“Indian Murders etc.”

Date

4-20-1812

Newspaper

Wilson’s Knoxville Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Knoxville, Tennessee

Serial Number

453

Abstract

Report form the St. Louis Louisiana Gazette on Indian reporting the earthquake in the area between the Arkansas and the White rivers. Noted that they were violent and repeated.

Transcript

INDIAN MURDERS, &c. Since Christmas, last, the following murders have been committed by the Indians in this country; two persons near the mines on the Mississippi, nine in the district of st. Charles, within the settlements, supposed to be killed by the Kickapoos; one man at Fort Madison, on the 3d inst. by the Winobagoes. There were several men who left Fort Madison for this part of the territory, about the 17th inst. who are supposed to have fallen into the hands of the enemy as they have not been heard of. Main Poe, the Pottawatomie, is preparing a war party to proceed against the Osages. This fellow has been until lately at Fort Malden, and it is tough in the territories, that he intends to strike at the whites. We received a few days ago, some account of Governor Harrison's treating with some of the chiefs, who were in the late action on the Wabash; this news may be correct, but we know from the most authentic channels, that those are only squads of bands, who are either amusing Governor Harrison, to avert a merited, retaliation, or wish to secure their individual families from an expected attack this spring. The officers of the garrisons of Chicago, and Fort Madison, U. States agents on the Mississippi, & Illinois traders, travelers and spies, all concur in the same story, that the Indians have no idea of making peace with us, that red rampum is passing through all the upper villages, from the Sioux of st. Peters, to the head of the Wabash, that at every council fire, the Americans are devoted and prescribed; and in short, that a general combination is ripening fast. We should be sorry that Gov. Harrison should be the dupe of a few rascals, or that he should lull our frontier people to a fatal security, by giving them a soporifick from Vincennes; we know that we have a better opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of Indian movements than can possibly be obtained on the Wabash, and therefore will sound the alarm when danger is apprehended. It is a well known fact that most, if not all the Indians east of the Mississippi have divided into small bands, some are for peace while a band of the same nation are determined on war with the U. States, thus, one party of each of the Pottowatimies, Kickapoos, Puants, &c. are treating with gov. Harrison. the other are butchering our frontier people, yet the pacific part will not scruple to engage for the nation whom they know it is impossible to restrain as long as there is a British subject suffered to trade within the lines of our territories, or receive presents at Malden, Mr. Foster's slang to the contrary notwithstanding. In consequence of various and groundless rumors of the disaffection of the Louisiana Delawares and Shawaonee's, their chiefs lately addressed a letter to general Clark, expressive of the most acute mortification, that their fidelity could be doubted, and demanded that the subject should be brought before court, in order to confront and punish their caluminators. We are sorry the idle and vicious and the talkative, cold not find some other topic to indulge their genius. The Cherokee who were exploring that tract of country, between the Arkansas and White river, have returned home, terrified by the repeated and violent shocks of the earthquake. We understand their intended to exchange with the United States, their country on the E. of the Mississippi for a like quantity on the Arkansas. We are informed from a respectable source that the old road to the post of Arkansas, by Spring river, is entirely destroyed by the last violent shocks of earthquake, chasms of great depth and great depth and considerable length, cross the country in various directions some swamps have become dry, others deep lakes, & in some places hills have disappeared. By letters from Fort Madison of the 9th inst. we learn the Winabagoes constantly hover about the garrison, and fire on those who venture beyond the limits of the public ground. On the 3d a soldier (corporate Leonard,) who was permitted to go out to hunt, was cut to pieces, about 2 miles from the fort. They have endeavored to shoot the sentry but was discovered before they could obtain a proper distance. Friendly Indians, say, that the Winabagoes, Potawatamies and Kickapoo's intended to storm the fort as soon as the ice breaks up.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS