& soon restore to you the Delawares, Shawenoes, Mineamis, & all other Tribes & Nations, lately settled at this place, & & on the Marquis of the Mineamis & Au Glaize Rivers, to your late Ground & Possessions; & to preserve you and your distressed & helpless women & children, from Danger & Famine, during the present Fall & ensuing winter.

The arm of the United States is strong & powerful but they love mercy & kindness more than war & Desolation.

And to remove any doubts or apprehensions of danger to the persons of the Deputies, whom you may appoint to meet this army; I hereby pledge my sacred honor for their safety & return; and send Christopher Miller an adopted Shawenoe and a warrior, whom I took prisoner two days ago, as a flag who will advance in their Front to meet me. Mr. Miller was taken prisoner by a party of my warriors six moons since & can testify to you the kindness I have shewn to your people, my prisoners, that is, five warriors & two women, who are now all safe and well at Greenville.

But should this invitation be disregarded & Mr. Flag Mr. Miller be detained or injured, I will immediately order all those prisoners to be put to death without distinction, & some of them known to belong to the first families of your nations.

are

Brothers, be no longer deceived or led astray by the false promises & language of the bad white men, at the foot of the Rapidsthey have neither power, nor Inclination to protect you, no longer shut your eyes to your true interest & happiness; nor your ears to this last overture of peace; but in pity to your innocent women & children, come & prevent the further effusion of your blood-let them experience the kindness & friendship of the United States of America & the invaluable blessings of peace & tranquility.

GIVEN AT HEAD QUARTERS,

GRAND GLAIZE,

this 13th day of August 1794.

J. G. S.

Endorsed:

ANTY WAYNE.

Copy of Major General Wayne's Message to the Indians, dated Head Quarters at the Glaize August 13th 1794.

In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's of the 23d Augt. 1794. No. 83. (8)

[Q 280-2, p 300]

[ No. 32. ]

SIR,

LT. GOV. J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DUNDAS, SEC'Y.

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 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 and the fort at Le Boeuf shall be abandoned.

Lt. Col. England informs me that Wayne is rapidly advancing; by report with near 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 Waynes army is that he has positive orders to reduce our post at the Miamis, & in the ensuing spring to attack Detroit.

C. 8. S. D. Ros.'

. 1- 1.

I have detached Capt Bunbury of the 5th Regi

1. 1. 2.1 40. 5th Regt. ment to occupy Turtle Island at the entrance of the 20. 2d Rau. 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.

1. 2. 3. 1. 60.

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.

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

Endorsed: Navy Hall, 13 Augt. 1794.

Lt. Govr. Simcoe.

R. 13 Decr. No. 82.

[Q 280-2, p 291 ]

J. G. SIMCOE.

SIR,

COL. A. MC KEE TO LT. COL. RICHARD ENGLAND.

RAPIDS, 14 August 1794.

The enclosed Speech from General Wayne, with Millers Instructions came here this morning. I overheard him telling the Indians that the Designs of the army were against the English, and when I spoke to him about it in public, he readily agreed to take the enclosed Oath in the presence of the several Nations. As soon as I am informed of the determination of the Indians upon this message, I shall lose no time in acquainting you of it.

Copy of a letter from Colonel McKee to Lieut. Col. England. Rapids August 14th 1794. In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's No. 33 of the 28 Augt. 1794.

[Q 280-2, p 297]

(1.)

AFFIDAVIT MADE BY CHRISTOPHER MILLER BEFORE CAPT. M. ELLIOTT.

I Christopher Miller, sent to this place, as a Flag, from General Wayne, Commander in chief of the American Army, to the hostile Indians, do make oath and swear, that the said General desired me to inform the Indians, if they would withdraw themselves, or come & make peace with him, his designs were not to be directed against them, but to drive away the English from the Country.

CHRISTOPHER MILLER.

Sworn before me at the Miamis Rapids, this 14th day of August, 1794. M. ELLIOTT, J. P.

Endorsed:

Copy of an affidavit made by Christopher Miller before Matthew Elliot, Esqr., Justice of the Peace, &c.

In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's No. 33 of the 23d Augt. 1794. (4)

[Q 280-2, p 303]

SIR,

COL. A. MC KEE TO LT. COL. RICHARD ENGLAND.

RAPIDS, 15th August 1794.

Agreeably to my promise of yesterday, I have now to inform you that the Indians have this day, returned an answer to General Wayne's Speech. It is entirely calculated to gain a few days time, in hopes that Putiwatimies & Indians about Detroit may encrease their strength, so as to enable them to meet him with a prospect of advantage, tis said of the Kentucky Militia who either have brought, or are to bring up more Artillery.

I have the honor to be

Sir Your most obedient

& very humble Servant

A. MCKEE.

Lt. Col. England, &c. &c.

Endorsed:

Copy of a Letter from Col. McKee to Lieat. Col. England. Rapids, August 15th. Recd, early on the 17th.

In Lt. Govr. Simcoe's No. 83 of the 23d Aug, 1794. (3)

[Q 280-2, p 304]

SIR,

MAJOR WM. CAMPBELL TO LIEUT. COL. RICHARD ENGLAND.

FORT MIAMIS, 21st August 1794.

I sent last night a dispatch to you, to be forwarded by Colonel McKee wherever he should be found, somewhere lower down this River.

In it I detailed the Transactions of the day, the chief purpose of which was to inform you, that the Americans & Indians had had an engagement, and the latter were beat, and had retired below this Post, how far I do not know.

From the circumstance of an American army having taken Post on the heights opposite to Col. McKees, almost within reach of the Guns of this Fort, and remained there upwards of twenty four hours, without any explanation on their part, I conceived it a duty I owed to my station, & indispensably necessary in support of the honor of the British Colours to desire to be informed upon what Terms they

approached so near this Post. I refer you to my letter to Him, now enclosed (and which I hope you will not think unguarded) together with his answer-I sent my Flag by Captain Spears at eleven o'clock this morning-Captain Spears was stopped at their out Post, and was desired to return immediately, as the woods were full of Rifflemen, and they were affraid of his safety, from accident. But that an answer should be sent presently. It arrived at four o'clock. It appears to me, a vain production and still leaves me a cautious part to act. At the same time, if any of his Troops wantonly Insults this Post, it shall not be with Impunity.

I sincerely wish the Governor himself may soon arrive, and take all responsibility upon him.

I trust a Reinforcement from you is not far off at present, I conceive there is no danger in coming up this River, how long it may be so, is impossible for me to say, at the particular request of Mr Pilkington & Mr. Adye, I keep Capt Harrow and his sailors. I had determined otherwise just now, knowing that you may have great occasion for him, but their entreaties have prevailed.

We have not seen or heard a word about a Savage all day. It has been a matter of great comfort to me that the Battle of yesterday terminated without bringing me into a scrape, but surely my situation is a very extraordinary one, hundreds of the American Cavalry are constantly skirting the wood all round us and at this moment, a number of their officers are looking at us from the Point of Colonel McKees Island. You have also enclosed the Information of a Deserter who came in last night. You will observe he mentions Lascell as being taken prisoner, but, here, we all think he Deserted.

Drumer Bevan deserted from us this morning about eight o'clock. He went down to the River to wash his Shirts and crept through the Abatis at the water side.

I have the honor to be

Sir &c. &c.

WM. CAMPBELL.

Lt. Col. England, &c. &c. &c.

Endorsed:

Copy of a letter from Major Wm. Campbell to Lieut. Colonel England. Dated Augt. 21st. Received 23d 1794.

In Lt. Gov. Simcoe's No. 34 30th Augt. 1794.

[ Q 70, p 22 ]