the army, set them at liberty, ordering them to say to Colonel Bouquet that the Chiefs of the Delawares and Shawanese were coming to negotiate a peace. The next day Colonel Bouquet proceeded two miles further down the Muskingum, and encamped on a high bank. The next day six Indians came to inform him, that all their chiefs were assembled about eight miles distant, and were ready to enter into a treaty with him, and were earnestly desirous of peace. He returned an answer, that he would meet them the next day in a bower at some distance from the camp. In the meantime he built a small stockade fort for the deposite of provisions, for the use of the troops on their return and to lighten the convoy. On the seventeenth of October, Colonel Bouquet, attended by a portion of the regular troops, the Virginia volunteers, and the light horse, repaired to the bower that had been erected for the conference.(1) Shortly after the troops had been so arranged as to appear to the best advantage, the Indians arrived at the place appropriated for them. Of the Delawares, two tribes were present, numbering twenty warriors, with their respective chiefs, Custaloga and Beaver. Of the Shawanese, Keissinautchtha, a deputy from the chiefs, and six warriors. And of the Senecas, Kiyashuta, their chief Sachem, and fifteen warriors. Kiyashuta, Custaloga, Beaver and Turtle-Heart, were the chief speakers. Being seated, they first smoked the calumet of peace; after which they laid them aside, and addressed Colonel Bouquet at length. The substance of what they had to offer consisted in excuses for their late treachery and misconduct, throwing the blame on the rashness of their young men, and the nations living to the westward of them; sueing for peace in an humble manner, and promising severally to deliver up all their prisoners. After they had concluded, the Colonel promised to give them an answer the next day, and after dismissing them returned with the army to camp. On account of unfavorable weather, the next meeting did not take place until the twentieth, when Colonel Bouquet replied, "that their pretences to palliate their guilt by throwing the blame on the Western nations, and the rashness of their young men, were weak and frivolous, as it was in the power of the English to have protected them against all these nations, if they had solicited assistance, and that it was their own duty to have chastised their young men when they did wrong, and not to suffer themselves to be directed by them. He recapitulated to them many instances of their former perfidy; their killing or captivating the traders who had been sent among them, at their own request, and plundering their effects; their attacking Fort Pitt, which had been built with their express consent; their murdering four men that had been sent on a public message to them, thereby violating the customs held sacred among all nations, however barbarous ; their attacking the English army at Brush creek, and after being defeated, falling upon the frontier and continuing to murder. He also referred to their treacherous violation of their late engagements with Colonel Bradstreet, in which they stipulated to deliver up all their prisoners by the tenth of September last, and to recall all their warriors from the frontiers. "You have," said he, "promised at every former treaty, as you do now, to deliver up all your prisoners, and have received at every time presents, but have never complied with the engagements. I am now to tell you, therefore, that the English will no longer be imposed upon by your promises. This army shall not leave your country, until you have fully complied with every condition that is to precede a treaty with you." "I have brought with me, the relations of the people you have massacred, or taken prisoners. They are impatient for revenge; and it is with difficulty that I can protect you against their just resentment, which is only restrained by the assurances given them, that no peace shall ever be concluded till you have given full satisfaction." "Your former allies, the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandotts, and others, have made peace with us, The Six Nations have joined us against you. We now surround you, having possession of all the waters of the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the Lakes. All the French living in those parts are now subjects of Great Britain, and dare no longer assist you. It is therefore in our power totally to extirpate you from being a people. But the English are a merciful and generous nation, averse to shed the blood even of their most cruel enemies; and if it were possible that you could convince us that you sincerely repent of your past perfidy, and that we could depend on your good behavior for the future, you might yet hope for mercy and peace. If I find you faithfully execute the following preliminary conditions, I will not treat you with the severity you deserve. I give you twelve days to deliver into my hands all the prisoners in your possession, without any exception; Englishmen, Frenchmen, women and children, whether adopted in your tribes, married, or living amongst you under any denomination and pretence, whatsoever, together with all the negroes. And you are to furnish the said prisoners with clothing, provisions, and horses, to carry them to Fort Pitt. When you have fully complied with these conditions, you shall then know on what terms you may obtain the peace you ask for."(1) The decided tone of this speech had the desired effect. The determined spirit in which it was delivered, the boldness of the army in penetrating into the wilderness, which they had deemed impassable by regular troops, and the vigilance of the commander who had signally defeated them at Bushy Run, had the desired effect, and awed them into a desire for peace. At the close of the former conference on the seventeenth, the two Delaware Chiefs delivered eighteen white prisoners, and also eighty-three small sticks expressing the number of other prisoners in their possession, promising to release them as soon as possible. None of the Shawanese Sachems appeared at the conference, and their deputy, Keissinautchtha, declined speaking until Colonel Bouquet had answered the Delawares, and then with a dejected sullenness, he promised in behalf of his nation, to submit to the terms agreed upon by the other tribes. As the presence of the army was the best security for the performance of the promises of the Indians, Colonel Bouquet determined to march farther into the country, and required some of each nation to attend him on his march. And before they separated, Kiyashta, the leading sachem, addressed the chiefs and warriors of the several nations, desiring them "to be strong in complying with their engagements, that they might wipe away the reproach of their former breach of faith, and convince their brothers, the English, that they could speak the truth," adding "that he would conduct the army to the place appointed for receiving the prisoners." (2) Colonel Bouquet declined shaking hands with the chiefs at the close of this meeting, and as they appeared dissatisfied, he told them that the English never took their enemies by the hand until peace was finally concluded. (3) The council then separated. On the twenty-second day of October, the army began its march to the place appointed to receive the prisoners. But arriving at a place about a mile from the forks of the Muskingum, and thirty miles from the place of holding the late council, Colonel Bouquet concluded to encamp, it being in the midst of their towns and settlements. Four redoubts (1) Hutchens' Historical Account of the Expedition of Colonel Bouquet, against the Indians, in 1764, published in Craig's Olden Time, Vol. 1. No. 6, page 246, 248. (2) Hutchens' Historical Account, in Craig's Olden Time, Vol I. p. 248,249. (3) Hutchens' Historical Account, in Craig's Olden Time, Vol. 1. p. 249. were built opposite the four angles of the camp; the ground in front was cleared, a store-house erected for provisions, and also a house to receive the Indians, for the purpose of holding a council, upon their return with the prisoners. Messengers now arrived in camp from the Delawares and Shawanese, with information that the prisoners were already on their way, in charge of the Indians; and a Caughnawaga chief and twenty warriors presented themselves to Colonel Bouquet, with a letter from Colonel Bradstreet, in answer to the one which had been sent, by two Indians from Fort Pitt. The substance of this communication was, that Col. Bradstreet had settled nothing with the several Indian tribes, and had recovered no prisoners-and that he found it impossible any longer to co-operate with Colonel Bouquet. It is impossible to say what would have been the effect of this determination, if Colonel Bouquet had not been in possession of the Indian territory with his army, and had the chiefs of the several tribes with him. On Friday, the ninth of November, the Colonel, attended by most of the principal officers, went to the council-house. Most of the prisoners had now arrived, and were given up, amounting to two hundred and six. (1) Almost one hundred were still in possession of the Shawanese, which were to be delivered up in the following spring. The conference was first opened with the Senecas and Delawares. Kiyashuta and ten warriors represented the former, Custaloga and twenty warriors the latter. Kiyashuta, sachem of the Senecas, arose and spoke as follows: "With this string of wampum, we wipe away the tears from your eyes-we deliver you these three prisoners, which are the last of your flesh and blood that remained among the Senecas and Custaloga tribe of Delawares. (2) We gather together and bring with this belt, (3) all the bones of the people that have been killed during this unhappy war, which the evil spirit occasioned among us. We cover the bones that have been buried, that they may be never more remembered. We again cover their place with leaves, that it may be no more seen. As we have been long astray, and the path between you and us stopped, we (2) The others had been delivered up previously. 32 58 49 67 206 (3) The speaker always delivers a belt or string, at the time it is mentioned. extend this belt, that it may be again cleared, and we may travel in peace to see our brethren as our ancestors formerly did. While you hold it fast by one end, and we by the other, we shall always be able to discover any thing that may disturb our friendship." Colonel Bouquet replied, that he received the last prisoners, and heard with much gratification the speech of Kiyashuta. He was ready to join in burying the bones of the victims of this war, so that their places might be no more seen. The peace asked for should now be had. But as he was a warrior, other persons would be commissioned to make a treaty with them. He then required two hostages from each tribe, as a security against further hostilities, and that deputies should be sent fully empowered to treat for all the tribes, with Sir William Johnson, at Fort Pitt; and in that treaty every thing should be settled to render the peace everlasting. This was done, when he took the chiefs by the hand for the first time, which gave them great joy. The next day Colonel Bouquet met King Beaver, chief of two other tribes of the Delawares, with thirty warriors, when the same ceremonies took place between them as on the preceding day, with the other tribes. He presented six hostages, and five deputies, to treat for peace. The Shawanese met Colonel Bouquet in council, on the twelfth of November. Although this nation saw themselves under the necessity of yielding to the same conditions with the other tribes, yet there peared a reluctance and sullen haughtiness in their conduct, which rendered it very suspicious. Their chiefs and forty warriors were present, also about sixty warriors, and their chiefs, of the Senecas and Delawares. The Red Hawk was their speaker, and he delivered himself with a strange mixture of pride and submission. The following extracts are specimens: ap. "BROTHER:-You will listen to us your younger brethren; and as we discover something in your eyes, that prevents you from being satisfied with us, we will wipe it away that you may clearly see. You have heard many bad stories of us. We clear your ears that you may hear. We remove every bad thing from your heart, that it may be like the heart of your ancestors when they thought of nothing but good. (1) "When we saw you coming this road, you advanced towards us, with an uplifted tomahawk in your hand; but we take it out of your hands, to throw it up to the GOOD SPIRIT, (2) to dispose of as he pleases. We hope never to see it more. And now brother, who are yourself a (1) Here he gave a string.. may be |