gally obtained and those that have been encroached upon without sufficient authority. The French inhabitants are about framing an humble petition to Congress, and will, I believe, give up their charter, and trust to Congress for what lands that honorable body may please to grant them. Such American inhabitants as have settled under the French charter are also framing a petition to Congress, praying for relief, and they will be recommended by the French. As there are no intruders out of the village, I shall wait for these petitions, and inclose them to the war office, and, although the first of September is the given period for them to depart, as I can not yet possibly ascertain who are actually intruders, I shall not proceed to expel them until their petitions are sent on and their state determined, and I receive orders from Congress or the war office on the subject. Both parties will appoint Mr. Bartholomew Tardiveau as their agent. He will go on to Congress in the course of next month.

As the Indian chiefs (if they come at all) will not be here in less than a month, I propose to take a subaltern's guard and to proceed to Kaskaskia, in company with Mr. Tardiveau, the next day after to-morrow, in order that I may be enabled to give a statement of affairs in that part of the United States. This movement of the troops will have a peculiar good effect. It will deter several people from Kentucky and other parts from taking up the public lands. A door was opened very fast for intrusions from that quarter. Many of General Clarke's militia, on their march toward the Vermillion town, had cast their eyes on choice lands, and I am informed had made what they called tomahawk rights.

Be pleased to receive the following inclosures, viz:

1. Colonel Le Gras's answer in behalf of the inhabitants at Post Vincennes to Colonel Harmar's letter of the 19th June.1

2. The address of the French inhabitants at Post Vincennes to Colonel Harmar.2

3. The address of the American inhabitants at Post Vincennes to Colonel Harmar.3

1 Referred to in note 1, on page 25.

2 This related to the land rights which had come to them down from the French government, through the English, and the additions granted by irresponsible officers of Virginia.

3 The claims of the Americans to lands obtained of Todd and other Virginia officials. In the cession of the western lands made by Virginia, no provision had been made for any American claimant.

4. The recommendations of the French inhabitants to Colonel Harmar in favor of the American inhabitants.'

The petitions of both the French and American inhabitants to Congress I have not yet received; they shall be forwarded by Mr. Tardiveau.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st June, inclosing the contract of Mr. O'Hara with the Board of Treasury for the supply of troops, etc."

BRIGADIER-GENERAL HARMAR TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

FORT HARMAR, November 24th, 1787.

Sir-In my last letter [from Post Vincennes, 7th of August], after having published in French and English the Resolve of Congress respecting the intruders upon the public lands at Post Vincennes, together with my orders relative thereto, and after having sent messages to the several Indian chiefs on the Wabash to assemble at the Post, and hear what I had to say to them, as there was no probability of these chiefs coming in in less than a month, I informed you that it was my intention to employ that time in visiting Kaskaskia, in order that I might be enabled to render a statement of affairs in that part of the United States.

Accordingly, I marched on the 9th of August, from the Post with a subaltern (Ensign McDowell) and thirty men, through the prairies, and arrived at Kaskaskia on the 16th of the same month. Our march was very fatiguing, as the weather was excessively warm and water very bad and scarce on our route. I was accompanied by two Indians-Pachan, a Miami chief, and his comrade, who hunted and supplied the party with meat (Buffalo and deer), both on the march and on our return. These prairies are very extensive natural meadows, covered with long grass. One in particular which we crossed was eight leagues in breadth. They run, in general, North and South, and, like the ocean, as far as the eye can see, the view is terminated by the horizon. Here and there a copse of woods is interspersed. They are free from bush and underwood, and not the least vestige of their ever having been cultivated. The country is excellent for grazing, and abounds in buffalo, deer, bear,

1 A recommendation for favorable consideration of the claims of the American settlers.

2 MS. from files of the State Department.

etc. It is a matter of speculation to account for the formation of the prairies. The western side of the Wabash is overflown in the spring for several miles.

On the 17th I was visited by the magistrates and principal inhabitants of Kaskaskia, welcoming us upon our arrival. Baptiste du Coigne, the chief of the Kaskaskia Indians, paid me a visit in the afternoon, and delivered me a speech, expressive of the greatest friendship for the United States, and presented me with one of the calumets, or pipes of peace, which is now sent on. Some of the Pioria Indians likewise visited me. The Kaskaskias, Piorias, Cahokias, and Mitcha tribes compose the Illinois Indians. They are almost extinct at present, not exceeding forty or fifty total. Kaskaskia is a handsome little village, situated on the river of the same name, which empties into the river Mississippi at two leagues distance from it. It is one hundred and five miles up the Mississippi from the mouth of the Ohio. The situation is low and unhealthy, and subject to inundation. The inhabitants are French, and much of the same class as those at Post Vincennes. Their number is one hundred and ninety-one, old and young men.

Having but very little time to spare, I left Ensign McDowell with the party at Kaskaskia, and on the 18th, set out accompanied by Mr. Tardiveau and the gentlemen of the village, for Cahokia. We gained Prairie du Rocher, a small village five leagues distant from Kaskaskia, where we halted for the night. On the 19th we passed through St. Philip, a trifling village three leagues distant from Prairie du Rocher, and dined at La Belle Fontaine, six leagues further. La Belle Fontaine is a small stockade, inhabited altogether by Americans, who have seated themselves there without authority. It is a beautiful situation, fine fertile land, no taxation, and the inhabitants have abundance to live upon. They were exceedingly alarmed when I informed them of their precarious state respecting a title to their possessions, and have now sent on a petition to Congress by Mr. Tardiveau. On the same day we passed another small stockade, Grand Ruisseau, inhabited by the same sort of Americans as those at La Belle Fontaine, and arrived at Cahokia that evening. Cahokia is a village of nearly the same size as that of Kaskaskia, and inhabited by the same kind of people. Their number was two hundred and thirty-nine old men and young. I was received with the greatest hospitality by the inhabitants. There was a decent submission and respect in their behavior. Cahokia is distant from Kaskaskia twenty-two French leagues, which is about fifty miles.

On the 21st, in consequence of an invitation from Monsieur Cruzat, the Spanish commandant at St. Louis, we crossed the Mississippi, and were very politely entertained by him. After dinner we returned to Cahokia. St. Louis (nicknamed Pancour), is much the handsomest and genteelest village I have seen on the Mississippi. It is about four miles distant from Cahokia, and five leagues above it, the river Missouri unites with the Mississippi. The inhabitants are of the same sort as before described, excepting that they are more wealthy. About twenty regular Spanish troops are stationed here. On the 22d, I left Cahokia to return to Kaskaskia. Previous to my departure, at the request of the inhabitants, I assembled them, and gave them advice to place their militia upon a more respectable footing than it was, to abide by the decision of their courts, etc., and if there were any turbulent or refractory persons, to put them under guard until Congress should be pleased to order a government for them. Exclusive of the intruders already described, there are about thirty more Americans settled on the rich fertile bottoms on the Mississippi, who are likewise petitioning by this conveyance.

On the 23d, I passed by the ruins of Fort Chartres, which is one league above the Prairie du Rocher, and situate on the Mississippi. It was built of stone, and must have been a considerable fortification formerly, but the part next to the river had been carried away by the floods, and is of no consequence at present. I staid about a quarter of an hour, but had not time to view it minutely, as it was all a thicket within. Several iron pieces of cannon are here at present, and also at the different villages. This evening I returned to Kaskaskia.

On the 24th, Monsieur Peruse, the Spanish commandant at St. Genevieve, sent me an invitation to pay him a visit. We crossed the Mississippi accordingly, were politely entertained, and after dinner returned to Kaskaskia. St. Genevieve (nick named Misere) is a village much inferior in every respect to St. Louis. It is about four miles (including the passage of the Mississippi) distant from Kaskaskia. About eight or ten Spanish troops are stationed there. On the 26th, at the request of the inhabitants (which is inclosed), I assembled them, and gave them advice to regulate their militia, and obey their magistrates etc., until Congress pleased to order a government for them. I have to remark that all these people are entirely unacquainted with what Americans call liberty. Trial by jury, etc., they are strangers to. A commandant with a few troops to give them orders is the best form of government for them; it is what they have been accustomed to.

On the 27th I left Kaskaskia, after having received every mark of respect and attention from the inhabitants, in order to set out for the Post. We marched by a lower route. Several of the French, and the Kaskaskia chief, with his tribe (about ten in number), accompanied us, and we arrived safe at Post Vincennes on the afternoon of the 3d of September. I made the distance by the lower route to be about one hundred and seventy miles.

On the 5th the Piankishaw and Weea Indians arrived at the Post from up the Wabash, to the number of about one hundred and twenty. Every precaution was taken. We had a fortified camp, two redoubts were thrown up on our right and left, and the guard in front intrenched. The troops were all new clothed, and made a truly military appearance. The Indians saluted us by firing several volleys on the Wabash, opposite our camp. Their salute was returned by a party of ours firing several platoons. I was determined to impress upon them as much as possible the majesty of the United States, and at the same time that they were informed that it was the wish of Congress to live in peace and friendship with them, likewise to let them know that if they persisted in being hostile that a body of troops would march to their towns and sweep them off the face of the earth. On the 7th, I invited them to camp, and made the inclosed speech to them. The Indians admired the troops. I believe they had never seen such a sight before. On the 8th, they answered my speech, and, in strong figurative language, expressed their determination to preserve perfect peace and friendship with the United States, as long as the waters flowed, etc. They utterly disavowed any knowledge of the murder that had been committed, and assured me that inquiry should be made for the prisoner. They presented me with a number of calumets and wampum, which I now have the honor of transmitting, inclosed in a rich otter skin; they will be delivered by Mr. Coudre. Mr. Coudre has acted as volunteer for a considerable time in the regiment, and has conducted himself with propriety. If a vacancy should happen in the Con. necticut quota, I beg leave to recommend him to your notice.

On the 9th, the young warriors were drinking whisky and dancing before our tents all the morning, to demonstrate their joy. On the 10th, I made them several presents from the commissioner's goods, to no great amount. On the 12th, the chief part of them left the Post for their different villages up the Wabash. They returned highly satisfied with the treatment they received. Indeed, it was a proper tour of fatigue for me. I found it politic to pay the great