FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

HARRISON TO

Cincinnati (Ohio) Feby 7th. 1812

Sir

I left Vincennes on the 19th Ultimo for the purpose Reviewing & Arming the R gts. of Militia in the eastern division of the Territory. With Respect to the Indians nothing worthy of Notice had occurred previously to my departure & Subsequently to my last Communication except-- ing the arrival at Fort Harrison of thirty Kickapoos Winebagoes Shawen- oes who from thence Sent me a speech full ofprofessions of friendship towards the U States and earnestly desiring to me send them some Corn to prevent their families from starving. They informed me also that 20 Potawatimes had Set out 7 days before to Commit Murders on the Kaskaskias road. The Substance of my answer was that their professions of friend- ship could not be believed sincere when they admitted that they had suffered a small party to pass their Camp (containing several Hundred Warriors) with the avowed intention of Committing hostilities upon our Citizens & that they could calculate upon no assistance from us until all the murders of our people were delivered up. I pointed out to Colo Russell a route by which a detachment of Rangers might possible inter- cept the War party, but I think it highly probably that no such party is out & that the Story is a fabrication of the Indians who communicated it for the purpose of enhancing their merit with us. Thar is no doubt of the truth of that part of their speech describing the extreme distress which prevails amongst them from the want of provisions. They have no corn and their hunting grounds being confined to a comparatively small district & that too not the best for game they are obliged to live on roots & bark. Under these circumstances it isnot probable that they will leave their families to make a Stroak in a Considerable body. I am therefore no longer apprehensive for Vincennes until the roasting ear season -- It is very probable that a few Hundred might be prevailed upon by their British Allies to reinforce the Army that is said to be Collect- ing to oppose General Hull if it were not from the Apprehensions of leav- ing their families exposed to be Captured by our expedition from Vincenn- es. From this circumstance I consider the accumulation of a small force at Vincennes as forming a very useful diversion in favor of Genl Hull A Company of U States Infantry & [illeg.] of Rangers under [illeg.] are now on their Way to Vincennes, by order of Colo Russell. In addition to this force which the Colo has under him immediate Command I have directed the Colonels Commanding the Regiments [ed. the rest of this letter is to-- rn in half.]

6