"From the mouth of the Alleghany river, at Fort Pitt, to Venango; and from thence, up French creek, and by Le Beouf, along the old road to Presque Isle, on the east. The Ohio river, including all the islands in it from Fort Pitt to the Ouabache, on the south; thence up the river Ouabache, to that branch, Opecomeecah, and up the same to the head thereof; and from thence to the head waters and springs of the Great Miami, or Rocky river; thence across to the head waters and springs of the most northwestern branches of the Scioto river; thence to the head westernmost springs of Sandusky river; thence down the said river, including the islands in it, and in the Little Lake, to Lake Erie, on the west and northwest. And Lake Erie, on the north. "These boundaries contain the cessions of lands made to the Delaware nation, by the Wyandots and other nations, and the country we have seated our grandchildren, the Shawanees, upon, in our laps; and we promise to give to the United States of America such a part of the above described country as will be convenient to them and us, that they may have room for their children's children to sit down upon." At the same time they brought and delivered up three of the children of their principal men to Colonel Morgan, for the purpose of being educated at the charge of the United States. The deputies probably visited General Washington, at his camp in Middlebrook, as his answer to them is dated at that place on the 12th of May, 1779. His letter is in the most friendly style, in which he gives them much good advice, and highly commends the encouragement they have given to the missionaries among them, and their support of schools, and attempts at civilization. In a letter to his excellency, John Jay, Esq., President of Congress, dated at Princeton, the 16th May, after stating the progress of the mission, &c., he ceases by saying: "I am satisfied that the Delaware nation are disposed to give Congress such a tract of land, as in my opinion would satisfy the troops of the United States; or if set up to sale, would pay a great proportion of our national debt." Soon after this event, Colonel Morgan resigned his post of Indian agent. On the frontiers, and especially among the Indians, the value of property was estimated in bucks, instead of dollars, or pounds-a buck was valued at one dollar. A copy of the following certificate, recorded in Colonel Morgan's journal, among several others of the same tenor, is well worth preserving: "I do certify, that I am indebted to the bearer, Captain Johnny, seven bucks and one doe, for the use of the states, this 12th April, 1779. Signed, Samuel Sample, assistant quarter master. The above is due to him for pork, for the use of the garrison at Fort Laurens. 66 '(Signed) JOHN GIBSON, Colonel." Colonel Gibson was commander of this post. These certificates were redeemed at Fort Pitt, by the Indian agent, or the commandant of the place. At the siege of Fort Laurens, in January, 1779, (it was stated to Colonel Morgan by the Delaware chiefs), the attacking party consisted of one hundred and eighty Indians, composed of Wyandots, Mingoes, Munsies, and only four Delawares, who were outcasts, or deserters from the tribe. Among them was John Montour and his brother. At the second investment in the summer, the besieging party was composed of forty Shawanees, twenty Mingoes, twenty Wyandots and twenty Delawares, who were chiefly disaffected persons. By the interference of the Delaware chiefs, they were persuaded to abandon the siege, without firing a gun. "It is well known the Delawares saved Fort Laurens." From the year 1780, down to near the time of the ordinance of Congress for the survey of the seven ranges, in the newly acquired territory, north-west of the river Ohio, the sufferings of the frontier inhabitants from the ravages of the Indians are already before the public, in the works of Doddridge and Withers. The journals of John Mathews and General Buell, will bring down the events on this frontier to the settlement of the Ohio company, at the mouth of the Muskingum, whose transactions will be fully recorded. NOTE. The distances of the following posts and stations from Fort Pitt, will be interesting, as taken from the journal of Colonel Morgan: From Fort Pitt to Venango, by water, 130 miles-by land, 80 miles. Thence to Old Fort Le Beouf, by water, 4 miles-by land, 4 miles. ५ CHAPTER VII. Journals of Joseph Buell and John Mathews, on the frontiers of the Ohio, from 1785 to 1788-Cession of the North West Territory.-Seven Ranges, &c. EXTRACTS from the journal of Joseph Buell, while acting in the United States service, from September, 1785, to October, 1788.` He was a native of Killingworth, Connecticut, and held the post of orderly sergeant in Capt. Strong's company and Col. Harmar's regiment. These notes, although brief, and written from day to day, for his own satisfaction, and without any expectation of their being useful to any body else, have now become valuable as records of the history of the first attempt of the United States to take possession of the North West Territory; and, with those of Mr. Mathews, will afford a sketch of the events which took place on the western frontiers, from the year 1785 to 1788, in the region of country from Fort McIntosh to Post Vincent, on the Wabash. They also contain notices of the weather, the rise and fall of the water, with the closing and breaking up of the ice in the Ohio river. Mr. Buell had been stationed at West Point since the 6th of October; when, on the 17th of November, Major Wyllis arrived from New York, with orders for the troops to march immediately for the western frontiers. On the 20th they left that post, and 'reached Fort Pitt the 21st of December, 1785. He speaks of that village as very pleasant, and more comfortable than he expected to see in the wilderness; but complains of the extravagant prices demanded for merchandise and such articles as they needed. After resting four days, the detachment marched for Fort McIntosh, and reached that post, below the mouth of Big Beaver Creek, on the 26th, at sunset. The weather was severe, and the ground covered with snow. Being now fairly on the frontiers, the extracts will commence' at this point. Many of the details relating to the discipline of the men will be omitted, and only such as throw light on the history of the times be preserved. I may remark that the treatment of the private soldiers was excessively severe, and that flogging the men, to the extent of one and two hundred lashes, was an almost daily occurrence. Their offences were chiefly drunkenness and desertion. They seem to have been selected from the most worthless and depraved remnants of the revolutionary soldiers; men too lazy and idle to engage in any laborious employments, and as their wages were only three dollars a month, no sober industrious man would engage in the service. These facts may, in some measure, account for the trials, mortification and defeat of St. Clair, in the campaign of 1791. "December 25th, 1785. We crossed the Alleghany river, and marched ten miles into the woods, and halted for the night. It snowed, and we made a large fire by the side of an oak tree. "26th. Marched at daybreak for Fort McIntosh, and arrived at sunset. Went into the old barracks, which are very ruinous, being without roofs or floors. Here we closed the month of December in repairing our barracks, and trying to make ourselves comfortable for the winter. The troops are raw and unacquainted with duty; the officers very strict, punishing the men for the smallest offences. January 1st, 1786. We began the new year with desertion. A man by the name of Alger deserted. A sergeant and five men were sent to Fort Pitt after him. Of these men only three returned. Court martials are continually sitting, and the men very uneasy. "25th. Corporal Davis, John C. Dittman, Joel Guthrie, |