Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO R. H. SHEAFFE.

NAVY HALL, 10th August, 1794.

Information having been received that a Mr. Williamson said to be an Agent of an English Company of Land Jobbers, and late a Captain in His Majesty's TwentyFifth Regiment of Foot, has made an establishment on the Sodus, you will proceed thither and demand by what authority the establishment is ordered, and require the people of that place to desist from such aggressions. In case of refusal you will be so good as to deliver the protest herewith delivered to the Officer in Command, or principal persons concerned in the establishment, procuring their acknowledgement of the receipt of the same.

You will use your own discretion on consultation with the Officer Commanding at Oswego, whether or not the approach of the people of the States to the Falls be of such a nature as to indicate a Settlement or a Fortress to be erected there, when you will repair thither and act in the same manner as has been directed in regard to the occupants at Sodus. You will also make enquiries into the Settlements supposed to be establishing at Salmon River, Hungry Bay, or that vicinity, where according to your discretion you will leave a similar protest.

In case of a personal interview with Mr. Williamson you will represent to him in my name my express dissatisfaction of his improper conduct that being so lately an Officer in his Majesty's Service, vowing natural allegiance to His Majesty, he should without application to me, send into the Province under my administration, Agents with the pretext of purchasing flour, which transaction from the whole of his conduct apparently must have been intended to deduce from any such permission of purchase, a kind of acknowledgement from the King's Subjects, of claims under discussion and in every point of view inadmissible until the United States shall have completed their conditions of the Treaty of Peace, on which alone they can expect the Posts and dependent Country to be evacuated.

You will be so good as to leave a form of the protest confidentially with Captain Schoedde, (giving him a copy of this letter), to be used by him in case of a future exigency demanding such a measure.

To Lieutenant Sheaffe,' 5th Regiment Foot.

I am, Sir, &c.

J. G. SIMCOE,

Lt.-Governor of Upper Canada.

FROM ROBERT PRATT TO E. B. LITTLEHALES.

FORT ERIE, 10th August, 1794.

Sir:

Mr. Johnston,' who is now here, wishes that His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor should be informed as follows:

"That the expected answer from General Washington to the Indians is with General Chapin, who is expected with it at Buffalo Creek in three or four days,

1 Roger Hale Sheaffe, 1763-1851, born in Boston, Mass.; ensign 5th Regt., 1778; lt. 1780; capt, 1795; major general, 1811; baronet, Dec. 1812; administrator of Upper Canada, 20 Oct., 1812-18 June, 1813.

2 William Johnston of the Indian Department.

which answer appears favorable to the Indians, (from the information he has received of it), as the troops at Le Boeuf are to be withdrawn."

That O'Beale sent (and the message arrived yesterday) to the Chiefs at Buffalo Creek saying that a Surveyor of the State of Pennsylvania asked his permission to continue the road to Prisqu'il, which the Americans had begun, and to build a small Fort there, which he positively refused, saying that the answer from General Washington was every day expected, and on that depended their future measures. The Surveyor's observations to O'Beale were "that the British had of late gained such an ascendency over the Six Nations as must soon end in their ruin," to which O'Beale replied "that the Six Nations clearly saw that the measures pursuing by the Americans were more pregnant with ruin to them than any Act of the British towards them.'

I am perhaps going too much into particulars, if so I beg you to inform me that I may in future guard against it, but my motive is that it seems to be Mr. Johnston's wish, who desires me to add that it is at this time necessary to make a number of Chiefs, and the Indians request fifty quarts of rum on the occasion at which time they will give Mr. Mayne an Indian name.

Major of Brigade Littlehales, Navy Hall.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT PRATT, Captain 5th Regiment.

Sir:

FROM ALEXANDER MCKEE TO R. G. ENGLAND.

RAPIDS, 10th August, 1794.

The unexpected retreat of the Indians from the Glaize to this neighbourhood, together with all their women and children, compels me to send this by express to state to you the urgent necessity there is for provisions to be immediately forwarded in one of the King's vessels, without which the Fort will be left to defend itself, and so numerous a body must of necessity support themselves about the settlement of Detroit where provisions are to be got.

I shall endeavour to keep the Indians together until the return of this express, and hope to be enabled by your answer to make arrangements for their co-operation with us to defeat any attempts that may be meditated against Fort Miamis or Detroit, the Country as far as this being now perfectly open for their approach. I have the honor to be, &c.

Lieutenant-Colonel England, &c., &c.

Sir:

A. MCKEE.

FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO ALEXANDER MCKEE.

DETROIT, August 10th, 1794, 12 o'clock.

Your letter of the 5th reached me yesterday, just in time to send a copy of it by the Nancy that was then under way, I was disapointed in your not sending for his satisfaction, the Indian's answer to General Wayne, I directed the Nancy to

speak to every vessel he met coming from Fort Erie, as I am confident that Colonel Simcoe is on his way either to you or to this Post, and I should suppose the former. Mr. Askin Jr. returned yesterday from Saguina. I have directed Mr. McKee to send you the account he brings from thence which goes by this express. If I am to credit Newman's information the whole of the Kentucki Militia amount only to 1900, a Part of which was to remain behind, to convoy provisions and which part I suppose from what he says, and from your information, has lately joined General Wayne at least so far as may be relied on him.

I have sent you such a supply of provisions lately as will prevent your being in want for that article for some considerable time whatever your numbers may be. The Dunmore was the last vessel dispatched and is under the direction of Commodore Grant at Turtle Island.

Be so good as to acquaint Lieut. Selby with my compliments, that I forwarded his letter to Capt. Pratt, and now send him a letter lately arrived here. The deserter Griffin is sent to Fort Erie.

Colonel McKee, &c., &c.

I am, Sir, with very great regard,
Your very obedient and very humble servant.
R. G. ENGLAND.

Mr. Francis Baby is this moment arrived with your letter of the 27th.-R.E.

FROM E. B. LITTLEHALES TO JOHN SMITH.

NAVY HALL, August 11th, 1794.

Sir: I am commanded by His Excellency Colonel Simcoe to acquaint you that he has thought proper to order Lieutenant Sheaffe upon a particular service with Ensign Usher, and one Corporal and Six Privates of the 5th Regiment. It is not necessary that the men should carry their arms with them, but you will be pleased to give directions that one hundred rations of provisions are issued to this party. I have the honor to be, &c.

Major Smith, Niagara.

E. B. LITTLEHALES.

EXAMINATION OF A SHAWNEE PRISONER BY CAPTAIN WELLS ON
THE EVENING OF THE 11th AUGUST, 1794, NEAR THE FOOT
OF THE RAPIDS.

Q. Where did the Indians receive information of the advance of the army? Ans. The first information was from a white man, who came of his own accord about ten days since.

Q. Where are the Indians at this time?

Ans. At Colonel McKee's.

Q. Where are the British and what are their numbers?

Ans. In a Fort about one mile below Col. McKee's, on the north side of the river, situated on a hill or bank, close by the margin where there are about 200 men-they are now at work at the fort.

Q. What number of great guns have they in the Fort?

A. Four or five.

Q. What number of warriors are at McKee's, and what nations do they belong to?

A. There are six hundred who abandoned this position at the approach of the army.

Shawanese about 200, but not more.

Q. What number are expected to assemble in addition to those now at the foot of the Rapids?

A. In all about 500 men, viz.

Q. What number of white men are to join and when?

A. Mr. or Captain Elliot set out for Detroit six days since and was to be back as yesterday with all the militia and an additional number of regular troops, which, with those already there, would amount to 1000 men-this is the general conversation among the Indians and Captain Elliot promised to bring that number. Col. McKee's son went with Elliot, as also the man who deserted from the army on its march.

Q. When and where do the Indians mean to fight this army?

A. At the foot of the Rapids, the white man who came in told the Indians and Col. McKee that the army was destined for that place.

(Printed in the Gazette of the United States of Philadelphia, 2d October, 1794.)

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO R. G. ENGLAND.

August 12th, 1794.

Sir:

I must beg that you will in the most particular manner express to Captain Doyle the very high sense that I entertain of his zeal for the King's Service, and I in an especial manner regard his ideas of attempting to strike at Wayne's rear by the rout of Vincennes as a proof of Military talent, which I hope some time or other may be called into action.

I beg that he will be so good as to enter into the detail of his project, the means of execution, the assistance of troops he will require, and the presents and expence necessary for the Indians.

It appears highly necessary for him to preserve his ascendancy with the Indians. If in concurrence with Colonel McKee he could employ a proper person to counteract the American emissaries at Chicago, a stipend may be allowed for such a purpose.

I beg Captain Doyle may communicate to Mr. Langlade how agreeable and

satisfactory his offers of service have been, and will you be so good as to enquire whether that gentleman has any sons, and whether it might not be possible for him to raise an independent Company in that quarter.

Endorsed:-D'ft to Colonel England. 12th August, 194. E.B.L.

No. 32.

Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DUNDAS.

NAVY HALL, August 13th, 1794.

Since the closure of my dispatch of the 10th Inst., Information of the most serious Aspect has been received from the Indian Country.

General Chapin, the Agent for the United States to the Six Nations, has sent to meet those People immediately at Buffaloe Creek; & his Messenger intimates that Mr. Washington has Complied with their demands so far as to give directions that Presque Isle shall not be occupied & the Fort at Le Boeuf shall be abandoned.

Lt. Col. England informs me that Wayne is rapidly advancing, by report with four thousand Troops; but what is alarming, The Hurons have peremptorily returned him the Hatchet which they had formerly received from Governor Hamilton demanding him to sharpen it, & instantly to join them, or they must cease to defend their Country.

The next Step in all probability would be to offend ours.

The Report in Wayne's Army is that He has positive Orders to reduce our Post at the Miamis, & in the ensuing Spring to attack Detroit.

I have detached Capt. Bunbury of the 5th Regiment to occupy Turtle Island C. S. S. D. R. & F.

1 1 2 1 1 1

40 5th Regt.
20 Q. Rangers.

60.

1 2 3 1

at the Entrance of the Miamis Bay, hoping by a Combination of our Gunboats & Vessels at that place to prevent an access to the Miamis River or Egress from it.

If Mr. Wayne pushes for Detroit, you Sir, must of course be prepared to hear that It is in his Possession. I have Characterized it truly to Lord Dorchester, on his Arrival, "as a nominal Fortress with a nominal Garrison."

I have the honor to be with all Respect,
Your most Obedient & most humble Servant,

J. G. SIMCOE.

To the Right Honorable Henry Dundas, &c., &c.

Endorsed:-Navy Hall, 13th Augt. 1794. Lt. Govr. Simcoe. R. 13th Decr.

No. 32.

My Lord:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER.

NAVY HALL, Aug. 13th, 1794.

I do myself the honor of enclosing to Your Lordship letters and communications from Lieut. Col. England, which I received on the 12th of this month.

I also transmit the extract of a letter I have received from Captn Schoedde.