last, the enemy had returned and cultivated their corn and pulse, which I found in high perfection, and in much greater quantity than at L'Anguille.

To refresh my horses and give time to cut down the corn, I deter. mined to halt until the next morning, and then to resume my march to the Kickapoo town, in the prarie, by the road which leads from Oniattanon to that place. In the course of the day, I had discovered some murmurings and discontent among the men, which I found on enquiry to proceed from their reluctance to advance farther into the enemy's country; this induced me to call for a state of the horses and provisions, when, to my great mortification, two hundred and seventy horses were returned lame and tired, with barely five days provisions for the men.

Under these circumstances, I was compelled to abandon my designs upon the Kickapoos of the prarie; and with a degree of anguish not to be comprehended but by those who have experienced similar disappointments, I marched forward to a town of the same nation, situate about three leagues west of Ouiattanon. As I advanced to that town, the enemy made some shew of fighting me, but vanished at my approach. I destroyed this town, consisting of thirty houses, with a considerable quantity of corn in the mills, and the same day I moved on to Ouiattanon, where I forded the Wabash, and proceeded to the site of the villages on the margin of the prarie, where I encamped at seven o'clock. At this town and the villages destroyed by Gen. Scott, in June, we found the corn had been replanted, and was now in high cultivation, several fields being well ploughed, all which we destroyed. On the 12th I resumed my march, and falling into Gen. Scott's return trace, I arrived without any material incident at the Rapids of Ohio, on the 21st inst., after a march by accurate computation of four hundred and fifty-one miles from Fort Washington.

The volunteers of Kentucky have, on this occasion, acquitted themselves with their usual good conduct, but as no opportunity offered for individual distinction, it would be unjust to give one the plaudits to which all have an equal title. I cannot, however, in propriety forbear to express my warm approbation of the good conduct of my Majors M'Dowell and Caldwell, and of Col. Russell, who, in the character of a volunteer, without commission, led my advance; and I feel myself under obligations to Major Adair and Capt. Parker, who acted immediately about my person, for the services they rendered me, by the most prompt, active and energetic exertions.

The services which I have been able to render, fall far short of my wishes, my intention and expectation; but, sir, when you reflect on the causes which checked my career, and blasted my designs, I flatter myself you will believe every thing has been done, which could be done in my circumstances; I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiattanon nation, and made prisoners the sons and sisters of the King; I have burnt a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down at least four hundred and thirty acres of corn, chiefly in the milk. The Ouiattanons left without houses, home or provision, must cease to war, and will find active employ to subsist their squaws and children during the impending winter.

Should these services secure to the country which I immediately represented, and the corps which I had the honor to command, the favora ble consideration of government, I shall infer the approbation of my own conduct, which, added to a consciousness of having done my duty, will constitute the richest reward I can enjoy.

Mr. Charles Vancouvre will have the honor to deliver this letter to your Excellency, who attended me as a quartermaster to the expedition, and rendered me important services. He is able to give a satisfactory idea of the situation of the country over which I passed, and can ascer tain with precision the course and distance to any point of my route. I recommend him to you as a gentleman of worth. With the warmest and most perfect respect,

I have the honor to be your Excellency's

Obliged, obedient and most faithful servant,

JA. WILKINSON.

His Excellency Major Gen. ST. CLAIR, Fort Washington.

A Talk from Lieut. Col. Commandant James Wilkinson, to the Indian Nations living on the river Wabash, 6th August, 1791. The arms of the United States are again exerted against you, and again your towns are in flames, and your wives and children made captives. Again you are cautioned to listen to the voice of reason, to sue for peace, and to submit to the protection of the United States, who are willing to become your friends and fathers; but at the same time, are determined to punish you for every injury you may offer to their children. Regard not those evil counsellors, who, to secure to themselves the benefits of your trade, advise to measures which involve you, your women and children, in trouble and distress. The United States wish to give you peace; because it is good in the eyes of the Great Spirit, that all his children should unite and live like brothers. But if you foolishly prefer war, their warriors are ready to meet you in battle, and will not be the first to lay down the hatchet. You may find your squaws and your children under the protection of our great chief and warrior General ST. CLAIR, at Fort Washington; to him you will make application for an exchange of prisoners, or for peace.

Given under my hand and seal, at Kenapacomaqua, the 9th day of August, 1791.

[238]

JAMES WILKINSON, Lieut. Col. Com'dt.

[NO. XXV.]

ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT, 1791.

The following message from the President of the United States, to Congress, was presented by his Secretary, Mr. Lear.

UNITED STATES, Dec. 12, 1791. Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives :

It is with great concern that I communicate to you the information received from Major General St. Clair, of the misfortune that has befallen the troops under his command.

Although the national loss is considerable, according to the scale of the event, yet it may be repaired without great difficulty, excepting as to the brave men who have fallen on the occasion, and who are a subject of public, as well as of private regret.

A further communication will shortly be made, of all such matters as shall be necessary, to enable the legislature to judge of the future measures which it may be proper to pursue.

GEO. WASHINGTON.

FORT WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 1791.

SIR-I have now the satisfaction to inform you, that the army moved from fort Hamilton, the name I have given to the fort on the Miami, on the 4th at eight in the morning, under the command of Gen. Butler. The order of march and encampment I had regulated before, and on the third returned to this place to get up the militia. They marched yesterday, and consist of about three hundred men, as you will see by the enclosed abstract of the muster. I have reason to believe, however, that at least an equal number will be up here by the 10th, and I have left orders for their following us. The monthly return should have accompanied this letter, but it was not ready when I left camp, and has not been forwarded since. I have hitherto found it impossible to reduce the officers commanding corps to punctuality with respect to their returns, but they are mending. Our numbers, after deducting the garrisons of this place and Fort Hamilton, are about two thousand, exclusive of the militia. I trust I shall find them sufficient; and should the rest of the militia come on, it would make the matter pretty certain. But the season is now so far advanced, that I fear the intermediate posts, which indeed would have been highly necessary, it will be impossible to estab-` lish in that, however, I must be governed by circumstances, of which I will take care that you shall be apprized in due time. Should the enemy come to meet us, which seems to be expected, and be discomfited there will be no difficulties; but if they expect us at the Miami villages, the business will wear another face, and the intermediate posts become more essential.

Since the quarter master has been here, and got into his geers, which it took him a little time to do, I am very well satisfied with him, and do believe he will answer the description which you were pleased to give me of him his business seems now to be well arranged.

:

In order to communicate with some degree of certainty with your office, I have directed Capt. Buel, when he arrives, to send a serjeant and twelve men to a house that has been newly erected, half way between this place and Lexington, to each of which two men are to be sent off on every Monday morning to carry dispatches. Those for the war office, or any other public letters, to be put into the hands of Mr. Charles Wilkins, merchant of Lexington, who has engaged to forward all I have occasion to send, regularly once a week; and should you, sir, think proper to use the same route for any of yours, if they are sent to his care, he will forward them to me. I have been led to prefer this channel of communication to that of the river, because it appears to be rather the more certain of the two, though it may be a little more tedious and because desertion continues to prevail among the troops, and the sending of small parties to such a distance gives great opportunity to effect it. Gen. Butler informs me that no less than twenty-one went off the night before the army moved from Fort Hamilton.

I am this moment setting out for the army, which I hope to overtake to-morrow evening, and will write to you again as soon as may be. With great regard and respect, I have the honor to be,

Sir, your very humble servant,

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.

To the Hon. Maj. Gen. KNOX, Secretary of War. Camp, eighty-one miles advanced of Fort Washington, Nov. 1, 1791. SIR:-Since I had the honor to write to you on the 21st ult., nothing very material has happened and indeed I am at present so unwell, and have been so for some time past, that I could ill detail it, if it had happened not that that space of time has been entirely barren of incidents, but as few of them have been of the agreeable kind, I beg you to accept a sort of journal account of them, which will be the easiest for me.

On the 22d the indisposition that had hung about me for some time, sometimes appearing as a bilious colic, and sometimes as a rheumatic asthma, to my great satisfaction, changed to a gout in the left arm and hand, leaving the breast and stomach perfectly relieved, and the cough, which had been excessive, entirely gone. This day Mr. Ellis, with sixty militia from Kentucky, joined the army, and brought up a quantity of flour and beef.

23rd. Two men taken in the act of deserting to the enemy, and one for shooting another soldier and threatening to kill an officer, were hanged upon the grand parade, the whole army being drawn out. Since the army has halted, the country around this, and a-head for fifteen miles, has been well examined; it is a country, which had we arrived a month sooner in it, and with three times the number of animals, they would have been all fat now.

24th. Named the fort Jefferson, (it lies in lat. 40°, 4', 22", N.) and marched, the same Indian path serving to conduct us about six miles, and encamped on good ground and an excellent position. A rivulet in front, and a very large prairie which would at the proper season afford forage for a thousand horses, on the left. So ill this day that I had much difficulty in keeping with the army.

25th. Very hard rains last night, obliged to halt to-day, on account of provisions; for though the soldiery may be kept pretty easy in under the expectations of provisions arriving, they cannot bear to march in advance, and take none along with them. Received a letter from Mr. Hodgdon by express; 13,000 lbs. flour will arrive the 27th.

26th. A party of militia, sent to reconnoitre, fell in with five Indians, and suffered them to slip through their fingers in their camp; articles to the value of twenty-two dollars were found and divided. The Virginia battalion is melting down very fast, notwithstanding the promises of the men to the officers; 13 have been discharged by Col. Dark to-day. 27th. Gave orders for enlisting the levies, with the condition of serving out their time in the present corps. Payomingo arrived in camp with his warriors. I was so unwell could only see him and bid him welcome, but entered on no business-considerable dissatisfaction among the levies about their enlistinents.

28th. Some clothing sent for to fort Washington for the recruits arrived was begun to be distributed, and will have a good effect; but the enlisting the levies does not meet with the encouragement that might have been expected-it is not openly complained of by the officers, but it is certainly privately, by some of high rank, and the measure of tempting them with warm clothing condemned. Mr. Hodgdon writes me that he is sending forward a quantity of woollen overalls and stocks, by General Butler's orders. I have ordered them to be deposited at fort Jefferson. Some few Indians about us, probably those the militia fell in with a day or two ago-two of the levies were fired upon about three miles off, one killed; two of the militia likewise, one of them got in and the other missing, supposed to be taken.

29th. Payomingo and his people, accompanied by Captain Sparks and four good riflemen, gone on a scout: they do not propose to return under ten days, unless they sooner succeed in taking prisoners.

30th. The army moved about nine o'clock, and with much difficulty made seven miles, having left a considerable part of the tents by the way, the provision made by the quarter-master was not adequate. Three day's flour issued to them. The Indian road still with us. The course this day N. 25° W.

31st. This morning about 60 of the militia deserted. It was at first reported, that one half of them had gone off, and that their design was to plunder the convoys which were upon the road. I detached the first regiment in pursuit of them, with orders to Major Hamtramck to send a sufficient guard back with Benham (a commissary) whenever he met with him, and follow them about twenty-five miles below fort Jefferson, or until he met the second convoy, and then return and join the army. Benham arrived last night; and to-day, November 1st, the army is halted to give the road-cutters an opportunity of getting some distance a-head, and that I might write to you. I am this day considerably recovered, and hope that it will turn out, what I at first expected it would be, a friendly fit of the gout, come to relieve me from every other complaint.

Yesterday I was favored with yours of the 28th and 29th of Sept. I