376 Wayne selected to Command. 1790-95. Detroit, and the Miami village; and, if possible, from thence, what are your prospects.* Pond and his companion, however, could get no farther than Niagara. While by the northern route this was attempted, Wilkinson, commanding at Fort Washington, on the 10th of February, was instructed to send word to Major Hamtramck, at Vincennes, that the Government wished to secure the agency of the French colonists and friendly Indians in quelling the war-spirit. In February also, further friendly messages were sent to the Senecas, and an invitation forwarded to Brant from the Secretary of War himself, asking him to come to Philadelphia;§ in March fifty Iroquois chiefs reached the city of brotherly love, and in the spirit of love transacted their business with the American rulers;¶ and during April and May, Captain Trueman and others were sent from the Ohio to the hostile tribes, bearing messages of friendship.** But before we relate the unhappy issue of Trueman's expedition, we must notice the steps taken by the Federal Government in reference to military preparations, which were to be looked to in case all else should fail. St. Clair had requested a Court of Inquiry to examine the reasons of his defeat, and had expressed his wish to surrender his post as commander of the western forces so soon as the examination had taken place; but this proposition to retain his commission until after his trial, was rendered nugatory by the fact that under the existing system no court of inquiry could be constituted to adjudge his case, and Washington accordingly informed him that it was neither possible to grant him the trial he desired, nor to allow him to retain his position.†† St. Clair having withdrawn, it became a very difficult question for the Executive to hit upon a person in all respects suited for such a charge. General Morgan, General Scott, General Wayne, Colonel Darke, and General Henry Lee were all thought of and talked of. Of these Wayne was the one selected, although his appointment caused, as General Lee, then Governor of Virginia, wrote Washington, "extreme disgust" among all orders in the Old Dominion.‡‡ But * American State Papers, v. 227. American State Papers, v. 236. § American State Papers, v. 228. + American State Papers, v. 235. ¶ American State Papers, v. 229. Sparks' Washington, x. 240. ** American State Papers, v. 229. ++ Sparks' Washington, x. 227. 228.-Letters, March 28. April 4. # Sparks' Washington, x. 244. note. یا 1790-95. Wilkinson sends to field of St. Clair's Defeat. 377 the President had selected Wayne not hastily nor through "partiality or influence,"* and no idle words affected him. In June, General Wayne moved westward to Pittsburg, and proceeded to organize the army which was to be the ultimate argument of the American with the Indian confederation. Through the summer of 1792, the preparation of the soldiers was steadily attended to; "train and discipline them for the service they are meant for," said Washington, "and do not spare powder and lead, so the men be made marksmen." In December, 1792, the forces, now recruited and trained, were gathered at a point about twenty-two miles below Pittsburg on the Ohio, called Legionville; the army itself having been christened the Legion of the United States, divided into four sub-legions, and provided with legionary and sub-legionary officers. Meantime, at Fort Washington, Wilkinson had succeeded St. Clair as commandant, and in January had ordered an expedition to examine the field of the late disastrous conflict: this body reached the point designated on February 1st, and from the letter of Captain Buntin to St. Clair, relative to what was found there, we take the following passage. "In my opinion, those unfortunate men who fell in the enemy's hands, with life, were used with the greatest torture-having their limbs torn off; and the women have been treated with the most indecent cruelty, having stakes as thick as a person's arm drove through their bodies. The first, I observed when burying the dead; and the latter was discovered by Colonel Sargent and Doctor Brown. We found three whole carriages; the other five were so much damaged that they were rendered useless. By the General's orders, pits were dug in different places, and all the dead bodies that were exposed to view, or could be conveniently found (the snow being very deep) were buried. During this time, there was sundry parties detached, some for our safety, and others in examining the course of the creek; and some distance in advance of the ground occupied by the militia, they found a large camp, not less than three quarters of a mile long, which was supposed to be that of the Indians the night before the action. We remained on the field that night, and next morning fixed geared horses to the carriages and moved for Fort Jefferson. * As there is little reason to believe that the enemy have carried off the cannon, it is the received opinion that they are either buried or thrown into the creek, and I think the latter the most probable; but as it was frozen over with a thick ice, Sparks' Washington, x. 248. + Sparks' Washington, x. 257-quoted in substance. Letter of George Wills, American Pioneer, i. 293. 378 Speech to Indians sent by Trueman. 1790-95. and that covered with a deep snow, it was impossible to make a search with any prospect of success. In a former part of this letter I have mentioned the camp occupied by the enemy the night before the action: Had Colonel Oldham been able to have complied with your orders on that evening, things at this day might have worn a different aspect."* While Wayne's army were gathering and target-shooting, the peace-measures of the United States were pressed with equal perseverance. In the first place, the Iroquois, through their chiefs who came to Philadelphia, were led to act as peace-makers: in addition to them, on the 3d of April, Colonel Trueman received his instructions to repair to the Miami village with friendly messages, offering all reasonable terms: Brothers :-The President of the United States entertains the opinion, that the war which exists is founded in error and mistake on your parts. That you believe the United States want to deprive you of your lands, and drive you out of the country. Be assured this is not so: on the contrary, that we should be greatly gratified with the opportunity of imparting to you all the blessings of civilized life; of teaching you to cultivate the earth, and raise corn; to raise oxen, sheep, and other domestic animals; to build comfortable houses, and to educate your children, so as ever to dwell upon the land. Brothers :-The President of the United States requests you to take this subject into your serious consideration, and to reflect how abundantly more it will be for your interest to be at peace with the United States, and to receive all the benefit, thereof, than to continue a war which, however flattering it may be to you for a moment, must in the end prove ruinous. This desire of peace has not arisen in consequence of the late defeat of the troops under Major General St. Clair; because, in the beginning of the last year, a similar message was sent you by Colonel Procter, but who was prevented from reaching you by some insurmountable difficulties. All the Senecas at Buffalo Creek can witness for the truth of this assertion, as he held, during the month of April last, long conferences with them, to devise the means of getting to you in safety. War, at all times, is a dreadful evil to those who are engaged therein, and more particularly so where a few people engage to act against so great numbers as the people of the United States. Brothers;-Do not suffer the advantages you have gained to mislead * Dillon, i. 308. See also, Cist's Cincinnati Miscellany, ii. 30. Several writers have given an account of an expedition by General Scott to St. Clair's battle ground, soon after the contest: the whole story seems to be a fable or "myth:" no such expedition was ever made. (Butler's History of Kentucky, 206.) SE 1690-95. Instructions to Rufus Putnam. 379 your judgment, and influence you to continue the war; but reflect upon the destructive consequences which must attend such a measure. The President of the United States is highly desirous of seeing a number of your principal chiefs, and convincing you, in person, how much he wishes to avoid the evils of war for your sake, and the sake of humanity. Consult, therefore, upon the great object of peace; call in your parties, and enjoin a cessation of all other depredations: and as many of the principal chiefs as shall choose, repair to Philadelphia, the seat of the General Government, and there make a peace, founded upon the principles of justice and humanity. Remember that no additional lands will be required of you, or any other tribe, to those that have been ceded by former treaties, particularly by the tribes who had a right to make the treaty of Muskingum in the year 1789. But, if any of your tribes can prove that you have a fair right to any lands, comprehended by the said treaty, and have not been compeusated therefor, you shall receive full satisfaction upon that head. The chiefs you send shall be safely escorted to this city; and shall be well fed and provided with all things for their journey; and the faith of the United States is hereby pledged to you for the true and liberal performance of every thing herein contained and suggested: and all this is confirmed, in your manner, by the great white belt, hereunto attached.* To assist farther in attaining the desired objects, Captain Hendrick, chief of the Stockbridge Indians, on the 8th of May was despatched to urge the views of Washington at the approaching council of the north-western confederacy; and on the 22nd of the same month, instructions were also issued to General Rufus Putnam to go in company with the Moravian missionary, John Heckewelder, into the Indian country and strive to secure peace and a permanent treaty. Some parts of those orders are deserving of perpetuation in every form, and therefore we extract them. The chiefs of the Five Nations of Indians, who were so long in this city, lately, were astonished at the moderation of our claim of land, it being very different from what they had been taught, by designing people, to believe. It would seem that the Indians have been misled with respect to our claims, by a certain map, published in Connecticut, wherein are laid out ten new States, agreeably to a report of a committee of Congress. The United States are desirous, in any treaty which shall be formed in future, to avoid all causes of war, relatively to boundaries, by fixing * American State Papers, v. 230. + American State Papers, v. 233 1790-95. Instructions to Rufus Putnam. 380 the same in such a manner as not to be mistaken by the meanest capacity. As the basis, therefore, of your negotiation, you will, in the strongest and most explicit terms, renounce, on the part of the United States, all claim to any Indian land which shall not have been ceded by fair treaties, made with the Indian nations. You may ray-That we conceive the treaty of Fort Harmar to have been formed by the tribes having a just right to make the same, and that it was done with their full understanding and free consent. That if, however, the said tribes should judge the compensation to have been inadequate to the object, or that any other tribes have a just claim, in both cases they shall receive a liberal allowance, on their finally settling all disputes upon the subject. As the United States have never made any treaties with the Wabash Indians, although the said Indians have been repeatedly invited thereto, their claims to the lands east and south of the said Wabash have not been defined. This circumstance will be a subject of your inquiry with the assembled Indian tribes; and you may assure the parties concerned, that an equitable boundary shall be arranged with them. You will make it clearly understood, that we want not a foot of their land, and that it is theirs, and theirs only; that they have the right to sell, and the right to refuse to sell, and that the United States will guarantee to them the said just right. That it is not only the sincere desire of the United States to be at peace with all the neighboring Indian tribes, but to protect them in their just rights, against lawless, violent white people, If such should commit any injury on the person or properties of a peaceable Indian, they will be regarded equally as the enemies of the General Government, as the Indians, and will be punished accordingly, Your first great object, upon meeting the Indians, will be to convince them that the United States require none of their lands. The second, that we shall guaranty all that remain, and take the Indians under our protection. Thirdly; they must agree to a truce, and immediately to call in all their war parties. It will be in vain to be negotiating with them while they shall be murdering the frontier citizeas. Having happily effected a truce, founded on the above assurances, it will then be your primary endeavor to obtain from each of the hostile and neighboring tribes two of the most respectable chiefs, to repair to the seat of the Government, and there conclude a treaty with the President of the United States, in which all causes of difference should be buried forever. You will give the chiefs every assurance of personal protection while on their journey to Philadelphia, and, should they insist upon it, hosta |