Gazette Of The United States

Extract of a letter from an officer in the Western army,
to his Father.

Dated Fort Wayne, June 10th, 1795.

" I have just time to inform you of my arrival at
this post the 3d inst. after encountering a fatiguing
tho' generally a pleasant trip of eleven hundred and
odd miles down the Ohio, and up to the source of
the Wabash river, which is within nine miles of this
place. I passed, and halted at a number of Indian
villages, and was treated friendly by all but one party,
who was rather insolent than otherwise, these
were some Kickapoos, but principally Potawatomies,
situated on the Banks of the Tippecanoe, a
river of considerable size, which empties itself into
the Wabash, about one mile from the town. However,
by soothing language, and impressing upon
their minds the fatal consequences which must await
their tribe, should they insult the flag I bore, I
was permitted to pass, after presenting to them about
two gallons of whiskey -that liquor so destructive
to these wretches. My Journal I shall forward
you, by the first safe conveyance.

The Indians are beginning to collect for the treaty,
but in so tardy a manner, that it is problematical
whether it will be held in all this month, or, in
fact, until the middle of the next. I rather think
the latter. Such delays I remember hearing you
say, was not uncommon, when the late Sir William
Johnson had the superintending of Indian affairs,
under the British government-the British are using
every exertion to prevent the Indians meeting, but
will not, I think succeed. Every day fresh parties
tho' small ones arrive ; numbers are encamped around
us, and several for miles are raising Corn, in
the vicinity of our post. This conduct bespeaks
good intentions towards us, whether they bear them
in their breasts or not--I cannot enlarge on this
subject, as this letter is only intended to assure you
of my success."