now prisoners in Fort Pitt.' It is probable, from these circumstances, we shall have no more trouble with them, and things have come to

1 The Mingoes did not like the terms agreed upon between Lord Dunmore and the Shawanese, though their chief, Logan, sent in his acquiescence in his world-renowned speech. But his clan determined to run away, and thus avoid giving their assent to the agreement. What happened them is best related by one who took part in pursuing them:

"The Shawanese have complied with the terms [of the treaty], but the Mingoes did not like the conditions, and had a mind to deceive us; but Lord Dunmore discovered their intentions, which were to slip off while we were settling matters with the Shawanese. The Mingoes intended to go to the lakes [Lake Erie], and take their prisoners with them and their horses which they had stolen.

"Lord Dunmore ordered myself, with two hundred and forty men, to set out in the night. We were to march to a town about forty miles distant from our camp, up the Scioto, where we understood the whole of the Mingoes were to rendezvous upon the following day, in order to pursue their journey...

"Because of the number of Indians in our camp, we marched out of it, under pretense of going to Hockhocking [where Fort Gower had been erected] for more provisions. Few knew of our setting off anyhow, and none knew where we were going to until the next day. Our march was, performed with as much speed as possible. We arrived at a town called the Salt-Lick Town [within the present limits of Franklin county, Ohio], the ensuing night, and at daybreak we got around it with one-half our force, and the remainder were sent to a small village half a mile distaut. Unfortunately, one of our men was discovered by an Indian, who lay out from the town some distance by a log, which the man was creeping up to. This obliged the man to kill the Indian. This happened before daylight, which did us much damage, as the chief part of the Indians made their escape in the dark; but we got fourteen prisoners, and killed six of the enemy, wounding several more. We got all their baggage and horses, ten of their guns, and two white prisoners. The plunder soid for two hundred pounds sterling, besides what was returned to a Mohawk Indian that was there. The whole of the Mingoes were ready to start, and were to have set cut the morning we attacked them. Lord Dunriore has eleven prisoners and has returned the rest to the nation. The residue are to be returned upon compliance with his Lordship's demands."-Major William Crawford to Washington, in the Washington-Crawford Letters," p. 54-56.

66

The destruction of the Salt-Lick Town, by Major Crawford, was the only actual fighting done by that part of the army which was under the command of Lord Dunmore in person. It was the last fighting done by Crawford until the Revolutionary War came on, in which he took an active part; but, in leading a force from Western Pennsylvania and North-western Virginia, in 1782, against the hostile Wyandots upon the Sandusky river, he was taken prisoner and tortured to death by the Delawares, within the present limits of Wyandot county, Ohio.-Crawford's Campaign Against Sandusky. By C. W. Butterfield. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1873.

a much better end than there was any reason to have expected. But our troubles here are not yet over. The magistrates appointed by Lord Dunmore, in this country, seem determined to enforce the jurisdiction of Virginia, and have begun with arresting one of your Honor's officers.

The 12th of November, Mr. Conolly sent a warrant for Mr. Scott to appear before him, or the next justice, to answer for a number of offenses committed by him under a pretended authority from Pennsylvania. The warrant Mr. Scott did not choose to pay any regard to, and the same evening a number of armed men came to his house to take him by force to Fort Burd. There he found Lord Dunmore, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Penticost, ready to sit in judgment upon him. Much passed amongst them, but the event was that he was obliged to enter into recognizance, with two sureties, to appear at the next court, to be held at Pittsburgh, for the county of Augusta, on the 20th day of December, if the court should happen to be held there that day, or at any further day, when the court should be held there, to answer for having acted as a magistrate of Pennsylvania, contrary to Lord Dunmore's proclamation, or

2

'Fort Burd, it will be remembered, was at Redstone, now Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

2 Lord Dunmore's proclamation was, in effect, that the rapid settlement made to the westward of the Alleghany Mountains by His Majesty's subjects within the course of a few years had become an object of real concern to His Majesty's interests in that quarter; that the Province of Pennsylvania had unduly laid claim to a very valuable and extensive quantity of His Majesty's territory, and the executive part of that Government, in consequence thereof, had most arbitrarily and unwarrantably proceeded to abuse the laudable adventures in that part of His Majesty's dominions, by many oppressive and illegal measures in discharging of their imaginary authority, and that the ancient claim laid to that country by the Colony of Virginia, founded in reason upon pre-occupying, and the general acquiescence of all persons, together with the instructions he had lately received from His Majesty's servants, ordering him to take that country under his administration; and as the evident injustice manifestly offered to His Majesty, by the immoderate strides taken by the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, in prosecution of the wild claim to that country, demanded an immediate remedy, he did thereby, in His Majesty's name, require and command all of His Majesty's subjects west of the Laurel Hill to pay a due respect to his said proclamation, thereby strictly prohibiting the execution of any act of authority on behalf of the Province of Pennsylvania, at their peril, in that country. A counter proclamation was issued by Governor Penn, October 12, 1774. (See the previous letter-St. Clair to Penn, November 2, 1774.)

be committed to jail. He chose the recognizance, the circumstances of his family and health rendering the other very inconvenient.

There is no doubt that the recognizance is in itself a mere nullity, but, after what has been done already, it is hard to say what may not be attempted, and it is very certain the people Lord Dunmore has clothed with authority pay little regard to the rules of law or the dictates of reason. It would be exceedingly satisfactory if your Honor would please to give us directions for our conduct, and this case of Mr. Scott requires it particularly. I have wrote to Mr. Wilson,' of Carlisle, for his advice, fearing it would be impossible to know your mind in proper time, and for the necessary legal steps. I believe he may be depended on, but it is very doubtful if his answer can arrive before the time they have appointed for their court; at any rate, we must endeavor to prevent a trial until you can have an opportunity of writing, if it should be by removing the indictment to Williamsburgh.

I account it a fortunate circumstance that they began with Mr. Scott, who, with a great deal of firmness, possesses a good share of natural understanding. In the course of an examination, which continued near two hours, he told Lord Dunmore that he had only one short answer to all his questions, which might save his Lordship a good deal of trouble, "that he acted under commission from your Honor and in obedience to your proclamation." His Lordship was pleased to reply, that you had no right to give any such commission or authority to issue such proclamation. Mr. Scott told him that was a matter of which he was not a proper judge, and would abide by the consequences.

I am sorry to be obliged to give your Honor so much trouble on so very disagreeable a subject, but I hope the time is not far distant when it will be put to an end.

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR TO GOVERNOR PENN.

HANNASTOWN, Dec. 18th, 1774. Sir-Being this far on my way to Pittsburgh, I found a constable from Virginia here who had made two men prisoners by virtue of a warrant from Major Smallman. The offense they had been guilty of, it seems, was assisting the constable in executing a judi

1 James Wilson, lawyer, and intimate friend of St. Clair's. In a letter ante, he is referred to as having made an argument in behalf of the claims of Pennsylvania.

cial warrant.

Mr. Hanna had committed the constable, which I could not help approving of; but as there is some danger of his being rescued by force, I have advised the sending him to Bedford, or, at least, the sheriff should remove him to some other place privately.

The Court, it is said, will certainly be held at Pittsburgh on the 20th. I am personally threatened, but I promised Mr. Scott to be there at that time, to give him some countenance, at least, if I can not give him assistance at his trial. I had the honor to give you an account of his arrest a short time ago.1

Your Honor will judge from these circumstances what a shocking situation we are in; to add to the distress of which, the militia are plundering the people within the neighborhood of Pittsburgh of the very subsistence for their families.

I met with this opportunity of writing accidentally, and would not let it slip, as I thought it of consequence that you should be early acquainted with what is passing.

JAMES CAVET TO ARTHUR ST. CLAIR AND OTHERS.*

PITTSBURGH, May 13, 1775. Gentlemen:-I am sorry that it is so much in my power to doubt the Governor's attention to this unhappy country. We have not

1In his previous letter of December 4, 1774.

2 The time between the date of this letter and the previous one was largely taken up in the Western Country with stirring events, caused by the conflict of jurisdiction between Pennsylvania and Virginia concerning which so much has already been given. The proceedings of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council for one day, will give an idea of the troubles that beset the trans-Alleghany region during the winter of 1774-75:

"At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, 25th January, 1775, present, the Honorable JOHN PENN, Esq., Governor; William Logan, Andrew Allen, Benjamin Chew, Edward Shippen, Junior, and James Tilghman, Esquires.

The Governor laid before the Board two papers delivered to him by Captain St. Clair, which were read, and are as follows, viz:

Westmoreland County, $s:

"Before us, Robert Hanna and Arthur St. Clair, Esqs., two of His Majesty's Justices for Westmoreland county, personally appeared Samuel Whitesill, keeper of the jai of the said county, and, being duly sworn, according to law, deposeth and saith, that, on this instant, 24th of December, a number of armed men came to the jail of said county, and ordered him to open the prison doors, and turn out a certain William Thomas then

had, since our confinement, the least account from him, and I think it is beyond doubt he got our packet. Our express is returned, and he says he gave the letters to Doctor Plunket, at Susquehannah, who would certainly send them. Our situation, and that of the well-affected inhabitants of this place, is become almost intolerable; it is impossible for any person to conceive the cruel mode of proceedings at this place, unless those who are unhappy to be eye-witnesses thereof. Mr. Smith, in particular, will, (if not by some means prevented), in a short time be absolutely ruined. Mr. Hanna and myself will, at this court, be confined in the guard-room of Fort Dunmore, if we don't give bail, and God knows whether it will

in his custody on sundry executions; that he believes a certain William Christy and Simon Girty, who seemed to be officers, from their dress, were at the head of their party. That he, this deponent, refused to deliver his prisoner, or open the door where he was confined; that they then talked of throwing down the house, and stripping off the roof, on which he (this deponent) being afraid of ill consequences, both to his person and property, did open the door to allow the prisoner to speak to the party, and one of them rushed in, seized him, and dragged him out, and also turned out a certain William Dawson, who was likewise in his custody on execution; and and that it was Conolly himself who laid hands on Thomas and dragged him out; and further saith not. SAMUEL WHITESILL.

"Sworn and subscribed, December 24, 1774, before us.

"ROBERT HANNA,
"ARTHUR ST. CLAIR."

"Whereas, I am well informed that certain persons, by written instructions, directed to different people through this country, under the denomination of collectors, are apparently authorized to break open doors, cupboards, etc., and to commit sundry acts of violence, in order to extort money from the inhabitants, under the appellation of taxes; these are therefore to acquaint all His Majesty's subjects, that, as there can be no authority legally vested in any persons, for such acts, at this juncture, that such attempts to abuse public liberty are unwarrantable, and that all persons have an undoubted natural, as well as lawful right to repel such violence, and all His Majesty's subjects are hereby required to apprehend any person whatever, who may attempt the seizure of their effects, in consequence of such imaginary authority, to be dealt with as the law directs.

“Given under my hand at Fort Dunmore, this, 30th day of December 1774. JOHN CONOLLY."

"Captain St. Clair, appearing at the Board, and representing that William Crawford, Esquire, President of the Court of Westmoreland county, hath lately joined with the Government of Virginia in opposing the juris diction of Pennsylvania in that county, the Board advised the Governor to supersede him in his office as justice of the peace and common pleas. A supersedeas was accordingly ordered to be issued."