AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE: COMPRISING DETAILS OF THE MILITARY AND NAVAL OPERATIONS, BY SAMUEL R. BROWN. "Give Fillan's praise to the wind. Raise high his IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. Ossian. AUBURN: PUBLISHED BY J. G. HATHAWAY. Kellogg & Beardslee, Printers, Manlius. INTRODUCTION. Exposition of the Causes of the War. PERHAPS it is impossible, in the nature of things, that there should exist a cordial political connexion between the Republic of the U. States and the monarchy of Great Britain. There is something in the national pride of England that can never forgive the declaration of independence; and on our side, the sufferings, prison ships, burnings, massacres and scalpings of the revolution have not been forgotten. It is true, that the ties of a common ancestry, similarity of language and manners, have been urged as natural inducements to a close and friendly alliance between the two countries. These causes operate fecbly, when opposed by a powerful spirit of commercial rivalry, and the resentments springing from the revolutionary war, mutually cherished by both nations. The hostility of England has been coeval with our national existence. How easy it is to furnish the incredulous, irrefragable evidence of the truth of this position! The events of the revolutionary war constrained the British government to recognize our independence; yet she refused to execute the treaty of 1783. The western posts from Oswego to Michilimackinac were forcibly retained, contrary to the express provis ions of that treaty from '85 to '96; and that too, while a Washington presided in the councils of his country! This breach of faith subjected the United States to the expenses of a long and bloody Indian war, which oth erwise most unquestionably could have been avoided. In this war the savages were supplied with the means of death from those very posts, so wrongfully withheld. The governor general of Canada, Lord Dorchester, instigated the Indians to hostilities. Englishmen fought by their sides at the defeats of Harmer and St. Clair. When Gen. Wayne defeated the Indians near the Miami of the Lake, in 1794, they sought protection under the guns of a British fort, erected in a time of peace, and many miles within the acknowledged territorial limits of the U. States. The British commander even threatened to fire on the American troops, if they approached within reach of his guns! ¥ In the flight of Gen. Proctor from the battle of the Moravian Town, his carriage and papers fell into the hands of the Americans. Among these papers were found the letters of Mr. M'Kee* of the Indian department, to Col. England, the commander of the English troops at Malden, during the months of July and Augast 1794, and at the time Gen. Wayne was operating against the Indians on the Miami. It appears from these letters that the scalps taken by the Indians were sent to the Indian establishment at the rapids of that river; that the hostile operations of the Indians were concerted with British agents and officers; that certein Indian tribes having completed the belts they carried with scalps and prisoners, and being without provisions, resolved on going home, it was fa See Appendix A. mented that his Majesty's posts would derive no security from the late great influx of Indians into that part of the country, should they persist in their resolution of returning so soon;" that the British agents were immediately to hold a council at the glaze, in or. der to try if they could prevail on the lake Indians to remain; but that without provisions and ammunition being sent to that place, it was conceived to be extremely difficult to keep them together; and that "Col. England was making great exertions to supply the Indians with provisions." "Scouts are sent (continues Col. M'Kee) to view the situation of the American army; and we now muster 1000 Indians; all the lake Indians, from Saguna downwards, should not lose one moment in joining their brethren, ás every accession of strength is an addition to their spirits." Again: "I have been employed several days in endeavoring to fix the Indians who have been driven from their villages ad cornfields between the fort and the bay. Swan creek is generally agreed upon and will be a very convenient place for the delivery of provisions, &c." These letters prove that there existed a covert but active co-operation of the British agents with Indians opposed to Gen. Wayne. The same influence was exercised among the Creek and Cherokee Indians. A British subject of the name of Bowles assumed the title of Director General of Muscogee. The correspondence* of American Indian Agents and military and civil officers near the western frontiers, with the department of state, affords ample additional * See Appendix B. |