JOURNAL OF COLONEL ALEXANDER MCKEE.

1793.

to 26th. Nothing occurred worth mentioning.

Mr. Clarke arrived from the Glaize, he brings no news.
A band of Ottawas from the Mouth of the River arrived on
their way to the Glaize.

A young man belonging to a band of Ottawas died last night.
Messengers with painted Tobacco arrived from the Glaize
with an account of the approach of Wayne's Army.
Wrote to Colo. England an account of the Approach of
Wayne's Army.

Kikinathucka arrived with a confirmation of the American
Army being near Fort Jefferson.

Yanigo arrived from Roche de Bout with an account of the
little Otter having seen the American Army Four days ago
at Fort Jefferson which he describes to be infinitely more
numerous than St. Clair's and that he sent directions to
the Women to hide their corn and prepare to leave their
Village.

An Ottawa from Roche de Bout passed this morning with painted Tobacco to Egushiwa in order to hasten him to go upwards.

Received Mr. Chew's letters of the 28th & 31 Augt. An Indian was seen this Evening close under the Bank by the water side who ran to the Woods on being discovered. I suspect him to belong to some unfriendly party near hand and that he was sent as a spy to know the Strength of this part of the Country.

As soon as it was light I went and discovered the track of the Indian seen last Night, he directed his course towards the South West. Egushiwa arrived to be certainly informed of the Approach of the American Army.

Two Hurons arrived who had been with the Party under the Little Otter, they relate that they attacked a Convoy of Provisions five days ago under an escort of one hundred and Twenty Men between Fort St. Clair and Fort Jefferson, that they killed between Twenty and thirty and took ten prisoners with all the provisions and sixty horses, they also say there was one Indian among the killed supposed to be a Chikasaw. About an hour after the arrival of the above Hurons a runner arrived express from the Glaize with information that the American Army was coming on very rapidly and were within two days march of the Glaize three days ago. Egushiwa sent off messages to Sandusky and the Ottawas on the Lake requiring them to come on immediately. This evening Mr. Clarke returned from Roche de Bout, and brought one of the prisoners from the Little Otter, he says his name is Connor, a soldier belonging to the 2d U.S. Regiment, that he was one of a party of a hundred & twenty Men sent to escort provisions and Officer's baggage from Fort St. Clair to Fort Jefferson, that on the 17th Instant

in the morning early they were attacked by the Indians, that the greatest part of the soldiers Ran away and dispersed on the first alarm and that the remainder who stood were either killed or taken prisoners. he says he cannot tell the number killed but imagines them to be above Thirty and he was one of the Ten prisoners Taken, he says that General Wayne's Army was at Fort Jefferson, and that it consisted of between Three and four thousand men, including Militia and a hundred Chikasaw Indians, that the Army intrench every night with Felled Trees, &c. and that their marches are much longer than General St. Clair's, sometimes fifteen miles a day. That it was the common conversation among the Officers that they expected to be in Detroit before the Winter, he further adds that the Indians plundered the Waggons of everything valuable, and destroyed what they could not bring away, and sixty Horses, which they took out of the Waggons, and that they left some teams of Oxen behind in the Waggons without killing of them. The Runner who came in this Morning brought me a private Message from the Chiefs at the Glaize desiring me to move from this place immediately, as it was not safe on account of the Rapid movements of the American Army.

23d. The Ottawas of Roche de Bout who have just returned from war came here this day and brought another prisoner and Ten scalps.

24th. The Little Otter in Council this morning gave me up the Prisoner brought in Yesterday called Henry Davids, a German soldier who served under General Burgoyne, and delivered seven scalps to Egushiwa to be sent to the different Lake Indians to hasten them to the defence of their Country.

25th.

Egushiwa sets off with them immediately. The prisoner Connor was not given up to me as I expected but taken back again on the Return of the Ottawas this day. Egushiwa informed me yesterday that the alarm we had here a few Nights ago, and which we supposed to be raised by Chikasaws, but he believes to be Senecas, as he had been told before the Cornplanter returned home, that General Washington had offered him three hundred dollars for my scalp, and a sum in proportion for all others concerned in the Indian Department, and he advised me to be very watchful and endeavour to get into a more secure situation.

This morning early two runners, one a Delaware, the other a Shawanoe, came here from the Glaize with information that the American Army was left four days ago between the Ground where St. Clair's defeat was and the Glaize, and that they were making Rapid Marches. They brought painted Tobacco for the last time to the Hurons and Lake Indians which was immediately forwarded by Runners.

27th. Forty three Wyandots arrived on their way to the Glaize, the Wastinoe Chief and two of his men arrived from above with two Scalps and an American Officer's Sword. These

three men fought and drove off a party of forty five horse
who charged, there were six of the Wastinoes when the
American party first discovered them, but three of them ran
to the Woods before a Shot was fired.

28th. The Wyandots held a Council with Captn. Pipe this Morning.
One of the Men belonging to the New Boat came up this
Morning from the Mouth of the River with letters from Colo.
England and Capt. Elliott.

29th.

31st.

Novr.

1st.

2d.

5th.

7th.

Took my heavy Baggage and papers to the mouth of the
River and Encamped near Swan Creek.

One of the large Boats was driven on Shore having parted
with her Anchor in a heavy Gale.

Dragged all day for the Anchor without success.
Returned to the Rapids where no certain intelligence of the
American Army or movements of the Indians had arrived.
Seven Pottowatomies from the head of the River Raisin
arrived on their way to the Glaize. They say the greatest
part of their Tribe have crossed the Country to the Glaize in
consequence of the pressing Messages of Egushiwa; they say
that Egushiwa is gone to bring all the Ottawas & Chippawas
in the Neighbourhood of Detroit.

Mr. Clarke, whom I sent to the Glaize the third instant,
Returned, he brought an account that the American Army
is advanced only as far as the bridge six miles on this side
Fort Jefferson where they are encamped and intrenched.
Mr. Smith arrived express this night from Colo. England.
Mr. Smith returned with my letter to Colo. England.
11th. I sent Mr. Clarke and McPherson to the Glaize to learn the
real state of the Indians and American Army before the Close
of the Navigation.

10th.

14th. Mr. Clarke returned from the Glaize with accounts that some Shawonoe Spies just came in there who say they saw a very large Body of horse at Kettle Creek where the road Forks to the Miamis Towns and the Glaize. That they were coming the Glaize Road, when they left them were a day and a half march from that place. The Chiefs have sent pressing Messages to the Lake Indians to Join them without delay, and have requested my assistance in forwarding them.

15th.

The Potowatomies have all returned home from a Belief that the Americans do not intend to come on this Winter, so that the Numbers who are left to oppose this Army are small indeed.

Sent off Simon Girty to the Glaize for intelligence with directions to return the moment he shall have learnt any certain accounts of the American Army. An Ottawa sent by Egushiwa to Roche de Bout called on me on his way to inform me he was sent to acquaint the Ottawas that one of the prisoners, a Frenchman, taken by the Little Otter's party had shot the Indian who owned him, whilst asleep, and Tomahawked the Indian's Wife. 'Tis a considerable loss to this Nation as both the Man and Woman were leaders of Parties in War,

and I greatly fear that all the other prisoners will be sacrificed to avenge this murder.

Received letters from Colo. England by Mr. McDonald, a
Trader, Two Ottawas arrived from Egushiwa who say he
will be here to-morrow.

Alarmed this night by the Report of a Mingoe that sculking
Indians were seen about here this Evening.

Left the foot of the Rapids & got to point au Chene.
Received an account from the Glaize by John Watkins a
Deserter from the American Army who was sent down to me
by the Chiefs that the Militia had gone home and the Light
horse returned to Kentucky for the Winter, and that there
was not more than twenty days Provisions in Camp for the
Army who are yet six miles on this side Fort Jefferson-making
huts.

Arrived this Evening at the Mouth of Detroit River after very stormy disagreeable Weather.

Sent for some Hurons who returned from the Glaize to be
more particularly informed of the situation of the Indians
and American Army.

Received Nearly the same information as that of the 25th,
the Chief I sent for was sick and could not come to me.
Proceeded up the River as far as the Petite Cote.
Arrived at Detroit.

A Seven Nations Indian died last Night at this place.
from the 16th to this day No News of any kind.

THOMAS DUGGAN,

Clk. I.D. for Colo. McKee on
Business In the Indian Country.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE BARON DE CARONDELET, GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE LOUISIANAS TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF UPPER CANADA DATED THE SECOND OF JANUARY, 1794 AT NEW ORLEANS.

"Vous aurez sans doute déja en connaissance des preparatifs qui se font aux chutes de l'Ohio contre la Louisiane, qui d'aprês une circulaire imprimée à Philadelphie, et addressée par les Jacobins à ses habitants, doit estre attaquée au printems prochain en même tems par le haut du Mississippi, et par le bas du même: Non obstant que les Etats Unis aient envoyé des ordres aux Gouverneurs du Cumberland et des Etablissements Americains sur l'Ohio de s'opposer à toute entreprise hostile que les Français pourroient intenter contre les Etats de S.M.C. Le Brigadier Clark aient recu une depeche de Marechal de Camp de la part de Mr. Genet envoie de France aupres des Etats Unis, s'est charge de lever une Corps de cinq mille hommes

1 This officer in the Spanish service but of French origin, formerly Governor of San Salvador in Guatemala, had taken office in Louisiana on the 30 December, 1791, and remained in control there until July 26, 1797, when he became governor of Quito.

S.C.-10

sur l'Ohio, pour attaquer en premier lieu nos Etablissements des Illinois, et le Fort de la Nouvelle Madrid situé à quarante lieues plus bas que celui de St. Louis sur le Mississippi, esperant que avec l'artillerie qu'il prendra dans ces Forts, il sera en état d'attaquer le restant de la Louisiane. Les fonds destinés à cette entreprise montent à un million de piastres, et un nomme de Beau, flamand de nation, fait au Fort Pitt tous les achats necessaires en vivres et munitions pour la dite expedition.

Persuadé que l'intêret de l'Angleterre exige que les Illinois restent au pouvoir de l'Espagne, et qu'il ne peut lui convenir en aucun cas que le Commerce du Misoury et des dits Etablissemens passe entre les mains de la France ou des Etats Unis, je m'adreserois a vous, Monsieur, pour en obtenir un secours absolument indispensible pour la conservation des dits Etablissemens dans les circonstances ou je me trouve, quand bien même je n'y serois pas autorise par les liaisons de nos Cours, et par l'exemple du Lord Dunmore, Gouverneur des Iles de la Providence, qui menacée dernièrement par une expedition formée à la Nouvelle York, s'est adressée au Gouverneur de l'Havane pour obtenir un renfort.

Je n'ignore pas que ma lettre vous parviendra un peu tard: mais la protestation qui s'est faite des lettres de change pour la valeur des fonds destinés à l'expedition qui se projette, me fait esperer qu'elle eprovera des retards assez consequents pour vous donner le tems d'approcher de St. Louis des Illinois un Corps de cinq cents hommes, que je crois suffisant pour faire echouer les deseins de L'ennemi, étant reunis aux troupes et aux milices des dits Etablissemens, d'autant que le fort de St. Louis est garni d'une Artillerie assez considerables tends qui l'enemi en est absolument depourvu, et compte uniquement sur celle qu'il prendra pour suivre ses projects contre le restant de la Province."

1794.

Endorsed:-D. In Lord Dorchester's No. 31 to Mr. Dundas of the 7 June,

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER.

YORK, UPPER CANADA,

Jan. 13th, 1794.

My Lord,

I do myself the honor of transmitting by two Cayhawaga Indians, the enclosed letter from Colonel England, enclosing six papers, which he at different periods had received from Colonel McKee.

I do not understand that any Answer has as yet been returned to the Proposals which the Six Nations forwarded to the President, through General Chapin. I have pleasure in informing Your Lordship that during an interval of favorable weather, Mr. Bouchette, with the assistance of the Officers and soldiers of the Rangers, attempted to get the Onondaga off the shoal, and so far have their efforts been successful, as to free her from the water, to lighten her from her heavy materials, and have placed her in a far more secure position than when she ran aground. In fact, she was got afloat, when unfortunately her cable parted from the anchor she was heaved off upon. I am in hopes that she shall be saved, and without any material injury. The weather has been uncommonly mild here; .the navigation between this place and Niagara might have been continued, if it had been necessary, 1 Formerly Governor of Virginia, then Governor of the Bahamas.