When the President does speak, I am sure that his voice will be pleasing to you. I have no more to say to you at present; I shall now return home to my seat. General Chapin was then requested, by the chiefs, to forward their proceedings to the Secretary of War, either personally or by his son. (NOTE. For the correspondence with the British minister, see Foreign Relations, Vol. I. President's message of May 23, 1794.) EXHIBIT 53. Examination of Antoine Lassell, a native of Canada, and a volunteer in Captain Caldwell's company of refugees, friends and allies of the hostile Indians.1 He says that he has resided for twenty-nine years in Upper Canada, twenty-one of which he has passed at Detroit, and on this river, and that he has constantly traded with the Indians all that time; that he resided at the Miami villages for nineteen years before Harmar's expedition, when he kept a store at that place, and used to supply other traders with goods; that he has since lived chiefly at Bean creek, or Little Glaize, at the Little Turtle's town. That, having lived so long among the hostile Indians, he is perfectly acquainted with the tribes and numbers. That the Delawares have about 500 men, including those who live on both rivers, the White river, and Bean creek. That the Miamies are about 200 warriors, part of them live on the St. Joseph's, eight leagues from this place; that the men were all in the action, but the women are yet at that place, or Piquet's village; that a road leads from this place directly to it; that the number of warriors belonging to that place, when all together, amounts to about 40. That the Shawanese have about 300 warriors; that the Tawas, on this river, are 250; that the Wyandots are about 300. That those Indians were generally in the action of the 20th instant, except some hunting parties. That a reinforcement of 1American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 494. regular troops, and 200 militia, arrived at fort Miami a few days before the army appeared; that the regular troops in the fort amounted to 250, exclusive of the militia. That about seventy of the militia, including Captain Caldwell's corps, were in the action. That Colonel McKee, Captain Elliot, and Simon Girty, were in the field, but at a respectful distance, and near the river. That Colonel McKee's existence now depends upon the exertions he can make to retrieve the loss and disgrace of the Indians; that he will use every influence and means in his power, to raise the distant nations to come forward immediately, and assist in the war. That, should they not be able to collect in force sufficient to fight this army, their intention is to move on the Spanish side of the Mississippi, where part of their nations now live; that Blue Jacket told him (Lassell) that he intended to move immediately to Chicago, on the Illinois. That the Indians have wished for peace for some time, but that Colonel McKee always dissuaded them from it, and stimulated them to continue the war. CAMP GRAND GLAIZE, 28th August, 1794. EXHIBIT 54. Examination of John Bevin, a drummer in the 24th British regiment, commanded by Colonel England.1 Who says, that there are now four companies of the 24th at fort Miami, averaging about 50 men, non-commissioned officers and privates included; that there was part of Governor Simcoe's corps in the garrison, together with about sixty Canadians; that the whole number of men actually in the garrison, including officers, &c. exceeded 400; that the number of Indians, Canadians, &c. in the action, were at least 2,000, according to the report made by Colonel McKee and Captain Elliot, to Major Campbell, after the action, who declared, in his presence, that there was actually that number engaged. That there were four nine six-pounders, two large howitzers, and six six-pounders, mounted in the fort, and two swivels, and well supplied with ammunition. 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 494. That the Indians were regularly supplied with provision drawn from the British magazine, in the garrison, by Colonel McKee. That a certain Mr. Newman, a deserter from the American army, arrived at the fort about eight days before the army made its appearance, who gave information to Major Campbell, that the object of the Americans was to take that post and garrison; that General Wayne told the troops not to be uneasy about provision, that there was plenty in the British garrison. That Governor Simcoe was expected at that place every hour, in consequence of an express sent to Niagara, after the arrival of Newman, the deserter, but had not arrived when he come away; that the distance from fort Miami to Detroit, is sixty miles, which is generally performed in two days. That the militia of Detroit, and its vicinity, amounts to near two thousand; that a Colonel Baubee commands them; that McKee is also a Colonel of militia; that a Lieutenant Silve, of the 5th British regiment, is in the Indian department, and acts as secretary to Colonel McKee; that a Captain Bunbury of the same regiment is also in the Indian department. That he has seen a great number of wounded Indians pass the fort, but did not learn what number were killed; that the retiring Indians appeared much dejected, and much altered to what they were in the morning before the action; that he knew of one company of volunteers, commanded by Captain Caldwell, all white men, and armed with British muskets and bayonets, who were in the action. EXHIBIT 55. James Neill's information to the Secretary of War, taken James Neill, a pack-horseman in the service of Elliott and Williams, aged about 17 years, and belonging to Beardstown, in Kentucky, was in the action of the 30th June, at fort Recovery, and taken prisoner by the Indians, together with Peter Keil, and another by the name of Cherry, all three pack-horsemen, 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 495, After he was taken prisoner he was carried to the British fort, at the Miami, where, however, he was not permitted to be seen by the British, as the Indians wanted to carry him to their own town; thence he was taken to Detroit, and thence to Michilimackinac, where a British officer bought him, who sent him to Detroit, to Colonel England, who treated them well, and sent them to Niagara, at which place Peter Keil, being an Irishman, enlisted in the Queen's rangers. Neill understood that there were of Indians and whites, 1,500 in the attack of fort Recovery; he himself did not see the whole, but he saw upwards of seven hundred. He understood they lost a great many in killed and wounded; he himself saw about twenty dead carried off, and many wounded, while he was tied to the stump of a tree, about half a mile distant from the firing. The Indians, on their return to the Miami fort, asserted, that no enemy ever fought better than the people at fort Recovery; and Neill was told, by Captain Doyle, at Michilimackinac, that the Indians lost two to one that they did at St. Clair's defeat. Neill was taken by the Shawanese, and made a present to the Ottawas, who live near the fort at Michilimackinac. Neill was at Detroit when the news arrived of General Wayne's action with the Indians, the 20th August. He received the information from one John Johnson, who had been a deserter from General Wayne's army, and then was a militia man of Detroit, and in the action against General Wayne. He spoke of the affair as a complete defeat; that the Indians lost a great many, but he could not tell how many. He says the Indians, upon being defeated, wanted to take refuge in the British fort; that they were denied, which greatly exasperated them. The militia of Detroit were again ordered out, and several Captains put in the guard-house for refusing. He understood the militia men were forced on board of vessels and sent to Roche de Bout. Upon his arrival at Niagara, he understood that most of the troops were ordered to reinforce the garrison at the Miami river, but Governor Simcoe did not go. Neill says, that it was generally said, there were only seven hundred Indians at General St. Clair's defeat, EXHIBIT 56. Brigadier General Wilkins to General Mifflin.1 PITTSBURG, 23d May, 1794. DEAR SIR: I this moment received yours of the 17th instant. I arrived about fifteen minutes ago from Le Boeuf. I have left the small detachment there well covered, and in good spirits. They have built, under my directions, two small block-houses, picketted, which, I think, will render them sufficiently strong, until the reinforcement goes under Captain Denny. The Indians I have conversed with, still continue of opinion, that the British will make an opposition to the establishment at Presqu' Isle. There arrived at Cassawago, while I was there, an Indian from Sandusky, where he had been left by the Senecas last fall, sick. He says, McKee, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, and Elliot, the Indian agent, both refugees from this country, were visiting all the Indian towns in that quarter, and exciting them then to continue their opposition to the Americans, and assuring them of support from their father, the British monarch. He further adds, that they were prepared for fighting General Wayne, the moment he moved, and that the British were erecting garrisons at the Miami river. He confirms the accounts of the other Indians, that they were determined to oppose the establishment at Presqu' Isle. I cannot say more, as the post is just going. EXHIBIT 57. Governor Mifflin to the President of the United States.2 PHILADELPHIA, June 19th, 1794. SIR: I have the honor to transmit, for your information, a copy of the despatches which I have received this morning from General Gibson, relatively to the hostile disposition of the Six Nations, instigated and supported, as it is alleged, by the British, and to be, &c. &c. 1American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 507. |