List of the documents above referred to. 1. A letter from General Gibson to the Governor, dated 11th June, 1794. 2. The deposition of D. Ransom, taken the 9th June, 1794. 3. The deposition of H. Verts, taken the 9th June, 1794. 4. A letter from Ellicot & Denny to General Gibson, dated 8th June, 1794. 5. A letter from Denny to General Gibson, dated June, 1794. 6. A letter from [Presley Neville, Brigade Inspector, of Alleghany, to the Governor, dated 10th June, 1794. [Enclosure.] General Gibson to Governor Mifflin. PITTSBURG, June 11, 1794. DEAR SIR: Enclosed are two depositions, taken by me, by which you will be informed of what has happened since my last to you, per post; also of the disposition of the Indians. From every account, I have reason to believe the Six Nations mean to be hostile. The detachment under Captain Denny, with whom went Mr. Ellicot and General Wilkins, marched from this place on Saturday last, and, on Sunday evening, I received from them the enclosed letters. I immediately transmitted to them a copy of Vert's deposition, and gave it as my opinion that they ought to remain where they were, until Ransom and the Broken Twig came here, as we then might be better able to judge what was best to be done; since which I have not heard from them. I have wrote to the different inspectors of my division, pressing them to have the men ready, agreeable to the requisition of the Adjutant General, and you may rely on my using every means in my power for the protection of the Western frontiers. The bearer, Mr. Sloops, intended setting out on Monday, but I detained him until Ransom came in: he has promised to go express with those letters. I hope you will please to allow him for his trouble. I shall esteem myself happy on hearing from you, and am, &c. [Enclosure.] No. 2. Deposition of D. Ransom. ALLEGHANY COUNTY, SS. Personally appeared before me John Gibson, one of the associate judges of the above county, Daniel Ransom, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he, this deponent, has, for sometime past, traded at Fort Franklin with the Senecas and other Indians, and that a chief of the Senecas, named Tiawancas, or the Broken Twig, came there and informed him the times would soon be bad, and advised him to move off his family and effects. On this he, this deponent, asked him how he knew the times would soon be bad. The Indian then informed him that the British and Indians had sent a belt of wampum to him, inviting him to council at Buffalo creek; that he had declined 'going, and that the messengers then informed him of the intended plans of the Indians: they said that the Cornplanter had been bought by the British, and had joined them; that he, the Cornplanter, intended soon to come to fort Franklin, on pretence of holding a council respecting the Indian who was killed by Robertson; that there the British and Indians were to land at Presqu' Isle, and then form a junction with Cornplanter on French Creek, and were then to clear it by killing all the people, and taking all the posts on it; that he was so much affected as to shed tears, and said, what shall I do? I have been at war against the Western Indians, in company with Captain Jeffers, and killed and scalped one of them. If I now go back to the Indians, after having discovered this, they will kill me. He also informed this deponent that a number of cannon had been purchased by the British, and collected at Junisadagoe, the town where Cornplanter lives, for the purpose of conveying the Indians down the river. He, this deponent, further saith, and the Standing Stone, a chief of the Onondagoes, also informed him, at fort Franklin, that he thought the times would soon be bad, and pressed him very much to leave fort Franklin, and assisted him in packing up his goods, &c.; that, from what he heard, and seen, from other Indians, he has every reason to believe the above account to be true. That seven white men came down the Alleghany, a few days ago, to fort Franklin, who informed him they saw the abovementioned cannons at Junisadagoe, and that the Indians appeared very surly, and had not planted any corn on the river, at their towns. Sworn and subscribed at Pittsburg, this 11th June, 1794. Before me, JOHN GIBSON. A true copy: attested. John Gibson. D. RANSOM. [Enclosure.] No. 4. A. Ellicot and E. Denny to General Gibson. Camp, three miles from Pitt, June 8, 1794. SIR: From the information received last evening, by two men from fort Franklin, we have some reason to apprehend, that the Six Nations have determined upon joining our enemies. The account is, that D. Ransom was told, by the Standing Stone, that it was, or would be the case; and it seems Ransom must believe it, from his breaking up his store at French creek, and bringing off all his effects, cattle, and every part of his property; and it appears, that Tiawancas, an old friendly Indian, has also taken the alarm (from some cause, no doubt) and is on his way down, with all his family. The bearer is sent back to bring forward to us the facts upon which these apprehensions are founded. We wish you, sir, to take Ransom's deposition, and to get every thing possible from the Indian. You will be able to judge whether we ought to proceed, or not, until reinforced by volunteers, or by a draught of militia. If it is true, that the Six Nations are at war, it would be no difficult matter for them to send a party to meet us. The bearer will await your orders, and remain until Ransom gets down, which will be to day, we suppose. We intend halting at Ewault's Cabins until he joins us, and will be governed by your opinion. [Enclosure.] No. 5. Captain Denny to General Gibson. EWAULT'S CABINS, 2 o'clock, June 8, 1794. DEAR SIR: Since we have been on this ground, Mr. Woods, one of the spies, came to us, and informed us, that four men had made their way good to the mouth of Pine creek, where Woods left this morning. That the said four men were just from fort Franklin; that they came ten miles only, upon the common road, and there met with Ransom's cattle, turned back; that the people who were drawing them down to Pitt, were killed by the Senecas; however, you will have an opportunity of getting more particular information, and we trust you will take such measures as will be best. [Enclosure.] No. 6. Presly Neville to Governor Mifflin. PITTSBURG, June 10, 1794. SIR: On Friday last, General Wilkins, Mr. Ellicot, and some volunteers, with Captain Denny, and his detachment, left this place for Le Boeuf, since which, alarming accounts have arrived from Venango, by one Ransom, a trader, and an Indian, called Broken Twig, of the Senecas. The statement of the former, on oath, is forwarded to you by General Gibson. The substance of the whole is, that the Six Nations, at the instance of the British, had joined the other Indians against us, and that a large body assisted by them (the British) some in crossing the lake, and others in descending the Alleghany, were to take fort Franklin, destroy the settlements at Cassawago, and make an establishment at Presqu' Isle. What credit is to be given to these reports, I will not pretend to say; but this trader, well acquainted with Indian affairs, believes them. He moved his family and goods to this place by water, and sent his cattle with three white men, who were killed near fort Franklin. For my own part, I have no doubt of the hostile disposition of the Senecas, and that they actually committed the late murder on the Alleghany river. I think we shall have interesting news shortly from Venango, which I shall communicate without delay. EXHIBIT 58. Governor Mifflin to the Secretary of War.1 PHILADELPHIA, 24th June, 1794. SIR: The cultivation of a good understanding between the officers of the Federal and State Governments, has been among the favorite objects of the administration, which my fellow-citizens have entrusted to my care, and I am persuaded that the President of the United States will not perceive any thing, in the recent explanation, which I have given of my conduct, relatively to the Presqu' Isle establishment, that would warrant a deviation from that cordial and harmonizing spirit, by which he has been reciprocally actuated. That the Northern Indians, previously to the passing of the act, by which I was enabled to carry into effect the law for laying out the town of Presqu' Isle, had manifested a hostile disposition, for reasons unconnected with our plan of settlement, is a fact of such notoriety, that I did not think the evidence of official documents would be necessary to establish it. But it may be proper, in answering your letter of the 21st instant, to refer you to the reply which the Six Nations made to a speech, delivered by General Chapin, on the 10th of February last, a copy of which you transmitted to me on the 24th day of May. By this document, furnished from the records of your office, independently of all other evidence, it will, I think, appear, that some old grievances, alleged to have been suffered from the Union, the inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester, the constant machinations of British agents, and the corruption of British bribes, had, in truth, previously excited that hostile disposition, which you seem to consider as the effect of the measures pursued by Pennsylvania, for establishing a town at Presqu' Isle. 'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 511. |