dred and eighty warriors, who lived in the vicinity of Grand Glaise; and that they could bring into action about three hundred of them. Their great men, or Sachems, were: the Black Wolf, and Kikia-pi-la-thy, or Tame Hawk. Their principal warriors were Blue Jacket and Captain Johnny. They said further, that the Delawares had, at Grand Glaise, four hundred and eighty warriors-that there were actually in the action against General St. Clair, four hundred of that tribe-that the Miamies numbered about one hundred warriors living near the Grand Glaise; many of that nation having moved towards Post Vincennes, and the Mississippi -that the Wyandots never send into action more than one hundred and fifty warriors-that they themselves, lived along the lake, towards Sandusky, and did not know the number of the Pottawattamies, or of the other nations who would join in the war, should they determine to continue it-that the Chippewas would be the most numerous, and were then on their way to the council; but that war, or peace, depended on the conduct of the British. If they would help the Indians, it would be war; but if not, it would probably be peace. That the Indians would no longer be set on, like dogs to fight; unless the British would help them. That the British were at the foot of the Rapids, where they had fortified-that there were a great number of their soldiers at that place, who told the Indians they were come to help them fight, and that if they (the Indians) would generally turn out, they would join them, and fight the American army. Blue Jacket, they said, had been sent to the Chippewas and the northern Indians, to invite them to Roche de Bœuf, to join in the war.

CHAPTER VIII.

Gen. Wayne's campaign of 1794.-Battle of the 20th of August, at the foot of the Rapids.-Gen. Wayne's correspondence with the commandant of the British Fort.-Army return to Fort Defiance.-From thence to the Miami villages.-Fort Wayne built.-Kentucky volunteers discharged.-Residue of the army proceed to Greenville.-Note.-The number and tribes of the Indians engaged in the battle of the 20th of August.-Aid furnished them by the British.-Influence of British agents ascertained.

THE American army continued in their encampment, at Greenville, which was in reality a military school for both officers and soldiers, till about midsummer; when, having been joined by the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, arrangements were made for advancing into the Indian country. It had been apprehended that the heavy loss of pack-horses in the attacks at Fort St. Clair and Recovery, would retard the advance of the legion; but it was soon understood, that the General had made provision, in his arrangements, for such losses and contingencies, which he knew, from the nature of the service, were to be expected, and would unavoidably happen. There was therefore no embarrassment or delay produced by those disasters.

With a view of perplexing the enemy, in regard to his movements, the General made such demonstrations, before he took up his line of march, as would induce the savages to expect him to advance, either by the route of the Miami villages on the left, or in the direction of the foot of the Rapids on the right. Those feints produced the desired effect, by drawing the attention of the enemy to those routes, by which he was enabled to approach undiscovered,

by a central course, which was impracticable for an army, except in a very dry season.

By that expedient, though he halted at Girty's town, at the crossing of the St. Mary's, twenty-four miles in advance of Greenville, a sufficient length of time to build Fort Adams, on the bank of that stream, he was enabled to complete his march, unobserved, till he arrived almost in sight of Au Glaise, the great emporium of the enemy; of which he took possession on the 8th of August, without the loss of a single man. On the preceding evening the enemy abandoned their settlements and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation, as convinced every body, that the approach of the legion was not discovered until a few hours before its arrival, when the fact was communicated by Newman, who deserted from the army at St. Mary's.

It was manifest that the defection of that villain enabled the Indians to save their persons by a rapid flight; leaving all their property to fall into the hands of the Americans. The extensive and highly cultivated fields, and gardens, which appeared on every side, exhibited the work of many hands. The margins of the beautiful rivers, Au Glaise and Miami, had the appearance of a continued village, for several miles above and below their junction. They were covered with extensive cornfields, and gardens, containing a great variety of vegetable productions.

The first duty of the General, after taking possession of the country, was to erect a strong stockade fort, with four block houses, by way of bastions, at the confluence of the rivers, which he named Fort Defiance.

It had been ascertained by the most recent intelligence, that the enemy were collected at the foot of the Rapids, in great force that they had been joined by the Detroit militia, and a portion of the regular army; and that they had selected, for the contest, an elevated plain, near the foot of the Rapids, over which a tornado had recently

passed, and covered the ground with fallen timber, by which it was rendered unfavorable for the action of cavalry. This information, unpleasant as it was, did not excite any serious apprehension, or in the least degree cool the spirit and ardor of the troops. On the contrary, among the officers and privates, both of the legion and the mounted volunteers, there was but one aspiration heard, and that was to meet the enemy. Yet the commanding General, influenced by feelings of humanity, and anxious to prevent the consequences of the deadly conflict, which was about to commence, resolved, on his own responsibility, to offer the enemy a last overture of peace.

As they had every thing dear and interesting at stake, there was some reason to expect they would listen to overtures of a conciliatory character. Under that impression he sent to them an address, by a special flag, containing propositions of the most amicable nature; but couched in firm and fearless terms. He informed them that he was not only the Commander-in-chief of the army, but was a Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, for settling the terms upon which a permanent and lasting peace might be made, with each of the hostile tribes, northwest of the Ohio; that the United States were actuated by the purest principles of humanity, and were desirous of showing them the errors into which bad, and designing men had led them.

He told them, that, although at the head of his army, he was in possession of their beautiful villages, and highly cultivated settlements, yet he was prepared to restore them, uninjured, to their former occupants; and therefore once more extended to them the friendly hand of peace; and invited each and all of the hostile tribes to appoint deputies to meet him without delay, between that place and Roche de Boeuf, to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace; which would restore to them their lost possessions, and preserve them, and their distressed women and chil

dren, from danger and from famine, during the approaching winter. That, although the arm of the United States was strong and powerful, yet they loved mercy and peace, more than war and desolation.

For the purpose of removing any apprehension of danger, to the deputies who might be selected to meet him, he pledged his sacred honor, and offered hostages for their safe return. He informed them that his flag was borne by C. Miller, an adopted Shawanee, who had been captured six moons ago, and a native Shawanee warrior, who had been taken prisoner two days before, and who would testify to the kindness shown to them, and to their people, who were prisoners at Greenville, consisting of five warriors and two women; but that if his invitation should be treated with insult, and the bearers of the flag be detained or injured, he would immediately order all those prisoners to be put to death, without distinction; although some of them were known to belong to the best families of their tribes.

The General exhorted them no longer to be deceived and led astray, by the false promises of bad white men, at the foot of the Rapids, who had neither the power nor the inclination to protect them. He urged them no longer to shut their eyes to their true interest and happiness, nor their ears to this last overture of peace. He entreated them, in pity to their innocent women and children, to meet him, and prevent the further effusion of their blood; in which event they should experience the kindness and friendship of the United States, and the invaluable blessings of peace and tranquillity. But should they choose the other alternative, their blood, and the blood of their women and children, would be on their own heads.

The works of defence at Defiance being completed, and the last propositions for peace, being unanswered by the enemy, the General published a manifesto, in which he declared with great solemnity, that he had exhausted all the means in his power, to obtain peace-that the United States