov-

♦ Browne! I'g narrative.

OK, THR RORDKR WARH OF TWO C'KNTIIKIW.

507

emmont of the United States. At the time of the deelnrntion
of wnr with Knghuid, (June 18th, 1812,) the whole wuHtern
b<»rdcr of the Uir'tcd States was in a position of the greatest
(hinger and insecurity. Tlie nuichinations of Tecuniseh and
the Prophet had rouned an extensive flarne of vindictive
ferocity throughout the Indian nations, while British agents,
it is naid, were widely dispersed, and, by munificent promises
and artful persuasions, had still farther widened the breach
between the navageH and tlieir white countrymen. Frightful
scenes of depre<lation and murder called for a prompt and
dec'i«ive chock. Many minor forays are recorded, but the
destruction of Fort Mimtns in the Tensau settlement of Mis-
slHsippI, in the summer of the year following, may be con-
sidered the first important part ttiken by the southern triboB
in the wars of this [>eriod."

1 shall not, however, with the few pages that are now left,
undertake to give a complete account of the part taken by the
Southern IndiauH in the memorable war of 1812. A few of
the principal points must suffice.

Tecumseh's visit to his southern neighbors was not in vain.
Under his forcible teachings a confederacy was established over
which the celebrated Weatherford gained nearly as much dis-
tinction as did the renowned Shawanoe in the North. Weath-
erford was, beyond question, * '* possessed of noble and com-
manding qualities, but these were combined with cruelty,
avarice, and degrading vices. A party of about one thousand
warriors, led by this popular chief, fell upon the devoted Fort
Mimms, on the 30th of August, 1813. The post was garri-
soned by one hundred and sixty efficient soldiers; the rest of
its occupants, to the number of one hundred and fifteen, con-
sisted of old men, women and children. The forces were
under the command of Major Beasly. No regular prepara-
rations had been made for the reception of so powerful an
enemy, and although the soldiers did their duty manfully, they
were overpowered, and all slain except seventeen. The women
and children having ensconced themselves in several block

* Brownell's Narriitive. ■ •

508

TMk HOIITIIKKN INDIANA*.

houHUH, met with h more torril>lo t'uto. Tli») Huviij^fWH M)t tiro to
tho hiiildiiigi), Hiid uoiiBiiiiiud tliuin, tuguthor with thoii
ininutofl."

Tho war in tlio South now beoftiuo gonoral and (i»>n. .TiickHon
took tho Hold in |)uri)on. Col. Oott'uo invadod tho country of
tho hoHtilu IndiaiiH and, with a coiiHidorablu force oncounterod
the oneiny at TalluttHahatchee Crook. Tho savagoM touglit
boldly and desperately, but wore defeated and driven into their
buildingH, when ono hundred and eighty-Hix uf their nuiiibor
porished in the struggle. Eighty-four women and children
were taken }>riHonor8, and a number were killed during tho
content. This battle took place in November, 1813. Soon
after Jackson's army encountered tho Indians at Talladega,
where after a most bloody contest, throe hundred Indians were
letl dead upon the field. Many more wore killed while trying
to escape, and their total loss was nearly six hundred. The
Americans lost only fifteen killed and eighty wounded.

The war was continued until all the liostile nations of tlie
South were subdued and until the confederacry which Tecum-
seh instigated was well nigh broken up. The most noted
battles fought during the campaign were at Autossco, where
gome two hundred were massacred, on the twenty-ninth of
November, and that of the Horse-shoe Bend in tho Talla-
poosie. At this latter point tho Indians fortified tliomselvos
for a last desperate battle. Their number exceeded ono thou-
Band. On the twenty-seventh of March, 1814, Gen. Jackson,
with a force three times the number of the enemy, commenced
operations against their fortification. " Gen. Coffee, with
most of tho cavalry and Indian allies, was directed to sur<
round tho bend, in order to cut oflf all retreat across the river.
The place was then carried by storm, under a heavy fire from
within. More than half the Indians were killed at the fort,
and an unknown number perished in their endeavors to escape
by crossing tho river, beset as it was by the assailants. Some
]»ave asserted that probably not more than twenty over reached
a place of safety. At a time when it was evident that the
fortune of the day was decided. Gen. Jackson sent a messenger,
with a flag of truce, to invite a surrender, but, from ignorance

OR, TIIK lloKPKIt WARS <»F TWO CKNTIKIM.

009

or (luHporiitioii, tin; hhvii^uh Hreil upon tliu l)t>iirt'r of tliu tlii^.
AtYrr tluH, no niurcy wuh hIiowii; until ni^lit put an vnd to tliu
Work of (It'Htruetion, they were x\u>t or cut down wlu'rcver
tlu*y could Im) found, and cv(>n on the following inornin|i(, a <*on-
Bidi'rahlo nunilwr M'orc ferreted out froni the 'caveM and rredn,'
where they had Hoiight concualinent, and reniorrtely put to
death. Several hundred women and children were made cap-
tivert. The Iohb of the attacking army, in thiH hattle, was fifty-
five killed, and one hundreil and forty-six wounded."

On the following April the surviving trihes Hued for peace,
and (ren. Jackrion Htipidated that lH>fore their proposaU could
he entertained their celehrated Chief Weathersford munt l)e
delivered up for puniBhment. On hearing tills the great chief,
seeing tliat his cauHe was hopolens, gave himself up to the
American commander. Ho said: " I am in your power. Do
with me as you please. I am a soldier. T have done the whites
all the liarm I could. I have fought them, and fought them
bravely. If I had an army, I would yet fight. I would con-
tend to the last; hut I have done; my people are all gone. I
can only weep over the misfortunes of my nation."

He was told that he was at liberty to depart but that no
mercy would be shown him or his nation until they should
submit to whatever terms the whites should see fit to impose.
To this he replied, "You can safely address me in such terms
now. There was a time when I could have answered you.
There was a time when I had a choice. I have none now. I
have not even a hope. I could once animate my warriors to
battle, but I cannot animate the dead. My warriors can no
longer hear my voice. Their bones are at Talladega, Tallus-
shatchee, Emuckfaw, and Tohopeka. * * * * You are a
brave man. I rely upon your generosity. You will exact no
terms of a conquered people but such as they should accede
to." This interesting incident closed the campaign. The
Indians retired to the reservations assigned to tliem, without a
murmur. They were subsequently removed west of the
Mississippi.

THE END.

CONTKNTS.

CIIAI'TKU I.

PAUM.

The In«U»n TrUM'n of \]w Lt»k«' It-nhm — (iiniTnl ChiirncU'rlHtlM — Tri-
bal DIvtitlonM— M<hI(' ot'Diivcriiiiiciit — Myllu uiitl L»'K«'mlH — Tlit'ir
KI<)(|U<>ti(<o luul Siijttiiilty— I)wcllln>{ii, VIUhk^'*! '""' Fortu — Tho
Wmf i'utli — FvHtlvuU uiiil I'uNtiiiicM — UcllglouH Faith !>

CIIAPTKH n.
Tl»e RniclUh hi tho Went— I*«)tUhu StmHlliiK In tlictr Way— II<! Con-
■I'Dts tn let llictu occupy hU Country — Tliu Kiiglish tuku Pomhi'mnIom
of Dcirolt n

("IIAPTEK III.
The WililernosH and ita InhabltantH at the CUmu of tliu Frvncli War —
Travel and Advunturu — Tho OutpoHtH of Civilisation — The Ilixh-
ways of the WllderncMs Vf

CHAPTER IV.
Tho Indianti Proparlnj? for War— Pontlac and his AmbasBadorH— The
Council at tho Ulver Ecorccit — Plan for the Hoductlon of Dutrolt —
The Conspiracy .' 83

CHAPTER V.

AOllmpso at Fort Detroit in 17«3— The Conspiracy— Tlie Treacliei-y
of Pontlac — His Plot Revealed — The Savages Baffled — Murder of
English Settlers — The Siege Commencod — The Assault — Oladwyn •
Offers Peace — Pontlac Ret\ises — Departure of Major Campbell to
the Ottawa Camp— His Warning 49

CHAPTER VI.

Pontlac's Treachery — Campbell and McDougal made Prisoners —
Scarcity of Provisions In the Fort — Perilous Situation of the Gar-
rison-Continuation of tlic Siege — Pontlac Summons the Garrison
to Surrender— Glttdwyn Refuses — Complaints of the French —

Pontlac's Policy 50

(800) •

( (iNTKNTS.

(101

C'llAPTKK VII

Thr BIpk" *'>f l>«'lrnlt~ VhU< of CuyliT'it Ih'tucliiiirnt— nriivrry of ih«
Wyiiii(li>i» — Itiilliin Ciiriiiiiiii — MuNMiu-nt hikI Murder — llurrlblii
KhIh of tlu< Wri«ii'rii OiitpoNU — Full of HiuxliiHky, l'r»iM|iii» U\v,
etc. — Tliu Kori'Mt* OrowiiiK llluck witli Inclliut WHrrli»fM M

ciiAi'TKu vni.

n«nrriplli>ii of Port Mlcliilliiiiicklniu! — T:i« ItuliniiN In llic Vici-
nity— I'ri'purulloiu for till' Mn«i«H<'r«--Tlni WiinilnK — Ailvcntiirtm
of EnglUh Trudi'ra — Till) NlRlit llfforu tho HUuKlttur 07

(; II APT Kit IX.
Tlio Mukhiuti' — Till! Onini! of Iliill — HIiiiiKlitiT of tlir OiirrlNon — Indl-
nn« Drinking thu Uluod of KnKlUli^ii'n — llulrlirvudtli ICiicik|U! of iin
EnKlUh TriMler 75

CHAPTER X.

Advi'nturcN of EnKllHh Trudum at MIrliilltnacklnitc — Tlicy arc Hen-
cui'il l)y tlio Oltiiwiw — TrcatniiMit of tho PrUoricri* — lliriry'ii
EHCiipit — ('iinnllmllHtn — Ueductlon of all tlio Wuntora Outpoula
cxct'pl Detroit 81

(MI APT Ell XI.

Contintiiitlon of the HIi'ko of Detroit — AtlvcnturcH of ii Schooner on
the Detroit Ulver — Defeat of the IndliuiH — Pontine AppeaU to thu
French for AHslMtiinec— llorrlhle Deiilh of C'apt. Cuniphell — The
WyundotH and Pt)ttuwiitoinle» 8uh for Pence 88

CIIAPTF, U XII.
Approach of Dal/.eH'g Delachmcnt— The Battle of Hloody Run —
Blaughter of the EngllHli— The Fatal Retreat — AdventureH of the
Schooner Qladwyn — Bravery of her Crew — The IndlanH Hue for
Peace 04

CHAPTER XIII.
Frontier Settlements and Forts — Alarms at Fort Pitt — Slauphter of
Traders — Narrow Escape of a Oarrlson — Destruction of Forts —
The War Racing to the Highest Pitch — Danger Thickening Around
Fort Pitt 108

CHAPTER XIV.
The War on the Borders — The March of Death- The Terrified
Inhabitants Fleeing to the Older Towns— Bouquet's Army at
Carlisle — Adventures of Volunteers — Burning Settlements- The
Battle of Busily Run- -Distress and Danger of the Troops- The
Victory 118

111

602

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV.
Disaster nt the Devil's Hole — Fiite of Wliklns' Detachment— The
Frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania — Slaughter of the Settle-
ments — Terrible Scenes and Incidents of Border Warfare — Dcso-
lation — The Defenses 128

. CHAPTER XVI.
The Moravian Missions — Their Removal — Difflculties in Philadel-
phia — Advance of the Paxton Men — Great Excitement — The
Quakers Volunteering to Enter the Army — The Difficulty Settled.. 120

CHAPTER XVII.
Bradstrect's Expedition — The Council at Niagara — Peace Treaties —
Bradstreet at Detroit — Council with the Indians — Peace Con-
eluded — Canadians Punished — Mlbhilimackinac Garrisoned — Fate
of Capt. Morris — Bradstreet Returns 188

CHAPTER XVIII.
Bouquet's Army in the Indian Country — He Subdues the Delawares
and Shawanoes — Scenes at the English Camp — Two Hundred
Prisoners Given up — Return of the Expedition 188

CHAPTER XIX.
Groghan's Expedition — Murder of Indians — Expedition Against the
Indians — Battle of Point Pleasant — Dunmore Retires from the
West — Fort Erected at Boonsborough — Conspiracy to Unite the
Indians 147

CHAPTER XX.
The Conquest of Illinois — Colonel George Rogers Clark — His Expe-
dition against the Posts in Illinois — ABloodless Conquest — Singu-
lar Stratagem — Colonel Clark's Speech to the Indians — Interesting
Incidents 157

CHAPTER XXI.
Conquest of Illinois Continued — Bravery of George Rogers Clark —
Re-taking of Post Vincennes by Col. Hamilton — Courage of Capt.
Helm — Clark's Expedition against Hamilton — Hamilton taken
Prisoner — Results of Clark's Campaign 170

CHAPTER XXII.
Borders of Kentucky — Boone's Salt Expedition — His Capture — His
Defense of Boonsborough — Invasion of the Country of the Six
Nations — Indian Troubles 180

CHAPTER XXIII.
Expedition Against Moravian Indians — The Massacre — Terrible
Fate of Colonel Crawford — Attack of Bryant's Station — Defeat
of the Frontier Men 186

0ONTKNT8.

608

icnt— The
tho Settle-
ro — Dcso<

128

Pliiliulel-
lont — The
r Settled.. 120

Treaties —
euce Con-
ned— Fate

188

Delawares \

Hundred
188

gainst the

from the

Unite the

147

His Expe-

it— Singu-
nteresting

167

•s Clark —
e of Capt.
ton taken

170

ture — His
»f the Six

180

— Terrible
11 — Defeat

186

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Northwest Territory — Sketch of Arthur St. Clair — Review of the
Treaties with the Indians— Indian Speeches 194

CHAPTER XXV.
The English, the Indians, and the Americans — Ilarmar's Expedi-
tion — Harmar's Defeat — Measures for Subduing the Indians —
Proctor's Mission a Failure — Jealousy of the English 204

CHAPTER XXVI.

Proctor's Peace Mission — Its Failure — Orders for St. Clair's Cam-
paign—St. Clair Marches into tho Indian Country — His Defeat —
Account of the Disaster 218

CHAPTER XXVII.
Results of St. Clair's Defeat — The Americans, the English, and the
Indians — Brant Invited to Philadelphia — Horrifying Scenes on
St. Clair's Battle Field— The Peace Makers— Their Instructions —
Americans Desire Peace — The Indians for War 225

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Pate of Mie Peace-Makers — Great Council of the Maumee — Propo-
sitions of Peace Rejected by the Indians — Wayne Marches into
the Indian Country — The Skulls on St. Clair's Battlefield — Fort
Recovery Established 281

CHAPTER XXIX.
Gen. Wayne's Battle on the Banks of the Maumee — Position of the
American and Indian Forces — The Victory — New Forts Erected —
Destruction of Indian Dwellings — ^The Indians Sue for Peace — The
Treaty of Greenville 287

CHAPTER XXX.
The Indians Cede their Lands — Tecumseh and the Prophet — The
New Indian Confederacy — Its Objects — Curious Speech of the
Prophet — The Approaching War — The Prophet Declares his
Innocence 247

CHAPTER XXXI.
Tecumseh and the Prophet Uniting the Savages for War — Trouble in
the Council at Vincennes — Governor Harrison Denounces Fecum-
geh and Orders him to Leave the Village— The Battle of Tippe-
canoe — Harrison's Victory 258

CHAPTER XXXII. '
Tecumseh '8 Anger — He Joins the British — Hull's Inglorious Cam-
paign — Surrender of Detroit — Surrender of Mackinac — Triumph
of the British — Hull's Incapacity 960

604

CX>NTEN're.

1, .

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Chicago — Its Early Settlement — Its Condition In 1813— Order for
Evacuation — Council with the Indians — Their Proinittes and their
Treachery — The Massacre — Heroism of Women — Account of Mrs.
Helm and Others— Thrilling Incidents BOS'

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Raising an Army to Conquer the English in the Northwest — Early
Settlements in Illinois — Expedition under Governor Edwards and
Col. Russell — Siege of Fort Harrison — Capt. Taylor's Defense —
The Army under Harrison, Winchester and Tupper 279'

CHAPTER XXXV.

The War of 1812 — Defeat atFrenchtown — Qroghan's Heroic Defense
of Fort Stephenson — Defeat of the Americans — Preparations for
a New Campaign — Perry's Victory — Harrison's Triumph — The
Indians Subdued — The English Defeated — Close of the War 284

CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Life and Times of Black Hawk — Black Hawk Distinguishes
Himself as a Warrior — Black Hawk Joins the British — The Sacs
Driven Beyond the Mississippi — Black Hawk Remonstrates —
Description of the Principal Sac Village at Rock River 292

CHAPTER XXXVII.
Difficulties between Black Hawk and the Settlers at Rock River — A
Military Force Called out to Remove the Sac Indians West of the
Mississippi — Sketch of Keokuk — His Bravery, Sagacity and
Eloquence 299

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Commencement of the Black Hawk War — The Sacs Violate their
Treaty — They are Ordered to Return West of the Mississippi —
They Refuse — Pursued by American Troops — Black Hawk and his ,/
Band Victorious — Desolation in the Border Settlements of Illinois —
Black Hawk Defeated — Starvation among the Savages 305

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Black Hawk's Defeat — He and His Band are Driven into the Missis-.
sippi — Terrible Indian Slaughter — The War Ended — Black Hawk
Captured, and with other Chiefs Confined in Irons — He Visits
Washington and the Eastern Cities — His Reception 313

. CHAPTER XL.
Ceremonies of Liberating Black Hawk — Keokuk's Triumph — Black
Hawk's Anger — He will not Conform to the Councils of Keokuk —
His Speech — He Departs to his Squaws — Interesting Incidents at
Rock Island 320

OONTKM'8

606

irder for
ind their
t of Mrs.

2(»y

t — Early
ards and
)cfeii8e —

279

J Dct'cnse
itlons for
ph — The
War 284

linguishes

The Saca

ustrates —

292

River — A

Test of tlie
acity and

299

)late their

sissippi —

vk and his

Illinois —

805

,he Missis-
ack Hawk
He Visits

813

h — Black

[eokuk —

Icidients at

CH APT Ell XL I.

Indian Tribes West of the MlHslsslppi— The Mandans, ♦.heir Dwellings,
Manners and Customs — Their Traditions of the Flood — Their
Singular Ceremonies — How they were Destroyed — Their Supposed
Origin 880

CHAPTER XLII.

Sketch of the Sioux Indians — How they Nursed their Infants —
Leaving their Old and Inflrm to Die from Starvation — The Pecu-
liarities of the Red -Pipe Stone Quarry — Superstitions of the Sioux
Regarding the Pipe Stcme- The Buflalo Hunt 888

CHAPTER XLIII.
The Crows and the Blackfeet—Theip' Myths and their Wars — Char-
acteristics of these Tribes — Interesting Incidents 842

The Indian Tribes
wallas — The ■ '
Canoes, etc

CHAPTER XLIV.
be Par West — The Pierced-Noses— The Walla-
Is — Peculiarities of this Tribe — Their

847

CHAPTER XLV.
The Shoshonees — The Root-Diggers — Description of the Snake
Indians — The Utahs and Apaches — The Navajos and the Moques.

850

820

CHAPTER XLVI.
dol. Fremont and Kit Carson — Kit Goes as Quide with Fremont's
Expedition — The Buffalo Hunt — Adventures In a Prairie Dog-
Village — Crossing the South Fork — Immense Buffalo Herds 854

CHAPTER XLVII.
Division of Fremont's Party — Thrilling Incidents of the Journey to
Fort Laramie — Description of Fort Laramie — Frightful Rumors
of Indian Hostility — Fremont Determines to Continue — Kit Car-
sou Resolves to Follow Him — Bravery and Cowardice 862

CHAPTER XLVIII.
Journey of Fremont's Expedition from Fort Laramie to Fremont's
Peak, in the Rocky Mountains — Hardships of Col. Fremont — His
Description of the Wild Scenery in the Rocky Mountains — Fre-
mont Thirteen Thousand Feet Above the Level of the Sea — The
Return 871

CHAPTER XLIX.
Sketch of Kit Carson — His Early Adventures — His First Visit to the
Far West — He Distinguishes Himself as a Hunter, Guide, and
Scout — His Adventures on the Sacramento — Mr. Young's Trap-
ping Party 879

' »

606 C«»NTKNT8.

CHAPTER L.

Sketch of Kit Cnrsnn Continued — Description of tlio Mountain
Parlt8 — Pursuing Horse Tliievcs — Nino Hunters Defeat Fifty

Indian Warriors— Kit Carson Wounded— Tlie Duel

88S

CHAPTER LI.

Bltctcli of Kit Carson Continued — His Adven'.ures — He Again Joins
Fremonl's Expedition — Description of Fremont's Second Expedi-
tion — Its Adventures 891

CHAPTER LII.
Adventures of Fremont's Second Expedition Concluded — Kit Carson
in New Mexico — Description of Taos and tlie Settlements of New
Mexico — Interesting Incidents of Smuggling — The Fandango 408

CHAPTER LIII.

Col. Fremont's Tliird Expedition— Peculiar Qualities of Kit Carson-
Fremont Attacked by the Mexicans — Fremont Visits Klamath Lalio
and the Lava Beds — Three of his Party Killed — The Revenge 416

CHAPTER LIV.
Fremont as a Conqueror — Tlic War in Northern California — Heroisn
of the Mountaineers — Indian Ilostllitios — Fremont and his Fol-
lowers Conquer Northern California — His Triumphal Entry in t")
Montery — California Saved from the English 420

CHAPTER LV.
Insurrection in Southern California — Fremont Subdues the Wiilla-
wailas- The War in Southern California — Description of Soutlicrn
Californ ia — Pico Defeated — The Peace 426

CHAPTER LVI.

Gen. Kearney and Col. Doniphan — The Conquest of New Mexico —
Battle of the Sacramento — Chihuahua Taken — Glorious Victory
of the Missourians — Triumplial Entry into tlie Ancient Capital. 432

CHAPTER LVII.
War between the United States and Mexico — Gen. Taylor Proceeds
to Point Isabel with an Army — He is Ordered to Leave the Country
— He Refuses — His Danger at {he River Fort — Tlie Battle of Palo
Alto 489

CHAPTER LVIII.

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma — A Desperate Struggle — Bravery
of the Mexicans — The Dead and Dying — Gen. Taylor's Victory —
Matamoras Taken — Gen. Taylor's Difficulties — The Siege of
Monterey — The Victory 446

CONTKNT8.

607

fountain

at Fifty

88S

iiln Joins
lI ExpciU-

801

Clt Ciiraon
,t8 of New
ilivngo 408

it Carson—
iiuath Lake
.evengc 416

. — Herolsn
(I his Fol-
Entry int-)

420

(ho Walla-
of Southern

426

w Mexico —
OU8 Victory
t Capital. 432

^or Proceeds
[the Country
ittle of Palo

439

L_ Bravery
I's Victory —
le Siege of

ClIAPTEU LIX.
Gen. Taylor at Monterey — Saltlllo Taken — Gen. Santa Anna —
Victoria Taken — Scott Supercedes Taylor — The Battle of Buena

VUU.

4G6

446

ClIAPTEU LX.
Gen. Scott's Campaign — The Slego of Vera Cruz — Victory of Cerro
Gordo — Capture of Puebla — Advance on Mexico — Battle of the
Contieras — The Victory — Other Battles — Battle of Churuhusco —
Tlie Armistice.... 477

CHAPTER LXI.

Termination of tlie Armistice— The Battle of Molinos del Bey — The
Siege of the Capital — The City of Mexico Occupied — The Araer.
lean Flag Floating from the Mexican National Palace 492

CHAPTER LXII.

Wars with the Indians in New Mexico — The Massacre of the White
Family — Brutality of tlio Apaches — The Wars with Utahs and
Apaches — The Settlement in Now Mexico Invaded by IlosUle
Indians — A Brilliant Company — Seven Battles — Peace 497

CHAPTER LXII I.

Tlic Navajo Indians Join the Rebels — Tlieir Hostile Attitude — Car-
H(in Leads an Army against tiiem — Ten Thousand Indians taken
Prisoners — Advocates of the New Pcservation Policy — The Mili-

\ tary Division of the Missouri — Its Extent — Condition of the
Tribes in this Division in 180(5 509

CHAPTER LXIV.

Indian Troubles in the Military Division of the Missouri i*. 1807 —
Tlie Horrible Massacre at Fort Pliil. Kearney — Indian Outbreaks
in Montana — Outrage at Smoky Hill and along the Route *,o Cali.
fornia — The Peace Commission Policy — Inactivity of the Military. 615

CHAPTER LXV.
Wars with the Indians in the Military Division of the Missouri —
Operations of the Peace Commission — Councils with the Indians —
Congress Fails to Co-Operate — A Formidable Indian War — Break,
ing out of Hostilities — Murder, Massacre and Horror — A Chapter
of Outrages 518

CHAPTER LXVI.

Winter Campaign of Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan in 1808 — A Brilliant
Triumph over the Indians East of the Rocky Mountains — Sur-
render of the Tribes — Tliey arc Placed on the Reservations — The
Way Opened for the Labors of tlie Peace Commission 527

1:1

fisi

iOS

tWNTKNTH.

C II APT Kit LXVIl.
Indian TroiihlcM West of the Httcky MountiiinH — Ilorrlblt' MiiMncrc
of Indiana — DitnuultieH of Mitli'ing Wur on tiie Sm\ ,ij;i-h in llio
Wildti of llio West — Tlie I'euce ComnUHMionorH In Ari/.unu nnd
Cttilforn la — Curious SpoechcH of Clilefu m\

CIIAPTEU L XVII I.

History of the Modocs — Horriblo Mnssncru of a Party of InnnitfrantH

— Ben Wright's Vonj^eanco — Ti'rril»le Destruction of tho Modocs
from Starvation — Canibialism— Thu Iteservation Troubles S40

CHAPTER LXIX

Quarrels among tho Indians on the Hcsurvation — Departure of Cupt
Jack and It is band for the Lava Beds — The Troops Pursue tiieni in
Vain — Fatal Attempts of the Peace Commission — Murder of tho
Commissioners — Execution of the Modocs S47

CHAPTER LXX.
The Seminole War— Earlv Settlers of Florida and Georgia — Indian
and Negro Slavery — Difllcultics among tho Creeks — Sea Cofl'ee's
Band — Slaves Flee to Florida —Treaty with the Creeks 558

CHAPTER LXXI.

The Seminole War — Difficulties with the Creeks — Their Inability
to Return tho Fugitive Slaves — Complaints of the Slaveholders of
Georgia — The Georgians Invade Florida — Their Defeat — Cruelty
to Settlers — The Second Invasion — More Sutt'cring — British Inter-
ference and Occupation in Georgia and Florida — The Fort of the
Exiles— The Fort Blown Up — Great Destruction of Human Life-
Commencement of the First Seminole War 666

CHAPTER LXXI I.
The First Seminole War — Massacre of Lieut. Scott — Jackson's Army
Invades Florida, and Burns Seminole Towns — Peace — Purchasing
Slaves from Indians with Wliieky — A Movement to Remove the
Seminoles West of the Mississippi — Osceola, His Wife, Her Fate,
and His Revenge — The Massacre at Fort King — Louis, the Guide

— Terrible Massacre at the Great Wahoo Swamp 502

CHAPTER LXXIII.
The Second Seminole War — The Battle of the Withlacoochee —
Bravery of Osceola — The Seminoles and Negroes Defeated — Gen.
Gaines's Fruitless Campaign — Osceola Attacks Miconopy — Heil-
miin's Gallant Defense — The Battle between Pearcc and Osceola —
Several Severe Battles — The Seminoles Hard to Conquer 569

CHAPTER LXXIV.
Conclusion of the Second Seminole War — Several Battles — Gen.
Jessup's Peace Policy — Hostilities Renewed — Slave -Catching
Parties — The Seminoles and Exiles Persuaded to Go West — Eflbrts
to Subject them to Creek Authority — Invaded by the Creeks —
Emigration of the Exiles to Mexico 574

CHAPTER LXXV.
The Indian Wars of the Southern States — Tribes, Etc. — King Ton-
mohichi and His Queen — Bosomworth and Mary — A Thrilling
Incident — A General War — Gen. Jackson's Campaign — Terrible
Massacres — Hard Fought Battles — Complete Subjugation of the
Indians — Bravery of the Celebrated Wcatherford 585

MnnRHcre
'H In the
f.ona nnd

Mi\

imiitrnnti*
i M«k1och

S40

L' of Cupt

e them In
ler of tho

547

k — Indiau
la Cofl'ec't)

558

■ Inability
holdvi'H of
, — Cruelty
itlsh Intcr-
Port of tho
aan Life —

66P

son's Army
[•urchasinj?
leniove the
, Her Fate,
I. the Quiilo

502

acoochee —
ated — Gin.
opy— Heil-
1 Osceola •

569

ittles — Gen.
I'e- Catching
est — Eflbrts
lie Creeks —

574

— King Ton-
A Thrilling
rn — Terrible
ation of the

585