A Surgeon's Mate at Fort Defiance:
The Journal of Joseph Gardner
Andrews
For the Year 1795--II
Edited by RICHARD C. KNOPF*
In this second installment of the
Andrews journal, which covers
the months of May, June, July, and
August, 1795, the author again
records the flow of events through this
crossroads outpost of the
American army. He notes the movement of
Indian delegations to-
wards Greene Ville, the arrival and
departure of chiefs, the coming
and going of traders, the capture of
deserters, and the passing of
white captives returning home. He dines
with the chiefs and the
traders, comments on their manners or
character, carries on a large
correspondence, plants a garden, visits
Fort Wayne, attends an
Indian dance or two, treats the sick,
and himself comes down with
the ague.
When Little Turtle comes to Fort
Defiance, he and two fellow
officers take the benevolent chief to
see their garden, where he
showed "marks of pleasure at our
improvements; but soon after as-
sumed a melancholy air & observed
that that land was once his own
property." When a trader named
Wilson stops, he sets down the
fact that "Mr. Wilson was taken
prisoner in 1782 & has been with
the Indians ever since," and adds
that "he appears to be a decent
well behaved man." When another
trader, John McPherson, appears
on his way to Greene Ville with a party
of Indians, he reports that
"McPherson informs that all the
Savages are in motion for H. Q."
And when the Indians begin to come back
from the treaty, he notes
that some return "with much
apparent satisfaction" and others
"surcharged with presents &
pleasure."
All in all, he is a faithful and
appealing reporter.
*The first installment of the Andrews
journal appeared in the January issue of the
Quarterly, pages
57-86.
160 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY |
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 161
DIURNAL OCCURRENCES AT & NEAR FORT DEFIANCE, MAY, 1795 - 31
DAYS.
1. Several Delawares arrived. Paid Mr.
Laselle52 42 Dollars (for
goods purchased of him) in presence of
Mr. Sheane, Interpreter.
2. Blue Jacket, Mr. Laselle, &c.
departed for Fort Wayne. Wrote
to Capt. Preston. A large number of
Delawares have come up
& encamped near Bean Creek.
3. George White Eyes (uncle to the one
educated at Princeton
College) arrived.53
4. Mr. Robert Wilson came in this day;
he mentions that the
British at Fort Miamis attempted to
stop his Goods, but being
well protected by Buckingehalas54 &
a large party of Delawares,
who circumvented his canoe with their
own, he passed with
little difficulty. Mr. Wilson was taken
prisoner in 1782 & has
been with the Indians ever since; he
appears to be a decent well
behaved man.
5. Mr. Wilson having mentioned to Major
Hunt that he had some
Garden seeds for him in boat wch
contained his baggage, we
broke ground for our Mess Garden. Mr.
Wilson tarries with us
by Major Hunt's invitation.
6. In daily expectation of the arrival
of the main body of the
Delawares.
7. Lieut Blue55 with several
Beeves & 12000 lbs flour arrived very
seasonably as the Delawares will on
& after their arrival cause
no inconsiderable consumption of
provisions. Recd Letters from
Capts Lyman & Webb,56 &
a bottle snuff from Mr. Blue.
8. The main body of the Delawares, men,
women, & children
ascended the river in Canoes; on
getting opposite the Garrison
they saluted it with an irregular
discharge of their rifles &
with shouts more remarkable for the
noise than the melody;
52 Jacques Lasselle, who married a
daughter of Blue Jacket. Three Lasselles signed
the treaty of Greene Ville: Antoine and
Hyacinthe, who signed with other traders,
and Jacques, who signed as an
interpreter. The ones whom Andrews refers to later
as Tappon and Koko may have been Antoine
and Hyacinthe.
53 George White Eyes was a Delaware
chief.
54 Buckongahelas was chief of the
Delawares.
55 William K. Blue, of Virginia, Light
Dragoons.
56 John Webb, Jr., of Virginia, Light
Dragoons.
162 THE OHIO HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
after they had finished, they were
honored with 16 rounds from
the Arty. [artillery]. The number of
Delawares now at this
place amount to about 400. The Chiefs
dined with our Mess.
9. The Delaware females of note dined
with us. Lieut. Blue &
party departed for Greeneville. A Mr.
Wilson to relieve Mr.
Lewis, Asst. QM. arrived with Mr. Mayo,
(late Commissary at
this post) from Head Quarters. Recd
Letters from Majors
Burbeck & Mills, Lieut Campbell
Smith57 & Doct. Strong. wrote
to Capt Cornelius Lyman.
10. Bought twenty Dollars worth of
Goods from Mr Robt. Wilson,
for wch I immediately paid him the
cash. Nekskorwetor arrived
from Fort Wayne with a Speech from Col.
Hamtramck58 &
Blue Jacket to the Delawares at this
place, requesting them to
move for Fort Wayne as soon as
possible.
11. The Chiefs dined with our Mess,
& departed to their Encamp-
ment in very good season on being
promised an half Keg of
whiskey by Major Hunt.
12. Nekskorwetor departed for Swan
Creek with Speeches from
Blue Jacket & Buckingehelas to the
Indians at that place. The
greatest part of the Delawares move for
Ft. Wayne. Settled &
paid Mr. Mayo in full of all accts
[accounts] for Messrs Elliot
& Williams, late Contractors for
supplying the Army. A small
party of Shawanoese came up from Swan
Creek.
13. The remainder of the Delawares
moved from this place as far
as the French Stores.
14. Finished putting small seeds into
our Mess Garden.
15. Blue Jacket & Mr. Laselle arrived from Fort Wayne.
16. Corpl. White & a private
arrived from Greeneville: And from
Fort Miamis59 came in John
Riley & Joseph Moores, Deserters
from the 24th British Regiment. Blue
Jacket & Laselle de-
scended the river for Detroit.
57 Of Virginia, 4th Sub Legion.
58 Lieutenant Colonel John Francis
Hamtramck was the commandant at Fort Wayne.
A native of Canada, he served on the
American side throughout the Revolution. He
was one of the leading figures in the campaign of 1794,
being in command of Wayne's
left wing. In 1796 he was appointed
commandant at Detroit, where he died in 1803.
59 Fort Miamis was the British fort on
the north side of the Maumee (Miamis) River
about ten miles above its mouth. It was
built in 1794 to head off Wayne's expected
advance on Detroit. The British
surrendered it in 1796 under the terms of Jay's Treaty.
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 163
17. Mr. Mayo, late Commissary & Mr.
Lewis, late Asst. QM at
this Garrison departed for Greeneville
via Fort Wayne. wrote
to Major Mills, Capt John Webb, Lieut
Cambell Smith &
Doctor Strong--also paid Mr. Mayo
twenty eight Dollars to
be did [delivered] to Major Burbeck for
books purchased of
Doct. Hayward: and three Dollars to be
did to Major Mills
to pay for the repairs of my watch. A
Shawanoese called Capt.
Reed, being intoxicated came up to the
Garrison about 11
oClock at night with a fire brand, wch
he placed between the
logs wch support the parapet: He would
have paid his life
for his temerity had it not been for
the prudence of Major Hunt.
18. Major Hunt had an expostulation
with 2 Shawanoese Chiefs on
the impropriety & hazard of Capt.
Reed's conduct last night;
all matters, however were amicably
adjusted.
19. Mearnemsecor & the other
Shawanoese who arrived on the 12th
inst. departed for Swan Creek, with an
assurance of returning
to the treaty.
20. Wrote to Ens. Swaine. A Shawanoese
man arrived at this place
who is said to be 130 years of age, but
I judge from his ap-
pearance that a deduction of 40 would
not be unjust.
21. Was disappointed in sending my
Letter to Mr. Swain on acct.
of the early departure of the express.
22. Dined at home.
23. Our Mess dined with Mr. Pope on
Turkey, ham & Catfish soup.
24. We expected to dine happily in the
family way, but were in-
terrupted by Stephen Young, one of the
Stockbridge tribe.
25. In the Garden the greatest part of
the day.
26. Capt. Britt & Ens. Strother
dined with us on Catfish soup, &c.
An ordered [order ?] issued for
parading & commencing fatigue
at 7 oClock.
27. Arrived four boats from Post
Vincennes, via Ft. Wayne, laden
with Peltry & Tobacco for Detroit:
Messrs. La Fontaine, Gamlar
& DuBois came in one of the boats.60
Am informed by Letters
60 Francois La Fontaine was a Detroit
trader and signer of the treaty of Greene
Ville. He once had lived at Miamitown, the French and
English fur-trading settlement
among the Miami Indians at the
confluence of the St. Marys and St. Joseph rivers,
where Fort Wayne was later built. Miamitown was
destroyed by General Harmar in
the fall of 1790.
Gamlar may have been Antoine Gamelin,
who in 1790 was a trader and notary
164
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
that Lieut Hastings Marks6l
has resigned. that Doct & Mrs.
Elliot as also Mrs. Hamtramck have
arrived at Fort Wayne
from Post Vincennes.
28. The French Gentlemen breakfasted
& dined with our Mess &
supped with Mr. Pope. Dld Mr. La
Fontaine a memo. for
rappee snuff. Mr Lee & myself
destroyed all the Due bills we
had agt. [against] Capt. D. Britt.
29. The French Gent. departed as soon
as the Garrison wicket was
opened. Mr. La Fontaine appears quite
the Gentleman--
Du Bois is fond of a jovial Glass;
& Damlar [sic] is a decent
fellow.
30. Delaware Tom arrived with Letters
for Majors Hunt & Cushing,
Lieut. Lee. &c. One letter from the
Adjt. Genl. [adjutant
general] to the Commandt. says he is
directed to order Capt.
Britt & Lieut Lee to Head Quarters.
Indian Tom informs that
on his way out he was fired on by four
Soldiers--that he took
and made them march in front of him to
Ft. Adams, where they
proved to be Deserters from
Greeneville. 4 Delaware Chiefs
dined with our Mess. Eat the first ripe
Strawberries I have seen
for this season.
31. Settled & paid our Mess
Accounts with the Commissary. Bo't
[bought] small stores of Capt. Britt to
the amount of seven
pounds odd shillings, for wch I drew an
order on Mr Lee.
public at Vincennes.
DuBois was possibly Toussaint Dubois, a
resident of Vincennes, or Louis Dubois,
who seems to have been at Miamitown in
1790 and years later a resident of the western
part of Indiana Territory, which became
the state of Illinois.
61 Of Virginia, 1st Sub Legion.
THE ANDREWS
JOURNAL 165
METS. OBS.
NOTED AT FORT DEFIANCE: MAY, 1795.
Date Variations of the weather Winds.
1. Fair, warm
& pleasant NNE
2. Fair, warm
& pleasant - thunder & rain night WSW
3. Rain &
Thunder - Cloudy Do.
4. Rain -
Cloudy - rain - fair SW
5. Fair &
warm - fine rain South
6. Overcast -
Cloudy - fair SW
7. Fair -
thunder - rain Do
8. Cloudy -
frequent Showers Do
9. F &
pleasant - Cloudy - thunder - rain NE
10. Thunder
& rain - variably Cloudy & fair NE-SW
11. Cloudy -
fair - Cloudy - rain SW
12. Cloudy - F
& warm - Cloudy - thunder - rain Do
13. Cloudy -
Fair - Overcast WSW
14. Fair, warm
& pleasant SE
15. Rain -
Cloudy Do
16. Cloudy Do
17. Fair -
Cloudy - thunder - rain West
18. Thunder - F
- rain at night SW
19. Thunder -
rain - fair - thunder Do
20. Thunder -
rain - fair - cloudy - rain Do
21. Cloudy -
rain - thunder - overcast Do
22. Cloudy -
Fair - Cloudy - Showery Do
23. Cloudy -
fair - Cloudy - showers - fair Do
24. Fair &
pleasant South
25. Do Warm Do
26. Do Do - thunder -
rain Do-West
27. Rain - fair
& warm - Cloudy West
28. Cloudy - F
& pleasant - variably Cloudy & F. ENE
29. Do Do - rain at night WNW
30. Fair, cool
& pleasant West
31. Fair &
pleasant - showers SW
Rain 22 Thunder
12
166 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY |
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 167
DIURNAL OCCURRENCES AT & NEAR FORT DEFIANCE FOR THE MONTH
OF JUNE 1795. JUNE, 1795 - 30 DAYS
1. Little Turtle (a Miami Chief)62
arrived at this place; he supped,
lodged, &c. at our Quarters--He
observed that he had been to
Fort Wayne & that he had no object
in view by this visit but
the gratification of his wish to see
his Brothers. His deportment
is modest & manly--his visage is
marked with penetration--he
never gets intoxicated.
2. Little Turtle breakfasted with Major
Cushing, after wch, Majr.
Hunt, Lieut. Pope & myself
accompanied him to the opposite
side of each river to view our Gardens;
he discovered marks
of pleasure at our improvements; but
soon after assumed a
melancholy air & observed that that
land was once his own
property. Lieut Lee & the Indn.
Interpreter departed for the
Delaware Camp, about 9 miles distant up
the Miamis, to pro-
cure horses for the transportation of
the baggage belonging to
Capt. Britt & himself to Head
Quarters--Mr. Lee took Serjt.
Willard & a private to tarry with
the Delaware women for the
purpose of issuing provisions during
the absence of the warriors
at the treaty.
3. Little Turtle departed for his Town
near the head of Bean
Creek after assuring us of his
intention to attend the proposed
treaty.
4. Capt. Britt & Lieut Lee having
procured a sufficient number of
horses departed for Greeneville. Sent
letters by Mr. Lee to
Doct. Allison, Capt Lyman & Ens.
Swaine, dated the 2d inst.
Gave an order to Mr Lee on the P.M.
[paymaster] for my
subsistence for 1793; with directions
how to expend it for my
use. Mr. Lee on settlement of our
accts. at this place is found
indebted to me 29 Dollars. Nekskorwetor
arrived from Swan
Creek with one trunk & 2 bales of
goods for Indn. Commerce.
Nekskorwetor informs that the
Shawanoes, Wyandots, &c are
62 Little Turtle had been at the head of the Indian confederacy when it
defeated
Harmar (1790) and St. Clair (1791), eventually
relinquishing his command after
the battle at Fort Recovery in June
1794. He lived out the remainder of his life
at Fort Wayne.
168
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
to be at the big-rock in 6 days &
will immediately after move
from thence to Greeneville to attend
the treaty--he likewise
mentions a report in circulation among
the Inds. that a number
of persons from Cincinnati &
Columbia having surrounded a
party of Shawanoese, were fired on by
the latter; the number
of killed is not ascertained.
5. Two men from Fort Wayne arrived in a
boat with flour &
pork--am informed that Capt. Preston is
arrested by Col.
Hamtramck.
6. Mr. Strother & myself strolled
on the east side of the Glaize
as far as the stone quarry, where we
attempted to cross; but
the water proving deeper & the
current stronger than we ex-
pected, we tho't it prudent to return
by the route we went.
Strawberries plenty.
7. The two men who arrived from Fort
Wayne on the 5th inst
departed early this morning. 4 Ottawas
arrived from below--
they mention that 2 of their Chiefs
& a considerable number
of young men will be at this place
tomorrow.
8. The Great Ladies of the Delawares
dined with Mr. P.P., [Piercy
Pope] who has divorced Miss Nancy.
9. The Chiefs & several others of
the putawatome's with Mr
LeChambre63 their
interpreter arrived on their way to HQ.
The Chfs [chiefs] & Interpreter
dine & sup at our Quarters:
those Indians brought in Corpl. Jones
of the 1st. SL, Davison
of the same S.L. & Miller of the 3d
SL. The first a prisoner;
the others deserters from us.
10. Mr. LeChambre breakfasted with us,
after wch he departs with
the Putawatomes for Greeneville. wrote
to Mr Lee. Capt. B.
Gaines64 arrives with three
boats laden with provisions, &c.
recd. a letter from Dr. Elliot.
11. Major Cushing with three boats departed
for Ft. Wayne for a
further supply of provisions--I
accompanied him as far as the
Delaware Camp to visit a sick Chief.
63 Another trader of Miamitown in 1790, he signed the treaty of Greene
Ville as
R. Lachambre.
64 Bernard Gaines, of Virginia, 1st Sub Legion.
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 169
12. Return from the Delaware Camp about
10 o'Clock AM--found
several Shawanoes & Ottawas at the
Fort.
13. A man in the QM's employ, who was
engaged with two others
in driving 40 head of Cattle from HQ.
to this place, arrived
in the afternoon & informs that
about day-break this morng
they were fired on by a party of
Indians & that he made his
escape by leaping thro' the
bullock-pen; he imagines there were
8 or 10 Indians--He likewise mentions
that a report prevailed
at Greeneville that a Mr Wilson in the
QM's employ was killed
a few days since by the savages between
Forts St. Clair &
Hamilton65--A pretty
prospect of peace!
14. Nekskorwetor & a young Ottawa
departed for HQ. with letters
informing of the above transaction--two
soldiers also took
letters to Col. Hamtramck on the same
business. wrote to
Mr Lee.
15. Three men arrived from Fort Adams
with the herd of Cattle
that were interrupted the 13th inst. It
seems that one of the
old party was killed; & the other
having made his escape to Ft.
Adams induced Mr Brick66 to
forward some of his men to
collect & drive the Cattle to this
place: It is remarkable that
not one of the drove was lost.
16. Major Hunt & myself eat roasted
Chickens for the first time
at this place--they were some of our
own raising from poultry
the Indians left at this place in their
precipitate flight last
summer.
17. The three men, who drove the Cattle
to this place, departed for
Fort Adams, one of wch, in a short time
after returned, not
being able to cross one of the Creeks.
Major Cushing returned
from Fort Wayne with two laden
boats--Recd. Letters from
Capt. Webb & Doct. Elliot.
18. Mr. DeLisle, two other Frenchmen,
two Chipewas, two Legion-
ary Soldiers, who after having deserted
from us enlisted in the
British service; then quitted the
latter & returned to us arrived
65 Fort St. Clair was about forty-five
miles north of Cincinnati and Fort Hamilton
about twenty-five miles to the south of
Fort St. Clair. Both were built as supply bases,
Fort Hamilton in 1791 and Fort St. Clair
in 1792.
66 John Brick, a provisional ensign.
170
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
this day, as also Col. McKee's67 negro
servant. Our Interpreter
set off to meet a party of putawatome's
(who were ascending
the Miamis on their way to the treaty)
with a supply of
provisions.
19. Three other Frenchmen with the
party of Putawatome's to
wch we forwarded provisions yesterday
arrived. we learn by
the Frenchmen that Col. McKee's negro
was sent by Capt
Elliot (of the British Indn. Dept) for
the purpose of watching
the motions of the Indians at the
treaty; since wch discovery,
the negro has been closely confined.
Polly Locker, (wife or
Dulcinea to a soldier) was confined for
disobedience of Majr.
Hunt's orders. Two Delawares
arrived--they inform that they
met the two men who effected the recent
mischief between
Forts St Clair & Hamilton--that one
was a white man; the
other an Indian lately liberated from
captivity at Greeneville
by Genl. Wayne. Gratitude is a
pretty thing.
20. Mr. Pope, with a party took charge
of the two Deserters &
Col. McKee's negro & ascended the
river for Fort Wayne.
wrote to Dr Elliot--so cold I ordered a
fire to be made in my
room. Dr. Scott's68 old
waiter, who deserted from the army
last autumn, returned.
21. The Frenchmen & Indians
departed for Greeneville. wrote to
Capts Britt, Webb & Lieut. Lee. A
party of Shawanoes arrived
from Hunting, among wch is the man who
some time since
obliged a soldier belonging to this
Garrison to exchange rifles--
The Indian with much reluctance
restored the public gun &
retook his own.
22. Messrs. Abbot junr & Kinsey69
& shortly after Blue Jacket &
Laselle arrived from Detroit--Abbot
very much of Gentleman;
67 Alexander McKee was the British deputy superintendent general of Indian
affairs.
A native Pennsylvanian and an official
in the British Indian service before the Revo-
lution, he remained loyal to the British
and eventually became one of their leading
Indian agents.
68 John M. Scott, of New Jersey, surgeon, 2d Sub Legion.
69 James Abbott, Jr., was a partner of his father in the Detroit trading
company of
James Abbott and Sons. He later was
postmaster of Detroit and associate judge of the
district court of Huron and Detroit.
Kinsey was John Kinzie, a Detroit
trader. He eventually settled at Fort Dearborn,
at the mouth of the Chicago River, where
his trading business prospered.
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 171
Majr. Hunt & myself invite them to
tarry with our mess during
their stay at this post. Mr. Abbot,
having a wish to visit Maj.
Gushing at his room, requested me to
accompany him, wch I
reluctantly complied with being
unwilling that a stranger
should know that two American Officers
were at variance
about a w--e [Anthony Wayne?].
23. Blue Jacket & Laselle departed
for Fort Wayne. Nekskorwetor
arrived from H.Q. recd a letter from
Lieut. Lee.
24. Barney McCarney, my waiter, having
expressed a wish to
enjoy this day, I gave him 3 quarts of
whiskey for himself &
friends & promised not to call on
him on my business for the
day.
25. Two putawatome's, (one of them a
chief) who arrived this
day dined with us. Agushewa (a chief)
with 24 Ottawas ar-
rived; as also a man by the name of
McPherson70 with a Del-
aware Indian from a party, who were on
their way up, re-
questing Majr. Hunt to forward them
some provisions as the
British had absolutely refused to grant
any further supplies
to those who were determined to attend
the treaty--McPherson
informs that all the Savages are in
motion for H.Q.
26. Agushewa, &c. dined with
us--Agushewa is the head Chief of
the Ottawas & has much influence
over the other tribes.
27. Agushewa having requested Majr.
Hunt to assemble the officers
of the Garrison at his room, made a
long speech on the rectitude
of the intentions of his nation &
concluded by presenting his
pipe of peace to each individual to
take a whiff from that
desirable Calumet--he with his party
departed for Greeneville.
After dinner Mr. Abbot having presented
us with 3 or 4 bottles
London Porter, we invited the officers
to attend & participate
in this piece of luxury. Majr. Cushing
& myself started an
argument on this Question--Whether a
man possessing some
advantage from the locality of his
situation could be deprived
of that advantage by the public (the
right of the public not
disputed) without his deeming it a
hardship? I held the
Negative, on wch Majr. Gushing observed
with some asperity
70 John McPherson, a Detroit trader.
172
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
that no man who would support the
negative could be pos-
sess'd of common honesty, so much for
old scrapes.
28. Mr. Abbot let my laundress have to
the amt. [amount] of
3 Dolls.
29. Messrs. Abbot & Kinsey for the
H.Q. & myself for Ft. Wayne
departed.
30. On the river--Musketoes
plenty--some rain.
THE ANDREWS
JOURNAL 173
MET. OBS. NOTED
AT FORT DEFIANCE, FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1795
Date Variations of the weather Winds.
1. fair - overcast -
cloudy - fair & pleasant South.
2. fair & pleasant
- small rain Ditto
3. Thunder - cloudy -
fair - thunder - rain WSW
4. Thunder - cloudy -
fair & warm Ditto
5. Fair &
pleasant East.
6. Fair & pleasant
- warm WSW
7. Fair - thunder -
rain East.
8. Fair - pleasant
& warm - cloudy - thunder Ditto
9. Fair, pleasant
& warm - cloudy - thunder WSW
10. Cloudy - fair
& pleasant East
11. Cloudy Ditto
12. Cloudy - rain -
fair - overcast - thunder ESE
13. Rain & cloudy
without rain alternately. Ditto
14. Cloudy - rain -
thunder - fair - cloudy Ditto
15. Rain - cloudy -
thunder - fair - rain - thunder SSW.
- West.
16. Cloudy - fine rain
- thunder - fair - rain. SSW
17. Cloudy - fair West
18. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
19. Fair - cloudy -
small rain Ditto
20. Cloudy - fair -
cold - cloudy - small rain SE
21. Fair &
pleasant - doudy - thunder - showery WSW
22. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
23. Fair &
pleasant ESE
24. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
25. Fair &
pleasant SSE
26. Fair &
pleasant North
27. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
28. Fair &
pleasant ESE
29. Fair - cloudy -
thunder - rain SW.
30. Showery & fair
alternately Ditto
Rain 12 Thunder 10
174 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY |
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 175
DIURNAL OCCURRENCES AT & NEAR FORT
DEFIANCE FOR THE MONTH
OF JULY, 1795. JULY, 1795 - 31
DAYS
1. On the Miamis river ascending
towards Fort Wayne, much har-
rassed by the musketoes & greatly
incommoded by the quantity
2. of goods in the boat.
3. Arrived at Fort Wayne about 12
OClock--dined with Col.
Hamtramck; Majr. Vigo72 &
Capt Prior dined there. Recd. in-
vitations from Col. Hamtramck, Capts Porter & Greaton73
&
Doct Elliot to make their houses my
home during my stay at
their post.
4. This anniversary of American
Independence was ushered in by
the discharge of 15 rounds--Dined with
Col Hamtramck, the
Commdt., who entertained all the
Gentlemen of the Garrison
& several strangers--after dinner
15 sentimental toasts were
drank, during wch 150 rounds from the
Artillery were played
off in full view of the Col's dining
room. A Ball & 15 shells
closed the amusement of the day.
5.
6. Passed my time very agreeably at Fort
Wayne visiting the
7. Gardens, ice house, Prairie &
other objects of curiosity in the
8. vicinity of that post. Very politely
treated by every officer of
9.
10
the place.
11. Borrowed a Canoe of Messrs. McNiff
& Askwith,74 two Gent.
from Detroit & descended the river
for Defiance, attended by
my waiter [,] Messrs. Kean &
Reynolds, wch last agreed to
work the boat for their passage as they
had business to transact
at the post to wch I was bound.
72 Francis Vigo, a fur trader at
Vincennes. Living in St. Louis at the time of George
Rogers Clark's expedition against the
British posts north of the Ohio River during
the Revolution, Vigo rendered great
service to Clark, chiefly by way of supplies and
financial aid. He became a large
landholder at Vincennes and a close friend of
William Henry Harrison after Harrison moved there as
governor of Indiana Territory
in 1801.
73 Richard H. Greaton, of Massachusetts,
2d Sub Legion.
74 Patrick McNiff and John Askwith were
engaged in a speculative venture in Indian
lands. They were bound for Greene Ville
to see Wayne.
176
THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
12. On the water between Forts Wayne
& Defiance, musketoes
plenty--conversation insipid--but game very plenty, we
13. having Venison or turkey each day.
14. Arrived at Fort Defiance, where I
felt all the pleasure that can
be derived from residing where business
demands one's
presence.
15. The Officers of the Garrison &
Doct. Davis75 dined with our
Mess.
16. Doct. Davis, who arrived from Fort
Wayne the 28th ulto. to
accommodate me in my visit to that post
departed for Ft.
Wayne, I sent Major Hunt's waiter with
him to procure 25
lbs brown sugar I had engaged of Capt.
Godfrey, a Detroit
Mercht. @ 1/Y.C. per lb.76 Wrote
to Doct. Elliot. Anty
Sheane, our Indn. Interpreter, departed
for Greeneville--wrote
Lieut Lee.
17. Two men arrived from Fort Wayne--they informed us they
were sent with 12 beeves; but having
slept rather sound the
night before, the beeves had decamped--vigilance
is a fine
thing. Nekskorwetor departed for Swan
Creek & Detroit, I
requested Capt Godfrey to give him a
memo. on his Clk for
150 lbs brown sugar @ 1/pr lb & one
pound hyson tea.
18. No new occurrence--dined at home.
19. Dined with Messrs. Pope &
Strother--Several Shawanoes ar-
rived with the avowed intention of
settlg. in the vicinity of
this post.
20. Three British Deserters arrived
from the post at the foot of
the rapids--they say they were hard
pushed by several Indians
in the British interest--An Indn., late
from Snakestown, says
there are at that place about 150
Shawanoes & that we may
expect them tomorrow.
21. Red-Pole (a Chief) with 140
Shawanoes arrived here on their
75 David Davis, probably a contract
surgeon at the time of the writing of this
journal, later surgeon's mate, 1st Sub Legion.
76 Capt. Godfrey was Gabriel Godfroy, a prominent Detroit trader. The
price of
the sugar was one shilling, or twelve
and one half cents, per pound in New York state
money. The "Y.C." presumably
stands for "York Currency."
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 177
way to the treaty. Red-pole is quite a
manly well-behaved fellow
& is the head Chief of the
Shawanoes.
22. Several Monsees, Mingoes, Wyandots
& Mohawks arrived; the
last brought in several white
prisoners. Agreeably to an in-
vitation from Red-pole & by
permission of Major Hunt at-
tended an Indn. Dance about 200 yards
from the Fort--It is
very pleasing to observe their
regularity & exactness in their
motions.
23. The Officers of the Garrison, Red
pole & several other Shawanoe
Chiefs dined at our Quarters--Recd.
Letters from Capts Britt,
Porter, Webb--Lieut Lee, Ens. Swaine
& Doct. Elliot.
24. The Shawanoese departed for
Greeneville--wrote to Messrs.
Lee, Swaine & Capt Britt. Barney
Martin [?] who was taken
from this post last autumn arrived here
with one Tate,77 a
messenger from Mr Elliot to procure
Col. McKee's negro--
wrote to Doct Elliot & Capt.
Porter, & forwarded them a
quantity of Turnip seed.
25. Tate having come into Major Hunt's
quarters to explain the
business of his mission, in the course
of conversation took it
into his head to descant largely on the
riches of Elliot &
McKee, whom we imagine to have been the
cause of all the
horrors & cruelty attending the war
with the Savages; Lieut
Pope observed that they were both d--d
rascals: Tate said he
could not bear that, & begging to
be excused, turned on his
heels & immediately left the Fort;
but Major being informed
that he was outside of the Fort busily
engaged in conversation
with some Indians & endeavouring to
persuade the British
Deserters to return, sent the Serjt. of
the guard to him with
orders to quit the place immediately,
with wch he complied
uttering imprecations agt. every thing
& body about this place.
26. Eat the first Green Corn for the
season.
27. Went to visit several sick Indians.
28. Wrote to Doct. Elliot--Eat Lamb for
the first time this season.
77 David
Tait.
178 THE OHIO
HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
29. Arrived from Detroit Messrs. Allan
& Ruland78 on their way to
Greeneville, they tarried by invitation
at our Quarters--Allan,
it appears was born in Vermont, has
been several years at &
about the Genesee & Detroit &
speculated largely in Lands
for Robt. Morris & others--he
appears to be a staunch friend
to America.
30. Allan & Ruland departed for
Greeneville.
31. Dined at home perfectly free from
Company; a Luxury we
seldom enjoy.
78 Ebenezer Allen and Israel Ruland were involved in the same speculation
in
Indian lands as Patrick McNiff and John Askwith.
THE ANDREWS
JOURNAL 179
MET. OBS. NOTED AT FORT DEFIANCE FOR JULY 1795.
Dates Variations of the weather. Winds.
1. Rain - fair West.
2. Cloudy - fair Ditto
3. Fair & pleasant SE
4. Fair & pleasant Ditto
5. Fair & pleasant Ditto
6. Fair & pleasant East
7. Fair & pleasant ESE
8. Fair & pleasant NE
9. Fair & pleasant WSW
10. Fair &
pleasant West
11. Fair &
pleasant South
12. Fair &
pleasant ESE
13. Fair &
pleasant - cloudy - thunder - rain SW
14. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
15. Fair &
pleasant East
16. Fair &
pleasant SE
17. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
18. Fair &
pleasant - Cloudy - thunder - fair SW
19. Fair &
pleasant - Cloudy - thunder Ditto
20. Cloudy - fair -
cold - cloudy - small rain
21. Fair &
pleasant - cloudy - thunder - small shower WSW
22. Fair &
pleasant - cloudy - thunder - small shower Ditto
23. Cloudy - steady
rain SW
24. Rain - fair WSW
25. Fair - pleasant -
warm East
26. Cloudy - thunder -
fair Ditto
27. Fair &
pleasant WSW
28. Fair - cool -
cloudy - fair Ditto
29. Fair & cool Ditto
30. Fair & cool ESE
31. Fair & cool SE
Rain 7 Thunder 7
180 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY |
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 181
DIURNAL OCCURRENCES AT & NEAR FT.
DEFIANCE FOR THE MONTH
OF AUGUST, 1795. AUGUST, 1795 - 31 DAYS.
1. Nothing
new--We dine at home without any Company--feel
2.
3. happy & enjoy ourselves
perfectly.
4. Accompanied by Mr. Strother &
agreeably to the request of
Major Hunt, I went to the Delaware Camp
to visit a sick
soldier stationed there & several
sick Indians. Mr. S. & myself
raised & joined in a dance with the
Tawney Ladies &
Gentlemen.
5. Returned to the Fort--Recd Letters
from Dr Elliot & Capt
Porter; & from the latter my watch
& 38 Dolls wch were
forwarded by Mr Lee to Fort Wayne &
wch closes all accounts
between Lieut. Robt. Lee & myself.
Paid Capt Gaines 10 Dolls
in full for money borrowd of him to pay
for 8 bottles London
Porter for the 4th July. Mr. Pope with
a party & the white
prisoners who were bro't in the 22d
ulto. departed for Fort
Wayne--lent Mr P. two bottles
whiskey--forwarded a large
quantity of turnip seeds to Capt.
Porter & Doct. Elliot.
6. Paid Nancy Leonard ( a soldier's
damsel) three Dollars in full
for making shirts & other demands.
7. A man by the name of Mitchell
arrived in pursuit of his sister
who had been prisoner for some time
among the savages; but
she had left this place with Lt. Pope
the 5th Inst. Mr. M.
informs that the treaty is settled to
the mutual satisfaction of
both parties. thank God.
8. Mitchell departed for H.Q. via Fort
Wayne--wrote to Capt
Porter, Doct. Elliot & Lieut. Lee.
9. Warm & Sultry--The atmosphere
laden with insects.
10. The Cow belonging to our Mess has
produced a fine calf--what
is somewhat unusual, we made use of her
milk last Evening
for Milk punch. Mr. Comy Wilson
departed for Greeneville,
purposing to tarry 3 weeks--wrote to
Capt Britt & Ensign
Swaine.
11. Nekskorwetor & family arrived
from below--recd. by him 150
lb of brown sugar @ 1/ & one pound
bohea tea @ 8/ on a/c
182 THE OHIO HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
of Capt Godfrey. Mr. Allan & John
Haskins junr.79 (Detroit
Gent.) returned from Greeneville, both
very much disgusted
with the event of their Journey--It
seems the former was on
the land jobbg business & could not
get his claims confirmed by
Genl. Wayne for the best reason in the
world--The Genl. had
not authority--Mr. Haskins, on the same
business, was so un-
fortunate as to have a letter
intercepted (from his father), by
Genl. Wayne, in wch the young man, who
had great influence
with the Indians,80 was
directed by no means to let that nation
sign the treaty until Genl. Wayne had
confirmed their sales
& gifts of lands to ye. sd.
Haskins; Genl. Wayne took no further
notice of the Letter than to forbid him
from attending the
treaty, wch so much disgusted the youth
that he requested
permission to return home; the Genl.
told him to have every
thing in readiness against the Morng.
& to call on him for a
pass, with wch he complied--the Genl.
then told him he had
permission to go to Fort Jefferson
& stay 'till the treaty was con-
cluded; & that a party of light
horse would accompany him to
that Fort.
12. The Rivers much lower than they
have been since our residence
at this Post.
13. Informed of the death of the
British Capt Monsee81 at the post
at the foot of the rapids.
14. A French Gentleman, by the name of
Barron82 dined at our
Quarters--This Gent. is from Detroit
& appears to be a decent,
lively, jovial fellow.
15. Mr. Pope arrived from Fort Wayne
laden with provisions--
recd. Letter from Doct. Elliot & a
seal with the initials of my
name from Capt Porter.
16. Several Indians returned from the
treaty with much apparent
satisfaction.
79 John Askin, Jr., was the son by an Indian woman of John Askin, a leading
Detroit merchant-trader.
80 The
word "Shawanoes" is lined out here and "Indians" written
over it. It was
the Ottawas and Chippewas in whom the
Askins were interested.
81 Paul Mounsy, 24th British Regiment.
82 Michel
Baron, of Detroit and later of River Raisin.
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 183
17. A number of putawatome's returned
from the treaty surcharged
with presents & pleasure (if
possible).
18. Capt Godfrey, Messrs. Navarre,
Boubion,83 LeChambre, &c.
with several Indians arrived from
Greeneville; they dine at our
Quarters. Recd. a pr. of Moccasins of
Mr. Barron & a pipe
from LeChambre as Compliments. Paid
Capt Godfrey 22 Dolls
37 1/2 Cents in full for 175 lbs brown
sugar & one pound
bohea tea. they depart.
19. Messrs. Tappon Laselle & Sans
Creinte84 arrived from Greene-
ville--they dined at our Quarters. It
seems their intention on
leaving Greeneville was to go to Fort
Wayne, but having lost
their way they struck this place.
20. This being the Anniversary of Genl.
Wayne's action with the
Savages near the British post; The
Commdt. issued orders for
every man to receive a jill of whiskey
extra & for the discharge
of 15 rounds from the Artillery at 12
oClock--The Officers,
Gent. of the Garrison & the french
Gent. dined with our mess on
roasted pig & fry'd Chickens.
21. Messrs. Kinsey & Koko Laselle
arrived from H.Q. lodged, &c at
our Quarters. had a fire in my room on
account of the ex-
ceedingly damp, cool, disagreeable
weather--The Ague85 com-
menced among the soldiery of the
Garrison--Mr. Delisle ar-
rived from H.Q. tarries, by invitation,
at our house.
22. Anthy Sheane, our Indn. Interpreter
arrived12 from Greeneville--
received a Letter from Lieut Lee. I was
this day about 12
oClock seized with the Ague.
23. Red-pole with a considerable number
of Shawanoes arrived
from H.Q. with 20 odd horses laden with
presents--Red Pole
& 4 other Chiefs dine at our
Quarters--Great numbers of the
Shawanoes became intoxicated by means
of bartering the pres-
ents they received at Greeneville with
Mr. Felix, an Indian
83 Francois Navarre, a trader of
River Raisin, and Jean Baptiste Beaubien, a Detroit
trader. Both signed the treaty of Greene Ville.
84 Jean Baptiste Sans Scrainte, a Detroit trader who
signed the treaty of Greene
Ville as an interpreter.
85 The ague was malaria. It is the
"Febris Intermittens" which Andrews so formally
lists in his "State of the
Garrison" summaries.
184 THE OHIO HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
trader, for rum. Took an emetic this
day--had no chill, but had
a slight fever.
24. Major Hunt sent to Felix, requiring
him to restore the presents
to the Indians & to depend on their
generosity for payment in
peltry. Sent Mr. Pope 37 lbs brown
sugar left in my hands for
him by Capt Godfrey. had the ague
violently.
25. Mr. Felix reluctantly restored the
Goods to the Shawanoes--A
great part of them departed--A party of
men from Fort Wayne
arrived at this place with 40 head of
beeves--Recd a Letter
from Dr. Elliot--had the ague badly.
26. Mr. Abbot arrived from Fort
Wayne--he brought a newspaper
containing Mr Jay's treaty with the
British--Mr. Abbot tarries
in our mess. I this day had the ague
very hard.
27. Paid Mr. Abbot 7 Dollars in full of
all demands. The Officers
dined with us on roasted pig--being
determined not to lose
the dinner of my favorite fish, I drank
9 wine glassfulls of
bark86 & whiskey before
dinner--Serjt. Willard arrived from
the French stores very ill &
delirious with the typhus, notwith-
standing every exertion he died at 12
oClock at night. I am
perfectly free from the Ague. Three
periauges arrived from
Fort Wayne laden with flour.
28. Gave Mr Abbot a memo. to procure me
300 lbs flour, 1 lb
hyson tea & one bbl cyder--Mr. A.
departed for Detroit. Mr.
McDougall87 arrived from
Greeneville--tarries with our
Mess--He appears to be rattle headed,
wild volatile tho genteel
man. The fever has settled in my left
eye.
19. A party from Mr. Frothingham's88
detachment, (the whole of
wch is destined for this post) arrived
from Fort Wayne with
bullocks.
30. Several Indians arrived from Fort
Wayne.
86 Either cinchona or some other bark.
Cinchona bark was commonly used in the
treatment of malaria. It is the source
of quinine.
87 George McDougall, a trader of Detroit. He later in the year established
a trading
post at Fort Defiance.
88 Ensign Peter Frothingham, 4th Sub
Legion. Ensign Frothingham, who was ap-
pointed from the Northwest Territory,
may have been a son of Ebenezer Frothingham,
a Revolutionary soldier from
Connecticut, who, as a lieutenant, was killed in
General Harmar's campaign of 1790.
THE ANDREWS JOURNAL 185
31. Ensign Peter Frothingham with a
detachment from Greeneville
via Fort Wayne arrived with several
boats laden with flour
from the last mentioned place. He joins
the Mess of Pope &
Strother--As it has been observed that
Mr. Frothingham is a
very religious man; I think no man will
envy him the devotional
felicity he can derive in the Mess of
the two wild Virginians--
But it was Hobson's choice with Mr.
Frothingham.
186 THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
MET. OBS. NOTED AT
FORT DEFIANCE FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1795.
Dates Variations
of the weather
Winds.
1. Fair - cloudy -
shower - fair SSE
2. Fair &
pleasant - cloudy - thunder SW
3. Fair &
pleasant - cloudy - thunder Ditto
4. Fair &
pleasant SE
5. Fair &
pleasant - Cloudy Ditto
6. Fair &
pleasant NW
7. Fair & Cloudy
alternately SW
8. Fair - Cloudy -
rain SSW
9. Cloudy & fair
alternately - warm & sultry Ditto
10. Cloudy & fair
alternately - warm West
11. Overcast - cool -
cloudy & fair by turns ENE
12. Fair - cloudy -
thunder - wind & rain NE
13. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
14. Fair &
pleasant ENE
15. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
16. Fair &
pleasant Ditto
17. Fair &
pleasant NW.
18. Fair - cloudy -
thunder - rain WSW.
19. Fair - cloudy -
rain East.
20. Steady cold rain Ditto
21. Cloudy - cold -
fair - cloudy Ditto
22. Cloudy - damp -
cool Ditto
23. Cloudy - fair -
thunder - cloudy - rain SW
24. Cloudy- damp -
fair Ditto
25. Fair - overcast -
fair NE
26. Fair - Cloudy Ditto
27. Fair - overcast -
fair West
28. Fair & warm Ditto
29. Fair - cloudy -
thunder - rain SW
30. Fair &
pleasant West
31. Fair - doudy -
rain SW
[The Andrews
journal will be concluded in the next issue.]