My course continued west till about nine o'clock, when I turned to the north-west on a small hunting path, and at a short distance launched into the boundless prairies of the west, with the intention to pursue that course until I should strike a road which leads from the Pattawamees of Lake Michigan immediately to the town I sought. With this view I pushed forward through bog after bog, to the saddle skirts, in mud and water, and after persevering for eight hours I found myself environed on all sides with morasses which forbade my advancing, and at the same time rendered it difficult for me to extricate my little army. The way by which we had entered was so much beat and softened by the horses that it was almost impossible to return by that route, and my guides pronounced the morass in front impassable. A chain of thin groves extending in the direction to the Wabash at this time presented to my left; it was necessary I should gain these groves, and for this purpose I dismounted, went forward, and, leading my horse through a bog to the armpits in mud and water, with difficulty and fatigue I accomplished my object, and, changing my course to south by west, regained the Tippecanoe road at five o'clock, and encamped on it at seven o'clock, after a march of thirty miles, which broke down several of my horses.

I am the more minute in detailing the occurrences of this day, because they produced the most unfavorable effect. I was in motion at four next morning; and at eight o'clock my advanced guard made some discoveries, which induced me to believe we were near an Indian village. I immediately pushed that body forward in a trot, and followed with Major Caldwell and the second battalion, leaving Major M'Dowell to take charge of the prisoners. I reached Tippecanoe at twelve o'clock, which had been occupied by the enemy, who watched my motions and abandoned the place that morning. After the destruction of this town in June last, the enemy had returned and cultivated their corn and pulse, which I found

in high perfection and in much greater quantity than at L'Anguille. To refresh my horses and give time to cut down the corn, I determined to halt until the next morning, and then resume my march to the Kickapoo town in the prairie by the road which leads from Ouiattanau to that place. In the course of the day I had discovered some murmurings and discontent among the men, which I found, on inquiry, to proceed from their reluctance to advance into the enemy's country. This induced me to call for a state of the horses and provisions, when to my great mortification two hundred and seventy horses were returned lame and tired, with barely five days' provision for the men.

Under these circumstances I was compelled to abandon my designs upon the Kickapoos of the prairie; and, with a degree of anguish not to be comprehended but by those who have experienced similar disappointments, I marched forward to a town of the same nation, situate about three leagues west of Ouiattanau. As I advanced to the town the enemy made some show of fighting me, but vanished at my approach. I destroyed this town, consisting of thirty houses, with a considerable quantity of corn in the milk; and the same day I moved on to Ouiattanau, where I forded the Wabash, and proceeded to the site of the villages on the margin of the prairie, where I encamped at seven o'clock. At this town and the villages destroyed by General Scott in June we found the corn had been replanted and was now in high cultivation; several fields being well ploughed, all which we destroyed. On the 12th I resumed my march, and, falling into General Scott's return trace, I arrived without material accident at the rapids of the Ohio on the 21st instant, after a march, by accurate computation, of four hundred and fifty-one miles from Fort Washington.

The services which I have been able to render fall short of my wishes, my intention, and expectation. But, sir, when you reflect on the causes which checked my career and

blasted my designs, I flatter myself you will believe every thing has been done which could be done in my circumstances. I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiattanau nation, and made prisoners the sons and sisters of the king. I have burned a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down at least four hundred and thirty acres of corn chiefly in the milk. The Ouiattanaus left without horses, home, or provision, must cease to war, and will find active employ to subsist their squaws and children during the impending winter.

Should these services secure to the country which I immediately represented, and the corps which I had the honor to command, the favorable consideration of government, I shall infer the approbation of my own conduct, which, added to a consciousness of having done my duty, will constitute the richest reward I can enjoy.

With the most perfect respect, I have the honor to be your excellency's obedient and most humble servant,

JAMES WILKINSON.

Governor St. Clair.

A Talk from Colonel Wilkinson to the Indian Nations living on the River Wabash.

The arms of the United States are again exerted against you, and again your towns are in flames, and your wives and children made captives. Again you are cautioned to listen to the voice of reason, to sue for peace, and submit to the protection of the United States, who are willing to become your friends and fathers; but, at the same time, are determined to punish you for every injury you may offer to their children. Regard not those evil counsellors who, to secure to themselves the benefits of your trade, advise you to measures which involve you, your women, and children in trouble and distress. The United States wish to give you peace, because

it is good in the eyes of the Great Spirit that all his children should unite and live like brothers; but if you foolishly prefer war, their warriors are ready to meet you in battle, and will not be the first to lay down the hatchet. You may find your squaws and your children under the protection of our great chief and warrior General St. Clair, at Fort Washington; to him you will make all applications for an exchange of prisoners or for peace.

JAMES WILKINSON.

DEFEAT OF GENERAL ST. CLAIR BY THE

INDIANS, 1791.

GENERAL ST. CLAIR TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

FORT WASHINGTON, November 9, 1791.

SIR, Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army under my command got back to this place; and I have now the painful task to give an account of as warm and as unfortunate an action as almost any that has been fought, in which every corps was engaged and worsted except the first regiment, that had been detached upon a service I had the honor to inform you of in my last despatch, and had not joined me.

On the 3d instant the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the southward of west, which I believe to have been the River St. Mary, that empties into the Miami of the lake, arrived at the village about four o'clock in the afternoon, having marched near nine miles, and were immediately encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground in two lines, having the above-mentioned creek in front. The right wing, composed of Butler's, Clarke's, and Patterson's battalions, commanded by Major General Butler, formed the first line; and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger's and Gaither's battalions and the second regiment, commanded by Colonel Drake, formed the second line, with an interval between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow.

The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a

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