time to time, and we think, if you establish this line, it will make

us about even.

BROTHER: If you do not comply with our request, we shall determine on something else, as we are a free people.

BROTHER: We are determined to be a free people. You know, General Washington, that we, the Six Nations, have always been able to defend ourselves, and we are still determined to maintain our freedom.

BROTHER: You must not suspect that any other nation corrupts our minds; the only thing that can corrupt our minds, is not to grant our request.

BROTHER: If this favor is not granted, I wish that my son may be sent back with the answer, and tell me which side he means to join; if he wishes to join that side, he is at liberty.

GENERAL WASHINGTON, I wish you would give an answer as soon as is possible to this speech; and I desire the messengers who bring it, should come to this place.

And you, General Chapin, stand between the Indians and the United States; we wish that you would give every assistance in your power to forward the business. (This speech was delivered

with eight strings of black and white wampum.)

General Chapin's answer:

BROTHERS: I am happy the Great Spirit has preserved us again to meet in council. I have heard with attention the speeches which you have made, and have had committed to writing; they have since been explained to you, and you see there is no deception.

BROTHERS: I give it as my opinion, that General Washington is a firm friend to the Six Nations, and that he will not, by any means, see you wronged.

BROTHERS: I am happy to hear that you think yourselves a free and independent people; that is the case with the United States; they are free and independent, and wish to take you by the hand as brothers. It seems now that there is some dispute, but the only way to have it settled is to come together, face to face, and talk the matter over candidly.

BROTHERS: I shall now return home, and I shall forward your speech to General Washington as soon as is possible. In the meantime, I hope you will sit easy on your seats, until you hear General Washington's voice.

BROTHERS: I always consider myself accountable to the Indians, as well as the United States. I aim at the good of both parties, and you may rest assured that nothing in my power shall be wanting to assist you. I shall prepare a copy of your determinations, to be sent on to Le Boeuf, provided you send runners for that purpose.

N. B. The mention made of lands by Captain O'Bail, has reference to Mr. Ellicot's conversation in the council at fort Le Boeuf. Mr. Ellicott, after relating the particulars concerning the treaty at fort Harmar, informed the Indians that the State of Pennsylvania had made three grants of land to Captain O'Bail.

EXHIBIT 68.

The Secretary of War to Congress.1

DEPARTMENT OF WAR, December 17th, 1794.

Sir: The President of the United States has instructed me to communicate, in confidence, to Congress, the despatches from Major General Wayne, herewith transmitted, dated the 17th of October, and 12th of November, 1794, which were received last evening.

I have the honor to be, &c.

H. KNOX, Secretary of War.

(Addressed to the Presiding Officers of both Houses of Congress.)

[Enclosure 1.]

Major General Wayne to the Secretary of War.

HEAD QUARTERS, Miami Villages, 17th October, 1794.

SIR: I have the honor to enclose a duplicate of my letter of the 20th ultimo, together with the general return of the legion, and an invoice of stores and medicine wanted in the hospital department.

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1American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 524.

I had the honor to transmit you a copy of the deposition of a certain -, a Canadian prisoner, taken in the action of the 20th of August; his brother arrived at this place on the 13th instant, with a flag and three American prisoners, which he redeemed from the Indians, with a view of liberating. Enclosed is his narrative, given upon oath, by which you will see, that Governor Simcoe, Colonel McKee, and the famous Captain Brandt, are at this moment tampering with the hostile chiefs, and will undoubtedly prevent them from concluding a treaty of peace with the United States, if possible. I shall, however, endeavor to counteract them through the means of

who has a considerable influence with the principal hostile chiefs, and whose interests it will eventually be, to promote a permanent peace. But, in order to facilitate and effect this desirable object, we ought to produce a conviction to them, as well as to the British agents, that we are well prepared for war; hence I have been induced to bestow much labor upon the two forts, of which the enclosed are draughts, and I am free to pronounce them the most respectable now in the occupancy of the United States, even in their present situation, which is not quite perfect as yet. The British, however, are not to learn, that they may possibly be left without garrisons; they well know the term for which the veterans of the legion are engaged, as well from our laws and proceedings of Congress, as from our deserters, and that no provision is yet made to supply their places; circumstances that Mr. Simcoe will not fail to impress most forcibly upon the minds of the Indians, with whom he is now in treaty; and to hold up to them a flattering prospect of soon possessing those posts, and their lost country, with ease and certainty.

I have thought it my duty to mention those facts to you at this crisis, to the end that Congress may be early and properly impressed with the critical situation of the Western country, so as to adopt measures for retaining the posts, and for the protection of the frontier inhabitants, previously to the expiration of the term of service for which the troops have been enlisted.

[Sub-enclosure.]

Miami village, sct.

Personally appeared before me, a certain Indian trader, and native of Canada, as flag, to redeem his brother, in consequence of a letter from the said -, from Grand Glaize, wrote

by my permission, which he received by the hand of an Indian, about the 24th ultimo, who declares, and saith, that Governor Simcoe, Colonel McKee, and Captain Brandt, arrived at fort Miami, at the foot of the Rapids, on the 30th ultimo: that Brandt had with him one hundred Indians, Mohawks and Messasagoes. That Governor Simcoe sent for the chiefs of the different hostile Indians, and invited them to meet him at the mouth of Detroit river, eighteen miles below Detroit, to hold a treaty; that Simcoe Colonel McKee, and Captain Brandt, together with Blue Jacket, Backongelies, the Little Turtle, Captain Jonny, and other chiefs of the Delawares, Miamies, Shawanese, Tawas, and Pattawatamies, set out accordingly, for the place assigned for the treaty, about the first instant: that the Indians are well and regularly supplied with provisions from the British magazines, at a place called Swan creek, near Lake Erie.

That, previously to the arrival of Governor Simcoe, Blue Jacket, the Shawanese chief, two of the principal chiefs of the Tawas, and the principal chiefs of the Pattawatamies, had agreed to accompany him, the said with a flag to this place.

That Blue Jacket informed him, after the arrival of Simcoe, he would not now go with him, until after the intended treaty; but that his wishes, at present, were for peace; that he did not know what propositions Governor Simcoe had to make them, but that he and all the chiefs would go and hear; and, in the interim, desired him, the said -, to inquire of General Wayne in what manner the chiefs should come to him, and whether they would be safe, in case they should determine on the measure, after the treaty with Simcoe, and after the said should

return to Detroit: that, had it not been for the arrival of Governor Simcoe, Colonel McKee, and Captain Brandt, with his Indians, he is confident the chiefs, already mentioned, would have accompanied him to this place, at this time, as before related.

[Enclosure 2.]

Major General Anthony Wayne to the Secretary of War.

HEAD QUARTERS, GREENVILLE, 12th November, 1794. SIR: I have the honor to transmit you a duplicate of my letter of the 17th ultmo, from the Miami villages, and to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Colonel Alexander Hamilton, of the 25th of September, enclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Jay, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, at the court of London, dated the 12th July, 1794; also a letter from Major Stagg, of the 4th ultimo.

From the enclosed narrative of a half-breed, and brother to (whose interest I have made it to be true and faithful to the United States) it would appear that the savages are playing an artful game; they have most certainly met Governor Simcoe, Colonel McKee, and Captain Brandt, at the mouth of Detroit river, at the proposed treaty of hostile Indians; and, at the same time, sent a deputation to me, with the overtures already mentioned, as coming from only part of one nation; it is, however, understood, by all, that there shall be a temporary suspension of hostilities for one moon, say until the 22d instant: in fact, it has been a continued suspension, upon their part, ever since the action of the 20th of August, except a few light trifling predatory parties; it's true, we always moved superior to insult, which may account for this apparent inactivity.

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[Sub-enclosure 1.]

Copy of a Letter from

to Major General Wayne.

SANDUSKY, 17th September, 1794.

BROTHERS: I send you the extract of a speech which the chiefs and warriors was to have sent you, if the evil advice had not been heard to; after all the plan I had proposed to them was finished, they, then, took it into consideration that it would be proper to let their confederates know, at the Miami river. They received an answer from them to this purport: "Elder Brothers, we have