acts with great vigour in that part of the Country, and expressed his surprise at the very different language which was held by the British Canadians, in respect to the Subjects of the United States, to what was permitted at St. Louis. The Indians on the Wabash have quitted the lower parts of that River, and by their approximation to Detroit (should not Mr. Wayne advance), the benefits of their Trade will return into the accustomed channel. This movement has exceedingly alarmed the Settlers at Vincennes. It appears that the Chippewas, in consequence of some superstitious Circumstances have unanimously determined on War. I enclose to Your Lordship the Speech of the Six Nations at the Meeting of Buffaloe Creek-It is considered as the most respectable Assembly of those Nations which have met for some Six Years. General Wayne was by the last account at the picquetted Camp (or Polanque) at Grenville, covered by Redoubts a quarter of a Mile in its front; I transmit to Your Lordship such a Sketch of his Line of March as can be collected, and in some degree improved from Hutchin's Map. The last accounts from the Indians are, that General Wayne has sent a thousand men beyond the Ohio, as the Prisoners they took informed them, on the account of the War on the coast, they say they saw the Troops on their march; some event possibly may have happened that has changed his apparent resolutions, as Your Lordship will perceive by the Sketch that he had cut a road in a different direction from Sinclair's projected march, pointing not to the Miamis Towns, but to the navigable waters of the Glaize which has confirmed the Reports of the Indians now publicly mentioned in the American News Papers, that he had expressed himself, "That he hoped to drink with them of the waters of Lake Erie." It is given out that he is to march in May, and I presume some hundreds of the Indians are now set off to oppose him and strike at his Convoys. The Inhabitants of the Genesee are under great alarm. They have had Arms sent to them, and as I understand, five pieces of Cannon are now at the Forks of that River. By a letter just received from Albany, dated the 10th of April, It is said that a Packet has arrived from England at New York, that gives favorable expectations of the preservation of Peace. Whether this Event shall or shall not take place, it must be evident to Your Lordship that from the Effect which the late Transactions have had in respect to the Indians, there can be no Safety for this Province, and, of course, British America, should they be abandoned to themselves and not confirmed in their just Claims by the determined and avowed Mediation of Great Britain. Lord Dorchester. I have the honor to be, &c. J. G. SIMCOE. Sir: FROM ROBERT HAMILTON TO J. G. SIMCOE. Neither myself nor the enclosed paper on the subject of the Portage Road1 should at this moment intrude on your more interesting concerns, did not the season of the year require that the plan if approved of, should be carried into immediate execution. Your kind attention to this business when convenient, will therefore be a particular favor. 1 The road on the left bank of the Niagara river from Queenston to Chippawa. I take at the same time the liberty of enclosing two private letters received the other day from the States, as they contain a little practical information on the present crisis, how far to be depended on your better judgment will determine. Should the present rumours of war in the end be unfortunately verified, perhaps it might be of some consequence to have a company of Militia at this place a little more active than ordinary for prevention of improper things at the Ferry, for the security of boats or cannon in the river, and for many other purposes that might occur at this important post while without troops. Though a man of peace, yet when the business of fighting becomes pro aris et focis, I trust I will not be found backward and with this view, I now make an offer of my own services and of those of all my people, and I believe of almost all my neighbours round as active militia men in any line that your Excellency may think our exertions can be useful in this vicinity. Perhaps something in the way of an independent company as allowed by the militia act might be most effectual for those particular purposes, but as my only wish in the event of danger to the Settlement is to be of use, so the manner is of little consequence. I have the honor to be, &c. P.S. The sc. ooner Simcoe1 is now here and will be ready to sail for Kingston on Monday morning, should your Excellency have any commands for that quarter. Queenston, April 29th, 1794. His Excellency Lt. Govr. Simcoe. My Lord: FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER. NAVY HALL, 30th April, 1794. I do myself the honor of informing Your Lordship, that in consequence of the complaint of the Seven Nations of Canada made against Colonel McKee, and their desire in the name of the other Nations that Mr. Baby might be appointed Superintendent in his room, at the request of Colonel McKee, Egushwai, Chief of the Ottawas, was questioned on this Subject, in my presence. He said he knew nothing further of the Complaint than that some of the Seven Nations desired of him to join in it, and to request that Mr. Montigni might be appointed Superintendent. This he said he refused, and added that if any Chief of the Lake Indians joined the Seven Nations in this request, it must be a particular person whom he named, of no consideration or respectability. I transmit to Your Lordship a Speech transmitted to me by the Indians assembled at the Glaize, and also one delivered by Egushwai, in respect to the Inhabitants on the River au Raisin, together with my Answer. I have the honor to be, &c., J. G. SIMCOE. Lord Dorchester. 1 Owned by Mr. Hamilton. My Lord: FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER. NIAGARA, 30th April, 1794. On the moment of my leaving this place for York, I am informed that the People of the Genesee are in general very well disposed to submit to the British Government, but that a force has been requested from Congress for their protection, and such, it is supposed, will be granted. I also understand that the people of themselves are now more determined than ever to attempt Oswego; the stores and Ordnance there are so valuable that I have directed Capt. Seward to make a Report upon that Subject, which is to be transmitted to Your Lordship. The retreat from this Post, which I apprehend at present not to be defensible for greater numbers to occupy it is, I am well informed, impracticable. Of course under present Circumstances, I do not think it prudent to reinforce it, particularly as it is very obnoxious to desertion, and the troops I have, cannot reasonably be expected as yet, to be so well disciplined as to withstand the temptations that influence even older Soldiers. I have the honor to be, &c., Rt. Honble Lord Dorchester. Comdr.-in-Chief. &c., &c. My Lord: FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER. J. G. SIMCOE. April 30th, 1794. I have paid every attention in my power to form a judgment of what assistance may be expected from the People of this Province, and I offer the following Arrangements to Your Lordship's Consideration. In the Detroit District, I think it would be possible to raise four independent Companies, to consist in the first instance of sixty men each, but not to be restricted in their number-the clothing and the Subaltern Officers to be named by the Captains. Two of these Companies I should propose to be English, and two French, the French to be commanded by Mr. Maisonville' and Mr. Francois Baby,' the English by Capt. Caldwell3 and Capt. Elliott The Advantages that would accrue would be, that as these Gentlemen are nominated by Col. McKee and Mr. Baby, between whom there is the strictest Union, and as these Gentlemen are respectively at the head of the Settlements at Detroit, Colonel McKee would probably be able to graft upon them such numbers of the Militia as might enable your Lordship to entrust to these Companies the defence of Detroit, the Miamis, Sandusky, Chicago, and Michilimackinac, and that in a great degree a cordial co-operation of Interests between the Canadian and British Settlers might be effected. In respect to Niagara, I should propose that Capt. Johnsons of the Indian Department, a most useful and valuable Servant of the Crown, and of the first 1Probably Alexis Maisonville, who had for some time commanded a company of militia at Detroit, and afterwards commanded a flank company of the 2nd Essex Regiment in 1812-3. 2Francois Baby, a brother of Hon. Jacques Baby; member of the Assembly for Kent, 1792-6; Assistant Quartermaster General, 1812-14; prisoner of war, February, 1814. 3 William Caldwell. 4 Mathew Elliott. 5William Johnston. S.C.-16 influence among the Senecas, might have another Company. Mr. Hamilton of the Legislative Council has also offered himself for this service. These Companies might maintain the Communication between Fort Erie and Presqu'Isle, if occupied, and Niagara. I have but little doubt but that Lieut. Johnson Butler,' the son of the Colonel, might speedily raise another Company; one might be procured in all probability in the Bay of Quinte, one might be raised to protect Oswegatchie and Fort Levy. I strongly recommended to Your Lordship the embodying the McDonnels under the Command of Mr. McDonnel, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, a half-pay Captain of distinguished gallantry in the last War. I have but little doubt that he could raise a loyal Battalion of three hundred men, which might be ready to act wheresoever Your Lordship should think proper. I cannot but lament, among my other public disappointments, at this period, that I have not a Company of Military Artificers and a Field Train in this Country. In the Emergencies of War, they would be of the most important Service. A Mr. Holt, of Sorrel, or William Henry, offered to raise a Company of Artificers on a Plan which I should have thought highly of, had I not reasonably expected that a Company of Artificers would have been allotted as necessary, both on the Peace or War Establishment of this Colony, from principles of general economy.2 I have the honor to be, &c. J. G. SIMCOE. Lord Dorchester. Sir: FROM C. T. A. SCHOEDDE TO E. B. LITTLEHALES. FORT ONTARIO, 1st May, 1794. Be pleased to acquaint His Excellency Colonel Simcoe that on the 10th of April last one Church belonging to Oswegatchie passed this Post in the night with 12 barrels of salt. He returned again and repassed this Post again on the night of the 23rd ult. and would have escaped but for the strong current and the drag rope breaking. He was discovered about two miles up the river and I ordered him to be brought back; his load, 12 barrels of flour, in the identical salt barrels he smuggled before, and one barrel of pork. There are two brothers of that name, both great smugglers, and the one whose boat was seized made no difficulty to say that he had sold the salt well, and taking the flour was but a trifle. He has gone with his boat's crew to Onondago but I keep a good look out for his return. Three men deserted on the 30th ult. but were retaken six or seven miles from the Garrison. I have tried them here and approved of the sentence and Lt. Gordon who goes with them to Kingston is to have the sentence executed if Captain Porter will permit his drummer to do so, or if he will send me a drummer to come here I will punish them on the spot; but I have not left the execution of the sentence at Captain Porter's option as he once before forgave the two deserters and the two thieves sent there by His Excellency's orders, which I conceived both as a reflection on me and a bad precedent to others. The three men returned as enlisted in the month are the three retaken. Major of Brigade Littlehales. 1 Afterwards Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 4th Regiment of Lincoln Militia, died on service, 1 Dec., 1812. 2 See Vol. I, pp. 57-8. FROM WILLIAM CALDWELL TO ALEXANDER MCKEE. Dear Sir: DETROIT, 2nd May, 1794. I send you enclosed a List of the Militia residing in the County of Essex, you will find several names but no age opposite to them, they are men who were not present, likewise there are some who have not yet given in their names but Mr. Field' and Mr. McKillip2 in whose Companies they are, promised to send them to me as soon as they possibly can. I did not think fit to give Colonel England a List until I hear from you. There are several of the new Settlement who say they will not serve under Stockwell, it seems they understand he is to be a Lieutenant, they have made complaints against him at the Presbitery at the enrolling of the Militia, Tom. Smith took down their Names & promised to send me their Complaints in writing which when received I shall transmit to you by the first opportunity. In the mean time I remain &c. WM. CALDWELL." COPY OF A LETTER FROM GEO. IRONSIDE & RANALD MCDONELL TO COLONEL MCKEE. GLAIZE, 3d May, 1794. Sir: As the Indians are much influenced in their opinions and behaviour by the talk of a great many people living here We thought that Government might be happy to hear these things altho they are not all supported by the evidence of White people, yet we know that the Indians have been tampered with by the Messrs. Lassells on several occasions. The Gris a Chief of the Miamis came last Winter to Mr. MacDonnell and asked him in a very serious manner of what Antoine Lassell had told him concerning the harbour of Quebec being blocked up by a French fleet was really true or not; & hoped as he had always been known to be a friend to the English he would not keep any thing of that kind from him. Mr. Ironside also heard Antoine Lassell say that along with the Speeches from the Spaniards there came one from the French at New York telling the Indians that they would in a short time see their old Father among them. Mr. McDonell was told by Jacques Lassell, who supported his assertion with a good deal of warmth, that the combined powers would never be able on acco't of the great resources of France to make the least impression upon her, or bring about any Counter Revolution. Every action of the French they magnify & any success of the English & Combined powers, they wish to keep hid from the Indians or entirely misrepresent it to them. We could mention many more circumstances tending to shew the 1Daniel Fields, formerly a corporal in Butler's Rangers, afterwards a captain in the Kent militia. 2Daniel McKillop, formerly a serjeant in Butler's Rangers, afterwards a lieutenant in the Essex Militia; killed 20 August, 1794, in the action at the Fallen Timber. 3 James Stockwell, afterwards an ensign in the Essex Militia. 4Thomas Smith, a loyalist, who came to Fort Niagara in 1776 with a plan of Fort Stanwix and intelligence, afterwards a captain in the Essex Militia. 5 Formerly a captain in Butler's Rangers, then Lieutenant-Colonel in Essex Militia. |