Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison/Harrison to Secretary of War Indian situation

by William Henry Harrison

Harrison to Secretary of War

Vincennes 3rd March 1803

Har. Pa. 109-123

Sir:

Such has been the irregularity of the mails from the severity of the winter that your favor of the 17th of January did not reach me until a few days ago. The same cause must have retarded my letter of the 14th of Dec. which I suppose had not been received when yours of the above date was written.

Capt. [William] Wells has certainly not exerted himself to pacify the Indians who have taken offence at the late Treaties [Vincennes, Sept. 17, 1802] with the Delawares and Piankeshaws. It is equally certain that the disaffected are not as numerous as he has stated them to be and that those who have expressed discontent have been instigated thereto entirely by the Turtle.^[1] Whether the idea of opposition to those Treaties originated with himself or with Mr. Wells I cannot determine but that the opinions of the one are always the opinions of the other. I have long known The Turtle has considerable influence over the Five Medals^[2] and some others of the Potawatomi chiefs and I believe that Captain Wells and himself control entirely the small band of Eel River Indians. But when Wells spealis of the Miami Nation being of this or that opinion he must be understood as meaning no more than the Turtle and himself. Nine tenths of that Tribe who acknowledge Richardville and Peccan^[3] for their chiefs (but who are really governed by an artful fellow called the Owl and Long Beard whom you once saw at the seat of government) utterly abhor both Wells and the Turtle. On this occasion however they may have been induced to join in the clamor from the expectation of deriving some advantage from it.

After a careful and a dispassionate consideration of the subject I can see no reason to alter the opinion I had formed that neither the Miamis nor the Potawatomis have any just claim either in common or otherwise to any part of the Tracts ceded to the United States by the Delawares and Piankeshaws. The Delaware claim to that particular tract was derived from Present occupancy and from a grant said to have been made to them upwards of thirty years ago by the Piankeshaws. When the French first descended the Wabash the Piankeshaws were found in the possession of the country on either side of that River from its mouth at least as high up as the Vermilion and the possession of it has never been disputed excepting by the Delawares who claimed under the Piankeshaws and the Weas who have occupied the country above Point Coupee since their Towns at Ouiatenon were destroyed by Generals Scott and Wilkinson in the year 1791.

That the Piankeshaws are a Tribe of the large confederacy which obtained the appelation of Miamis from the superior size of the particular Tribe to which that name more properly belonged is not denied. The tie however which united them with their brethren has become so feeble that for many years past the connection has been scarcely acknowledged. For a considerable time antecedent to the Treaty of Greeneville the Piankeshaws found it necessary to adopt a different policy from that which was pursued by the Tribes their Allies. Three considerable bodies of men led into the heart of their country by General Clark between the years 1779 and 1786convinced them that their union with the Miamis could not afford them the safety and protection which was no doubt the object of it and several conferences were held between General Clark and his officers and their chiefs which resulted in the establishment of peace between them and the United States. The proceedings at one of these Conferences is presented in Imlays History of Kentucky Vol. 2nd page 79 and no mention is made of the Miami Nation. The assertion of Wells in his letter to you of the 7th Dec. that for upwards of 20 years which he had known the Indians in this Quarter nothing of importance had ever been transacted by the Piankeshaws and Kaskaskias without the consent of the Miamis is a notorious falsehood. A treaty was made at this place in the year 1792 by Genl. Putnam^[4] with the Piankeshaws and Weas and peace established between those Tribes and the United States—the Miamis were not parties to his treaty and continued their hostilities against us until they were compelled to sue for peace in the year 1795. Mr. Wells was present at Putnam's Treaty and I believe was employed as an interpreter.

Although the language customs and manners of the Kaskaskias make it sufficiently certain that they derive their origin from the same source as the Miamis the connection had been dissolved even before the French had penetrated from Canada to the Mississippi. At that time a confederacy of five tribes existed in the Illinois Country composed of the Tribes called the Peorias, Kaskaskias, Mitchegams, Cahokias, and Tamaroes.^[5] There are persons now alive who remember when these confederates could bring into the field upwards of 2000 warriors. A long and unsuccessful war with the Sacs (in which they received no assistance from the Miamis) has reduced them to the contemptable band which follows Ducoign and a remnant of Peorias who procure a miserable subsistance by begging and stealing from the inhabitants of St. Genevieve, and since these wretched beings have been proscribed by these very Potawatomies who according to Mr. Wells have been and still are so closely united with the Miamis with which they are said to form one nation. The fear of extirpation by the Potawatomies was one of the principal inducements with the Kaskaskias to commit themselves entirely to the protection of the United States. The Kaskaskia Tribe never lifted the Tomahawk against the United States. The Miamis during the whole war with the Northwestern Indians were amongst the most active of their enemies and the most difficult to bring to a final accommodation.

The Piankeshaws altho they gave assistance to the other Tribes in the commencement of the war seceded from the Confederacy and made peace with us three years before the Miamis.

If then the Piankeshaws and Kaskaskias were competent to the important concerns of making peace and war without the consent of the Miamis, they must be equally so to sell land. Which is acknowledged by them and which is no longer useful to them. The Treaty of Greeneville contains nothing to authorize the belief that those two Tribes were considered at that time dependent upon the Miamis. None of their chiefs were present. They did not think it necessary to go as one of them had never been at war with the United States and the other had made peace three years before. But it was considered just that they would participate in the bounty of the United States for that purpose their names were introduced into the Treaty and the Weas (not the Miamis) their nearest neighbours were requested to sign for them.

Inclosed is an address of the Turtle's to Wells which he desired might be sent to me for the purpose of convincing me that the Piankeshaws had no right to sell their lands. I can see nothing in it however to weaken what I have advanced above. It is my decided opinion that the U. S. have the right to treat with either of the Tribes who were parties to the Treaty of Greeneville. Motives of humanity will always prevent them from purchasing lands which cannot be conveniently spared and the interest of those who without having any just claim to the land but who may desire their support from it will be attended to. These principles are exemplified by the Treaties made with two Tribes for one tract of land when a complete and legal title might perhaps have been obtained by the extinction of the claims of one.

The Tract purchased of the Delawares and Piankeshaws [1802] is not nor never has been since my arrival in this country frequented as a hunting ground by either the Miamis or Potawatomies. None of the Indians go there to hunt buffaloes (as Mr. Wells has asserted) not an animal of that kind having been seen within that tract for several years, nor is its generally flat surface well calculated for the residence of bears.

The Potawatomics so far from having any claim to land on the South East side of the Wabash acknowledge that they have trespassed upon the Miamis by settling on the north bank of that river and it has been an object with the Turtle and Wells for several years to get them to remain.

You will perceive by my letter to Mr. Wells a copy of which was inclosed in mine to you of the 14th Dec. that I had directed him to send the Potawatomie and Miami Chiefs to me at this place. The Little Turtle has declined the invitation and gives the artful and mischievous reason which you will see in the enclosed address and I am persuaded that he will make every exertion in his power to prevent my seeing the Potawatomies at any other place than Fort Wayne. I do not know whether Wells has informed the Potawatomie Chiefs of my wishes to have an interview with them. In his answer to my letter he contents himself with announcing the refusal of the Turtle.

As there can be no doubt but that everything that can be advanced in favor of the Miami claim is to be found in the Turtle's Address to the President, in that to Mr. Wells and in Well's own letters the matter will be fully before the President and I must beg for further instructions unless it is determined to admit the principle that the Delawares and Piankeshaws had no right to sell their land without the consent of the Miamis Potawatomies &c. It will be improper in my opinion to have a public conference on the subject as it will be necessary to invite not only the chiefs of those two Tribes but those of the Weas Eel River Kickapoos and Shawnese Tribes and I know that they can never be convinced without a gratification which will considerably exceed the original purchase money.

From the enclosed address of Wells which is said to have been made to the Miami chief but I am convinced was made to the Turtle alone I am afraid that he has misunderstood your instructions. He assures the Indians that if they can show a just claim to the land in question restitution will instantly be made. He uses the same expression in the letter which enclosed the address.

The violent opposition which the Turtle has made to the Delaware and Piankeshaw Treaties is easily accounted for. Conscious of the superiority of his Talents over the rest of his race and colour he sighs for a more conspicuous theatre to display them. Opportunities for exhibiting his eloquence occur too seldom to satisfy his vanity and the subjects which are generally discussed in the councils of the few chiefs who adhere to him, are too contemptible to gratify his ambition. A chosen connexion among the neighbouring Tribes and a regular convention of their chiefs has long been the ruling wish of his heart and the object of numberless intrigues. An attachment for his person, a submissive defference to his talents, or a supposed coincidence of interests has caused the Agent of the United States to adopt the opinions and promote the views of the Turtle to the utmost extent of his public as well as private influence. The propriety of delivering at Fort Wayne the annuities for the Tribes on the lower part of the Wabash and of obliging them (the Weas particularly) to remove to the neighborhood of that place and the benefits that would result to the United States as well as to the Indians by an annual assemblage of the chiefs of all the Tribes at which all business was to be transacted has been often pressed upon me. The Treaties with the Kaskaskias or the Delaware and Piankeshaw Tribes has given a mortal stab to the favourite scheme and altho I am convinced that very few of the Indians feel any injury from those Treaties it is very easy to persuade them that they have been injured.

Capt. Wells's conduct in this affair certainly deserves severe animadversion. I think it probable however that he did not foresee the consequences of it to the public interests and that some ridiculous spice of jealousy towards myself may have mingled itself with his motives. In order to prevent the like in future and to secure a just and proper dependance upon the Head of the Department I must take the liberty to recommend that he may be informed by you that the approbation of the President of the Continuance of his favour will depend upon the reports which I may make of the zeal and fidelity with which he seconds me in executing the orders of the government. There is perhaps no department which requires greater unanimity amongst the agents than that which has the management of Indian affairs. The jealousy of those people is so easily excited that a single artful observation is frequently sufficient to defeat the best concerted plans even when on the point of conclusion.

I was not present when the Miamis recognized the Title of the Delawares to the country between the White River and the Ohio but I have no doubt of the fact; it came to my knowledge in the following manner. I did myself the honor to inform you after my return from Fort Wayne in the year 1803 that the Owl or Long Beard had with very considerable address prevented the great body of the Miamis from attending my summons to meet me at Fort Wayne for the purpose of receiving their annuities and concluding the Treaty the preliminaries of which had been fixed at this place the preceding fall and that after waiting for them a considerable time I was forced to content myself with the signatures of Richardville, the Sachem of the Nation, and the Turtle. Two days after the Treaty had been signed and at the very moment of my departure, the Owl arrived with a principal chief called Peccom [Pecan] a number of minor Chiefs and 100 or 150 Warriors. It was a matter of importance to expose to the Miamis the arts of the Owl and to explain to them the conditions of the Treaty. A council was then appointed for the next day and all the chiefs of the other tribes who were still within reach (for some of them had returned) were requested to attend—the time for the meeting of the council arrived but neither the Miamis nor the Delawares appeared. After waiting for them a considerable time I was informed that those two Tribes were in council together and soon time after the Delawares arrived—there were then with me General Gibson^[6] Wm. Wells, The Turtle and a few of his followers and some Potawatomie Chiefs. Tetohoscke the Delaware Sachem produced a belt of Wampum and addressing himself to me through Genl. Gibson observed that the Miami Chiefs had that morning with the consent of all their warriors acknowledged their right to the lands between the White River and the Ohio and had given them that wampum to commemorate the transaction. The Miamis joined in immediately after and as soon as I had reproached them with their improper and disrespectful conduct and explained the artifices by which the Owl had mislead and embarrassed their affairs I was obliged to have the conclusion of the council to Wm. Wells set out on my return as I had upwards of thirty miles to ride on that day to the place where my boat had been left on the Wabash and the Water was falling so rapidly as to make the utmost expedition necessary to secure my passage. The Miamis were induced to take this step by the persuasions of the Owl and his object was to strengthen his party by gaining over the Delawares an object which engaged the Turtle's attention at that time also. The charges which the Turtle has brought against me in his address to the President, I should have passed over without an observation if he had not hinted at the use of unfair means in procuring the consent of the Indians to the Treaties, I have made with them and as I have never before that I recollect informed you of my mode of proceeding on these occasions I have thought it proper to do so at the present moment. Whenever the Indians have assembled for any public purpose the use of ardent spirits has been strictly interdicted until the object for which they were convened was accomplished and if in spite of my vigilance it had been procured a stop was immediately put to all business until it was consumed and its effects completely over. Every conference with the Indians has been in public. All persons who chose to attend were admitted and the most intelligent and respectable characters in the neighborhood specially invited to witness the fairness of the transaction. No treaty has ever been signed until each article was particularly and repeatedly explained by the most capable and confidential interpreters. Sketches of the tract of country about to be ceded have always been submitted to the Indians and their own rough delineations made on the floor with a bit of charcoal have proved their perfect comprehension of its situation and extent.

As I am convinced that it will be almost impossible to get the Miami and Potawatomi chiefs here under present circumstances I have held myself in readiness to proceed to Fort Wayne immediately upon the receipt of your answer when I hope to be indulged with your particular instructions. By an indirect channel I am informed that it is in contemplation to continue the United States road which is completed as far as Dayton on the Miami to this place. I fear that it will be very difficult to prevail on the Indians to consent to it.

Richardville the Sachem or Principal Chief of the Miamis whose father was a Frenchman carries on a small trade with that Tribe. He generally procures his goods on the British side of the lakes and the duties have always been exacted from him by the collector of Duties Contrary in my opinion to the Treaty with Great Britain. He had applied to me for redress—if you would think as I do I must beg your interference to relieve him from the Duties in future. There is no doubt of his attachment to our interests.

I have lately received intelligence from the Arkansas informing me that the Osages have plundered the Traders and other inhabitants upon that River to an immense amount.

I have the Honor to be with perfect esteem and respect

Your Servant

William Henry Harrison

The Hon. Henry Dearborn Esq. Sec'y of War

1. Little Turtle, or Mi-shi-kin-na-kwa. was the greatest of the Miamis. Born near the site of Fort Wayne about 1761, he died and was buried there July 14, 1812. He led his tribe at Harmar's defeat, 1790. St. Clair's defeat. 1791, and at his own defeat by Wayne at Fallen Timbers, 1794.
2. . Five Medals. Onoxa or Wonongoseah, war chief of the Pottawatamie tribe on the river St. Joseph of Lake Michigan; his village was upon the Elkhart tributary of the St. Joseph.
   Harrison, The Aborigines of the Ohio Valley. 73
3. Owl or Long Beard, a Miami chief.
   Griswold, The History of Ft. Wayne, 164

   Peccon, a Miami chief, successor of Little Turtle during War of 1812. Died 1814 just after signing the second treaty of Greenville and was succeeded by Richardville. His home was about 5 miles up the St. Mary from Fort Wayne.

   Butler, Huntington County, 225; Bryce, Fort Wayne, 280
4. Gen. Rufus Putnam, treaty with Indians of Wabash and Illinois tribes, Sept. 27, 1792. Dillon, History of Indiana, 293.
5. Peorias, Indian tribe in central Illinois. Hodge. Handbook of Am. Indians, II, 228 Kaskaskias, Indian tribe of southern Ill. Ibid, I, 661 Mitchegamies, (Michigamea) tribe of southern Illinois confederacy and near Michigan. Ibid, I, 856 Cahokias, first known as Tamaroes tribe western Illinois. Ibid, I, 185 Tamaroes, tribe near mouth of Illinois and Missouri rivers, part of the Illinois confederacy; Ibid, II, 682. No further explanation of Indian tribes will be given. These can all be found in Hodge, Handbook of American Indians, a government publication prepared for the Bureau of Ethnology, 1910.
6. Gen. John Gibson was secretary of Indiana territory, a Pennsylvanian by birth, had served under Forbes, under Lewis at point Pleasant, under Washington during the Revolution a veteran fur trader, then past sixty year of age.
   Woolen, Biographical Sketches