A History of Indiana, from Its Earliest Exploration by Europeans to the Close of the Territorial Government, in 1816

PREFACE.

THE territory which is now included within the boundaries. of the State of Indiana, and which was formerly owned and occupied by the Miami confederacy of Indians, was claimed by the government of France, from the time of the discovery of the mouth of the river Mississippi, by La Salle, in 1682, to 1763, when it was, by treaty, relinquished to the government of Great Britain. From 1763 to 1779, it was held, nominally, by Great Britain as a part of her colonial possessions in North America. The jurisdiction of the State of Virginia was formally, but not effectively, extended over it from 1779 to 1784. By the treaty of peace of 1783, and by the deed of cession executed by Virginia, in 1784, it became the property of the United States. From 1787 to 1800, it constituted a part of "THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES NORTHWEST OF THE RIVER OHIO;" and, from 1800 to 1809, it formed a considerable portion of the very large region over which the jurisdiction of THE INDIANA TERRITORY extended.

Many interesting particulars which relate to the discovery and early exploration of this region, and to the primitive. condition of the Indian tribes of the northwest, have been gleaned from the voluminous writings of Christian missionaries, and from the narratives of travelers and adventurers who visited the valley of the Mississippi at different periods in the course of the eighteenth century.

The "Historical Notes of the discovery and settlement of the Territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio," which were published in 1843 as an introduction to

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the history of Indiana, have been carefully revised, enlarged in reference to some subjects, condensed in reference to others, and embodied in this work.

The chapters which follow these brief introductory remarks, are based upon historical researches, which, for a period of about twenty years, have been perseveringly extended over a very large field-on which, intermingled with the materials of true history, the past generations of men have left many confused traditions, many contradictory narratives, and many questionable records. In the course of making these tedious and perplexing researches, I have endeavored to keep my mind free from the disturbing influences of those popular prejudices and errors which derive their origin either from ambitious contentions between distinguished men, or from false traditions, or from national partialities and antipathies, or from excited conflicts between the partizans of antagonistic political systems, or from dissensions among uncharitable teachers of different creeds of religion; and thus to qualify myself, in some measure, for the work of compiling and writing an impartial history of the eventful progress of civilized settlements in a region over which, within the last century, the banners of France, those of Great Britain, and those of the United States, have successively floated as emblems of dominion.

The readers of this history of Indiana will find in it many brief extracts from official documents, and many interesting passages, which have been copied from various manuscript journals, and from autograph letters which were written between the years 1778 and 1816. These brief extracts contain, collectively, a great deal of that kind of information, general and special, which is calculated to impress upon the mind of the reader clear, impartial, and definite views of the rise and progress of civilized settlements in the vast region which was formerly called "the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio," a territory which, from 1787 to

1800, embraced within its limits all the districts of country which are now included within the boundaries of the States of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and the greater portion of that part of the territory of Minnesota which lies eastward of the sources of the river Mississippi.

Among the early white settlers of the regions lying westward of the Allegheny mountains, there were, at all times, some men who were distinguished as leaders of military expeditions against hostile Indian tribes; and, in districts of country where the forms of law were observed, there were other men of distinction who were charged with the administration of the civil affairs of the government. These two classes of men had the most favorable opportunities of acquiring accurate information of the social condition of the pioneer settlers-of the privations, dangers, and perils of the state of society in which this class of settlers lived-and of the manners and customs which prevailed among them.

The distinguished pioneer soldiers and civilians to whom I allude, were, chiefly, the men who, in official reports and in private journals and letters, recorded their statements and their views in relation to the civil and military affairs of the people among whom they were regarded as leaders and counselors. No small degree of historic interest lingers around the plain, strong, unpretending style in which many of these early pioneers of the west recorded their views of public affairs. Their style of writing constitutes, indeed, a part of their history. I have not, however, in any instance, adopted such statements or such views with respect to any important matter of history, without subjecting them to the ordeal of a close examination and an impartial comparison with the statements and views of those who were cotemporary writers.

For the privilege of examining valuable and interesting private collections of manuscripts and other documents relating to the early civil and military affairs of Indiana, my public thanks are due to Hon. John Scott Harrison, of Ohio;

Hon. William G. Armstrong, of Clark county, Indiana; the family of Capt. Robert Buntin, of Indiana; Elihu Stout, esq., of Knox county, Indiana; the family of Gen. Hyacinth Lasselle, of Indiana; and the family of Gen. John Tipton, of Indiana. For the use of various important manuscripts, and other valuable documents, and for many interesting verbal statements concerning the public affairs of Indiana, my acknowledgments have been tendered to General Marston G. Clark, Major Ambrose Whitlock, Mr. Joseph Barron, Prof. Bliss, Dr. Ezra Ferris, Hon. Wm. Polke, Gen. Walter Wilson, Hon. John Law, Mr. Pierre Laplante, Hon. Williamson Dunn, Dr. Azra Lee, Gen. Robert Hanna, Samuel Morrison, esq., Mr. Zebulon Collings, Hon. Isaac Naylor, Major Henry Restine, Hon. Dennis Pennington, Col. Abel C. Pepper, Hon. William Hendricks, Henry Hurst, esq., Col. John Vawter, Col. William Conner, Hon. Stephen C. Stevens, Hon. John Ewing, Samuel Merrill, esq., Hon. John Dumont, John Dowling, esq., Hon. Albert S. White, Calvin Fletcher, esq., Hon. Oliver H. Smith, Hon. John H. Thompson, Major Alexander F. Morrison, Dr. James S. Athon, Hon. Isaac Blackford, Samuel Judah, esq., Hon. Abner T. Ellis, Lawrence M. Vance, esq., Hon. Wm. J. Brown, Col. William Reyburn, and many other gentlemen who have, at different periods, manifested a friendly interest in the progress of my historical researches in the west. In the course of an examination of various old French manuscripts, relating to the early affairs of the country lying northwest of the river Ohio, I have, at different times, received essential assistance from Rev. A. M. A. Martin, Dr. Luke Munsell, James W. Ryland, esq., and Col. John B. Duret.

J. B. D.

INDIANAPOLIS, June, 1858.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

BOUNDARIES-Spanish, English, and French colonies in North America-

French explorations of the west-discovery of the mouth of the Missis-

sippi-the name of Louisiana given to the country lying on the borders

of the Mississippi and its tributaries,.........................

CHAPTER II

....

Miami Indians-English and French colonial policy-Miamis and Five

Nations Missions and trading-posts,..........