formed that they are armed and equipped for war, and entertain the criminal intention described in the President's proclamation, you are to send to them some person in whose veracity you could confide, and if such person should be a peace officer he would be the most proper messenger, and warn them of their evil proceedings, and forbid their attempting to pass the fort at their peril. But if, notwithstanding every peaceable effort to persuade them to abandon their criminal design, they should still persist in their attempts to pass down the Ohio, you are to use every military means in your power for preventing them, and for which this shall be your sufficient justification, provided you have taken all the pacific steps before directed."

The discouraging conduct of the new French minister, the proclamation of the President, the passage, by Congress, of a law "providing for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States," and the erection of a military post at Fort Massac, finally forced the friends of the French Republic to abandon, reluctantly, an expedition which was planned and almost prepared, "for the reduction of the Spanish forts on the Mississippi, for opening the trade of that river, and giving freedom to its inhabitants."

On the morning of the 30th day of June, 1794, an escort consisting of ninety riflemen and fifty dragoons, commanded by Major McMahon, was attacked by "a numerous body of Indians, under the walls of Fort Recovery." The Indians, who were probably assisted by a small number of British agents and French Canadian volunteers, made several attacks on the fort within the space of about twenty-four hours, when they retired. In these attacks the Americans lost twenty-two men killed, thirty wounded, and three missing. They also lost two hundred and twenty-one horses, killed, wounded and missing. Among the officers killed, were Major McMahon, Captain

Laws of the United States. ii. 425.

† Am. State Papers-Indian Affairs, i. 487.-The number of Indians who were engaged in this attack on Fort Recovery, has been variously estimated at from seven hundred to fifteen hundred men.

Hartshorne, Lieutenant Craig, and Cornet Torry. Captain Alexander Gibson, (who was the commandant at Fort Recovery,) Captain Taylor, of the dragoons, and Lieutenant Drake, of the infantry, were distinguished for their gallant conduct. The Indians left eight or ten warriors dead on the field; although they were employed during the night, which was dark and foggy, in carrying off their dead [and wounded] by torch light." *

66

On the 26th of July, 1794, Major General Scott, with about sixteen hundred mounted volunteers from Kentucky, arrived at Fort Greenville, and joined the regular troops under the command of Wayne; and, on the 28th of July the united forces commenced their march for the Indian towns on the Maumee river. On the banks of St. Mary's river, at a point about twenty-four miles northward of Fort Recovery, Wayne erected and garrisoned a small post which he named Fort Adams. The army moved from this position on the 4th of August, and arrived, on the Sth of the same month, at the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers. In a letter, dated at this place on the 14th of August, 1794, and addressed to the Secretary of War, General Wayne said, "I have the honor to inform you that the army under my command took possession of this very important post on the morning of the 8th instant-the enemy on the preceding evening, having abandoned all their settlements, towns, and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation, as to amount to a positive proof that our approach was not discovered by them, until the arrival of a Mr. Newman, of the Quartermaster General's Department, who deserted from the army near the St. Mary's. * * * I had made such demonstrations, for a length of time previously to taking up our line of march, as to induce the savages to expect our advance by the route of the Miami villages, to the left, or towards Roche de Bout, by the right; which feints appear to have produced the desired effect, by drawing the attention of the enemy to those points, and gave an opening for the army

* Letter from Wayne to the Secretary of War, dated "Greenville, 7th July, 1794."

to approach undiscovered by a devious, i. e in a central direction. Thus, sir, we have gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians of the west, without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly cultivated fields and gardens, show the work of many hands. The margin of those beautiful rivers, the Miamies of the Lake [or Maumee] and Auglaize, appear like one continued village for a number of miles, both above and below this place; nor have I ever before beheld such immense fields of corn, in any part of America, from Canada to Florida. We are now employed in completing a strong stockade fort, with four good block houses, by way of bastions, at the confluence of Auglaize and the [Maumee,] which I have called Defiance. *** Every thing is now prepared for a forward move to-morrow morning, towards Roche de Bout, or foot of the Rapids. *** Yet I have thought proper to offer the enemy a last overture of peace; and as they have every thing that is dear and interesting now at stake, I have reason to expect that they will listen to the proposition mentioned in the enclosed copy of an address,* despatched yesterday by a special flag [Christopher Miller,] who I sent under circumstances that will ensure his safe return, and which may eventually spare the effusion of much human blood. But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. America shall no longer be insulted with impunity.

* This letter was addressed "To the Delawares, Shawanese, Miamies, and Wyandots. and to each and every of them; and to all other nations of Indians, northwest of the Ohio, whom it may concern.". It contained the following passage:"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 the power nor inclination to protect you. No longer shut your eyes to your true interest and happiness, nor your ears to this last 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 tranquillity." The letter, also, invited "cach and every hostile tribe of Indians to appoint deputies" to meet Wayne, without delay, between the mouth of Auglaize and the foot of the Rapids of the Maumee, in order to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace." Miller, the bearer of the letter, left Fort Defiance at four o'clock, P. M. on the 13th of August: on the 16th, he brought an answer from some of the hostile Indians to General Wayne, in which they said "that if he waited where he was ten days, and then sent Miller for them, they would treat with him; but that if he advanced they would give him battle."

To an all-powerful and just God I therefore commit myself and gallant army."

General Wayne moved with his forces from Fort Defiance, on the 15th of August, 1794, and directed his march towards the British fort at the foot of the Rapids of the river Maumee. On the 20th of August he gained a decisive victory over the army of the Indians. The battle was fought on the left bank of the Maumee, almost within the reach of the guns of the British fort. The following account of this engagement was transmitted, by General Wayne, to the Secretary of War.

"HEAD QUARTERS, [Fort Defiance,]

Grand Glaize, 28th August, 1794. "Sir: It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you the brilliant success of the Federal army under my command, in a general action with the combined force of the hostile Indians, and a considerable number of the volunteers and militia of Detroit, on the 20th instant, on the banks of the Maumee, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison, at the foot of the Rapids. The army advanced from this place [Fort Defiance] on the 15th, and arrived at Roche de Bout on the 18th: the 19th was employed in making a temporary post* for the reception of our stores and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of the enemy, who were encamped behind a thick. brushy wood and the British fort.

"At eight o'clock on the morning of the 20th, the army again advanced in columns, agreeably to the standing order of march; the Legion on the right, its 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 sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war.

* This post, which was called "Fort Deposit," was about seven miles from the British fort at the foot of the Rapids.

"After advancing about five miles Major Price's corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The Legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close thick wood, which extended for miles on our left, and for a very considerable distance in front; the ground being covered with old fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles, at right angles with the river. I soon discovered, from the weight of the fire and extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first; and directed Major General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, by a circuitous route; at the same time I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up, to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again.

"I also ordered Captain Mis Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, and which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers, were drove from all their coverts in so short a time, that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the Legion, and by Generals Scott, Todd, and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action; the enemy being drove, in the course of one hour, more than two miles, through the thick woods already men