On reaching their own country it was found that another
outrage had been committed by a party of border-men,
upon the Senecas at Beaver Creek, in the neighborhood
of Pittsburg, in which three men and one woman were
killed.
Cornplanter immediately sent runners with a dispatch
to the government, informing them of the event, and
with the earnest inquiry, “Our father, and ruler
over all mankind, speak now and tell us, did you
order those men to be killed?”
The secretary of war utterly disclaimed and denounced
the transaction, promised them restitution, and that
the offenders should be brought to justice. These
times were so fruitful in difficulties, that ere one
was healed another was created; yet our government
by wise and prompt measures were after this successful,
in securing peace with all of the Iroquois family
within its borders.
Expedition under Gen. Harmar—Its failure—High
hopes of the Indians—Col.
Proctor’s visit to the Indians at Buffalo Creek—Red
Jacket’s speech—
Indian deputation refused—Interference
of the matrons—Council at Painted
Post—Chiefs invited to Philadelphia.
The efforts of our government to secure peace with
the Indians, were but partially successful. As
our settlements extended westward in Pennsylvania,
and along the Ohio and Kentucky borders, Indian hostilities
and depredations continued to multiply. From the
year 1783 when peace was concluded with Great Britain,
until October, 1790, when the United States commenced
offensive operations against them, the Indians killed,
wounded and took prisoners on the Ohio and the frontiers,
about fifteen hundred men, women and children; besides
taking away two thousand horses, and a large amount
of other property.
The Shawanese, Miamis and Wabash Indians were chiefly
concerned in these bloody transactions; and our government
finding protection for her citizens could not be secured
by pacific means, resolved to proceed with vigorous
offensive measures.
General Harmar, a veteran of the Revolution, with
a force of fourteen hundred and fifty men, three hundred
and twenty from the regular army, and the balance
made up of recruits from Kentucky and Pennsylvania,
advanced toward the Indian country.
The expedition left Fort Washington, the present site
of Cincinnati, on the 30th of September, 1790.
The Indians, who kept watch of his movements, burned
before his coming, their principal village and retired.
Seizing a favorable opportunity, they fell suddenly
upon a detachment of the main army commanded by Colonel
Harding, consisting of two hundred and ten men, thirty
of whom were regulars.
At the first onset the militia, the main part of the
force, fled. The regulars stood their ground
bravely for a time, but at a fearful odds; seven only
escaped.
Colonel Harding, desirous of retrieving the disgrace,
the next day with three hundred militia and sixty
regulars, gave battle to the Indians. They fought
near the junction of St. Joseph and St. Mary rivers,
and the struggle, though severe and bloody, ended
with the defeat of the Americans.
