Ohio History Journal

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

PUBLICATIONS.

 

 

 

 

THE   INDIAN    TRIBES    OF  OHIO -HISTORICALLY

CONSIDERED.

 

A PRELIMINARY PAPER BY WARREN KING MOOREHEAD,

MEMBER OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE.

 

PREFACE.

In looking through a large number of historical and ethno-

logical books recently, I was impressed by the fact that we have

no single work devoted exclusively to Ohio Indians, and that the

student of the tribes of the Ohio Valley in historic times must

peruse numerous volumes and pamphlets in order to gain a com-

prehensive knowledge of them from 1600 down to 1840. The

State Archaeological and Historical Society has published much

upon archaeology and history, but it has not written the record

of the Indians and their relations toward each other and toward

the whites.

I have thought to assume the preparation of a history of

the Ohio Indians, and therefore offer these pages as a prelim-

inary paper, or a condensation of the subject. It is not possible,

in fact, to present the matter properly and in such form as its

importance demands in less than three or four volumes.

This paper, while a compilation - as all American Indian

histories must be - is the result of an endeavor to bring into

compact form for the student and general reader, nearly all that

 

1.

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has been written by travelers, historians, captives, ethnologists,

missionaries, etc., upon Ohio tribes. I have aimed to select the

best and most trustworthy authors. It will be seen that a num-

ber of names are omitted from my foot-note references. They

may be well known to many readers as writers who are quoted

in various popular books.

A number of points (relating to tribes 1600 to 1700) are un-

der discussion among historians and ethnologists and there may

be some exceptions taken to a few of my statements. I have

tried to submit only facts, or conclusions backed by proper refer-

ences, and if errors are found, shall stand corrected.

 

THE INDIAN TRIBES OF OHIO.

History in the Ohio Valley may be properly said to begin

with La Salle's expedition of 1667. In that year he discovered

and descended the Ohio. In April, 1682, at the mouth of the

Mississippi, he claimed all the Mississippi Valley for the French

crown, and in the name of Louis XIV took formal possession.

In his speech he names the Shawanoes and the Allegheny River

in particular. Thus we may assume that he was familiar with

both the tribes and the larger streams of the Ohio region.

There is another reference to the region, but whether we

can accept it as an absolute historical record remains to be

seen.

Sir John Hawkins' expedition of 1586 was disbanded in

Nicaragua and some of his sailors made their way north through

Mexico and then east across North America to within fifty miles

of Cape Breton, where a French fishing vessel picked them up.1

Historian Fernow thinks that they passed through the Ohio

Valley. If so, they were the first white men to enter that ter-

ritory. These men published an account of their adventures

some years later. Like most of our narratives written by cap-

tives and travelers the book is of no value either to historians or

ethnologists. They had an opportunity to immortalize them-

selves, but they seemed to have no intelligent conception of the

lands, peoples and languages of their wanderings.

1The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days, Berthold Fernow. Albany,

1890.  P. 10.

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.               3

 

"A Shawanoe chief from the valley of the Ohio, whose fol-

lowing embraced a hundred and fifty warriors, came to ask the

protection of the French against the all-destroying Iroquois.

'The Shawanoes are too distant,' was La Salle's reply: 'but let

them come to me at the Illinois, and they shall be safe.' 2 The

Shawanoes, to the number of some two hundred or more lodges,

did move there and are shown on La Salle's map, 1684.

In 1879 Robert Clarke and Company, of Cincinnati, pub-

lished "Some Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio", by General

M. F. Force. Along with another paper, it contains seventy-five

pages and is the best report upon the historic Indians of Ohio

that we have. Professor James Mooney of the Bureau of Eth-

nology, Professor Lucien Carr of the Peabody Museum, Pro-

fessor Cyrus Thomas of the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Daniel

G. Brinton of the University of Pennsylvania, and many others,

have written much upon Algonkin and Iroquoian stocks both

of tribes and sub-tribes which once lived in Ohio, or passed

through the state while upon their journeys. But I think that

Rev. Heckewelder, the famous missionary, and Col. James Smith

have given us about the best description of the Ohio tribes; that

is, from the standpoint of personal contact. Parkman must not

be omitted from the list. A short, but important article entitled,

"Early Indian Migration in Ohio", by Judge C. C. Baldwin, ap-

peared in the American Antiquarian of April, 1879, pages 227-

23₉^.3

The Algonkin stocks seem to have lived in Ohio at a very

early period. Dr. Brinton says that they occupied more ter-

ritory than any other confederacy.⁴ They extended over the

whole of Newfoundland and into Labrador, down the Atlantic

coast, along Hudson Bay, and roamed over the water-shed of

2La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West. Parkman, 1869.

Boston. P. 265.

3 Judge Baldwin, in his article, speaks of a map made by Colonel

Charles C. Whittlesey, in which he showed the distribution of the Indian

tribes. The Judge's paper was read before the State Archaeological

Society in September, 1878. Aside from the reprint in the Antiquarian,

I find no mention of his valuable production among state papers.

4The Leni Lenape and their Legends, Brinton, Philadelphia, '85,

pages 1 to 22.

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the St. Lawrence. The Blackfeet carried their tongue to the

Rocky Mountains, while in the Ohio Valley lived the Sha-

wanoes and upon the upper Mississippi the Illinois.

Cabins of logs, villages surrounded by high palisades and

cultivated fields characterize these tribes, and place them above

those who were merely roving hunters. Dr. Horatio Hale, the

eminent Canadian ethnologist, thought that the Cherokees once

lived in Ohio - say in the fourteenth century. Dr. Cyrus

Thomas is also of the same opinion, but there are others who

doubt it.

In 1848 Dr.Albert Gallatin published a map showing the dis-

tribution of tribes as his researches led him to locate them for

the year 1600. He gives Ohio largely to the Iroquois and places

the Eries along the shore of Lake Erie.5

In his "Indians of Ohio", Gen. Force states that the Eries

were exterminated by the Iroquois (or Five Nations) in 1656,

and that for nearly fifty years afterwards Ohio was not inhab-

ited.⁶ A tribe may not have made Ohio its permanent home

during that period, but surely Gen. Force will not claim that

there were no hunting or war parties passing through the state

during these years.

Relations des Jesuites, 1654-1658, Quebec, tell us much re-

garding the Eries, Hurons and Iroquois before guns and other

European articles were largely introduced. The Relation for

1648 states that the Eries or Cat Nation are so called because

of the presence of a "prodigious number of wildcats, two or three

times as large as our tame cats, but having a beautiful and

precious fur." The Jesuites state that the war was brought on

by the action of an unreasonable young woman. They say that

1200 Iroquois left Onontague and marched to the Cat Nation

frontier. The natives all fled to one large town, where they for-

tified themselves. "The enemy made his approaches. The two

principal chiefs, clothed like Frenchmen, displayed themselves,

to strike terror by the novelty of this dress. One of them, bap-

tized by father Le Moine, and well instructed, mildly summoned

the besieged to surrender to save their destruction which would

5 Transactions of the American Eethnological Society.

Some Early Notices of the Indians of Ohio.

• 4
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              5

 

follow an assault. 'The Master of Life fights for us,' said he;

'you and I are lost if you resist.' 'Who is this master of our

lives?' proudly answered the besieged. 'We recognize none but

our arms and our hatchets.' Thereupon the assault is begun.

The palisade is attacked on all sides and is as well defended as

attacked.

"The besiegers tried to carry the place by storm, but in

vain; they are killed as fast as they show themselves. They re-

solved to use their canoes as shields. They carried these in front

and thus sheltered they reached the foot of the intrenchment.

But it was necessary to clear the great beams or trees of which

it was built. They slant their canoes and use them as ladders to

mount the great palisade. This boldness so astonished the be-

sieged that, their armament being already exhausted, for their

supply was small, especially powder, they thought to retreat and

this was their ruin. For the first fugutives being mostly killed,

the rest were surrounded by the Iroquois, who, entered the fort

and made such a carnage of women and children that the blood

in some places was knee deep."

The Relation continues that a remnant of the Eries fled and

that most captives were burnt by the Iroquois.

The account of Wm. Ketchum in "Buffalo and the Senecas"

is different from the above.⁷  Because of its interest, I quote

it in full.

"The Eries were among the most powerful and warlike of

all the Indian tribes. They resided on the south side of the great

lake which bears their name, at the foot of which now stands the

city of Buffalo; the Indian name for which was Te-osah-wa.

"When the Eries heard of the confederation which had been

formed between the Mohawks, (who subsequently resided in the

valley of the river of that name) the Oneidas, the Onondagas,

the Cayugas, and the Senecas, who also resided for the most part

upon the shores and outlets of the lakes bearing their names re-

spectively, (called by the French the Iroquois Nation) they im-

agined it must be for some mischievous purpose. Although con-

fident of their superiority over any one of the tribes inhabiting

7 "Buffalo and the Senecas," William Ketchum, Vol. I, Chap. II.

Buffalo, '81.

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the countries within the bounds of their knowledge, they dreaded

the power of such combined forces. In order to satisfy them-

selves in regard to the character, disposition, and power of those

they considered their natural enemies, the Eries resorted to the

following means:

"They sent a friendly message to the Senecas, who were

their nearest neighbors, inviting them to select one hundred of

their most active, athletic young men, to play a game of ball

against the same number to be selected by the Eries, for a wager

that should be considered worthy the occasion and the character

of the great nation in whose behalf the offer was made.

"The message was received and entertained in the most re-

spectful manner. A council of the Five Nations was called, and

the proposition fully discussed, and a messenger in due time dis-

patched with the decision of the council respectfully declining

the challenge.

"This emboldened the Eries, and the next year the offer was

renewed, and after being again considered, again formally de-

clined.

"This was far from satisfying the proud lords of the 'Great

Lake', and the challenge was renewed the third time. The blood

of the young Iroquois could no longer be restrained. They im-

portuned the old men to allow them to accept the challenge, and

the wise counsels that had hitherto prevailed at last gave way,

and the challenge was accepted. Nothing could exceed the en-

thusiasm with which each tribe sent forward its chosen cham-

pions for the contest. The only difficulty seemed to be, to make

a selection where all were so worthy. After much delay, one

hundred of the flower of all the 'Five Nations' were finally desig-

nated, and the day for their departure fixed. An experienced

chief was chosen as the leader of the party, whose orders the

young men were strictly enjoined to obey. A grand council

was called, and in the presence of the assembled multitude the

party was charged in the most solemn manner to observe a

pacific course of conduct towards their competitors, and the na-

tion whose guests they were to become, and to allow no provo-

cation, however great, to be resented by any act of aggression

on their part, but in all respects to acquit themselves in a manner

• 6
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              7

worthy of the representatives of a great and powerful people,

anxious to cultivate peace and friendship with their neighbors.

Under these injunctions the party took up its line of march for

Te-os-ha-wa.

"When the chosen band had arrived in the vicinity of the

point of their destination, a messenger was sent forward to no-

tify the Eries of their arrival, and the next day was to be set

apart for their grand entree.

"The elegant and athletic forms, the tasteful yet not cum-

brous dress, the dignified, noble bearing of their chief, and more

than all, the modest demeanor of the young warriors of the

Iroquois party, won the admiration of all beholders. They

brought no arms. Each bore a bat, used to throw or strike the

ball, tastefully ornamented -  being a hickory stick about five

feet long, bent over at the end, and a thong netting wove into

the bow. After a day of refreshment all things were ready for

the contest. The chief of the Iroquois brought forward and

deposited upon the ground a large pile of costly belts of wam-

pum, beautifully ornamented moccasins, rich beaver robes, and

other articles of great value in the eyes of the sons of the forest,

as the stake or wager, on the part of his people. These were

carefully matched, article by article, by the chief of the Eries,

tied together and again deposited in a pile. The game began,

and although contested with desperation and great skill by the

Eries, was won by the Iroquois, and they bore off the prize in

triumph. Thus ended the first day.

"The Iroquois having now accomplished the object of their

visit, proposed to take their leave. But the chief of the Eries,

addressing himself to the leader said, their young men, though

fairly beaten in the game of ball, would not be satisfied unless

they could have a foot race, and proposed to match ten of their

number against an equal number of the Iroquois party, which

was assented to, and the Iroquois were again victorious.

"The Kaw-Kaws, who resided on or near the Eighteen Mile

Creek, being present as the friends of the Eries, invited the Iro-

quois to visit their village before they returned home, and thither

the whole company repaired.

"The chief of the Eries, evidently dissatisfied with the result

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of the several contests already decided, as a last and final result

of the courage and prowess of his guests, proposed to select ten

men, to be matched by the same number to be selected from the

Iroquois party, to wrestle, and that the victor should dispatch

his adversary on the spot by braining him with a tomahawk, and

bearing off his scalp as a trophy.

"This sanguinary proposition was not at all pleasing to the

Iroquois. They, however, concluded to accept the challenge

with a determination - should they be victorious - not to exe-

cute the bloody part of the proposition. The champions were

accordingly chosen. A Seneca was the first to step into the ring,

and threw his adversary amidst the shouts of the multitude. He

stepped back and declined to execute his victim, who lay passive

at his feet. As quick as thought, the chief of the Eries seized

the tomahawk and with a single blow scattered the brains of his

vanquished warrior over the ground. His body was dragged

out of the way and another champion of the Eries presented

himself. He was as quickly thrown by his more powerful antag-

onist of the Iroquois party, and as quickly dispatched by the in-

furiated chief of the Eries. A third met the same fate. The

chief of the Iroquois party seeing the terrible excitement which

agitated the multitude, gave a signal to retreat. Every man

obeyed, and in a moment they were out of sight.

"In two hours they arrived at Te-osah-wa, gathered up the

trophies of their victories, and were on their way home.

"The visit of the hundred warriors of the Five Nations, and

its results, only served to increase the jealousy of the Eries, and

to convince them that they had powerful rivals to contend with.

It was no part of their policy to cultivate friendship and

strengthen their own power by cultivating peace and friendly

alliance with other tribes. They knew of no mode of securing

peace to themselves, but by exterminating all who opposed them.

But the combination of several powerful nations, any one of

which might be almost an equal match for them, and of whose

personal prowess they had witnessed such an exhibition, inspired

the Eries with the most anxious forebodings. To cope with

them collectively, they saw was impossible. Their only hope

therefore was in being able, by a sudden and vigorous move-

• 8
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             9

ment, to destroy them in detail. With this view a powerful war

party was immediately organized to attack the Senecas, whose

principal residence was at the foot of Seneca Lake, near the

present site of the village of Geneva. It happened that at this

period there resided among the Eries a Seneca woman, who in

early life had been taken prisoner, and had married a husband

of the Eries. He died and left her a widow without children, a

stranger among strangers. Seeing the terrible note of prepara-

tion for a bloody onslaught upon her kindred and friends, she

formed the resolution of apprising them of their danger.

"As soon as night set in, taking the course of the Niagara

river, she traveled all night, and early next morning reached the

shore of Lake Ontario. She jumped into a canoe she found fas-

tened to a tree and boldly pushed out into the open lake. Coast-

ing down the south shore of the lake, she arrived at Oswego

river in the night, near which a large settlement of her nation

resided. She directed her steps to the house of the head chief

and disclosed to him the object of her visit. She was secreted

by the chief, and runners were dispatched to all the tribes, sum-

moning them to meet in council immediately.

 

*      *      *      *

"No time was to be lost, delay might be fatal. A body of

five thousand warriors was formed, with a corps of reserve of

one thousand young men who had never been in battle. The

bravest chiefs from all the tribes were put in command, and spies

immediately sent out in search of the enemy; the whole body

taking up a line of march in the direction from whence they ex-

pected an attack.

"The advance of the war party was continued for several

days, passing through successively the settlements of their

friends, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas.  But

they had scarcely passed the last wigwam near the foot of

Can-an-da-gua lake, when their scouts brought in intelligence

of the advance of the Eries, who had already crossed the Chin-

issee-o (Genesee) river in large force.

"The Eries had not the slightest suspicion of the approach

of their enemies. They relied upon the secrecy and celerity of

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their movements to surprise and subdue the Senecas almost with-

out resistance.

"The two parties met about midway between Canandaigua

lake and the Genesee river, and near the outlet of two small

lakes, near the foot of one of which (the Honeyoye) the battle

was fought. When the two parties came in sight of each other,

the outlet of the lake only intervened between them. The entire

force of the Iroquois was not in view of the Eries. The reserve

corps of one thousand young men had not been allowed to ad-

vance in sight of the enemy. Nothing could exceed the impetu-

osity of the Eries at the first sight of an opposing force on the

opposite side of the stream. They rushed through it and fell

upon them with tremendous fury.

"Notwithstanding the undaunted courage and determined

bravery of the Iroquois warriors, they could not withstand such

a terrible onslaught, and they were compelled to yield the ground

on the bank of the stream. The whole force of the Iroquois,.

except the corps of reserve, now became engaged; they fought

hand to hand and foot to foot; the battle raged horribly, no

quarter was asked or given on either side. As the fight thick-

ened and became more and more desperate, the Eries, for the

first time became sensible of their true situation. What they had

long anticipated had become a fearful reality. Their enemies

had combined for their destruction, and they now found themselves

engaged suddenly and unexpectedly in a fearful struggle, which

involved not only their glory, but the very existence of their

nation. They were proud, and had hitherto been victorious

over all their enemies. Their power was felt and their superi-

ority acknowledged by all the surrounding tribes. They knew

how to conquer, but not to yield. All these considerations flashed

upon the minds of the bold Eries, and nerved every man with

almost superhuman power.

"On the other hand, the united forces of the weaker tribes,

now made strong by union, fired by a spirit of emulation, excited

to the highest pitch among the warriors of the different tribes,

brought for the first time to act in concert; inspired with zeal

and confidence by the counsel of the wisest chiefs, and led on

• 10
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             11

 

by the most experienced warriors of all the tribes, the Iroquois

were invincible.

"Though staggered at the first desperate onslaught of the

Eries, the Iroquois soon rallied and made a stand, and now the

din of battle rises higher and higher; the war club, the toma-

hawk and the scalping knife, wielded by herculean arms, do ter-

rible deeds of death.

"During the hottest of the battle, which was fierce and long,

the corps of reserve consisting of one thousand young men, were

by a skillful movement under their experienced chief and leader,

placed in rear of the Eries on the opposite side of the stream in

ambush.

"The Eries had been driven seven times across the stream,

and had as often regained their ground, but the eighth time, at a

given signal from their leader, the corps of reserve in ambush

rushed upon the almost exhausted Eries with a tremendous yell,

and at once decided the fortunes of the day. Hundreds dis-

daining to fly, were struck down by the war clubs of the vigorous

young warriors, whose thirst for the blood of the enemy knew

no bounds.

"Tradition adds that many years after, a powerful war party

of the descendants of the Eries came from beyond the Missis-

sippi, ascended the Ohio river, crossed the country, and attacked

the Senecas. A great battle was fought near this city, in which

the Eries were again defeated and slain to a man, and their

bodies were burned and the ashes buried in a mound which is

still visible near the old Indian Mission Church, a monument

of the indomitable courage of the terrible Eries, and their brave

conquerors, the Senecas."

And of these Eries, strange, interesting folk -  one of the

earliest tribes of which we have history -  we have no detail.

One authority says they are Algonkin, another denies the propo-

sition. They perished in the dawn of Ohio history, and we must

now turn from them to other and better known tribes of men.

The Shawanoes are more closely interwoven with Ohio's

history than any other nation. They produced two of the

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greatest men of the red race, Tecumtha⁸ and Cornstalk. They

were the implacable foes of the white race. The Shawanoes

never mustered more than three hundred warriors, yet they de-

feated our troops in more than twenty engagements. The story

of their life is written in blood; yet it is a record for which there

is ample justification. They were the real warriors, the dic-

tators, the backbone of all Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, and

upon them fell the brunt of nearly every battle, and they with-

stood the shock and tumult of conflict, brave men that they were.

I look over the pages of Indian history and see there the names

of the Shawanoes standing forth above all other names. Wrongs

and outrages unparalleled did they suffer. They paid back the

debt with interest, and all men of spirit irrespective of color or

culture-state would have done the same.

Gen. Force says that the Shawanoes first occur in history

about the year 1660, living along the Cumberland and Tennes-

see rivers. After reviewing much that has been published about

them, Dr. Thomas says:9

"As Parkman has observed, this tribe (the Shawanoes) pre-

sents one of the most puzzling problems of our early history.

But there is one fact apparently not properly appreciated which

should dispel much of the mystery of its movements and correct

the idea entertained in regard to its nomadic character.

"If we bear in mind the central position of the Shawnees,

the region of Kentucky and middle Tennessee, it can readily be

understood why notices of them appear in the records of early

days in so many different quarters. The French, moving west

along the line of the lakes and south along the Illinois and Mis-

sissippi, hear of them  by contact with wandering parties or

through intermediate tribes. And the same is true in regard to

travelers and early settlers east and south. Information con-

cerning them at so many widely different points has naturally

suggested the opinion that they were true nomads. Another

reason for this opinion is the fact that about the time they be-

8 On the authority of the Bureau of Ethnology, this being the

correct spelling and pronunciation.

9American Anthropologist, Vol. IV, p. 260, July, 1891. The Sha-

wanoes in Pre-Columbian Times.

• 12
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            13

 

came generally known to the colonists, they were attacked and

broken into scattering bands by other tribes.

"Theories in regard to the early home of the tribe have been

advanced which, in view of more recent light, have been gener-

ally discarded as untenable. One of these theories is that they

are to be identified with the Massawomekes of Captain John

Smith's 'History of Virginia', whom he states he encountered

at the head of Chesapeake Bay. In order to sustain this theory

it is assumed that the Massawomekes of Smith are identical with

the Eries or Cat Nation of the French, mentioned by the early

writers and explorers as dwelling immediately south of Lake

Erie. As it is now conceded that this nation was linguistically

related to the Iroquois, while the Shawnees belong to the Algon-

quian stock, this theory seems to be without sufficient basis.

 

*      *      *      *

"There are reasons for believing that the residence of this

people in Ohio in historic times was not their first appearance

north of the Ohio river; a belief which seems to be entertained

by Judge C. C. Baldwin, and, as I learn from personal communi-

cation, by Mr. Lucien Carr, both of whom have given the his-

torical side of the question a somewhat careful examination.

"When in 1669 Abbe Gallinee requested of the Senecas a

prisoner from the Ohio to guide La Salle on his intended journey

to that river, the people living there, according to their state-

ment, were called Toagenha. The Indians, in order to dissuade

the French from their intended journey, told them the Toagenha

were bad people, who would treacherously attack them at night,

and that they would also run the risk before reaching them of

meeting the Ontastois. As the latter tribe was, beyond doubt,

the Andastes, there are good reasons for believing that the for-

mer were Shawnees. Marshall, in his 'La Salle and the Sen-

ecas', adds that the Toagenha were 'a people speaking a corrupt

Algonkin.'

"As bearing up on the question, it may be added that, ac-

cording to Shea, the Wyandottes called the Shawnees Onto-

nagannha. In 1675 Garacontie, an Onondaga chief, told his

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14       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

people to live in peace with the French and turn their arms

against the distant Ontwogannha.10

"There is, however, in the Relation of Abbe Gallinee (1669-

'70), as given by Margry,11 another statement that refers beyond

doubt to the Shawnees and indicates the locality of a part of the

tribe at that time. Speaking of the commencement of his jour-

ney to the southwest and the reason for it, he remarks: 'Our

fleet consisted of seven canoes, each manned by three men, which

departed from Montreal the sixth day of July, 1669, under the

guidance of two canoes of Iroquois Sonnontoueronons (Senecas),

who had come to Montreal in the autumn of the year 1668 to

do their hunting and trading. These people had lived here quite

a long while with M. de la Salle, and had told him so many mar-

vellous things concerning the Ohio river, which they claimed to

be perfectly acquainted with, that they excited in him more than

ever the desire to visit it. They told him that this river had its

source three days' journey from Sonontouan, and that after a

month's travel he would reach the Honniasontkeronons (prob-

ably Andastes) and the Chiouanons (Shawnees), and that after

having passed these and a great waterfall, which there was in

the river, he would find the Outagame and the country of the

Iskousogos (probably Chickasaws), and finally a country so

abounding in deer and wild cattle that they were as thick as the

woods, and such great numbers of people that there could be

no more."

After the year 1750 we continuously hear of the Shawanoes

in Ohio.

The great Iroquois (Five Nations, and later, Six Nations)

cannot be said to have had many villages in Ohio in historic

times. In fact, they entered the territory of the peaceful Algon-

kins solely by conquest for they were totally dissimilar in lan-

guage and customs. The great physical difference between the

Algonkin and Iroquoian people lies in that the crania of the

former are brachycephalic and of the latter dolicocephalic. Their

10 Shea, Catholic Missions, 1855.

11Decouvertes, Pt. 1, 116, 1875.

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              15

 

famous league was formed in the middle of the fifteenth century."

The main villages and government remained in western and

central New York state, but small bands of Wyandots and

Tuscaroras and Conestogas and Cayugas and Mingoes roamed

about Ohio or located villages of considerable size where their

fancy directed.

The Cherokees were some time upon the headwaters of the

Ohio. The Bureau of Ethnology now connects them with the

Iroquois. The Kickapoos, Miamis, Wabash, Hurons, Chippe-

was, Ottawas, Ojibeways, etc., may have been in Ohio some time,

or attended councils, or sent out war or hunting parties. With

the exception of the Miamis, and possibly one or two others,

none of them can be said to have lived here for any length of

time.

The conditions existing in Ohio two hundred years ago can

scarcely be appreciated by those of us who live in this modern

age - this period of rush and strife, of struggle after wealth and

power. To begin with, the streams presented an almost even

stage of water throughout the year. The timber was not cut,

swamps were not drained, there were no drams, no canals, no

utilization of water-power. The streams were half choked (save

in the deepest part of the channel) by logs, trees and drift. In-

numerable small pools and swamps in the woods also held water.

These discharged into sluggish creeks and rivers, and they, in

turn, into the great waterways. It was possible to go in large

canoes to the lake or come from thence to the Ohio at any season

of the year. The Scioto, Muskingum and Great Miami were the

favorite routes, the Scioto being the most traveled.

Captive James Smith, in 1754, went to the lake by way of

the West Branch of the Muskingum (Walhonding) in a large

canoe with a number of Indians. The trip could not be made

today in the lightest canvas canoe save at high water stage.

Mr. Ketchum speaks of this in his volumes. He also calls atten-

tion to the prairies of Ohio and New York. I shall quote from

him again.13

12  L. H. Morgan, an authority upon the Iroquois. Also "The

Iroquois Book of Rites," Horatio Hale, Philadelphia, '83.

13 "Buffalo and the Senecas," William Ketchum, Vol. I, Chap. III,

p. 16.

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16       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

"The arrival and permanent settlement of Europeans on

this continent, seriously affected not only the aboriginal inhabit-

ants, their habits, modes of thought, and of action, but also

wrought a great change in the face of the country, particularly

in our own state. The earliest records and observations of those

who visited the coasts of New England, before any permanent

settlement of Europeans was made, represent the country for the

most part as an open prairie - produced by the periodical burn-

ing over of immense tracts of country by the native inhabitants

-  and this was a custom persisted in from time immemorial.

The reason assigned for this by Thomas Morton, in 1636, was,

that it was for the purpose of keeping down the growth of trees,

shrubs, vines and vegetation, which would otherwise grow so

rank as to become impenetrable and obstruct the vision as well

as the passage through it. But subsequent observation assigned

a better and more probable reason for these periodical burnings.

The inhabitants subsisted almost entirely by the chase; agri-

culture as a means of subsistence was entirely unknown to them.

They lived almost entirely upon fish, and the flesh of animals

they were able to kill by the means they then employed, which

would now be considered very inadequate to accomplish the

purposes designed. They found it necessary to adopt some

method to entice the graminivorous animals into the vicinity of

their settlements, and by burning the dried vegetation every

spring, they not only kept down the growth of timber and shrubs,

but stimulated the growth of a tender nutritious grass, eagerly

sought for by the deer, the elk, the moose, and the buffalo.

These not only sought the luxuriant pastures for food, but they

soon learned that these open plains afforded protection against

their enemies of the carnivorous race of animals which prey upon

them. These stealthy marauders of the feline and canine species,

exercised their vocation in the dense forests, or in the darkness

of the night. They seldom ventured into the open plain; hence

the harmless, defenceless animals which furnished food for man,

roamed almost unmolested over the grassy plains kept in per-

ennial verdure by his superior sagacity.

"All the regions of country which are usually denominated

oak openings' are to be considered as once open prairies, like

• 16
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.               17

 

the vast prairies of the West, whose origin is to be ascribed to

the same cause. These prairies extended over a great portion

of what is now New England, a large portion of the states of

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Ten-

nessee, etc. A large portion of Upper Canada, particularly that

part of it bounded by the lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, may

also be included in the once prairie region, for it will be observed

that 'oak openings' prevail to a large extent in all the territory

named. What are called the plains in our vicinity, are a striking

example of the change which has taken place within less than

two hundred years."

As to game in Ohio, little need be said. There were elk,

deer, bear, buffalo, turkeys and all kinds of birds and small quad-

rupeds in abundance; the streams swarmed with fish. All ac-

counts agree as to the profusion of animal life. Col. May, in

1788, said:

"I am of the opinion that deer are plentier in this country

than horned cattle are in New England."¹⁴

James Smith, writing of 1755-1759, says that all kinds of

game, wild fruits, succulent roots, etc., abounded in inexhaust-

ible quantities.15

Professor Lucien Carr in "The Food of Certain American

Indians", mentions maize as being prepared in more than thirty

ways each of which had an individual name.16 There were sev-

eral varieties found by the whites in Ohio upon their arrival and

they differed in size and hardness of grain, in length of ear and in

time required to ripen. Beans, pumpkins, tobacco and sweet

potatoes were cultivated. Wild potatoes and wild rice were gath-

ered in quantities and stored for winter use; also hickorynuts,

walnuts and all other nuts, red and black haws, pawpaws, straw-

berries, blackberries, etc., maple sugar, plums, persimmons,

14 Colonel May's Journey, 1788-9, Marietta, O. Robt. Clarke, Cin-

cinnati.

15 An Account of the Remarkable Occurrences in the Life and

Travels of Colonel James Smith, 1755'59. Reprinted by Robt. Clarke

Co., Cincinnati, 1870.

16 Report of the American Antiquarian Society for April, 1895,

Lucien Carr.

Vol. VII-2.

• 17
 

18       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications. grapes and various barks and lichens, mussels from the streams and other foods which we would not esteem. Of wild honey and bears oil they had an abundance, and from walnuts they ex- tracted a rich oil. Thus we see that the Ohio tribes were highly favored by nature.

It is not necessary to prepare a map of tribal distributions in 1600. The Miamis occupied the western or northwestern part of the state and the Eries the southern shore of Lake Erie. Roving bands of Shawanoes ranged north of the Ohio river. 1740 found several tribes in Ohio, and I have prepared a rough map showing their location. Boundaries of aboriginal peoples' territory cannot be accurately established. This partly explains

• 18
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             19

the rude nature of my map. I have exaggerated some of the

streams in order to clearly show the portages. In early times

our rivers and creeks carried a more even volume of water

through the year, and it was comparatively easy to pass from the

Ohio to Lake Erie by canoe. The large letters IROQUOIS,

are made to include Catawbas, Senecas, etc., who had small vil-

lages in the northern and northeastern portion of Ohio.

Our detailed history of the Ohio region begins with 1740.

Mr. Fernow in "The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days", gives us

much information, and I will say that his volume afforded sug-

gestions for portions of this paper.17

When the French and Indian war broke out the Ohio In-

dians sided mostly with the French. In fact, nearly all the tribes

of the Colonies, the Northwest and Canada were friendly to the

French, and it was only after large presents that the English

were able to win over any considerable bodies of natives. There

is reason for this preference on the part of the Indians. French-

men understood Indian character; they seemed to take naturally

to savage life. They were in close touch with the red men and

there was much in common in the two temperaments, both be-

ing excitable and changeable. French coureurs de bois pene-

trated to the remotest corners of Ohio and elsewhere long before

Englishmen had reached the western slope of the Alleghenies.18

The French lived with the Indians; they sympathized with

them, they gave them many gifts. Most of captives' narratives

and many of the histories refer to this love for the French.

Nothing so prejudices an Indian as miserly habits and a with-

holding hand. Hence natives had no use whatsoever for the

Dutch ,and but little for the people of the United States during

and after the Revolution. Baron La Hontan speaks for French-

men of high or low degree when he writes, "The manners of

the savages are perfectly agreeable to my palate."

There has been much written regarding the origin of the

17 "The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days," Berthold Fernow. Joel

Munsell's Sons, Albany, 1890, No. 17 of Munsell's Historical Series.

18 Read Parkman, "La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West,"

also "The Conspiracy of Pontiac," to obtain a full account of French

influences. Little, Brown & Co., publishers, Boston.

• 19
 

20        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

French and Indian war. Man's avarice caused it. Both French

and English sought to control the fur trade; they established

rival posts in the Ohio Valley, and war was a natural result. The

French raided the New York and New England settlements,

they arrested such English traders as entered the Ohio country;

they persuaded the Indians to make war upon the English

frontier.

"In 1749 La Jonquire, the governor of Canada, learned, to

his great indignation, that several English traders had reached

Sandusky, and were exerting a bad influence upon the Indians

of that quarter; and two years later, he caused four of the in-

truders to be seized near the Ohio and sent prisoners to

Canada."¹⁹

In 1748 the Ohio Company of Massachusetts was formed,

and in 1750 Christopher Gist was sent out to survey the river as

far as the Ohio Falls (Louisville). Gist accomplished his task

and reported to his superiors. In the spring of 1753 the French

established several posts upon the Ohio and the Lake (Erie).

Dinwiddie, governor of Virginia, sent George Washington to

demand that the French remove from British territory. We are

all familiar with this, Washington's first service, and it need only

be said that the French received him politely, but refused to re-

linquish the Ohio Valley. Following upon this unsuccessful

mission were the campaigns of Trent and Washington in the

spring of 1754. They also were failures.

Parkman says:20 "While the rival nations were beginning

to quarrel for a prize which belonged to neither of them, the

unhappy Indians saw, with alarm and amazement, their lands

becoming a bone of contention between rapacious strangers.

 

 

*      *      *      *

"Thus placed between two fires they knew not which way

to turn. Their native jealousy was roused to its utmost pitch.

Many of them thought that the two white nations had conspired

to destroy them and then divide their lands, 'You and the

French', said one of them, a few years afterwards, to an English

19 The Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol.I, p. 72.

20Conspiracy of Pontiac. Vol. I, p. 100.

• 20
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            21

 

emissary, 'are like the two edges of a pair of shears, and we are

the cloth which is cut to pieces between them.'" 21

While this storm was gathering, there was a famous Ot-

tawa, Pontiac by name, whose messengers were carrying com-

munications to the Ohio tribes. Cornstalk the Shawano and

Logan the Mingo were both young men, but there is every rea-

son to suppose that they received their "baptism of fire" in this

French-Indian war.

Scruniyattha, the Half King or head chief of the Wyandots

had been friendly to the English. In fact, nearly all the Iroquois

were inclined towards the British interests; but the more numer-

ous Algonkin tribes favored French supremacy.

The spring of 1755 witnessed unusual activities upon the

frontier. Fort Duquesne, on the present site of Pittsburg, be-

ing well garrisoned, seemed to indicate a permanent French

occupation of the Ohio territory. Communication between Du-

quesne and Canada was continuous and large quantities of guns,

powder, lead, knives, blankets, household and farming imple-

ments, beads, paint, bells, gloves, scissors, etc., were imported to

both give and sell to the Ohio Indians. As a natural result of

murders committed by whites along the Virginia and Pennsyl-

vania frontiers, the Indians were incited to hostility against the

English. The munificence with which the French distributed

those articles I have enumerated confirmed the Indians in their

allegiance to France.

It is not necessary to narrate Braddock's famous march, his

death, the disaster which overwhelmed him, the conduct of

Washington, etc. All this ground has been frequently covered.

There were some Ohio Indians in the fight and they returned to

the Scioto, Muskingum, Ohio and lake villages, exhibiting bloody

trophies and arms and clothing.

James Smith, in his famous book, gives us side-lights on the

events following Braddock's defeat.²² Smith was a captive in

Fort Duquesne when the victorious Indians and French came in

21 First, Journal of C. F. Post.

22  An Account of the Remarkable Occurrences in the Life and Trav-

els of Colonel James Smith. Cincinnati, Robert Clarke & Co., 1870.

reprint.

• 21
 

22       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

from the field. He was immediately taken to Tullihas on the

Walhonding, twenty miles above Coshocton, in Newcastle town-

ship. It was inhabited by Delawares, Caughnewagas and Mo-

hicans. He passed through a regular adoption into the Caugh-

newagas tribe, a branch of the Iroquois. There were two chiefs,

Tecauyaterighto, called Pluggy, and Asallecoe, called Mohawk

Solomon. This Tecauyaterighto was a very famous warrior and

defeated the whites in several engagements.

In Smith's hunting excursions he traveled pretty generally

over the state. His report is of great value, for Smith was a

very intelligent observer. Of the Licking Reservoir -  which

was a lake and swamp originally - he says :23

"We then moved to the buffaloe lick, where we killed sev-

eral buffaloe, and in their small brass kettles they made about

half a bushel of salt. I suppose this lick was about thirty or

forty miles from the aforesaid town (Tullihas) and somewhere

between the Muskingum, Ohio and Sciota. About the lick was

clear, open woods, and thin white-oak land, and at that time

there were large roads leading to the lick, like wagon roads.

We moved from this lick about six or seven miles, and encamped

on a creek."

It may have been Jonathan's creek, several miles south of

the reservoir, or it may have been one of the branches of the

Licking river upon which Smith's party encamped.

The main trail from Duquesne passed the lake and swamp

now known as the Licking Reservoir. Many parties and indi-

viduals had traversed it. Christopher Gist encamped there Jan-

uary 17, 1751.

Smith thinks that the Indians with whom he lived had rea-

son to fear an attack for he says:

"I had observed before this that the Indians were upon their

guard, and afraid of an enemy; for, until now they and the South-

ern nations had been at war."

In October Pluggy and party returned from an expedition

against the South Branch of the Potomac settlers. Smith re-

ports that many prisoners and scalps were brought along.

23 Remarkable Occurrences, etc. Page 21. This was in 1755, sum-

mer.

• 22
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            23

In the fall his captors took him up the Walhonding and Mo-

hican, then up the Black Fork to the "carrying-place" or portage

in Ashland county (northern). There they struck the head waters

of the Black river (Canesadooharie) and descended that to the

lake. The Wyandots had a village here.

Upon reaching the Wyandot town, (about two miles from

the present site of Sandusky) called Sunyendeand, they bought

new clothes, paint, tobacco, etc., of the French traders there lo-

cated. While here several old Indians engaged Smith in conver-

sation.24 "The two old Indians asked me if I did not think the

Indians and French would subdue all America, except New

England, which they had tried in old times. * * * They said

they had already drove them all out of the mountains, and had

chiefly laid waste the great valley betwixt the North and South

mountain, from Potomac to James river, which is a considerable

part of the best land in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

* * * They asked me to offer my reasons for my opinion, and

told me to speak my mind freely. I found that the old men them-

selves did not believe they could conquer America, yet they were

willing to propagate the idea, in order to encourage the young

men to go to war."

A large war party was made up at Sunyendeand and sent

against the frontiers. They returned with scalps, prisoners and

plunder. These prisoners were well treated, according to Smith's

account. By the narratives of those who were with the Indians

for any length of time, we learn that prisoners were humanely

treated. The adoption rites may have been severe, but once re-

ceived into the tribe a prisoner was treated with kindness and

consideration. After 1790 this could not be affirmed of Ohio

tribes.

In October, 1756, he left the town and went hunting with

Tecaughretanego, a Caughenewaga chief. This man, and also

Tontileaugo, were two characters - noble ones - of whom we

know nothing save through Smith's narrative. I think that

either one will favorably compare with any of the great aborig-

ines known to history. During Smith's various hunting excur-

sions he went up the Tuscarawas, made a portage of eight miles

Remarkable Occurrences, etc. James Smith, p. 47.

• 23
 

24    Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

and struck the Cuyahoga in Summit county, Portage and Cov-

entry townships. He also went up the Sandusky, made a short

portage and struck various sloughs which enabled him to reach

the real Olentangy - now Big Darby - and proceed down that

stream to the Scioto. We have so changed surface conditions

by the destruction of our forests that the same routes traversed

by Smith could not be run today save during a brief period of

spring floods. A person starting in a canvas canoe from Ports-

mouth could not ascend the Scioto even as far as Columbus un-

less he dragged his boat over innumerable riffles. Yet Smith

traveled this and other streams in large canoes capable of carry-

ing many persons.

He speaks of French traders, in the spring of 1757, being

in a Wyandot town opposite Fort Detroit and that these traders

gave them much brandy. Smith was elected one of those who

stayed sober and whose duties were to conceal all arms so that

the intoxicated braves might be prevented from injuring each

other.

"About the first of June, 1757, the warriors were preparing

to go to war, in the Wiandot, Pottawatomie and Ottawa towns;

also a great many Jibewas came down from the upper lakes;

and after singing their war songs and going through their com-

mon ceremonies, they marched off against the frontiers of Vir-

ginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania singing the traveling song,

slow firing, etc."25

This man Tecaughretanego was opposed to the war and his

sound sense and judgment is shown in his remarks to Smith.

"He had all along been against this war, and had strenuously

opposed it in council. He said if the English and French had

a quarrel let them fight their own battles themselves; it is not

our business to meddle therewith."26 If all Indians had pursued

this policy the Ohio tribes might be in existence today.

Space does not permit my enlarging upon the truly remark-

able philosophy of Tecaughretanego. But I will quote some of

Smith's remarks upon the subject. They were in camp some

forty miles from any other hunter's habitations, and sixty miles

25 Remarkable Occurrences, etc. Smith, p. 78.

26 Remarkable Occurrences, etc.

• 24
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.           25

 

from a village. They had been long without sufficient food, for

the old Indian's rheumatism prevented his hunting. Smith failed

in his efforts to secure game because of a heavy, crusted snow

which lay upon the ground for many days, and in which his foot-

steps made a loud noise. One evening Smith returned faint and

weary. Tecaughretanego's little son had gathered such wildcat

bones as lay about the camp and prepared a thin soup of which

they partook.

"He said the reason why he deferred his speech until now

was because few men are in right humor to hear good talk when

they are extremely hungry, as they are generally fretful and dis-

composed; as you appear now to enjoy calmness and serenity of

mind, I will now communicate to you the thoughts of my heart

and those things that I know to be true.

'"Brother, as you have lived with the white people and you

have not had the same advantage of knowing that the Great Be-

ing above feeds his people and gives them their meat in due

season as we Indians have, who are frequently out of provisions

and yet are wonderfully supplied, and that so frequently that it

is evidently the hand of the great Owaneeyo that doth this:

whereas the white people have commonly large flocks of tame

cattle that they can kill when they please, and also their barns

and cribs filled with grain, and therefore have not the same op-

portunity of seeing and knowing that they are supported by the

ruler of heaven and earth.

'"Brother, I know that you are now afraid that we will all

perish with hunger, but you can have no just reason to fear this.

'"Brother, I have been young, but now I am old - I have

been frequently under the like circumstances that we now are,

and that sometime or other in almost every year of my life: yet,

I have hitherto been supported and my wants supplied in time

of need.

'"Brother, Owaneeyo sometimes suffers us to be in want in

order to teach us our dependence upon him and to let us know

that we are to love and serve him; and likewise to know the

worth of the favors that we receive, and to make us more

thankful.

'"Brother, be assured that you will be supplied with food

• 25
 

Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

and that just in the right time; but you must continue diligently

in the use of means - go to sleep and rise early in the morning

and go hunting - be strong and exert yourself like a man, and

the Great Spirit will direct your ways.'"

Smith set out the next day. Being unable to get game he

made up his mind to flee to the settlements. While traveling

east during the afternoon he came upon buffalo and succeeded in

killing a cow. After he had satisfied himself he became heartily

ashamed of his conduct in leaving the venerable old man and

little box to perish of hunger. Accordingly, he scaffolded up the

meat out of reach of wolves, and returned with a load to camp.

When they had refreshed themselves the primitive philosopher

delivered a speech or sermon upon gratitude, dependence upon

the Creator and kindred subjects.

In July, 1758, many tribes which had gathered at Detroit

marched to Fort Duquesne to intercept Generals Forbes and

Grant. Readers are familiar with the English account of the

taking of Duquesne. But Smith gives us the Indian side of the

affair. He says the Indians claimed they would treat Forbes

and Grant as they did Braddock. Frequent accounts of Forbes'

progress were brought to the Ohio and Detroit camps by run-

ners. They were well posted as to his army, its condition and

movements. Col. Grant and his Highlanders succeeded in gain-

ing a hill some two hundred yards from Fort Duquesne. As they

obtained possession during the night, neither the French nor the

Indians knew that he was there until daylight, "when drums were

beat and bag-pipes played upon."

"They then flew to arms, and the Indians ran up under

cover of the banks of Allegheny and Monongahela for some

distance and then sallied out from the banks of the river and took

possession of a hill above Grant; he was on the point of it in

sight of the fort. They immediately surrounded him, and as he

had his Highlanders in ranks in very close order, and the In-

dians scattered and concealed behind trees, they defeated him

with a loss of only a few warriors; - most of the Highlanders

were killed or taken prisoners."

The French endeavored to make the Indians stay and meet

Forbes, but as it was hard for them to leave their squaws at this

• 26
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            27

 

season of the year, the greater part of them went home. Some

remained and joined the French in an attack upon Forbes. They

were defeated and Forbes entered the valley and took possession

of the defences, which he re-named, calling them Fort Pitt. The

Indians said that the troops were now learning how to fight, that

many Virginians accompanied them and taking trees they se-

verely galled the red men. They could subdue the red-coats,

they told Smith, but they could not withstand Ashalecoa, or

Great Knife, as they called the Virginians.

In July, 1759, Smith deserted the Indians and returned to

his own people. Some idea of his appearance can be had from

his own statement, "They (his relatives) received me with great

joy, but were surprised to see me so much like an Indian, both

in my gait and gesture."

I have introduced much of Smith's matter largely because

(as Parkman says) his narrative is our best account of captivity

among the Ohio tribes. The perusal of his quaint, peculiar and

interesting book carries one back to the streams, lakes, woods

and open glades of nearly a century and a half ago. It is a

breath of real nature, a glimpse of true simplicity of life. There

were hardships, but there were pleasures; there were few vices

and many virtues. Our bustling commercial cities of today are,

in many instances, built over those villages of the historic Indian

period, and multitudes of the race against whom Smith's Indians

fought tramp unceasingly over forgotten graves. A little more

of this life of the woods might better our selfish, worldly, busi-

ness constitutions of today. Pitiable indeed is he in whose na-

ture there is nothing in common with the spirit of the forest, and

of the stream and of the field.

Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson was a champion of the American

race if there ever lived one. She was prompted to write "A

Century of Dishonor", from the standpoint of a humanitarian,

but it is also a historical monument to her labors. I will say

personally, that both among the Sioux and the Navajos I have

heard of her work. The Indian Rights Association and all

movements toward protecting the Indian against fraud are in-

debted to her, and the race itself can never repay her for her

noble interest in its welfare.

• 27
 

28       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

In chapter two of her book, she speaks of the Delawares.

These Indians had made a treaty with Penn and for many years

kept constant peace with the whites, although often given great

provocation to take up the hatchet.

At Fort M'Intosh, in 1785, a treaty was made with the Dela-

wares in which the whites assumed to restore Chief Wicocalind,

who had been deposed, to his tribal rank. I will quote Mrs.

Jackson upon these points in full.

"The Wyandots, Chippewas, and Ottawas as well as the

Delawares, joined in it. They acknowledged themselves and all

their tribes to be 'under the protection of the United States, and

of no other sovereign whatsoever.' The United States Govern-

ment reserved 'the post of Detroit' and an outlying district around

it; also the post at Michilmackinac, with a surrounding district

of twelve miles square, and some other reserves for trading

posts.

"The Indians' lands were comprised within lines partly in-

dicated by the Cuyahoga, Big Miami and Ohio rivers and their

branches; it fronted on Lake Erie; and if 'any citizen of the

United States', or 'any other person not an Indian', attempted

'to settle on any of the lands allotted to the Delaware and Wyan-

dotte nations in this treaty' - the Fifth Article of the treaty said

- 'the Indians may punish him as they please.'

"Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, all are largely

made up of the lands which were by this first treaty given to the

Indians.

"Five years later, by another treaty at Fort Harmar, the

provisions of this treaty were reiterated, the boundaries some-

what changed and more accurately defined. The privilege of

hunting on all the lands reserved to the United States was prom-

ised to the Indians 'without hindrance or molestation, so long

as the behaved themselves peaceably'; and 'that nothing may

interrupt the peace and harmony now established between the

United States and the aforesaid nations', it was promised in one

of the articles that white men commiting offences or murders on

Indians should be punished in the same way as Indians commit-

ting such offences.

"The year before this treaty Congress had resolved that 'the

• 28
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            29

 

sum of $20,000, in addition to the $14,000 already appropriated,

be appropriated for defraying the expenses of the treaties which

have been ordered, or which may be ordered to be held, in the

present year, with the several Indian tribes in the Northern De-

partment; and for extinguishing the Indian claims to the lands

they have already ceded to the United States by obtaining regu-

lar conveyances for the same, and for extending a purchase be-

yond the limits hitherto fixed by the treaty.'

"Here is one of the earliest records of the principle and

method on which the United States Government first began its

dealings with the Indians. 'Regular conveyances', 'extinguish-

ing claims' by 'extending purchase.' These are all the strictest

of legal terms, and admit of no double interpretations.

"The Indians had been much dissatisfied ever since the first

treaties were made. They claimed that they had been made by

a few only, representing a part of the tribe; and in 1786 they

had held a great council on the banks of the Detroit river, and

sent a message to Congress, of which the following extracts will

show the spirit.

"They said: 'It is now more than three years since peace

was made between the king of Great Britain and you; but we,

the Indians, were disappointed, finding ourselves not included in

that peace according to our expectations, for we thought that its

conclusion would have promoted a friendship between the United

States and the Indians, and that we might enjoy that happiness

that formerly subsisted between us and our Elder Brethren. We

have received two very agreeable messages from the Thirteen

United States. We also received a message from the king, whose

war we were engaged in, desiring us to remain quiet, which we

accordingly complied with. During this time of tranquillity we

were deliberating the best method we could to form a lasting

reconciliation with the Thirteen United States. We are still of

the same opinion as to the means which may tend to reconcile us

to each other; and we are sorry to find, although we had the

best thoughts in our minds during the beforementioned period,

mischief has nevertheless happened between you and us. We

are still anxious of putting our plan of accommodation into exe-

cution, and we shall briefly inform you the means that seem most

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30       Ohio Arch. and His. Soeiety Publications.

 

probable to us of effecting a firm and lasting peace and reconcili-

ation, the first step toward which should, in our opinion, be that

all treaties carried on with the United States on our parts should

be with the general will of the whole confederacy, and carried on

in the most open manner, without any restraint on either side;

and especially as landed matters are often the subject of our

councils with you - a matter of the greatest importance and of

general concern to us - in this case we hold it indisputably ne-

cessary that any cession of our lands should be made in the most

public manner, and by the united voice of the confederacy, hold-

ing all partial treaties as void and of no effect. We say, let us

meet half way, and let us pursue such steps as become upright

and honest men. We beg that you will prevent your surveyors

and other people from coming upon our side of the Ohio river.'

"These are touching words, when we remember that only

the year before the United States had expressly told these In-

dians that if any white citizens attempted to settle on their lands

they might 'punish them as they pleased.'

"'We have told you before we wished to pursue just steps,

and we are determined they shall appear just and reasonable in

the eyes of the world. This is the determination of all the chiefs

of our confederacy now assembled here, notwithstanding the ac-

cidents that have happened in our villages, even when in council,

where several innocent chiefs were killed, when absolutely en-

gaged in promoting a peace with you, the Thirteen United

States.'

"The next year the President instructed the Governor of the

territory northwest of the Ohio to 'examine carefully into the

real temper of the Indian tribes' in his department, and says:

'The treaties which have been made may be examined, but must

not be departed from, unless a change of boundary beneficial to

the United States can be obtained.' He says also: 'You will not

neglect any opportunity that may offer of extinguishing the In-

dian rights to the westward, as far as the Mississippi.'

"Beyond that river even the wildest dream of greed did not

at that time look.

"The President adds, moreover: 'You may stipulate that

any white person going over said boundaries without a license

• 30
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              31

 

from the proper officers of the United States may be treated in

such manner as the Indians may see fit.'

"I have not yet seen in any accounts of the Indian hostilities

on the northwestern frontier during this period, any reference

to those repeated permissions given by the United States to the

Indians, to defend their lands as they saw fit. Probably the

greater number of the pioneer settlers were as ignorant of these

provisions in Indian treaties as are the greater number of Amer-

ican citizens today, who are honestly unaware, and being unaware

are therefore incredulous, that the Indians had either provoca-

tion or right to kill intruders on their lands.

"At this time separate treaties were made with the Six

Nations, and the governor says that these treaties were made

separately because of the jealousy and hostility existing between

them and the Delawares, Wyandottes, etc., which he is 'not will-

ing to lessen,' because it weakens their power. 'Indeed,' he

frankly adds, 'it would not be very difficult, if circumstances

required it, to set them at deadly variance.'

"Thus early in our history was the ingenious plan evolved

of first maddening the Indians into war, and then falling upon

them with exterminating punishment. The gentleman who has

left on the official records of his country his claim to the first sug-

gestion and recommendation of this method is 'Arthur St. Clair,

governor of the territory of the United States northwest of the

Ohio river, and commissioner plenipotentiary of the United States

of America for removing all causes of controversy, regulating

trade, and settling boundaries with the Indian nations in the

Northern Department.'

"Under all these conditions, it is not a matter of wonder that

the frontier was a scene of perpetual devastation and bloodshed:

and that, year by year, there grew stronger in the minds of the

whites a terror and hatred of Indians; and in the minds of the

Indians a stronger and stronger distrust and hatred of the whites.

"The Delawares were, through the earlier part of these

troubled times, friendly. In 1791 we find the Secretary of War

recommending the commissioners sent to treat with the hostile

Miamis and Wabash Indians to stop by the way with the friendly

Delawares, and take some of their leading chiefs with them as

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32        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

allies. He says, 'these tribes are our friends,' and as far as is

known, 'the treaties have been well observed by them.'

"But in I792 we find them mentioned among the hostile

tribes to whom was sent a message from the United States Gov-

ernment, containing the following extraordinary paragraphs:

"'Brethren: The President of the United States entertains

the opinion that the war which exists is an error and mistake

on your parts. That you believe the United States wants to

deprive you of your lands, and drive you out of the country.

Be assured that this is not so; on the contrary, that we should be

greatly gratified with the opportunity of imparting to you all

the blessings of civilized life; of teaching you to cultivate the

earth, and raise corn; to raise oxen, sheep and other domestic

animals; to build comfortable houses; and to educate your chil-

dren so as ever to dwell upon the land.

"'Consult, therefore, upon the great object of peace; call

in your parties, and enjoin a cessation of all further depredations;

and as many of the principal chiefs as shall choose repair to

Philadelphia, the seat of the Great Government, and there make

a peace founded on the principles of justice and humanity.

Remember that no additional lands will be required of you or any

other tribe, to those that have been ceded by former treaties.'

"It was in this same year, also, that General Putnam said

to them, in a speech at Post Vincennes: 'The United States

don't mean to wrong you out of your lands. They don't want

to take away your lands by force. They want to do you justice.'

And the venerable missionary, Heckewelder, who had journeyed

all the way from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to try to help bring

about peace, said to them: 'The great chief, who has spoken

to you is a good man. He loves you and will always speak the

truth to you. I wish you to listen to his words, and do as he

desires you.'

"In 1793 a great council was held, to which came the chiefs

and head men of the Delawares and of twelve other tribes, to

meet commissioners of the United States for one last effort to

settle the vexed boundary question. The records of this council

are profoundly touching. The Indians reiterated over and over

the provisions of the old treaties which had established the Ohio

• 32
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            33

 

river as one of their boundaries Their words were not the words

of ignorant barbarians, clumsily and doggedly holding to a point;

they were the words of clear-headed, statesman-like rulers, insist-

ing on the rights of their nations. As the days went on and it

became more and more clear that the United States Commis-

sioners would not agree to the establishment of the boundary

for which the Indians contended, the speeches of the chiefs grow

sadder and sadder. Finally, in desperation, as a lost hope, they

propose to the commissioners that all the money which the United

States offers to pay them for their lands shall be given to the

white settlers to induce them to move away. They say:

"'Money to us is of no value, and to most of us unknown;

and as no consideration whatever can induce us to sell the lands

on which we get sustenance for our women and children, we

hope we may be allowed to point out a mode by which your

settlers may be easily removed, and peace thereby obtained.

"'We know that these settlers are poor, or they would never

have ventured to live in a country which has been in continual

trouble ever since they crossed the Ohio. Divide, therefore,

this large sum of money which you have offered us among these

people; give to each, also, a proportion of what you say you would

give to us annually, over and above this very large sum of money,

and we are persuaded they would most readily accept of it in

lieu of the lands you sold them. If you add, also, the great

sums you must expend in raising and paying armies with a view

to force us to yield you our country, you will certainly have

more than sufficient for the purpose of repaying these settlers

for all their labor and their improvements.

"'You have talked to us about concessions. It appears

strange that you should expect any from us, who have only been

defending our just rights against your invasions. We want peace.

Restore to us our country, and we shall be enemies no longer.

"' * * * We desire you to consider, brothers, that our

only demand is the peaceable possession of a small part of our

once great country. Look back and review the lands from whence

we have been driven to this spot. We can retreat no farther,

because the country behind hardly affords food for its present

Vol. VII-3.

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34       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

inhabitants, and we have therefore resolved to leave our bones

in this small space to which we are now confined.'

"The commissioners replied that to make the Ohio river

the boundary was now impossible; that they sincerely regretted

that peace could not be made; but 'knowing the upright and

liberal views of the United States,' they trust that 'impartial judges

will not attribute the continuance of the war to them.'

"Notice was sent to the governor that the Indians 'refused

to make peace,' and General Anthony Wayne, a few weeks later,

wrote to the Secretary of War: 'The safety of the western fron-

tiers, the reputation of the legion, the dignity and interest of the

nation - all forbid a retrograde maneuver, or giving up one inch

of ground we now possess, till the enemy are compelled to sue

for peace.

"The history of the campaign that followed is to be found

in many volumes treating of the pioneer life of Ohio and other

northwestern states. One letter of General Wayne's to the Sec-

retary of War, in August, 1794, contains a paragraph which is

interesting, as showing the habits and method of life of the people

whom we at this time, by force of arms, drove out from their

homes-homes which we had only a few years before solemnly

guaranteed to them, even giving them permission to punish any

white intruders there as they saw fit. By a feint of approaching

Grand Glaize through the Miami villages, General Wayne sur-

prised the settlement, and the Indians, being warned by a deserter,

had barely time to flee for their lives. What General Wayne

had intended to do may be inferred from this sentence in his

letter: 'I have good grounds to conclude that the defection of

this villain prevented the enemy from receiving a fatal blow at

this place when least expected.'

"However, he consoles himself by the fact that he has 'gained

possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians of the

West without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly cul-

tivated fields and gardens show the work of many hands. The

margins of those beautiful rivers - the Miamis, of the Lake, and

Au Glaize - appear like one continued village for a number of

miles, both above and below this place; nor have I ever before

• 34
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             35

 

beheld such immense fields of corn in any part of America, from

Canada to Florida.'

"All these villages were burnt, and all these cornfields de-

stroyed; the Indians were followed up and defeated in a sharp

fight. The British agents did their best to keep them hostile,

and no inconsiderable aid was furnished to them from Canada.

But after a winter of suffering and hunger, and great vacillations

of purpose, they finally decided to yield to the inevitable, and

in the summer of 1795 they are to be found once more assembled

in council for the purpose of making a treaty; once more to

be told by the representatives of the United States Government

that 'the heart of General Washington, the Great Chief of Amer-

ica, wishes for nothing so much as peace and brotherly love';

that 'such is the justice and liberality of the United States,' that

they will now a third time pay for lands; and that they are

'acting the part of a tender father to them and their children

in thus providing for them not only at present, but forever.'

"Eleven hundred and thirty Indians (eleven tribes, besides

the Delawares, being represented) were parties to this treaty.

By this treaty nearly two-thirds of the present state of Ohio were

ceded to the United States; and, in consideration of these 'cessions

and relinquishments, and to manifest the liberality of the United

States as the great means of rendering this peace strong and

perpetual,' the United States relinquished all claims 'to all other

Indian lands northward of the river Ohio, eastward of the Mis-

sissippi, and westward and southward of the Great Lakes and

the waters uniting then, according to the boundary line agreed

upon by the United States and the King of Great Britain in

the treaty of peace made between them in the year 1783,' with

the exception of four tracts of land. But it was stated to the

Indians that these reservations were made, not 'to annoy or

impose the smallest degree of restraint on them in the quiet

enjoyment and full possession of their lands,' but simply 'to con-

nect the settlements of the people of the United States,' and 'to

prove convenient and advantageous to the different tribes of

Indians residing and hunting in their vicinity.'

"The fifth article of the treaty is: 'To prevent any misun-

derstanding about the Indian lands now relinquished by the

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36      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

United States, it is explicitly declared that the meaning of that

relinquishment is this: that the Indian tribes who have a right

to those lands are quietly to enjoy them--hunting, planting,

and dwelling thereon so long as they please without any molesta-

tion from the United States; but when those tribes, or any of

them, shall be disposed to sell their lands, or any part of them,

they are to be sold only to the United States; and until such sale

the United States will protect all the said Indian tribes in the

quiet enjoyment of their lands against all citizens of the United

States, and against all other white persons who intrude on the

same.'

"The sixth article reiterates the old pledge, proved by the

last three years to be so worthless--that 'if any citizen of the

United States, or any other white person or persons, shall pre-

sume to settle upon the lands now relinquished by the United

States, such citizen or other person shall be out of the protec-

tion of the United States; and the Indian tribe on whose land

the settlement may be made may drive off the settler, or punish

him in such manner as they shall think fit.'

"The seventh article gives the Indians the liberty 'to hunt

within the territory and lands which they have now ceded to the

United States, without hindrance or molestation, so long as they

demean themselves peaceably.'

"The United States agreed to pay to the Indians twenty

thousand dollars worth of goods at once; and 'henceforward,

every year, forever, useful goods to the value of nine thousand

five hundred dollars.' Peace was declared to be 'established'

and 'perpetual.'

"General Wayne told the Indians that they might believe

him, for he had never, 'in a public capacity, told a lie'; and one

of the Indians said, with much more dignity, 'The Great Spirit

above hears us, and I trust we shall not endeavor to deceive

each other.'

"In 1813, by a treaty at Vincennes, the bounds of the reser-

vation of the Post of St. Vincennes were defined, and the Indians,

'as a mark of their regard and attachment to the United States,

relinquished to the United States the great salt spring on the

Saline Creek.'

• 36
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             37

 

"In less than a year we made still another treaty with them

for the extinguishment of their title to a tract of land between

the Ohio and Wabash rivers (which they sold to us for a ten

years' annuity of three hundred dollars, which was to be 'exclus-

ively appropriated to ameliorating their condition and promoting

their civilization'); and in one year more still another treaty,

in which a still further cession of land was made for a permanent

annuity of one thousand dollars.

"In August of this year General Harrison writes to the Sec-

retary of War that there are great dissensions between the Del-

awares and Miamis in regard to some of the ceded lands, the

Miamis claiming that they had never consented to give them

up. General Harrison observes the most exact neutrality in this

matter, but says, 'A knowledge of the value of land is fast gain-

ing upon the Indians,' and negotiations are becoming in conse-

quence much more difficult. In the course of this controversy,

"one of the chiefs has said that he knew a great part of the land

was worth six dollars an acre.'

"It is only ten years since one of the chiefs of these same

tribes had said, 'Money is to us of no value.' However, they

must be yet very far from having reached any true estimate of

real values, as General Harrison adds: 'From the best calcu-

lation I have been able to make, the tract now ceded contains

at least two millions of acres, and embraces some of the finest

lands in the western country.'

"Cheap at one thousand dollars a year!-even with the

negro man thrown in, which General Harrison tells the Secretary

he has ordered Captain Wells to purchase and present to the

chief, The Turtle, and to draw on the United States Treasury

for the amount paid for him.

"Four years later (1809) General Harrison is instructed by

the President 'to take advantage of the most favorable moment

for extinguishing the Indian title to the lands lying east of the

Wabash, and adjoining south'; and the title was extinguished

by the treaty of Fort Wayne--a little more money paid and

a great deal of land given up.

"In 1814 we made a treaty, simply of peace and friendship,

with the Delawares and several other tribes: they agreeing to

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38       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

fight faithfully on our side against the English, and we agreeing

to 'confirm and establish all boundaries' as they had existed before

the war.

"In 1817 it was deemed advisable to make an effort to 'extin-

guish the Indian title to all the lands claimed by them within

the limits of the state of Ohio.' Two commissioners were

appointed, with great discretionary powers; and a treaty was

concluded early in autumn, by which there was ceded to the

United States nearly all the land to which the Indians had claim

in Ohio, a part of Indiana, and a part of Michigan. This treaty

was said by the Secretary of War to be the 'most important of

any hitherto made with the Indians.' 'The extent of the cession

far exceeded' his most sanguine expectations, and he had the

honesty to admit that 'there can be no real or well founded

objection to the amount of compensation given for it, except

that it is not an adequate one.'"

To this splendid presentation of the claims of the Delawares

I need only add that they were removed beyond the Mississippi,

and finally removed again. To-day but a miserable remnant

remain to attest the inability of the Indian to withstand contact

with civilization, to also emphasize the greed, rapacity and self-

ishness of our own people.

"Sir William Johnston, the superintendent for Indian affairs

in the Northern Department, a man than whom probably no

one else was better acquainted with Indian policy, had several

years before Pontiac's war, warned the authorities in the respective

colonies, not to exasperate the aborigines along the Ohio by

too much land-grabbing.²⁷ At the Congress held in Albany, New

York, in 1754, the Indians proposed the Allegheny mountains

as the western boundary of the Colonies,²⁸ but the purchases

made then by Pennsylvania and the subsequent appearance of

surveyors on the Juniata and Susquehanna, induced the Dela-

wares, Shawanoes, Nanticokes and others settled in that vicinity,

to withdraw either to Diohogo or to the Ohio.

"The men in authority, hundreds of miles away from the

frontiers, paid no attention to the warnings of their agents, and

27The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days, Fernow, p. 176.

28Sir William Johnson Papers, Vol. IV. p. 124.

• 38
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             39

Pontiac's war was the consequence of arousing the Indians' jeal-

ousies by encroaching too near upon them, by taking possession

of the lakes and by stopping the distribution of ammunition, etc.

among them."29

Johnson, in New York Colonial Documents, Vol. VIII, page

460. thus speaks of the characters who brought on these troubles.

"Dissolute fellows, united with debtors, and persons of wan-

dering disposition, who have been removing from Pennsylvania,

Virginia, etc., for more than ten years past into the Indian coun-

try, towards and on the Ohio and had made a considerable num-

ber of settlements as early as 1765, when my deputy (Crogan)

was sent to the Illinois, from whence he gave me a particular

account of the uneasiness it occasioned among the Indians.

Many of these emigrants are idle fellows that are too lazy to

cultivate lands, and invited by the plenty of game they found,

have employed themselves in hunting, in which they interfere

much more with the Indians than if they pursued agriculture

alone, and the Indian hunters already begin to feel the scarcity

this has occasioned, which greatly increases their resentment."

I have paid particular attention to the influence of "frontiers-

men," "pioneers," "traders," "trappers," etc. on Indians. The

Sioux told me at Pine Ridge (South Dakota) in 1890 that the

wars were caused by theft, whisky, land-grabbing, fraud, destruc-

tion by hunters, or wilful murder of peaceful Indians. Red Cloud,

born in 1822, said that when he was a young man they had no

trouble, it was only when the "advance-guard of civilization"

reached the plains that trouble began.30 A more peaceful and

industrious tribe than the Navajos cannot be found. Now they

are surrounded by a good class of people and therefore have no

trouble. But in early days they had difficulties with miners, trav-

elers, etc., and quietly put a number of them out of the way.

As the government kept a watchful eye over them and protected

them, trespassing on the Navajo reservation soon ceased.

The conditions in Ohio, 1750 to 1800, and on the plains,

1840 to 1870, were similar. The worst element of the East drifted

29The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days, p. 177.

30 See the Illustrated American, January-April, 1891, for full account

of Sioux troubles of 1890, by W. K. M.

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40        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

thither, killed the game, fired upon natives, whether friendly or

hostile. Of course the natives retaliated and returned blow for

blow. Do not misunderstand me as saying that all whites were

of this class. The free and easy life of the plains, excitement

of the chase, or opportunity for investment, or exemption from

arrest, brought out happy-go-lucky, careless fellows, both rascals

and honest men; and the Indians suffered.

Lean Wolf, Rain-in-the-Face and other prominent chiefs

of the Sioux corroborated Red Cloud in his statements to me.

Before I describe the conflict in Ohio, let me call attention

to the Shawanoes. They were better situated to resist attacks

of the whites, for their people were scattered in sixteen small

villages upon the various interior streams in the year 1760.31

"Christopher Gist, in his journey down the Ohio, in 1750,

found one village of Shawanoes. This was at the mouth of the

Scioto, and contained one hundred and forty houses and three

hundred men."32

In 1758 the English established a trading post on the Wal-

honding, above its mouth, and also one at the mouth of Elk

creek. It is reasonable to conclude that English traders were

pretty well represented in the various villages by 1760.

The United Brethren's (called Moravian, but not with

authority) missions in Ohio stand forth as bright spots in a dark

wilderness. Had they been permitted to remain, historians would

have less of tragedy to record. In the fall of 1758 the Ohio

tribes sent a large embassy to Easton, Pa., and made a formal

peace with the English. Christian Post was instrumental in get-

ting this treaty signed.

"White Eyes" was a Delaware, living much of his time upon

the Muskingum. His Indian name was Koquethageehlon. In

1762 on the above named river were settled the greatest civil

and military chiefs of the nation. Christian F. Post, one of the

missionaries, located by the village, having special permission,

and cleared ground for a cornfield. However, the Indians stopped

31 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. 1, p. 150.

32 Force, quoted from Appendix to Pounall's Topographical De-

scription. London. 1776.

• 40
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              41

him and confined his operations to a lot, 200 x 200 feet. In con-

cluding remarks upon the subject, they said:

"You have marked out a large spot of ground for a plan-

tation, as the white people do everywhere, and by and by another

and another may come; and the next thing will be that a fort

will be built for the protection of these intruders, and thus our

country will be claimed by the white people, and we driven farther

back, as has been the case ever since the white people first came

into this country. Say, do we not speak the truth?"33

This same man Post endeavored to get Shingask (which

some write Shingas) to go to Lancaster and meet the governor

of Pennsylvania. But the wily war chief would not depart from

Ohio, fearing that he would be murdered by the English in

revenge for his activities during the war. Post is much in evi-

dence in Ohio and Pennsylvania affairs. He was a staunch United

Brethren missionary and the first white man, not a trader, to

erect a log dwelling in Ohio.

On the twelfth of September, 1760, Robert Rogers started

for Detroit and other posts to take possession of them in the

name of England. Near the Cuyahoga river's mouth he was

met by Pontiac and a party of warriors. Parkman says:

*  ** "here, for the first time, this remarkable man stands

forth distinctly on the page of history."³⁴  Pontiac and other

northern chiefs were discontented. They, as well as Ohio Indians,

saw that no presents were forthcoming from the occupants of

the north.  Forts were erected or strengthened.  When the

Indians visited them they were not received with the cordiality

characteristic of the French occupation. Cold looks, oaths and

blows were their portion. "At a conference at Philadelphia in

August, 1761, an Iroquois sachem said, 'We, your brethren of

the several nations, are penned up like hogs. There are forts

all around us, and therefore we are apprehensive that death is

coming upon us.' "35

33 A Narrative of the Mission of the United Brethren among the

Delaware and Mohican Indians. John Heckewelder, Philadelphia, 1820,

p. 62.

34 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. I, p. 165.

35 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. I, p. 177.

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42        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Pontiac and his famous conspiracy are equally well known.

Of him and his I need say but little. While he besieged Detroit

his allies in Ohio were not idle. The resonant drum measured

the war chant in villages on the Scioto, along the Muskingum

and upon the lake. Warriors, ever restless, sang the traveling

and war songs, painted themselves in divers colors and set out

along the narrow forest trails.

Colonel Henry Bouquet thinks that the Shawanoes and Del-

awares began the conflict too soon, and before the other tribes

were entirely prepared.³⁶  They attacked frontier settlements in

time of harvest and destroyed immense quantities of property.

Of the traders, settlers, hunters and soldiers killed we shall prob-

ably never know the true number.

"All our forts, even at the remotest distances, were attacked

about the same time, and the following ones soon fell into the

enemy's hands:

"Le Boeuf, Venango, Presque Isle, Lake Bay, St. Josephs,

Miamis, Ouachtanon, Sandusky and Michilmackinac."³⁷

Colonel Bouquet was sent to relieve the garrison at Fort Pitt

and to proceed from thence against the Indians of Ohio. He

set out in July of 1763 and reached Bushy Run in August, where,

upon the fifth and sixth, he met and defeated the combined

attacks of the savages. His loss, however, was heavier than

that of the enemy.

In the spring of 1764 Bradstreet started for the lakes to

chastise the Wyandots, Ottawas and Chippewas, while Bouquet

set out upon his famous march to the "forks of the Muskingum."

Probably on Monday, October 8, 1764, Bouquet and his force

crossed the boundary into Ohio. This date is worth remem-

bering, for previously no large body of troops had ever entered!

Ohio in pursuit of the natives.

Tidings of his march brought consternation to the Indians.

Never had they dreamed that it was possible for such an army

to penetrate the wilderness and menace their largest settlements.

36 An Historical Account of the Expedition Against the Ohio In-

dians in the year 1764, Henry Bouquet. Reprinted by Robt. Clarke,

1868. Cincinnati.

37 Ibid. p. 5.

• 42
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             43

 

Some were for war, others for peace. Most of them feared exter-

mination, for the previous year they had killed all the traders

(or nearly all) among them, and sacked their stores. At the time

exaggerated statements as to the value of these goods were made.

Parkman shares in the opinion that $500,000 is too high a valua-

tion. He says, however, that more than one hundred traders

perished.³⁸ At Sandusky the Missionary Loskiel reports a strat-

egem employed by the Wyandots.39 As the traders were too

numerous to be attacked openly, they were persuaded to permit

themselves to be bound. "In this case," said the Wyandots,

"the hostile Indians would refrain from injuring them and they

should be set at liberty as soon as the danger was past." No

sooner had the unsuspecting traders been securely tied than the

natives, laughing at their simplicity, fell upon them with knife

and hatchet, murdered them, and then divided their goods. Thus

did they repay treachery and deceit and cruelty in like measure.

Bouquet frequently saw Indians during his march, and upon

several occasions they came to him for conferences. They

sounded him as to his intentions, and he told them in no uncer-

tain words. He notes that the banks of the Muskingum are

free from  undergrowth and covered by stately timber.  He

observes many fine openings, or "oak prairies," and herds of

game.

"Bouquet continued his march clown the valley of Mus-

kingum until he reached a spot where the broad meadows, which

bordered the river, would supply abundant grazing for the cattle

and horses; while the terrace above, shaded by forest-trees,

offered a convenient site for an encampment.40  Here he began

to erect a small pallisade work as a depot for stores and baggage.

Before the task was complete, a deputation of chiefs arrived

bringing word that their warriors were encamped, in great num-

bers, about eight miles from the spot, and desiring Bouquet to

appoint the time and place for a council. He ordered them to

meet him, on the next day, at a point near the margin of the

river, a little below the camp; and thither a party of men was

38 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. II, p. 8.

39 Loskiel's History of the Mission, p. 99. London, 1794.

40 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. II, p. 213.

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44       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

at once dispatched to erect a sort of rustic arbor of saplings and

the boughs of trees, large enough to shelter the English officers

and the Indian chiefs. With a host of warriors in the neigh-

borhood, who would gladly break in upon them, could they

hope that the attack would succeed, it behooved the English

to use every precaution. A double guard was placed, and a

stringent discipline enforced.

"In the morning the little army moved in battle order to

the place of council. Here the principal officers assumed their

seats under the canopy of branches, while the glistening array

of the troops was drawn out on the meadow in front in such a

manner as to produce the most imposing effect on the minds of

the Indians, in whose eyes the sight of fifteen hundred men under

arms was a spectacle equally new and astounding. The perfect

order and silence of the far-extending lines; the ridges of bayo-

nets flashing in the sun; the fluttering tartans of the Highland

regulars; the bright red uniform of the Royal Americans; the

darker garb and duller trappings of the Pennsylvania troops,

and the bands of Virginia backwoodsmen, who, in fringed hunt-

ing-frocks and Indian moccassins, stood leaning carelessly on their

rifles, - all these combined to form a scene of military pomp

and power not soon to be forgotten."

October 17 the chiefs Kiashuta, of the Senecas; Custaloga,

of the Delawares; and of the Shawanoes one "whose name sets

orthography at defiance," as Parkman aptly remarks, met Bouquet

for a preliminary conference. The speeches have been frequently

quoted and need not be reproduced here. It is well to note

that the Shawanoes declined to speak until they knew what terms

would be made the other Indians. When the chiefs dispersed

in order that they might collect the white prisoners demanded

by Bouquet, the troops moved down to near the forks (the present

site of Coshocton) and there erected a stockade. All the villages

were now within easy striking distance.

November 11 the various bands of Indians came to Bouquet

and surrendered nearly three hundred captives. During the

interval between October 17 and November 11 the commanding

officer had been busy with his correspondence. Indeed, it seemed

as if his plans would be defeated. Bradstreet, within easy strik-

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             45

ing distance of the hostile Wyandots of Sandusky, did nothing,

and letters from Bouquet to him seemed of no avail. The Sha-

wanoes considered themselves excepted "from the general

amnesty, and marked out for destruction." The French traders

among them secretly abetted them in this delusion and distrib-

uted much powder and lead and other munitions of war. Bouquet

was compelled to send urgent messages to the Scioto villages.

We may assume that he was ably assisted by James Smith, who

accompanied the expedition, and who, as we have seen, was

thoroughly acquainted with Indian character.

The scene, as we are told, could not have been more affect-

ing. Many of the relatives of captives had come along with

the army. These fell upon their lost ones in paroxysms of joy.

Even the stoic savages themselves betrayed emotion, and in sur-

rendering the more beloved of their captives, shed many tears

over them. Smith, Parkman, Bouquet and other writers say that

captives who had been with the Indians a long time were reluctant

to leave the life of the woods. Several had to be bound, others

were compelled to come against their will. Many fled to the

frontier and joined their Indian friends, choosing the hardships

and pleasures of the Indian villages and hunting-fields rather

than those of civilization. The autobiography of Mary Jemison,

and other intelligent captives, gives us much information as to

the treatment of prisoners.

"Among the children brought in for surrender there were

some, who, captured several years before, as early, perhaps, as

the French war, had lost every recollection of friends and home.

Terrified by the novel sights around them, the flash and glitter

of arms, and the strange complexion of the pale-faced warriors,

they screamed and struggled lustily when consigned to the hands

of their relatives."41

And after the conditions were all fulfilled, Bouquet, humane

officer and gentleman that he was, freely forgave the warriors

and took each and all of them by the hand with appropriate

speeches. The Shawanoe speaker I shall quote, for his remarks

indicate the feeling of his tribe--eternal enmity to the white

race. From the tenor of his speech it is believed that at a great

41 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Parkman, Vol. II, p. 229.

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46       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

council upon the Scioto the head men declared they would sub-

mit, but not through fear. They were warriors first, last and

always.

"Brother, when we saw you coming this road you advanced

towards us with a tomahawk in your hand; but we, your younger

brothers, take it out of your hands and throw it up to God to

dispose of as he pleases; by which means we hope never to

see it more.⁴²

"And now, brother, we beg leave that you who are a war-

rior, will take hold of this chain (giving a string of wampum)

of friendship and receive it from us, who are also warriors, and

let us think no more of war, in pity for our old men, women and

children." And the Shawanoes produced the fragments of a

treaty held with William Penn in 1701 and concluded another

speech, "Now brother, we who are warriors may forget our dis-

putes and renew the friendship which appears by these papers

to have existed between our fathers."⁴³

Bouquet gives us a summary in his book of the various In-

dian tribes. He thinks the Shawanoes in Ohio had five hundred

warriors, but I am of the opinion that the people could not mus-

ter more than three hundred fighting men at the time of Pontiac's

war. He also states that the natives carry news very fast by

means of runners and canoes and that they can cover a surpris-

ing extent of ground in twenty-four hours.

"In the enumeration of Indians by Sir Wm. Johnston in

1763, which includes none south of the Ohio and Pennsylvania,

the only mention of the Shawanoes is 'three hundred removed to

the Scioto and other branches.' "44 They had been much reduced

by war at this time.

Had the Ohio tribes known what Sir Jeffrey Amherst pro-

posed to Col. Bouquet regarding them, they would never have sur-

rendered a prisoner, but on the contrary, probably have tortured

every one of them. Amherst's diabolical proposition stamps him

42An Historical Account of the Expedition Against the Ohio In-

dians in the year 1764, Henry Bouquet. Robt. Clarke, Cincinnati, 1868.

P. 71.

43 An Historical Account, etc. Boquet, p. 72.

44 Indians of Ohio, Force, p. 33.

• 46
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             47

 

as a low villian of the worst type. Having the advantages of

civilization and belonging to a Christian nation, his suggestion

is all the more despicable. We might expect such thoughts to

occur to savages, but least of all to a high officer in the army of

Great Britain.

"Could it be contrived to send the Small Pox among those

disaffected tribes of Indians? We must on this occasion use

every strategem in our power to reduce them." (Signed) J. A.

Again, "Measures must be taken, that, in the End will put a

most Effectual Stop to their very Being."⁴⁵

Of the hostages which Bouquet took subsequent to the first

conference, there were fourteen. Some escaped en route to Fort

Pitt after the surrender of the prisoners. In May, 1765, five hun-

dren and seventy-one chiefs and warriors and many women and

children made peace at Fort Pitt with Major Murray. One hun-

dred and nineteen Shawanese warriors were present. It is very

interesting to note that an Indian named Simon Girty (Katepaco-

men) was one of the Delaware hostages. On one occasion James

Smith was elected to represent the Shawanese before Col. Bouquet.

Just before this expedition an enumeration of the tribes had been

made.

Girty, who now appears before us, was then twenty-three

years of age, having been born in 1741. He was one of four

sons. Girty early became a captive. He witnessed the torture

of his step-father, Turner, at the stake. The history of the

Girtys, by C. W. Butterfield (Robt. Clarke, Cinti., '92) covers

the field of their operations. I have used it largely.

In 1756 the mother and John Girty were taken down the

river by the Delaware Indians. The other children remained at

Kittaning. Simon learned the Seneca language; James lived

with the Shawanoes and George with the Delawares. They all

became adepts at savage life. Simon is the best known to his-

tory. There are bright spots in his life, yet it may be truthfully

said that he was the cause of much trouble and committed many

crimes upon the frontier. Simon was known to Pontiac. He

cultivated the disaffected elements in all tribes.

45 Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. II, p. 39. This letter was written

in July, 1763, and a similar one in August of the same year.

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48       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

We now arrive at the "mission period" which followed im-

mediately after the boundary-treaty. Post, the missionary and

pioneer, had secured permission for the teachers Heckewelder

and Zeisberger to preach to the Ohio tribes.

"In October, 1768, a great treaty was held by Sir William

Johnson at Fort Stanwix, with the Six Nations, the Shawnees,

Delawares, and Senecas of Ohio, at which more than two thou-

sand Indians were present.⁴⁶ Several weeks were occupied in

completing the business transacted, the principal of which was,

the settlement of the question of a boundary line between the

whites and the Indians. The governors of several of the colo-

nies were present at this treaty. Governor Penn, of Pennsyl-

vania, after waiting several days for the arrival of the delegates

from some of the more distant nations, who were slow in com-

ing, was obliged to leave, and placed his affairs in the hands of

two commissioners, to represent that colony. After much dis-

cussion and negotiation, conducted entirely by Sir William John-

son, on the part of the English, assisted by his two sons-in-law,

Col. Guy Johnson and Col. Claus, the boundary was agreed up-

on, and the treaty signed by the chiefs of all the six nations, and

their dependents, the Delawares, Shawnees, etc. This line ex-

tended from near Lake Ontario, at the junction of Canada and

Woods creeks, to Owego on the Susquehanna, thence through

Pennsylvania, Maryland, etc., to the mouth of the Cherokee or

Tennessee river."

In 1771 Zeisberger and Heckewelder were invited to settle

on the Muskingum (Elk's Eyes, is the meaning of this word).

In April, 1772, Zeisberger with twenty-eight natives settled at

Shonbrun (five springs). August 23rd of the same year many

Indians and several missionaries removed from the Susquehanna

to Shonburn. In April, 1773, the entire settlement on Big Beaver

removed to the Muskingum. In the fall of 1770 a great Indian

Council was held upon the plains of the Scioto. Sir William

Johnson sent Chief Thomas King to represent him. The attend-

ance at this meeting was very considerable, upwards of 2,000;

men, women and children being gathered together.

46 "Buffalo and the Senecas," William Ketchum, Vol. I, p. 158.

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             49

"Accordingly, on the 13th of April, 1773, this handsome vil-

lage was evacuated; one part of the congregation traveling

across the country by land, and the other divisions, accompanied

by the writer of this narrative, in twenty-two canoes, loaded with

baggage, Indian corn, etc., went by water, first down the Big

Beaver to the Ohio - thence down that river to the mouth of

the Muskingum - thence up that river, according to its course,

near two hundred miles, to Shonbrun, the place of destination."⁴⁷

Another town, Gnadenhutten was built. Some ideas of the size

of these communities, their order and the effect they had upon

the wilderness surrounding them may be had from Heckewel-

der's narrative. As to the chapels, "Both were built of squared

timbers and shingle roofed, with a cupola and bell. That at

Shonbrun was forty feet by thirty-six, and that at Gnadenhutten

somewhat smaller.⁴⁸ The towns being regularly laid out, the

streets wide and kept clean, and the cattle kept out by means

of fences, gave the whole a neat appearance and excited the as-

tonishment of all visitors." Containing upwards of sixty com-

fortable dwellings, with barns and store-houses, a grist mill, etc.,

these two communities rivalled all of the white settlements west

of Lancaster.

Concerning the converts much might be said. They pre-

sented noble traits - having been savages, they were now in-

dustrious, peaceable farmers, teachers, coopers, stock-raisers and

hunters. Anthony, baptized in 1749, remained steadfast up to

the time of his death in 1773. Heckewelder speaks feelingly of

the death-bed scene. Isaac, formerly Glickhican, presents us

with a dramatic incident. When the hostile Monseys were about

to break up the mission at Salem, and desiring to take Issac to

Detroit, hesitated to enter his house, knowing him to be a brave,

daring man in the past, he stepped out and addressed them

thus:

"Friends, by your maneuvres I conclude you are come for

me! If so, why do you hesitate?49  Obey your orders! I am

47 Heckewelder's Narrative, Philadelphia, 1820, p. 120.

48 Ibid, p. 122.

49 Heckewelder's Narrative, p. 270.

Vol. VII- 4.

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50 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

ready to submit! You appear to dread Glickhican, as formerly

known to you.50 Yes, there was a time when I would have

scorned to have been assailed in the manner you meditate; but

I am no more Glickhican, I am Isaac now, a believer in the true

and living God, for whose sake I am willing to suffer anything

- even death!" Then stepping up to them with his hands placed

on his back, he said, "You want to tie me and take me along.

Do so." With trembling hands they tied him, and took him off.

In passing by our camp at Gnadenhutten, while they were taking

him to the Half King, he addressed us: "A good morning, my

brethren!" to which we replied: "Good morning, fellow-pris-

oner, be of good cheer!" "Yes, yes", said he in reply, "I am so."

Converts to the number of nearly two hundred were added

to the congregations. Even hostile Wyandots, Senecas, Mo.-

seys and Shawanoes passing the village stopped to wish the con-

gregations well. No one can read Loskiel and Heckewelder

without being impressed with the success and influence for good

of these missions.

In 1774 the Wyandots and Delawares set apart thirty miles

of fertile land between Tuscarawas and "the great bend below

Newcomerstown" for the missionaries and their flocks. In 1775

the chapel at Shonbrun was too small to contain the numbers

attending service. White Eyes, a most able and respected Dela-

ware chief, gave his support to the missions and commended

them to all his race. Netawtwas, head chief of the Delawares,

decided upon his death-bed at Pittsburg that the gospel should

be preached by the brethren to his tribe.

At this time, 1777, Heckewelder writes that Shonbrun con-

tained upwards of sixty dwellings of squared timbers. "The

street, from east to west, was long and of a proper width; from

the center, where the chapel stood, another street ran off to the

north. * * * They had large fields under good rail fences,

well paled gardens, and fine fruit trees; besides herds of cattle,

horses and hogs."

This is the bright picture presented in '77. That which

follows, the historian may well hesitate to draw, for its shades

are somber, and the colors are of blood and of fire.

50 His name signifies the sight on a gun barrel.

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.          51

 

Zeisberger extended his labors to the Shawanoes at Waka-

tameki, paying them a second visit in 1778.

In 1774 war broke out between the Shawanoes-Wyan-

dots and the Virginians. Heckewelder says that the "white

people were the agressors." Some idea of the treatment ac-

corded Indians by roving bands of white desperadoes can be

obtained from the following:

"On May, 1st, 1774, the following alarming intelligence ar-

rived at Fort Pitt, by one Stevens, who had proceeded in a trad-

er's canoe, which was attacked on the 16th by the Cherokees, in

order to have carried her to Sciota, who gave the following par-

ticulars, viz.;51

"That on the 25th, upon his way down the river, and near

Wheeling Creek, he observed a canoe coming up the river, which

suspecting to be Indians, he made to the opposite shore to

avoid them: but upon his approach near the shore was fired

upon, and a Shawnese Indian in the canoe with him, was killed;

upon a second fire from the shore, a Delaware Indian, who was

also in the canoe, was killed; said Stevens further says, he could

not perceive who it was fired upon him, as they lay concealed in

the weeds, and upon throwing himself into the river, observed

the canoe that was coming up to be white people, upon which he

made towards them, and found it to be one Michael Cressop,

with a party of men who denied knowing anything of what had

happened to them, although from circumstances, he, the said

Stevens, is well convinced that the above murder was done by

some of said Cressop's associates. Stevens likewise informed

me, that while he was in company with Cressop, he heard him

make use of threatening language against the Indians, saving:

"'He would put every Indian to death he met on the river;

and that if he could raise men sufficient to cross the river, he

would attack a small village of Indians living on Yellow Creek.'"

Some white people settled on choice spots of ground along

the south side of the Ohio, and Indians who lived upon the

northern shore, or who happened to be coming up or down the

stream in canoes, were decoyed across and murdered by them.

51 Buffalo and the Senecas, Ketchum, Vol. I, p. 169.

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52        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Logan's relatives, and also Bald Eagle and Silver Heels were

among the killed.

At this period we note Joseph Brant (Thayendanega) the

famous Iroquois leader, statesman and warrior -  a man of

great natural ability and education - became interested in Ohio

affairs. He was born in 1742 upon the banks of the Ohio where

his people had a temporary village.  He died in Canada in

1807.⁵²

Logan was the son of Shikellimus, a distinguished Cayuga

sachem. Thayendanega was affected by the murders of Bald

Eagle and Silver Heels. They were old and well known and

both were friendly. Stone says of these murders:53 "After tear-

ing the scalp from his head (Bald Eagle) the white savages placed

the body in a sitting posture in the canoe and set it adrift down

the stream. Especially exasperated, at about the same time,

were the Shawanoes against the whites for the murder of one

of their favorite chiefs, Silver Heels, who had in the kindest

manner undertaken to escort several white traders across the

woods from the Ohio to Albany a distance of nearly five hun-

dred miles." Heckewelder says that the rage of the Ohio tribes

knew no bounds. They drove their traders out of the country.

Encouraged by the success of the United Brethren, Rev.

David Jones of Fairfield, New Jersey, set out for the Shawano

town Chillicothe, on the present site of Frankfort, Ross county.54

Traders had started from Pennsylvania in 1772 and moved into

the Scioto country. James Girty was in the employ of one of

these stores in the capacity of interpreter. Jones reached the

town and sought for Girty. But his missionary efforts received

a setback, for the Indians were not only opposed to him, but he

had trouble in securing a competent interpreter. Of one who

was recommended to him he instituted search, but found that

he had gone beaver hunting and would not return until in the

spring. "'This news', he wrote in his diary, 'blasted all my

prospects of making a useful visit; and having no other remedy,

52 Life of Joseph Brant. Wm. L. Stone, New York, 1838.

53 Ibid, Vol. I, pp. 38, 40, 41.

54 There were several Chillicothes. Old Town, Greene county, is

on the site of another.

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             53

 

I applied to one James Girty who was well acquainted with their

language, but a stranger to religion; neither had he any inclina-

tion to engage in such solemn matters contrary to the tenor of

his life, having little or no fear of God before his eyes; yet he

was civil, and after much persuasion engaged to assist me; but

he dare not proceed he said until some head men came home

who were out hunting but expected soon to return. In the

meantime I employed myself by making a vocabulary of the

language by his assistance and Mrs. Henry's, (the wife of a white

trader, herself a white woman). However, the temper of the

Indians was such that the good man did not wait for the return

of the head men, but soon started on his journey homeward.55

A report was brought to the Ohio tribes that Lord Dun-

more was marching against them from Virginia. Accordingly

the hostile natives moved westward leaving, for the present, only

the Christian Indians along the east side of the Muskingum.

General Lewis and Lord Dunmore set out in September

against the Shawanoes.  The former followed the Ohio, the

latter headed for the Shawanoe towns in the Pickaway Plains.

Both Simon Kenton and Simon Girty accompanied Dun-

more on his expedition. Lewis reached the mouth of the

Kanawha and fought the battle of Point Pleasant in which some

eight hundred Indians led by Logan, Cornstalk, Ellenipisco

(Cornstalk's son) and Red Eagle participated. The forces were

about equal. During the fight Cornstalk's voice was frequently

heard crying, "Be strong, be strong!" Finally the savages re-

treated. Smith says that the retreat was most masterly carried

out and that most of the body crossed the river, bearing away

their wounded and dead, while a few picked men kept up the

battle. Lewis's brother was killed during the action.

"This battle, considering the numbers engaged, has been

ranked one of the most bloody on record.56 The loss of the In-

dians was never known, but must have been severe; it is said

that in addition to the killed and wounded borne away, numbers

of the slain were thrown into the river, and thirty-three of their

warriors were found dead upon the field, the following day. The

55 History of the Girtys, Butterfield, p. 20.

56 Buffalo and the Senecas, Vol. I, p. 178.

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54       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

loss of the Virginians was also severe. Two of their colonels

were killed, four captains, many subordinates, and between fifty

and sixty privates, besides a much larger number wounded. It

is said that Cornstalk was opposed to giving battle at the mouth

of the Kanawha, but being overruled in council, resolved to do

his best.

"Upon their arrival at Chillicothe, a council of Indians was

held to decide what was next to be done. Cornstalk addressed

the council. He said, 'The long knives are upon us from by

two routes. Shall we turn and fight them?' No response being

made to the question, he continued: 'Shall we kill our squaws

and children, and then fight until we are killed ourselves?' As

before, all were silent, whereupon Cornstalk struck his toma-

hawk into the war post, standing in the midst of the council and

remarked with emphasis: 'Since you are not inclined to fight,

I will go and make peace.' Saying which, he repaired to the

camp of Lord Dunmore, who having crossed the Ohio was now

approaching Scioto. Cornstalk was accompanied by several

other chiefs, on this mission of peace, but Logan refused to go

with them. He was in favor of peace, but scorned to ask it.

The chief speaker on this occasion was Cornstalk, who did not fail

to charge the whites with being the sole cause of the war, enum-

erating the provocations which the Indians had received, and

dwelling with peculiar force upon the murders committed in the

family of Logan."

Dunmore marched without opposition to near Cornstalk

town -  now six miles southwest of Circleville, Ohio, on the

Pickaway Plains. He was within easy reach of the two Chilli-

cothes, also near the town on the present site of Westfall, and

but a mile from Squaw Town. He encamped on the "Black

Mount", or high ridge of ground prominent in the center of the

Plains and an object of more than historic interest. He sent

messages to the various camps.

"While negotiations were going forward the Mingo chief

held himself aloof.⁵⁷ 'Two or three days before the treaty', says

an eye witness, 'when I was on the out-guard, Simon Girty who

was passing by, stopped with me and conversed; he said he was

57 History of the Girtys, p. 29.

• 54
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.           55

 

going after Logan, but he did not like his business for he was

a surly fellow. He, however, proceeded on and I saw him re-

turn on the day of the treaty and Logan was not with him. At

this time a circle was formed, and the treaty begun. I saw John

Gibson on Girty's arrival get up and go out of the circle and

talk with Girty, after which he (Gibson) went into a tent, and

soon after returning into the circle, drew out of his pocket a

piece of clean, new paper, on which was written in his own hand-

writing a speech for and in the name of Logan.' This was the

famous speech about which there has been so much controversy.

It is now well established that the version as first printed, was

substantially the words of Logan."

The latest attack upon the speech of Logan appeared in no

less a standard magazine than the Century. The name of Lord

Dunmore was incorrectly given, and the speech referred to as

lacking evidence of authenticity in history. I wrote to the author

giving a large number of historical references, etc. From the

reply I have received, and what I have since learned, I take it

that he desired to have some of the Virginia officers of the day

appear in a little better light than their actions warrant. He

even denied that Cressap committed murders upon Logan's rela-

tions. I do not care whether Cressap or Broadhead slew Lo-

gan's people. This does not affect the speech -, the change of

a name. During the controversy, Cressap's friends simply

shifted the blame onto Broadhead, and never denied that Lo-

gan's relatives were foully murdered in time of peace by whites.

Aside from some forty-five reliable references of people who

lived during these stormy scenes, the speech itself is best evi-

dence of its genuineness. It lost, doubtless, in translation, for

the Indian conception does not retain its original beauty when

literally translated. Through the European and the Indian

minds run vastly different thoughts. Such an outburst of hu-

man passion comes only from a heart torn by conflicting emo-

tions. It is not possible that Gibson calmly evolved this speech

out of his own mind. Logan was a man of great ability. He

had long brooded over his wrongs -  usually in solitude -

and he realized that there was nothing left in life for him

or for his race. Treaties they might make, but those treaties

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56        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

could not be kept. There was no hope. The end was come only

when the last acre had passed into the hands of his grasping ene-

mies. Every chief of prominence has realized this to a greater

or less extent. Tecumtha and Cornstalk and Pontiac and Brant

and Osceola and Red Cloud and Joseph and all that list of re-

markable aborigines have delivered, to their credit, striking ora-

tions on the destiny of the American race. Not one compared

with that of Logan. To say that this burst of native eloquence,

this touching, yet withal dignified plea, this flight of oratory

which has moved the hearts of men for more than a century, is

the product of an English army officer written in cold blood, is

to assume a position substantiated neither by history nor by

reason.

Although the state of Ohio has not as yet preserved the

sites of battles, conferences or treaties, it is worthy of record in

this report that a monument has been erected by a private gen-

tleman at the site of Logan's cabin. Mr. John Boggs, whose

father built the first settler's cabin in the Pickaway plains prior

to 1800, raised a monument one hundred yards from a large

elm (known as the Logan Elm). Upon four bronze tablets,

placed one on each side of the shaft, he sets forth the facts as

he learned them from his father and others. One states the

family history briefly, giving the names of children killed by

Indians, etc.; another gives the facts of Dunmore's expedition;

another affirms that Logan spoke under this elm. The site is

in Pickaway township.

The elm is about two miles and a half from the site of Dun-

more's camp. Girty, it will be remembered, was sent to Logan's

camp some distance away. The elm is about seven feet in

diameter, has a spread of one hundred and sixty feet, and is

one of the largest trees I have seen in that entire region. It

is very old and has already commenced to die at its top. Mr.

Boggs is deserving of great credit for his interest in preserving

this historic site.

"Peace followed with the Shawanoes, but the Mingoes, in

attempting to escape without making terms with Dunmore, were

• 56
 

The Indian Tribes of 0hio.             57

 

by Major William Crawford, who led a few brave men against

them, severely punished.58

In 1775 it seems that troubles again occurred upon the

frontier. The following Indians came to Fort Pitt and presented

Lord Dunmore with their grievances: White Eyes, Cornstalk,

Kayashuta (Mingo Chief), John Montour (half breed, but a prom-

inent man) and Logan.

In November of this year (1775) Henry Hamilton arrived

at Detroit as Lieutenant-Governor and Indian superintendent for

the British Government. During the beginning of the American

Revolution the Indians were cautioned by both sides to observe

strict neutrality regarding the conflict. As the conflict grew

fiercer, the tribes were compelled to take sides, and as a natural

consequence they were soon "between the upper and lower mill-

stones."  Let us follow Heckewelder's narrative through part

of this period. He was right among all the hostile as well as

the friendly tribes, and is entirely competent to speak.

Captain Pipe was an artful and cunning man. He was a

chief of the Delawares and very jealous of White Eyes, also a

chief, yet one of more character and honor. In 1776 various

rumors reached the Christians that the Iroquois would join the

English. The Sandusky Wyandots were soon influenced by the

British at Detroit. They were the worst of our Ohio Indians.

Chiefs White Eyes, Gelelemend (Killbuck), Netawatwes and

Machingwipuschiis (Big Cat) did everything to preserve peace

by sending embassies and exhorting the nations not to take up

the hatchet. The Sandusky warriors advised their cousins "to

keep good shoes in readiness to join the warriors." On Novem-

ber 12 Matthew Elliot entered the town with a number of horse-

loads of goods, a hired man and a female Indian companion.

As he expressed sentiments favorable to the Americans, and

Wyandots friendly to English interests were near at hand, the

missionaries were placed in a desperate situation. Should the

Wyandots murder Elliot the Americans might claim that the

missions sheltered British Indians and move against them. All

this was represented to Elliot, but he did not depart until they

58 The following pages are taken almost entirely from Heckewelder.

(Narrative of the United Brethren Mission, etc.)

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58    Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

had continuously importuned him for some days. He was over-

taken by Wyandots, bound, and his goods divided amongst them.

The missionaries heard of this, and, sending out some Christian

Indians in pursuit, prevailed upon the Wyandots to release the

captive.

In 1777 the Shawanoes resolved to join the British. Some

of the disaffected elements in the Delaware nation did likewise.

The Virginians and Pennsylvanians were cordially hated by the

Ohio Indians. Neither did the natives love the British, but they

looked upon the south and east as countries from whence all the

settlers, hunters, expeditions and armies came, and as the British

at Detroit made them large gifts, they decided "to aid the father

in his war upon his disobedient son."

Cornstalk, one of the best Indians ever born in the Ohio

Valley, was killed under treacherous circumstances this year.

He and his son Ellinipsico went to the stockade-fort at Point

Pleasant upon business. Both were well known to the people

of the place as being friendly and neutral. Captain Arbuckle

could have prevented Cornstalk's murder, but through fear of

his own troops he refrained from so doing. While the chiefs

were inside, some soldiers came running to the fort and reported

that when in the woods they had been fired upon. The troops

did not pursue after the miscreants who had committed the out-

rage, but fell upon the defenseless Indians within.

As the swearing troops approached, Ellinipsico was agitated

and sought to defend himself. Not so with Cornstalk. "He had

grappled too often with death on the battle-field to fear his

approaches now. Perceiving the emotions of his son, he calmly

observed: 'My son, the Great Spirit has seen fit that we should

die together and has sent you to that end. It is his will, and

let us submit.' The mob having entered the apartment of the

chiefs, fired upon them. Cornstalk fell pierced by seven bullets

and died without a struggle. The son, after the exhortation of

his father, met his death with composure and was shot as he

sat upon a bench."

The Virginians and Kentuckians were determined to destroy

the missions, believing them to be a base of supplies or a con-

• 58
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             59

 

venience to tribes in league with the British. But the American

officers at Fort Pitt had all confidence in the missionaries.

"However, in the beginning of October (1777), a party of

freebooters from the Ohio settlements, in defiance of the com-

mandant's endeavors to restrain them from it, crossed the Ohio

with intentions to destroy the peaceable Delaware settlements in

the Muskingum; being, however, timely discovered by a party

of Wyandots, headed by the Half King, they were attacked

and totally defeated."⁵⁹

Early in the spring of 1778 the Wyandots and Mingoes

began to commit outrages against the settlements.  As these

war parties passed the mission towns the Christians were com-

pelled, according to Indian custom, to either feed the warriors

or suffer as a consequence the killing of cattle and hogs in case

of refusal. Heckewelder makes it a strong point that the mis-

sionaries permitted no member of the congregation to go to war

or to aid the enemy, or to receive any property brought back

from the raids, or to entertain in the houses any persons warriors

by profession, or not of good moral character. Frequently war

parties halted a distance from the missions (for the leaders well

knew that the missionaries did not desire their presence among

the Christians) and when the Elders or "National Assistants"

of the mission heard of the presence of these parties they sent

food to them and cared for such prisoners as they might have.

Frequently did they buy prisoners in order that they might save

them from torture or adoption. An old man was purchased from

the Shawanoes in this year and tenderly cared for by the Chris-

tian women until he was sufficiently strong to be taken to Pitts-

burg.

The British commander at Detroit sent a letter to the mis-

sionaries in which he stated that the Christians must turn out

and fight the Americans or suffer consequences. After a con-

sultation, Zeisberger committed the communication to the flames.

March 28, 1778, Alexander McKee, Simon Girty and Mat-

thew Elliot, all three suspicious and dangerous characters, fled

from Fort Pitt and descended the Ohio. Seven soldiers ran

off with them. Girty claimed that they had not been well used,

59 Heckewelder's Narrative, Philadelphia, 1820, p. 165.

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60      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

hence their desertion to the British. The commandant at Fort

Pitt immediately declared them outlaws and offered a compen-

sation for their apprehension. These rascals reached Goshocking

and told the Indians that the Americans had all conspired for

their destruction. They then departed for the Scioto.

Captain Pipe seized upon this as his opportunity to gather

to himself all the Delawares. White Eyes was yet friendly to

the Americans. A great council was called at his town upon

the Walhonding. (Gook-bo-sing, fifteen miles above the forks.)

Pipe wished to induce the warriors to go to war, but personally

he did not care to then take up the hatchet. White Eyes put

himself on record. Said he:

"If you will go out in this war, you shall not go without

me. I have taken peace measures, it is true, with the view of

saving my tribe from destruction, but if you think me in the

wrong and give more credit to vagabond fugitives, whom I know

to be such, than to myself, who am best acquainted with the

real state of things; if you insist on fighting the Americans, go,

and I will go with you. I will not go like the bear hunter to

set his dogs upon the animal to be beaten about with his paws,

while he keeps himself at a safe distance. No! I will lead you

on, I will place myself in the front, I will fall with the first of

you. You can do as you choose, but as for me, I will not sur-

vive my nation. I will not live to bewail the miserable fate of

the brave people who deserve, as you do, a better."

At this critical juncture, February, 1778, several of the

teachers went to Fort Pitt and there interviewed Colonels Hand

and Gibson and were informed that no action was contemplated

against the missions; that they were considered as neutral.

Although the journey was beset by dangers, for hostile bands

might be encountered upon any one of the trails, they set out

for home. When near Gnadenhutten, they heard the beat of

a drum and the war song sung to its time. They found the

Christians still there. A party of Wyandots was at the bluff

two miles below, and it was their drum which Heckewelder heard.

Having had no rest of consequence, Heckewelder was completely

exhausted; yet he slept but a few hours. Accompanied by John

Martin, an Indian convert, he swam the Muskingum and pro-

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            61

 

ceeded towards Goshocking, "where all was bustle and confusion,

and many preparing to go off and fight the Americans.^"60

"Arriving by ten o'clock in the forenoon, and in sight of

the town, a few yells were given by a person who had discovered

us, intended to notify the inhabitants that a white man was com-

ing, and which immediately drew the whole body of Indians into

the street; but although I saluted them in passing, not a single

person returned the compliment, which, as my conductor

observed, was no good omen. Even Captain White Eyes, and

the other chiefs, who had always befriended me, now stepped

back when I reached out my hand to them, which strange con-

duct however did not dismay me, as I observed among the crowd

some men well known to me as spies of Captain Pipe's watch-

ing the actions of these peace chiefs, wherefore I was satisfied

that the act of refusing me the hand had been done from policy,

and not from any ill will toward my person. Indeed, in looking

around I thought I could read joy in the countenance of many

of them in seeing me among them at so critical a juncture, when

they, but a few days before, had been told by those deserters

that nothing short of their total destruction had been resolved

upon by the Long Knives. Yet, as no one would reach out

his hand to me, I inquired into the cause, when Captain White

Eyes, boldly stepping forward, replied, 'That by what had been

told them by those men (McKee and party) they no longer had

a single friend among the American people; if, therefore, this

be so, they must consider every white man who came to them

from that side as an enemy who only came to deceive them and

put them off their guard for the purpose of giving the enemy

an opportunity of taking them by surprise.' I replied that the

imputation was unfounded and that, were I not their friend, they

never would have seen me here. 'Then,' continued Captain White

Eyes, 'you will tell us the truth with regard to what I state to

you.' Assuring him of this, he in a strong tone asked me: 'Are

the American armies all cut to pieces by the English troops?

Is General Washington killed? Is there no more a Congress?

And have the English hung some of them and taken the remainder

60 Nearly all this matter is taken directly from Heckewelder's Nar-

rative.

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62       Ohio Arch. and His. Soeiety Publications.

 

abroad to hang them there?  Is the whole country beyond the

mountains in possession of the English, and are the few thousand

Americans who have escaped them now embodying themselves

on this side of the mountains for the purpose of killing all the

Indians in this country, even our women and children? Now

do not deceive us, but speak the truth. Is this all true what I

have said to you?'

"I declared to him before the whole assembly that not one

word of what he had just told me was true, and holding out to

him, as I had done before, the friendly speeches sent by me for

them, which he, however, as yet refused to accept, thought by

the countenances of the bystanders that I could perceive that

the moment bid fair for their listening, at least to the contents

of those speeches, and accidentally catching the eye of the drum-

mer, I called to him to beat the drum for the assembly to meet

for the purpose of hearing what their American brethren had

to say. A general smile having taken place, White Eyes thought

the favorable moment had arrived to put the question, and, hav-

ing addressed the assembly in these words: 'Shall we, my friends

and relatives, listen once more to those who call us their breth-

ren?' which question, being loudly and as with one voice

answered in the affirmative, the drum was beat, and the whole

body quickly repairing to the spacious council chamber, the

speeches, all of which were of the most pacific nature, were read

and interpreted to them. When Captain White Eyes arose and

in an elaborate address to the assembly took particular notice of

the good disposition of the American people toward the Indians,

observing, that they had never as yet called on them to fight

the English, knowing that the war was destructive to nations,

that those had from the beginning of the war, to the present

time, always advised them to remain quiet and not take up the

hatchet against either side. A newspaper containing the capitu-

lation of General Burgoyne's army being found enclosed in the

packet, Captain White Eyes once more rose up and, holding the

paper unfolded with both his hands so that all could have a view

of it, said, 'See, my friends and relatives, this document contains

great events; not the song of a bird, but the truth!' Then step-

ping up to me, he gave me his hand, saying; 'You are welcome

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.              63

 

with us, brother.' Every one present followed his example, after

which I proceeded with my conductor, John Martin, to Lichtenau

(the new mission) where, to the inexpressible joy of the venerable

missionary, Zeisberger, and his congregation, we related what

had taken place, while they, on the other hand, assured us that

nothing could have at that time come more seasonable to save

the nation and with it the mission from utter destruction than

our arrival."

White Eyes immediately sent runners to the Shawanoe towns

on the Scioto apprising his "grandchildren" of the "song imposed

upon us" and cautioning them not to listen to it. The scene,

the speech of White Eyes and the confusion in the towns are all

well known to readers, having frequently been told in our border

warfare histories.

For some time during 1778 the missionaries were undis-

turbed, and we read in Heckewelder's Narrative of many con-

verts and a large attendance at services; also the passing of

numerous parties through the towns. During the fall, Matthew

Elliot, who, it will be remembered, was one of those who fled

from Pittsburg in Girty's party, succeeded in persuading the

governor at Detroit that the missionaries were sent among the

Delawares by the American Congress for no other purpose than

stirring up dissension and of enlisting their sympathies against

the British. McKee and Girty were parties to this assertion.

Indeed, the destruction of the mission is largely chargeable to

them.

White Eyes died in this same year while accompanying Gen-

eral McIntosh on an expedition into the Tuscarawas country.⁶¹

He was a great and useful man and is spoken of highly by many

of the writers.

In 1779 the whites from the Ohio river began stealing horses

from the Christian Indians. During the same year a delegation

of the Cherokees journeyed from the south and visited the Del-

awares for the purpose of consoling them for the loss of White

Eves. The ceremony performed was very affecting.

61 Brigadier-General McIntosh in November and December of 1778

erected Fort Laurens on the Tuscarawas. Bolivar, in Tuscarawas county,

is half a  mile above  the  site  of the tort.

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64        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

During the excitement attendant upon the capture of the

governor of Detroit by General Clarke, Simon Girty had engaged

to lead a war party for the purpose of taking Zeisberger alive

or dead. A friendly trader contrived to send word to Hecke-

welder.⁶² He despatched two brethren, one of whom was the

brave Isaac Glickhican, of whom I have already spoken. They

met the senior missionary at Lichtenau, and when nine miles

from that place eight Mingoes, headed by Simon Girty, sud-

denly appeared in the path. "This is the very man we have come

for; now act agreeable to the promise you have made!" cried

Girty. Two young Delawares at this moment burst out from the

forest, and taking in the situation at a glance, prepared their

guns to defend Zeisberger. Girty withdrew, not wishing to face

complications which might arise were he to attack two Indians

not Christians. The young warriors accompanied the mission-

ary to Gnadenhutten, saying that while not of the faith, yet they

could not see so good a man as the minister captured by Girty.

In 1780 and the early spring of 1781 complications arose

which sadly disturbed the peace of the missions. Pipe and some

other chiefs continued their intrigues. Even friendly Delawares

began to counsel a union with the Sandusky villages and to

advocate an alliance with the British.

In the spring of 1781 Colonel Broadhead camped a few miles

from Salem and sent word for an interview. The missionaries

gave him an audience. He spoke at great length upon the peace-

ful conduct of the Christians, of the examples they were setting

their more warlike neighbors, and of the faith that Congress had

in Zeisberger and Heckewelder. Broadhead was doubtless sin-

cere in this, but while he spoke "an officer came with great speed

from another quarter of the camp, and reported that a particular

division of the militia were preparing to break off for the purpose

of destroying the Moravian settlements up the river." Colonel

Broadhead immediately took measures to prevent them perfecting

their designs.

"On the afternoon of the tenth of August, 1781, the Half

King, with an hundred and forty armed men, suddenly appeared

62 I continue to quote from Heckewelder, or to use his information

with slight alterations.

• 64
 

The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            65

 

before the town of Salem with the British colors flying, and

having formed for themselves a large camp, the colors were set

in the center, where Captain Elliot, with the Half King and Mr.

McCormick (the flag bearer), had their tents fixed." Elliot called

upon Heckewelder and said that something of importance was

in store for the Christians. Accordingly word was sent to the

inhabitants of the three towns and Gnadenhutten (it being the

center) was set upon as the point of conference.

"Soon more than three hundred warriors had assembled

from the lake region and elsewhere. The Wyandots from Up-

per Sandusky commanded by the Half King; others of the same

nation from Detroit and Lower Sandusky, commanded by Kuhn,

a head chief of the latter place; Captains Pipe and Wingemund,

Delaware war-chiefs; the Monsey war-chiefs with about forty

men; the two Shawanoe captains, named by the traders John

and Thomas Snake, and a few of their men from Sciota; several

straggling Indians of the Mohegan and Ottawa tribes."

August twentieth, after a week of feasting and debating, the

Half King appointed a conference for the following day. The

speeches, long and interesting and given nearly in full by Hecke-

welder, cannot be repeated here. Having preserved a pacific

course through the war, the Christians urged that they did not

fear the Virginians. Moreover their possessions of corn, cattle,

property and food were so extensive that they could not well

move to the Sandusky region. They succeeded in convincing

the Half King against their removal. But Elliot and the Mon-

seys continued to clamor for the Christian's removal, "for", said

he, "the Virginians will surely come here and murder them."

Elliot did not care himself, but he was desirous of drawing the

entire Delaware nation into the war and this was the only way

he could accomplish his purpose. Debates, quarrels and plot-

tings were rife. It became known that Elliot expected to get

the cattle himself and sell them in Detroit for forty dollars per

head, and for this purpose he had brought several horse-loads

of goods to distribute among the Indians after the Christians

were made captive.

September 2nd the warriors became very surly. Dead cattle

Vol. VII-5.

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66       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

caused an intolerable stench in the town. The Half King

called the people together again and demanded, would they

move or not? They replied in the negative. Then the savages

went into council and sat nearly all night. Some were in favor

of murdering the missionaries at once. But others held that

men like Isaac Glickhican would defend them. Heckewelder's

policy of universal peace prompted him to employ heroic meas-

ures which he thought the present crisis warranted. That was,

the placing of an Indian friendly to the mission in the night

council. How such an one eluded the viligance of the savages

we know not, we must confess that it was an admirable bit of

detective work. September 4th all the congregation being called

to the chapel, the senior missionary, Zeisberger, presented an ad-

dress of some three hours in length. The edifice was crowded,

for not only Christians, but many of the warriors and chiefs were

also present. The sermon was of such touching, gentle and

comforting character that, if we are to believe Heckewelder,

nearly all were in tears at its conclusion, and even the hostile

element came forward and shook hands with the missionaries,

averring that this removal was due to the officers at Detroit and

the chiefs, and that they were unwilling agents compelled to

perform it.

I shall pass rapidly over the sacking of the towns, the in-

sults and privations heaped upon the Christians during the march

to the Sandusky Plains. It is a dark chapter in Ohio history.

Help could have been had from Pittsburg, for messengers from

Gnadenhutten had reached that post and informed the com-

mandant of the state of affairs. But he wisely concluded that an

armed intervention on his part would result in the extermina-

tion of the missions, for the British would then consider them as

enemies. As the sequel will show, it would have been better

had Broadhead and Gibson sent an expedition against the Wyan-

dots and others while they were in the missions. The expe-

dition would have crushed them and the border ruffians who did

destroy the towns shortly afterward, would have heard of this

action. Being convinced that the missions were friendly and

under the protection of Fort Pitt, Williamson and his party would

not have dared to assault them. The only danger of extermina-

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            67

tion would be from Detroit or Sandusky, and a small fort be-

tween Salem and Gnadenhutten garrisoned by brave men, would

have secured the towns. But no such action was taken, and in-

stead of protection, murder and arson reigned.

September 11th they started. The Half King searched the

woods for buried articles; for the Christians had hidden all their

pewter and kitchen utensils, their ploughs, hoes, and various iron

implements, some of their personal belongings and much corn.

This was done during the night. Pipe conducted the party, and

as his Delawares were rather friendly as compared with the

Wyandots, the Christians got along very well. But the Half

King soon caught up and "behaved like a mad man", and so the

missionaries importuned Pipe to let them go on either with the

Delawares or alone, promising that they would proceed to the

designation in good faith and as rapidly as possible. They went

up the Walhonding river, but slowly, on account of low water

and drift. A heavy rain and thunder-storm detained them a day.

Falling trees crushed their largest canoe and it sunk with much

food and valuable personal belongings. The Half King sent off

a party headed by his two sons against the Ohio river settle-

ments, but the force was defeated and his two sons killed. I

shall refer to this action later. After leaving the river they pro-

ceeded across country. The Wyandots again came up with

them and urged greater speed. They whipped the horses and

also numbers of the converts, crying, "How, how!" (along,

along).

October 11th they were left by the Half King at Upper San-

dusky and told to shift for themselves. Both men and women

were completely exhausted and barely able to march. Food

was getting scarce and the packs which all carried seemed like

lead, so they settled down upon a plain by the river. The mis-

sionaries left the Christians here and set out for Detroit, where

they obtained audience with the Commandant, November 9th.

Pipe and his men were present. Arnet Schuyler De Peyster, the

commandant, addressed him:

"'Captain Pipe, you have for a long time lodged complaints

with me against certain white people among your nation, and

whom you call teachers to the believing Indians, who, as you

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68       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

say, are friends to the Americans, and keep up a continual cor-

respondence with them, to the prejudice of your father's interests.

You having so repeatedly accused these teachers and desiring

that I might remove them from among you; I at length com-

manded you to take them together with the believing Indians

away from the Muskingum and bring them into your country,

and being since informed that this has been done, I ordered you

to bring those teachers together with some of their principal

men before me, that I might see and speak with them; since that

time these men now sitting before you, have come in and sur-

rendered themselves up to me without your being with them.

I now ask you, Captain Pipe, if these men are those of whom

you so much complained; and whom I ordered you to bring be-

fore me?' Pipe replied in the affirmative. The Commandant

continued:

"'Well, both the accuser and the accused being present, it

is but fair, that the accused hear from the accuser, of the com-

plaints he has against him; I therefore desire you to repeat what

you have told me of these teachers and accuse them of it.'

"Pipe, standing at the time, turned to his counsellors tell-

ing them to get upon their legs and speak. Finding them panic-

struck he appeared to be at a loss how to act. Seeing that his

men would not speak, he boldly defended the teachers against

accusations brought against them, saying, 'That they were good

men and that he wished his father to speak good words to them.

They were his friends, and that he would be sorry to see them

treated ill and hard.' The officer persisted, the Indians hung

their heads and finally Pipe boldly said: 'Father, the teachers

cannot be blamed for this, for living in our country where they

had to do whatever we required of them, they were compelled

to act as they did. They did not write letters for themselves but

for us. I am to blame! I caused them to do what they did!

We urged them to it, whilst they refused, telling us that they

did not come here for the purpose of meddling in our affairs,

but for the spiritual good of the Indians.' The Commandant

then asking him, 'What he wished him to do with us, whether

he should send us out of the country, or permit us to return

again to our families and congregations?' Pipe, contrary to

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.            69

what was expected, advised that we be suffered to return to our

homes."

The officer then questioned the missionaries and Hecke-

welder explained his work and what he knew of the American

Congress, all of which was interpreted to Pipe and his followers.

Satisfied with the explanation given he acquitted them of the

charges and admonished that neither they nor their converts

should meddle in the war.

"On retiring from the council-house we were congratulated

by many respectable inhabitants of the place on our happy ac-

quittal and the prospect of our returning again to our families."

People gave them clothes, the traders furnished food, De

Peyster presented them with horses, and in joy they joined the

congregation at Upper Sandusky.

March 13th to 15th, 1782, bad news came from the Mus-

kingum. The Christians were preparing to return to their for-

mer homes, for the winter had been extremely rigid. Food had

been scarce and there was much suffering The intrigues of

Girty and Elliot well nigh effected their destruction, but so far

they had escaped. Many of the Christians had returned to Salem

and Gnadenhutten to gather corn, etc. They had been there but

a short time when they were met by over one hundred white

men, mostly back-woodsmen and under the leadership of one

Williamson. These gathered the Indians together and informed

them that they must die. "For", said they, "when they killed

the Indians, the country would be theirs, and the sooner this

was done the better."

"Finding that all entreaties to save their lives were to no

purpose, and that some more bloodthirsty than their comrades

were anxious to begin upon them, they united in begging a short

delay, that they might prepare themselves for death, which re-

quest was at length granted them. Then asking pardon for any

offense they had given, or grief they had occasioned to each

other, they kneeled down offering fervent prayer to God their

Savior and kissing one another, under a flood of tears fully re-

signed to His will, they sang praises unto Him in the joyful hope

that they would soon be relieved from all pain and join their

Redeemer in everlasting bliss.

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"The murderers, impatient to make a beginning, came again

to them while they were singing, and inquiring whether they

were now ready for dying, they were answered in the affirmative;

adding, 'that they had commended their immortal souls to God

who had given them the assurance in their hearts that he would

receive their souls.' One of the party now taking up a cooper's

mallet, which lay in the house (the owner being a cooper) say-

ing, 'how exactly this will answer for this business', he began

with Abraham, and continued knocking down one after another

until he had counted fourteen, that he had killed with his own

hands. He now handed the instrument to one of his fellow-mur-

derers, saying, 'My arm fails me! Go on in the same way! I

think I have done pretty well!'

"The number of Christian Indians murdered by these mis-

creants exceeded ninety." Isaac Glickhican was of the number.

Two lads escaped. One, understanding English well, gave the

missionaries his version of the affair. Years afterward some of

the whites engaged died expressing remorse, and one in particu-

lar, when under the influence of liquor, would rehearse the scene,

the prayers, the cries of the murdered; and, it is said, his recita-

tion was intensely dramatic. He would fall upon the ground in

a paroxysm of terror and remorse calling upon the Almighty to

blame others rather than himself!

The savages not only condemned the action; they said,

"What kind of people are these who kill their friends? We kill

enemies." James Smith said, in a burst of righteous indigna-

tion:

"This was an act of barbarity beyond anything I ever knew

to be committed by the savages themselves."

Congress, to our shame, never punished these murderers.

In 1797 it gave the United Brethren three separate tracts of

4,000 acres each at Salem, Gnadenhutten and Shonbrun. Hecke-

welder visited the spot and laid out town sites. In October Zeis-

berger and the rest settled upon the old sites. They remained

some time after Zeisberger's death, which occurred in July, 1808,

at Goshen on the Muskingum. Then they abandoned the mis-

sions and returned to Bethlehem, Pa.

I need not refer to the small missions established in Canada,

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The Indian Tribes of Ohio.             71

 

or to Heckewelder's second journey to Detroit, or to the terrible

night in the same house with Girty, when that individual, being

in an adjoining room, threatened to chop through the partition

and split their heads with his war hatchet.

"After the murders at Gnadenhutten the Wyandots, Sha-

wanoes and Delawares continually kept spies out to guard against

being surprised by the Americans." In May, two months after

Williamson's stroke, that individual and Colonel Crawford set

out for the Christian Indian settlement near Sandusky with the

object of killing them and also such of the Wyandots and other

tribes as might lay in their path. Finding none there, they turned

towards the towns containing real warriors, "which," observes

the faithful Heckewelder, "was exactly what the assembled war-

riors wished for." Having reached an open place in the high

grass; the Indians engaged the troops. Although about five

hundred strong, the savages would have completely routed them

but for the darkness.

"The plan now being that they would surround them during

the night and at daybreak attack them from all sides, they moved

on at the proper time, when, however, to their mortification, they

discovered that the heroes had fled during the night, not choosing

to, as it appeared, stand an engagement with the kind of warriors

they met here. Some few who were not awake from their sleep

when their comrades went off, were found yet in that condition,

lying in the high grass. Many bundles of ropes and ready-made

halters, to take off the plunder and horses which would fall into

their hands, were collected in the prairie. It seemed that they

calculated on taking much booty home with them, but finding

themselves mistaken, they chose to lose their baggage rather

than to run the risk of losing their lives. In the pursuit many

were killed, and poor Colonel Crawford, together with Doctor

McKnight, had the misfortune to be taken prisoners. 'Where

is Williamson, the head murderer?' was the call of the Indians

from every quarter. They being told that he was one of the

first that had fled from the ground, they cried out: 'Revenge,

revenge, on those we have in our power for the murder of the

Christian Indians on the Muskingum and our friends at Pitts-

burg.' 'These,' said they to one another, 'have come out on a

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72       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.