Possibly they may yet do the one or the other, as I am informed that their present dependent situation is far from pleasant; nor have we much cause to envy the British the pleasure and expense of supporting and clothing this numerous horde of savages, thrown upon them by their own insidious conduct, and the fortuitous events of war.

[Enclosure 1.]

Short Sketch of the Proceedings of the Council at the Big Rock.

A sketch of a speech from the Wyandot chiefs, in the behalf of all their confederates, some time ago; about the 10th October, 1794.

FATHER: We request of you to give your sentiments candidly; we have been for this many years in wars and troubles; you have, from time to time, promised us your assistance. When is your promise to be fulfilled?

Their father's answer.

CHILDREN: Your question is very difficult to be answered. I will relate an ancient history, perhaps before any of you here were born. When I first came into this country, I found it in the possession of your fathers the French; we soon became enemies with each other; in time, the Great Spirit above gave the conquest in my favor. In those days the United States were my subjects; we lived in this state for many years after; at last the Americans began to act impudently, which caused a rupture between us; however, the contest lasted for a while; at last we made peace; from that period, they have been encroaching upon your lands. I looked on as a spectator; never would say a word; they have even named the rivers that empty themselves into the Ohio.

CHILDREN: I am still of opinion, that the Ohio is your right and title. I have given orders to the commandant of fort Miami to fire on the Americans, whenever they make their appearance again. I will go down to Quebec, and lay your grievances before the great man; from thence, it will be forwarded to the King, your father. Next spring you will know the result of every thing, what you and I will do.

of the Wyandots of Sandusky, sent the following verbal information, by -, a confidential warrior, and which he did not think prudent to commit to writing, for fear of accident; and desires it may be considered as supplementary and explanatory, to the sketch of the proceedings of the council at the Big Rock, on or about the 10th of October, 1794, viz:

Governor Simcoe insisted, that the Indians should not listen to any terms of peace from the Americans, but to propose a truce, or suspension of hostilities, until the spring, when a grand council and assemblage of all the warriors and tribes of Indians should take place, for the purpose of compelling the Americans to cross to the east side of the Ohio; and in the interim, advised every nation to sign a deed or conveyance of all their lands, on the west side of the Ohio, to the King, in trust for the Indians, so as to give the British a pretext or color for assisting them, in case the Americans refused to abandon all their posts and possessions on the west side of that river; and which the Indians should warn them to do, immediately after they, the Indians, were assembled in force in the spring, and to call upon the British to guaranty the lands thus ceded in trust, and to make a general attack upon the frontiers at the same time: That the British would be prepared to attack the Americans, also, in every quarter, and would compel them to cross the Ohio, and to give up the lands to the Indians.

Captain Brandt also told them, to keep a good heart, and be strong; to do as their father advised; that he would return home, for the present, with his warriors, and come again early in the spring, with an additional number, so as to have the whole summer before them, to fight, kill, and pursue the Americans, who could not possibly stand against the force and numbers that would be opposed to them; that he had been always successful, and would ensure them victory. But that he would not attack the Americans at this time, as it would only put them upon their guard, and bring them upon the Indians in this quarter, during the winter; therefore he advised them to amuse the Americans with a prospect of peace, until they should collect in force to fall upon them early in the spring, and when least expected.

That, agreeably to this plan or advice, the real hostile tribes will be sending flags frequently during the winter, with propositions of peace, but this is all fraud and art, to put the Americans off their guard.

The British made large presents to the Indians at the late council, and continue to furnish them with provision from Colonel McKee's new stores, near the mouth of the Miamies of lake Erie, where all the Indians are hutted or in tents, whose towns and property were destroyed last summer, and who will sign away their lands, and do exactly what the British request them; this was the general prevailing opinion at the breaking up of the council; since which period, the message and propositions of the 5th November, addressed to the different tribes of Indians proposing the treaty of January, 1789, held at the mouth of Muskingum, as a preliminary upon which a permanent peace should be established, has been communicated to them; upon which, a considerable number of the chiefs of several of the tribes assembled again, and were determined to come forward to treat, say about the first of this moon. But Colonel McKee was informed of it, and advised them against the measure, and to be faithful to their father, as they had promised. He then made them additional presents, far beyond any thing that they had ever heretofore received, which inclined a majority to adhere to Governor Simcoe's propositions, and they returned home accordingly.

That, notwithstanding this, the chiefs and nations are much divided, some for peace, and some for war; the Wyandots of Sandusky are for peace; those near Detroit for war; the Delawares are equally divided, so are the Miamies, but are dependent upon the British for provisions; the Shawanese and Tawas are for war; the Pattawatamies and Chippewas are gone home, sore from the late action.

That such of the chiefs and warriors as are inclined for peace, will call a council, and endeavor to bring it about, upon the terms proposed, as they wish to hold their lands under the Americans, and not under the British, whose title they do not like.

That Colonel M'Kee has spies upon all his (the informer's) movements, and that the Indians of Sandusky are in a very disagreeable situation, and are apprehensive that they will be compelled to remove, under the protection of the Americans, or to take a part with the bad Indians, unless they can obtain a majority for peace during the winter, which they do not despair of; in that case, the signal will be a ; when that comes, rest assured it is peace; but don't believe the other flags.

[Enclosure 2.]

Extract of a letter from Captain Thomas Pasteur to Major General

Wayne.

FORT KNOX, November 3d, 1794.

I am informed from Kaskaskias, that the hostile Indians are crossing the Mississippi every day; they say there is no withstanding the Americans, and they will go away. Several of the chiefs of the Wabash have been to see me; they say the Indians above are crying, and they believe what I had told them before was very true, for the British would soon cry as well as the bad Indians; but they hoped their father would have a little pity for their bad brothers.

On the above passage, General Wayne remarks, that it corroborates information heretofore received, of the intention of those Indians to cross the Mississippi; "add to this, (says he) that there are no late appearances of an enemy in the vicinity of any of our advanced posts, except from a number of printed hand bills, such as the enclosed, that are occasionally dropped near fort Defiance, evidently calculated to promote desertion, which has had some effect."

The hand bill referred to, is as follows:

To all Loyal and Gallant Subjects-Recruits!

Wanted, for his Majesty's 1st American regiment, or Queen's rangers, of which his Excellency Lieutenant Governor Simcoe is colonel commandant, fifty active young men.

Gentlemen volunteers shall receive ten guineas bounty money each, on their approval, at the head quarters of the regiment, enter into free quarters, be clothed, accoutred, victualled, and paid agreeably to his Majesty's regulations. None need apply but such as are perfectly fit for the most active service, at least five feet four and a half inches high, healthy and stout.

to

EXHIBIT 71.

Extract of a letter from Major General Wayne to the Secretary of War.1

HEAD QUARTERS, GREENVILLE, 24th January, 1795. It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you, the strong and pleasing prospects of a general peace, between the United States and all the late hostile tribes of Indians northwest of the Ohio.

[Enclosure 1.]

The preliminary articles entered into by General Wayne, on the part of the United States, and the sachems and war chiefs of the Chippewas, Pattawatamies, Sacs, and Miamies.

ARTICLE I. It is agreed, that, until articles for a permanent peace shall be adjusted, agreed to, and signed, all hostilities shall cease, and the aforesaid sachems, and war chiefs, for and in behalf of the nations which they represent, do agree to meet the above named plenipotentiary of the United States, at Greenville, on or about the 15th day of June next, with all the sachems and war chiefs of their nations, then and there to consult and conclude upon such terms of amity and peace as shall be for the interest and to the satisfaction of both parties.

ART. 2. Should any of the nations or tribes of Indians, now at war with the United States, or any other nation or tribe, mediate or attempt any hostile measure against any post or settlement, in the occupancy of the troops or citizens of the United States, or against the lives or property of any individual or individuals of the same, and it shall come to the knowledge of the before mentioned nations, or either of them, they do hereby engage to give immediate notice thereof, to the commander-in-chief, or to the officer commanding the troops of the United States, at the nearest post; and should any nation, with hostile intentions against any part of the troops or citizens of the said United States, attempt to pass through their country, they will endeavor to prevent the same, and, in like manner, give information of such attempt, to

'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 559.