THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF ARTHUR ST. CLAIR SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR; PRESIDENT OF OF THE NORTH-WESTERN TERRITORY WITH HIS CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER PAPERS ARRANGED AND ANNOTATED BY WILLIAM HENRY SMITHII Vol. II CINCINNATI ROBERT CLARKE & CO 1882 こ Checked May 1913 CONTENTS. THE ST. CLAIR PAPERS. CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, ETC. THE NORTH-WESTERN TERRITORY-ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE ORDINANCE OF 1787. [INTRODUCTORY NOTE.-Early in the Revolutionary war, it became evident, from the frequent raids made by the Indians on the frontiers of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, that the British had engaged the Western Indians in their interest. So great was the distress on the Ohio River and its tributaries, General Washington dispatched Colonel Daniel Broadhead, of the Eighth Pennsylvania regiment, to command the Western District, with headquarters at Pittsburgh. The raids of the Indians destroyed the mill and houses of St. Clair in Ligonier valley, and drove the inhabitants into the fortified posts for safety; but despite this, the number of people increased, and in 1779 some of the most hardy ventured to cross the Ohio and make improvements on the Indian lands, "from the river Muskingum to Fort McIntosh, and thirty miles up some of the branches of the Ohio River." As it was the policy of government to keep on as friendly terms as possible with the Indians, Colonel Broadhead dispatched Captain Clarke, with a detachment of soldiers, to drive off the trespassers, which was accomplished, and sent a runner to the Delaware council, at Coshocking, to assure the Indians that the trespass was unwarranted, and that justice would be done. This was the status when the Commissioners for Indian Affairs arrived on the banks of the Ohio River, December 2, 1784, to conclude a treaty with the Indians. They had expected to hold 1 1 The commissioners were George Rogers Clarke, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee. VOL. II-1 (1) |