History of the late war in the western country

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Preface

The author of the following history will not detain the reader with many prefatory reraarks. It was written during those hours of leisure which he was able occasionally to reserve from other necessary occupations ; and he therefore wishes to be regarded, not as advancing any lofty pretensions to literary merit. His object has chiefly been, to give a plain and correct statement of the facts, and to make only such reflections upon them, as they would obviously authorize; and he can conscientiously say, that he has in no case intentionally distorted or concealed anything.

He has no private friendships or enmities to gratify — nothing but a rational attachment to his country and hostility to his enemies according to their deserts. Being a native of Kentucky and having lost many of his friends in the Indian wars, during the iirst settlement of this country, he has necessarily imbibed an abhorrence of those principles and practices of the savages, and their British allies, by which the western settlements have suffered so much in both wars.

If any of his expressions should be deemed too acrimonious and intemperate for dignified and impartial history, the reader will excuse them on this account, together with the consideration that the feelings excited by the occurrences described are still fresh and vigorous in his bosom. He believes, however, that he has said nothing which is not strictly true and just, though perhaps not entirely agreeable to the taste of every reader.

In procuring the material for this work, the author is greatly indebted to General Harrison and Governor Shelby,

(Kentucky) for the many valuable documents they furnished, particularly their correspondence with the war de- I>artment and with each other. He is also indebted to Governor Edwards for his correspondence but it unfortunately arrived too late to be used.

Colonels Croghan and Todd with many other officers of the northwestern army have also laid him under great obligations by the cheerfulness with which they furnished and assisted him in collecting all the information mthin their power. To the latter he is indebted to the journal of Colonel Wood of the engineers, who justly attained a lofty character for military genius and service before his untimely but glorious fall.

Most of these papers will remain in the possession of Colonel C. S. Todd, subject to be examined by any person who may wish to see the authorities on which any statement in this history is founded.

In preparing this work for the press I have to acknowledge the assistance I received from Dr. Joseph Buchanan, who first undertook it's publication. He carefully examined and compared all the materials from which it has been compiled, and in fact attentively revised it in every respect. In some instances he has made alterations, on the propriety of which I have differed with him in opinion ; however, there is no material fact which I am not satisfied is correctly stated; and as for reflections, the reader will no doubt judge for himself.

In describing the operation against the Creek Indians I have had to rely chiefly on official reports, which, however correct, are insufficient for fullness for a complete history.

As to the campaign at New Orleans, besides the common sources of information I have had recourse to Major Thomas Curry and I acknowledge with pleasure the assisiance lie has given me. He served in the Kentucky militia in that campaign and was able as an eye witness to furnish im.portant matter.

In justice to our late enemies as well as to myself, it may be proper to add that much information with respect to them has unavoidably been very imperfect and hence I may have made erroneous statements respecting them in many instances. Their own official reports which they published are so notoriously false that no reliance can be placed in them and the unofficial anonymous reports which circulated in our public prints concerning them were not much better authority. But with respect to our own operations I have authentic documents or the evidence of highly respectable witnesses to substantiate every statement I have made.

Robert B. McAfee.

HISTORY

OF THE

LATE WAR IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY.

Chapter I. Preliminary Views — Causes Of The War Battle Of Tippecanoe

At the close of the American revolution, many persons in England entertained an opinion that the American colonies were not irretrievably lost to the mother country. They hoped that Great Britain would be able, at some favorable moment, to regain the sovereignty of these States; and in this hope it is highly probable the British ministry participated.

From calculations and sentiments like these, as well as from the irritation caused by the failure of their arms, may have proceeded their unjustifiable conduct on the interior frontiers of the new States. The military posts of Niagara, Detroit, and Mackinaw were detained under various pretences, for many years, in violation of the treaty of peace. The Indian tribes on our borders were at the same time supplied with munitions of war, and instigated to commit depredations and hostilities on the frontiers of Kentucky, and the settlements northwest of the Ohio. This fact is fully established by the letters of Colonel M'Kee, the British commandant of Fort Miami at the foot of the Rapids, written previous to the visit of General Wayne to that place in '94, and published during the late war in the American journals, the originals having then fallen into the hands of our Government.

This unwarrantable interference with the Indians residing within the limits of the United States was continued by the British from the peace of '83, quite down to the commencement of the late war. During a great part of that time, they kept the Indians in hostility with our western settlements; and when the probability of a new war between the two countries became very strong, they so excited the savages, as to make a battle with them the necessary i^relude to general hostilities. Although this interference with the Indians was not an obvious and ostensible cause of the war, yet it may fairly be considered as a very efficient cause. Much of that resentment against the British, which prevailed so strongly in the western States, the principal advocates for the war, may fairly be attributed to this source.

President Washington was apprised of the intrigues of the English agents, and endeavored by negotiation to obtain redress; and nothing but the exhausted state of the country after the revolutionary war, prevented that great man from resorting to arms to punish British perfidy. His policy however was wise ; it was consistent with the genius of our government, and the condition of our country. It would certainl}^ have been hazardous, to venture on a new war, so soon after we had established our independence, and instituted an untried form of government.

Several campaigns, however, were conducted against the Indians northwest of the Ohio. General Harmer commanded one, in the year 1790, against the Miami village, at tlie junction of the rivers St. Marys and St. Josephs, where Fort Wayne was subsequently built. It eventuated in burning the town; and afterwards in the defeat of several detachments of his army, with the loss of many of his men.

In the following year another army was conducted in the same direction, from Kentucky and the back parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, by General Arthur St. Clair. The object of this expedition, was to destroy the Miami and ShaAvanoe settlements, on the Auglaize and Miami rivers ; but it was late in the season before the necessary arrangements were made, and the Indians having received intelligence of his march, and anticipating his views, advanced and met him near the place where Fort Recovery now stands. On the 7th of November, they attacked his army in its encampment, when a total rout ensued, and the greater part of the army was destroyed. The Indian mode of warfare was not well understood by this general, and the panic produced by the savage yells in the time of action, threw the whole into confusion.

For several years previous to this disastrous campaign, the people of Kentucky had remonstrated against the manner in which the general government was conducting the war against the Indians; and President AVashington had so far regarded their representations, as to authorize certain eminent citizens, Messrs. Scott, Innes, Brown, Logan, and Shelby to send expeditions against the Indians in their own way. Accordingly in the spring and summer preceding the defeat of General St. Clair, two expeditions of volunteer militia from the district of Kentucky, were s'ent by those gentlemen against the Indians on the Wabash — the first under the command of general Charles Scott, and the other under general James Wilkinson. They were both completely successful. The Indian country was laid waste, many lives were destroyed, and many prisoners were taken, without much loss on the part of the Kentuckians. Yet in the autumn of the same year, the old method of sending regulars, under a general unskilled in savage warfare, was again employed in tlie case of St. Clair's campaign, with the disastrous consequence of a total defeat.

After this disaster, affairs with the Indians wore a gloomy aspect. It was extremely difficult to procure supplies from the scattered settlements of the frontiers, to subsist a regular ai'my sufficient to humble the savages. General Washington hence determined to attempt a negotiation with them ; and Colonel Hardin was accordingly sent to them with a flag. All that is known about him after his departure, is that he was met and massacred by the Indians. A predatory, skirmishiug warfare was then continued for several years, without any important and decisive action being fought, until in the year '91 a formidable and successful expedition was conducted against the savages by General Anthony Wayne, a distinguished revolutionary officer from Pennsjdvania, who was then commander-in-chief of the American army. He was accompanied by Generals Wilkinson and Scott of the same character from Kentucky. The principal part of the troops were assembled at Cincinnati in the month of June, and thence marched by the way of Forts Hamilton, Greenville, Recovery, Adams, and Defiance, which had been built by the regulars under Wayne, during several preceding years of preparation for this decisive campaign.

In the meantime, the British commandant at Detroit had seized a commanding spot in the American territory on the north side of the Miami of the lakes, below the Rapids, where he had erected a strong fort, from which the Indians were notoriously fed and supplied with ammunition, under the pretense of paying them annuities. They also were secretly counselled in relation to their management of the war. The following extracts from the letters of Colonel M'Kee, the superintendent of Indian affairs for the districts of Detroit and Mackinaw, which were addressed from this fort to Colonel England, the military commandant at Detroit, are worthy to be preserved as evidence of the conduct of the British government in this case. The letters were written from one British officer to another, and were endorsed "on his Majesty's service."

"Rapids, July 2d, '94 "By the same channel I learn that a large body of

troops, supposed to be 3000, ^^dth wagons, etc., crossed the

Ohio some days ago and marched towards the forts in the

Indian country.

"I am much pressed for tobacco and ammunition (for

the Indians) which I hope I may receive by the return

of the boat."

"Rapids, July 5th, '94.

"Sir — I send this by a party of Saganas, who returned yesterday from Fort Recovery, where the whole body of Indians, except the Delawares, who had gone another route, imprudently attacked the fort on Monday, the 30th of last month, and lost IG or 17 men, besides a good many wounded.

"Everything liad been settled, prior to their leaving the Fallen Timber, and it had been agreed upon to confine themselves to taking convoys, and attacking at a distance from the forts, if they should have the address to entice the enemy out; but the impetuosity of the Mackinaw Indians, and their eagerness to begin with the nearest, prevailed with the others to alter their system, the consequences of which, from the present appearance of things, may most materially injure the interest of these people; both the Mackinaw and Lake Indians seeming resolved on going home again, having completed the belts they carried with scalps and prisoners, and having no provision there, or at the Glaze to subsist upon ; so that his Majesty's post will derive no security from the late great influx of Indians into this part of the country, should they persist in their resolution of returning so soon.

"Capt. Elliott writes that they are immediately to hold a council at the Glaze, iu order to try if they can prevail on the Lake Indians to remain; but without provisions, ammunition, etc., being sent to that place, I conceive it will be extremely difficult to keep them together."

"Rapids, August 13th, '94.

"Sir — I was honored last night with your letter of the 11th, and am extremely glad to find you are making such exertions to supply the Indians with provisions.

"Captain Elliott arrived yesterday; what he has brought will greatly relieve us, having been obliged all day yesterday to take the corn and flour which the traders had there.

"Scouts are sent up to view the situation of the army, and we now muster 1,000 Indians. All the Lake Indians from Sagana downward, should not lose one moment in joining their brethren, as every accession of strength is an addition to their spirits.'

"Camp near Fort Miami, August 30, '94. "Sir — I have been employed several days in endeavoring to fix the Indians, (who have been driven from their villages and corn fields) between the fort and the bay. Swan Greek is generally agreed upon, and will be a very convenient place for the delivery of provisions, etc."

As General Wayne advanced, the Indians retired, leaving their villages and corn, on the Miami and Auglaize rivers, to be burned and destroyed. Through the medium of his spies, the general often tendered them terms of peace, which they as often rejected. They at length determined on making a stand about two miles above the British garrison to give Wayne battle. An engagement accordingly took place on the 20th of August, '94 — the result was a complete discomforture of the Indians. A number of British Canadians fought with the Indians in this battle. On the next day, the general reconnoitred the British fort, and demanded in peremptory terms the reasons for their intrusion. The British officer commanding, replied that

IN THE WESTEKN COUNTRY 15

he was there by the orders of his government, and would abandon the place as soon as he was ordered to do so by his superiors; and that he hoped the general would not proceed to extremities till their respective governments were consulted. General Wayne then retired up the Miami and erected Fort Wayne.

This victory over the Indians laid the foundation of a general peace with them. They had believed, that the British would protect them, but they found themselves deceived, for the gates of the British fort were shut against them as they retreated after the battle. In the following year, '95, General Wayne held a general council, with all the Indians northwest of the Ohio, at Greenville, which eventuated in a treaty, by which they ceded us an extensive tract of country, as an indemnity for past injuries, and in consideration of annuities to be paid to them by the United States.

In the year '94, a treaty was also negotiated by Mr. Jay with the British government. It was signed on the 19th of November, a few months after Wayne's battle with the Indians. In pursuance of this treaty, in the year '9G, all the military posts, held by the British, on the American side of the lakes, were given up to the American authorities.

These treaties and events secured our interior frontiers from the active hostility of the Indians, and promoted the commercial enterprise of our citizens on the ocean. Our western settlements in consequence, rapidly advanced in population and the improvement of their country, while our Atlantic citizens were fast accumulating wealth by their trade with foreign nations. This prosperity, however, was not permitted to advance uninterrupted by British aggressions. The British continued their intercourse with the Indians within our limits, so as to keep them attached to British interests, and hostile in their feelings towards the United States. But the evils we experienced on the ocean, were now infinitely more intolerable tlian those of the interior.

The war in Europe, which had originally been instigated by the British against the revolution in France, continued to rage with unabated violence. England and France, the leading parties in the war, used every species of artifice and violence, to involve all other nations in the contest. Orders and decrees were published, by wliicli the mai'itime rights of neutral nations were infringed, and extensive coasts declared in a state of blockade, without any adequate means of enforcement. By the British orders in council, our vessels were required, under the penalty of being liable to capture, to call at a British port, on their way to any place belonging to France and her allies. By way of retaliation, Bonaparte decreed, that all vessels which had submitted to this British regulation, should be subject to capture by his cruisers. And thus no vessel of the United States could sail, either to Britain or France, or to any of their allies including all Europe, without being subject to capture by one or the other of the belligerents. At the same time the British naval officers carried on the practice of impressing American seamen, in a manner so extensive and vexatious, as to cause much distress among our seafaring people, and much inconvenience and risk to our merchants.

An endless course of negotiation was pursued, on these different subjects of complaint, without the prospect of success becoming any brighter. The American government could obtain in this way neither, indemnity for the past nor security for the future. No alternative was left, but a resort to arms, to vindicate our honor and our right^i, and to protect our interests on the ocean. Our losses by captures and impressments nearly equalled the expenses of a war in men and money. A formal declaration of war was accordingly made on the ISth of June, 1812. But previous to this declaration, hostilities had commenced with the Indians, and the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought.

A preliminary view of Indian affairs will enable us to understand this commencement of the war. By the combined counsels and schemes of the British agents, and some of the principal chiefs among the Indians, the seeds of hostility were sown among them soon after the peace of Greenville, and were gradually nurtured into war. At ihat time, Little Turtle and Blue Jacket were the leading chiefs among the northwestern tribes. They had disagreed about the manner of opposing Wayne's army. The plan of Blue Jacket was adopted, and eventuated in the total defeat of the Indians, as predicted by the other. After this event. Little Turtle continued friendly to the United States. He was of opinion, that the Indian tribes were unable to contend against the Americans ; that no material aid would be furnished them by the British ; and that would only be the means of their losing more of their lands. Blue Jacket had more confidence in the British ; he thirsted for revenge against the Americans ; and he wished to regain the lands which had been ceded by the treaty of Greenville. His influence increased, whilst the Little Turtle became unpopular. He found in Tecumseh, a Shawanoese Indian, whom he associated with him in his views and projects, an able and persevering coadjutor. The leading principles in their policy vvere, to combine all the tribes together in one confederacy; to prevent the sale of their lands by any single tribe; and to join the British in the event of war, with a view to revenge and the recovery of their lands. They contended, that by the treaty of Greenville, the United States had acknowledged the right to their lands to reside jointly in all tribes; and that of course the United States had no right to purchase lands from any single tribe, without the consent of the others. Blue Jacket did not live to execute his schemes; but they were diligently pursued by Tecumseh, in which he was encouraged and supported by the British agents.

The various tribes, who were in the habit of visiting Detroit and Sandwich, were annuallj^ subsidized by the British. When the American agent at Detroit gave one dollar by way of annuity, the British agent on the other side of the river, Detroit, would give them ten. This course of iniquity had the intended effect; the Indians were impressed with a great aversion for the Americans; and disregarding the treaty of Greenville, they desired to recover the lands which they had ceded, and for which they had annually received the stipulated annuity. They wished also to try their strength again with the "Big Knife," as they called the Kentuckians, in order to wipe away the disgrace of their defeat by General Wayne. And they were still promised the aid of the British, in the event of a war between the British and Americans. Their natural temper for war was thus inflamed, and they were held in readiness at any moment to commence the contest.

About the year 1804, a Shawanoese Indian, the brother of Tecumseh, j)roclaimed himself a Prophet, alleging that he had been commanded by the Great Spirit, who made the red people, and who was not the same that made the white people, and whom the latter worshiped, to inform his red children, that the misfortunes which liad fallen upon them, proceeded from tlieir having abandoned the mode of life which he had prescribed for them, and adopted the manners and dress of the white people; and that he was commanded to tell them, that they must return to their former habits, leave off the use of whiskey, and as soon as possible clothe themselves in skins instead of blankets.

The Prophet fixed himself at Greenville, the spot which had been so noted from the cantonment of General Wayne's army, and from the treaty made by him with the Indian tribes at that place in the year 1795. The fame of the Prophet spread through the surrounding Indian tribes, and he soon found himself at the head of a considerable number of followers, composed principally, however, of the most abandoned of the young men of the Shawanoese, Delawares, Wyandots, Potawatamies, Ottowas, Chippewas, and Kickapoos. Beside these he was visited by an immense concourse of men, women and cJiildren from the tribes of the Mississippi and Lake Superior. The most absurd stories were told, and believed by the Indians, of his power to perform miracles, and no fatigue and suffering was thought too great to be endured to get a sight of him. The people of Ohio became much alarmed at the great assemblage of the Indians upon their frontier, and a mission was sent by the governor to insist upon their removal. The United States' agent at Fort Wayne also joined in the remonstrance, against his forming a permanent settlement at Greenville, which was within the boundary of the United States. Accordingly, in 1808, he removed to the Wabash, and fixed his residence on the north bank of that river, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe. This land was the property of the Miami tribe, who made strong remonstrances against it, but were not strong enough to effect his removal by force, as he had collected around him a considerable body of the most daring and unprincipled young men, of all the neighboring tribes.

The chiefs of the latter were almost unanimously opposed to him, as they discovered that he was constantly endeavoring to destroy their influence, or to prevail on the warriors to take the authority into their own hands. Several of the most influential chiefs were put to death by the young men, under the pretence of their practicing magic. Teteboxke, the venerable chief of the Delawares', with several of his friends, Avere condemned to the flames. The loss of their chiefs began, however, to be regretted, and those that survived made a common cause, in opposing the extension of the Prophet's influence. He was only able to retain about 40 warriors of his own tribe, the chiefs of which hated him most cordially. In the year 1809, he had not more than 250 or 300 warriors with him. They had suffered much for provisions, and the greater part of them, perhaps, would have perished, if they had not been supplied with corn by Governor Harrison, of Vincennes. In September, 1809, a treaty was made at Fort Wayne, by the governor, as commissioner upon the part of the United States, for the extinguishment of the title to a considerable tract of land, extending about 60 miles up the Wabash above Vincennes. The Delawares, Miamis and Potawatamies were parties to this treaty ; but the Prophet and his followers v>ere not invited; because, as the governor says in his address to the legislature of Indiana, "it never had been suggested, that they could plead even the title ^ of occupancy to the lands which were then conveyed to the United States," and it was Avell known they were the rightful property by the Miamis, who had possessed them from the time of the first arrival of the white people among them. The Shawanoese tribe made no pretensions to those lands. Their principal! chief attended the treaty, and recommended to the Miami chiefs to make the cession. About the time that the treaty was made, the affairs of the Prophet were at a low ebb. In the course of the succeeding winter, however, the intrigues and negotiations of his brother Tecumseh, procured a large accession of strength.

They were joined by a considerable number of Winnebagoes or Puants, tlie greater part of the Kickapoo tribe, and some of the Wyandots. Although the affairs were managed in the name of the Prophet, Teeumseh was in fact the director of everything. This extraordinary man had risen into consequence, subsequently to the treaty of Greenville in the year 1795. He had been considered an active warrior in the war which was terminated by that treaty, but possessed no considerable influence. The principal object in his labors, by which he obtained distinction, was to unite all the tribes upon the continent in one grand confederacy for the purpose of opposing the encroachments of the whites. Teeumseh was on a mission for this purpose, when the treaty Avas concluded in 1809. Upon his return, he threatened to kill the chiefs who had signed it, and declared his determination to prevent the lands from being surveyed and settled.

Governor Harrison, upon being informed of his proceedings, sent him a message, informing him "that any claims he might have to the lands which had been ceded, were not affected by the treaty; that he might come to Vincennes and exhibit his pretensions, and if they were found to be solid, that the land would either be given up, or an ample compensation made for it." Accordingly in the month of August, 1810, he came down to Vincennes, attended by several hundred warriors. A day was appointed to hear his statement, which it took him many liours to make. He asserted, that the Great Spirit had made the continent for the use of the Indians exclusively — that the white people had no right to come here, and take it from them — that no particular part of it was given to any tribe, but that the whole was the common property of all ; and that any sale of lands, made without the con- "senrofall, was not valid. In his answer, the governor observed, that the Indians, like the white people, were divided into different tribes or nations and that the Great Spirit never intended that they should form but one nation, or he would not have tauglit tliem to speak different languages, which put it out of their power to understand each other — and that the Shawanoese, wlio emigrated from Georgia, could have no claim to the lands on the Wabash, which had been occupied far beyond the memory of man by the Miamis. The governor having proceeded thus far, sat down for the purpose of giving the interpreters time to explain what he had said, to the different tribes that were present. As soon as it was interpreted in Shawanoese, Tecumseh interrupted the interpreter, and said that it was all false, and giving a signal to his warriors, they seized their tomahawks and war clubs and sprang upon their feet.

For some minutes the governor was in the most imminent danger. He preserved his presence of mind, however, and, disengaging himself from an arm-chair in which he was sitting, seized his sword to defend himself. A considerable number of citizens of Vincennes were present, all unarmed. At a little distance, however, there was a guard of a sergeant and 12 men, who were immediately brought up by an officer. The governor then told Tecumseh, that he was a bad man, and he would have no further intercourse with him; and directed him to retire to his camp and set out immediately on his return home. As the Indians with Tecumseh greatly outnumbered the citizens of the town, and the regular troops there, two companies of militia were brought in during the night, and a large number the next day. Early, however, on the following morning, Tecumseh sent for the interpreter, made an apology for his conduct, and earnestly requested that he might have another conference with the governor. His request was at length granted ; but the governor took care to be attended by a number of his friends, well armed, and to have the troops in the town ready for action. In his speech Tecumseh said, that he had been advised by some white persons, to act as he had done; but that it was not his intention to offer any violence to the governor. The latter then inquired, whether he had any other grounds for claiming the lands, that had been ceded to the United States, but those which he had stated; and he answered in the negative. The governor then observed to him, that so great a warrior should disdain to conceal his intentions, find desired to know whether he really intended to make war upon the United States, if the lately purchased lands were not relinquished by them. He answered that it was decidedly his determination, and that he would never rest, until he brought all the tribes upon the continent, to unite in one confederacy. The activity and perseverance, which he manifested in the prosecution of this scheme, are most wonderful. He visited all the tribes west of the Mississippi, and on Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie repeatedly, before the year 1811. So sanguine were his followers about this time, and so much were they encouraged by the British agents, that in the event of a war between England and America, they believed the confederated tribes with the aid of the British, would be able to drive the Americans over the Ohio river to the south side, and thus regain all the country on the northwest of that river. And from the sine qua non, advanced by the British commissioners in the negotiation at Ghent, it would appear, that the British ministry had indulged a delusion no much less extravagant. It was the intention of Tecumseh, to avoid hostilities with the whites, until he should effect a combination strong enough to resist them, or until the expected war with Great Britain should commence. Whether the