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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Vincennes 4th March 1812

Sir

I have the Honor to inform you that the Indians Mentioned in my letter of the 26th Ultimo arrived at this place on Saturday last. They delivered up their arms without the least hesitation. Yesterday & the day before I met them in Council The Kickapoos Winebagos & that part of the Piankshaw Tribe which had joined the Prophet & had employed the Weas to march for them & a Chief of the latter was the principal orator. He said that the whole winter had been occupied in sending Messages to the Different Villages of the Potawatimes Kickapoos Miamis & Delawares to Consult upon the measures which were proper to be taken in the cir- cumstances in which they were placed and that it was unanimously agreed to supplicate their father the President for peace -- That this was the ardent wish of all those who had been lately under the influence of the Prophet that they acknowledged that it was the fault of that bad man that the late great calamity had falen upon them The principal Wine- bago Chief of the party which joind the Prophet was present as the representative of his Tribe. I informed him of the mischief which has been lately done by his Tribe on the Mississippi & the Apprehensions which were entertained of further hostility from them. He has agreed to set out immediately for the residence of his Tribe to inform them of our having buried the Tomhawk & to bring on one or two of the principal men to accompany the Chiefs of the other Tribes in their visit to the President He has promised candidly to explain to them the cause of the late action (in which they lost so many of their warriors) and the arti- fices which were practiced upon them by the prophet to induce them to engage in it. I have furnished the Chief with a Horse for this expedi- tion & have made him some other presents. I do believe that the Indians are sincere in their professions of friendship & their desire for peace and that we shall have no further hostilities unless it be from the Wine- bagos who are so far removed as to consider themselves out of our reach- However the Chief whom I have sent to them assures me that they will abandon all thoughts of Hostilities as soon as [?] arrives amongst them. Tecumseh has returned and is much exasperated against his brother for his precipitancy He blames him for throwing off the [illeg.] before their places were [illeg.] He sent me a short speech informing me of his return & that he was now ready to visit the President -- I have in- formed the other Indians that he may go with them -- but not as their leader. The[y] unanimously & vehemently declared that they would never more listen to him. The Kickapoos say that they have reenterred our people who fell in the late action. I assure you sir that nothing can be more humble & submissive than these people appear to be. I would how- ever beg leave to recommend that no military arrangements which were be- fore thought necessary be intermitted on that account -- but that the Rangers at least may be put upon duty until the Chiefs are on their way to Washington I hope to leave them assembled at Fort Wayne for that purpose early in April --

I have the honer to be with great Respect Sir yr Hbl Sert

[unsigned]
[Probably to Eustis]

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