their winter quarters, after an arduous and fatiguing tour of ninety-seven days; during which they marched and counter-marched upwards of three hundred miles through the heart of an enemy's country, cutting a wagon road the whole way, besides erecting three fortifications, to wit: Fort Adams, at the St. Mary's; Fort Defiance, at Au Glaise; and Fort Wayne, at the Miami villages.

four hundred-that the number of Indians, Canadians, etc. engaged in the action, was at least two thousand, according to the report made by Colonel McKee and Captain Elliott, to Major Campbell, after the action-that there were four nine-pounders, two large howitzers and six six-pounders mounted in the fort, and two swivels-that the Indians were regularly supplied with provisions, by Colonel McKee, from the British magazine in the garrison-that a certain Mr. Newman, a deserter from the American army, arrived at Fort Miami, about eight days before the army made its appearance, and gave information to Major Campbell that the object of the Americans was to take that fort and garrison-that General Wayne told the troops not to be uneasy about provisions, for there was plenty in the British garrison-that Governor Simcoe was expected at that post every hour, in consequence of an express sent to Niagara after the arrival of Newman, the deserter, but had not arrived when he came away—that the distance from Fort Miami to Detroit was sixty miles, which was generally performed in two days—that the militia of Detroit and its vicinity, amounted to near two thousand-that he has seen a great number of wounded Indians pass the fort, but did not learn what number were killedthat the retreating Indians appeared much dejected, and much altered from what they were in the morning, before the action-that he knew one company of volunteers commanded by Captain Caldwell, who were all white men armed with British muskets and bayonets, and were in the action.

John Johnston, a deserter from General Wayne's army, who fought in the action on the 20th against the Americans, spoke of it as a complete defeat on the part of the Indians, who lost a great many men; but he could not tell the number and further, that after the Indians were defeated, they wanted to take refuge in the British fort, but were refused admittance, and were greatly exasperated.

Other examinations were made to ascertain the strength of the enemy-the interference of the British, at and before the battle, and the efforts they were still making to induce the Indians to continue the war, and carry on a winter campaign—which went strongly to corroborate the facts previously stated.

CHAPTER IX.

Weakness of the American army.-Intrigues of the English agents with the Indians.-Communications to Gen. Wayne from Chiefs of different tribes.— His answers.-Proposals for a conference at Greenville.-The Shawanese propose to remove west of the Mississippi.

In consequence of the continued fatigue and exposure of the campaign, during the most unhealthy season of the year, the sick list was greatly enlarged, and numbers were reported unfit for duty. In connection with this, the discharge of the mounted volunteers, and the expiration of the period of enlistment of many of the Legion, had so reduced and weakened the army as to produce serious apprehensions that the fruits of the brilliant campaign, then just terminating, were in jeopardy, and might be lost, should the enemy ascertain the true condition of the army, and resolve to carry on an active winter campaign. That such might be the case, was rendered probable, by information received through a channel entirely to be relied on.

The General was assured of the fact, that on the 30th of September, Governor Simcoe, Colonel McKee, and Captain Brandt, arrived at Fort Miami, at the foot of the Rapids, accompanied by a hundred Mohawk and Massasagoe Indians, and had sent for the chiefs of the different hostile tribes to meet them, and hold a treaty at the mouth of the Detroit river, eighteen miles below the town. He was also advised that Simcoe, McKee, and Brandt, with Blue Jacket, Buckongehelas, Little Turtle, Captain Johnny, and several chiefs of the Delawares, Miamies, Shawanees, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies, had set out for the place assigned for the treaty, about the 1st of October.

He was also informed that the Indians were abundantly

and regularly supplied with provisions, from the British stores at Swan creek, near Lake Erie. That previous to the arrival of Governor Simcoe, Blue Jacket, with two of the chiefs of the Ottawas, and the principal chief of the Pottawattamies, had agreed to visit General Wayne, accompanied by the person who gave the information, who was a man of distinction and influence among the Indians, and whose personal safety required that his name should then be kept a profound secret; but that Blue Jacket informed him, after the arrival of Simcoe, that he would not go to Fort Wayne, as he had promised to do, till after the proposed treaty at the mouth of the Detroit river-that his wishes were still for peace-that he did not know what propositions Governor Simcoe had to make; but that he, and all the chiefs, would go and hear; and in the mean time, they desired him to enquire of General Wayne, in what manner the chiefs should come to him, and whether they would be safe, in case they should determine to do so, after the treaty with Simcoe was over. He further stated that had it not been for the arrival of Simcoe, McKee, and Brandt, with his Indians, he was confident the chiefs beforementioned, would have accompanied him to head-quarters at the time before stated.

This interesting information was immediately communicated to the War Department, by the General, accompanied with strong intimations of fear, that through the influence of the Governor, and his co-adjutors, the negotiations then going on, at the mouth of the Detroit river, with the British agents, would result in an agreement on the part of the Indians, to carry on a winter campaign against the American posts; and that the proposed visit of Blue Jacket and his associate chiefs, to the American head-quarters, to treat for peace, would prove to be delusive. At the same time, the attention of the Secretary was called, in the most emphatic terms, to the reduced state of the army, and the

danger to be apprehended from that cause, should the British agents succeed in the efforts they were making to induce the Indians to renew the war.

He gave it as his opinion, that the chiefs were playing a deceptive game, and were determined to carry on the war, if they could be convinced that the British agents would sustain them, as they were then most solemnly promising to do. It was true, that no hostile attempt had been made by any of their parties, after the battle of the 20th, yet that might be ascribed to the fact, that the American detachments always moved superior to insult, rather than to any pacific or friendly feeling entertained by the savages.

Among the causes of the embarrassment experienced in the army, during the winter of 1794-5; the unfortunate death of Colonel Robert Elliott, the acting contractor, was mentioned in the official communications to the War Department. That valuable officer was killed by the Indians near Fort Hamilton, on the 6th of October, 1794, on his way from Cincinnati to the out-posts; which occurrence so increased the derangement of the Department he belonged to, as to render it necessary for the General to order the Quartermaster General to supply all omissions on the part of the contractors, at their expense, to be settled at the Treasury, at a future day.

While the army were in winter quarters at Greenville, the General was constantly receiving communications from chiefs of different tribes; some of a friendly, others of a hostile character. Among them was one from a chief at Sandusky, dated September 17th, which stated, that after the plan suggested by the General, for a settlement of difficulties, had been fully considered by his own tribe, they declined to decide on it, till it had been sent to their confederates at the Miami river, for their information and advice; who soon after returned the following answer:

"Elder Brothers: We have received your speech, in

which you say, 'that you are just on the point of sending speeches to the Americans.' We are happy you thought proper to let us know, what you were going to do. We now request you to drop that measure. You must not believe the Americans, for they only wish to decoy us into a snare, by the fine speeches they so frequently send us. Let us listen to what our Father says to us, as he is now arrived, and the Five Nations are coming to join us."

About the same time, the General received a speech from Tarkee, chief sachem at Sandusky, in which he entreated the Americans to listen to the chiefs and warriors of the Sandusky tribe, with whom intercourse had been suspended for a long time. He referred to the council and treaty made at Muskingum, with Governor St. Clair, in 1789, by which all matters in dispute were settled, and by which their chains of friendship were linked strong with ours. He approved of that treaty, and said that an evil spirit had been set in motion, against the good work then finished, by which, in a short time after, all things were thrown into such confusion, that a rupture had taken place between the United States and the Indians, which was then undecided. He spoke in warm terms of friendship, towards the United States, and in favor of a speedy peace.

On the 27th of September, a speech was sent to General Wayne, from a chief at Sandusky, whose name is not given; in which he requested the honor of communicating to him a few words, on a subject of the greatest importance to the United States and to the Indians. He said, that it was then more than five years since the commencement of the war, and he thought it was almost time to rest, and enjoy the remainder of life in the blessings of peace. It had always been the desire of his heart to live in peace. That he could not express the regret he felt for his countrymen, who were then in the utmost distress, and seemed to be threatened with a total extirpation, from their native soil, which was the most alarming event a human being could