Ohio River, June 11th, 1780

Sir:
After two days councilling whether they would proceed immediately to the Falls, or attack the Forts on Licking Creek, the Indians have determined for Licking Creek, & tomorrow by day break, we move up the Stream. I confess to you, my patience have received very severe shocks, and would have been long ago exhausted, had I (p. 408) not had so excellent an example before me as the one Capt[ain] McKee sets - indeed he manages Indians & [ ??] - I never saw his fellow. It is now 16 days since I arrived at the Forks, appointed by the Indians to meet, & by one ridiculous delay or the other, they have prolonged or retarded to this day.

Mons. Le Duc has behaved extremely well in every respect, and has been very serviceable in making shafts & repairing carriages, in which matters he offered his services. You seemed, Sir, to have an inclination to serve him on our leaving Detroit. I don't doubt that you will on his return find him worthy your notice. There has not a man in the Party proved of more service than Mr. Reynolds - civil in every respect - and attentive - an excellent woodsman & no doubt a good soldier. He was before quite out of his element.

Mr. Baby delivered me on setting out three or four strands, some worsted, three glasses, and some other little things for Logan, which by bringing in a blanket so far got all broke & spoiled; they wont never have answered as a present. What was good of the shirts, strands or blankets, (p. 409) I gave to different Indians, and told Logan what you intended, but the inconvenience of carriage in our present situation made you defer it, till his return to Detroit.

I hope, Sir, my next will inform you of success in our undertakings, 'tho their attack on the little forts, their number being so great, is mean of them. The old prisoner, the bearer of this, is given up by the Shawanese - He endeavoured to escape and give intelligence of our approach to the Rebels. Nothing but our presence saved his life. After the treatment he got from us, he proved himself a deceitful old villain. Capt[ain] McKee begs his compliments.

I am, Sir, with respect
Your most obedient and
Most Humble Servant
(signed) Henry Bird
Major De Peyster

F315 Endorsed: Copy of a Letter from Major De Peyster To Lt. Col. Bolton, dated at Detroit June 27th 1780, also, another Dated the 4th July - Likewise Copy of a Letter from Capt. Bird to Major De Peyster, dated Ohio River June 11th 1780. No. 6.

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Letter from Capt. Henry Bird
To Major De Peyster
From the Ohio, opposite Licking Creek
July 1st, 1780

Source: National Archives of Canada
Copied from British Library (formerly British Museum)
Haldimand Papers
MG21, Add. Mss. 21760 (B-100), pp. 410-413

Submitted by Lois Sutherland Wark, Philadelphia, 28 June 1999

From the Ohio, opposite Licking Creek, July 1st 1780

Sir,

After fatigues, which only those that were present can entertain a proper idea of, we arrived before Fort Liberty the 24th [of] June. I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort untill the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered.

Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order. An Indian was shot through the arm. The Three Pounder was not sufficient - our People raised a battery of rails & earth, within 80 yards of the Fort, taking some advantage of a very violent storm of rain, which prevented them being seen clearly. They stood two discharges of the little gun, which only cut down a spar and stuck the shot in the side of a house. When they saw the Six Pounder moving across the field, they immediately surrendered - they thought the 3-Pounder a swivel the Indians & their (p. 411) Department had got with them. The conditions granted - that their lives should be saved, and themselves taken to Detroit - I forewarned them that the Savages would adopt some of their children. The Indians gave in Council the cattle for Food for our People, & the Prisoners - and were not to enter till the next day: But whilst Capt[ain] McKee and myself were in the Fort settling these matters with the poor People, they rushed in, tore the poor children from their Mothers' breasts, killed a wounded man, and every one of the cattle, leaving the whole to stink.

We had brought no pork with us, & were now reduced to great distress, & the poor Prisoners in danger of being starved.

I talked hardly to them of their breach of promise. But however, we marched to the next fort, which surrendered without firing a gun. The same promises were made & broke in the same manner. Not the pound of meat & near 300 Prisoners. Indians breaking into the Forts, after the Treaties were concluded. The Rebels ran from the next fort, and the Indians burnt it. They then heard news of Col. Clark's coming against them & proposed returning, which indeed (p. 412) had they not proposed, I must have insisted on, as I had then fasted some time & the Prisoners in danger of starving. Mud and rains rotted our people's feet. The Indians almost all left us within a day's march of the enemy. It was with difficulty I procured a guide thro the woods. I marched the poor women & children 20 miles in one day over very high mountains, frightening them with frequent alarms to push them forward. In short, Sir, by water and land, we came with all our cannon &c. 90 miles in four days, one day out of which we lay by entirely, rowing 50 miles the last day. We have no meat, and must subsist on flour; if there is nothing for us at Lorrimers, I am out of hope of getting any Indians to hunt or accompany us. However George Girty I detain to assist me. I could, Sir, by all accounts have gone through the whole country without any opposition, had the Indians preserved the cattle. Everything is safe so far, but we are not yet out of reach of pursuit, as a very smart fellow escaped from me within 26 miles of the enemy. Provisions and peraugues we (p. 413) shall want at the Glaize, and the vessel at the mouth of the Miami.

I refer you to the bearer for particulars &c. I am, Sir, with respect Your most obedient Servant

(Signed)
Henry Bird
Major De Peyster
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Extract of a letter from Capt. Bird to Major De Peyster dated Ottawa Village first landing on the Glaize.

24th July 1780.

Grey arrived here this day, we have made out so far very well, having left the Forks within a day's march of the Fort we took the first of July, and with fourteen days hard working arrived at the Standing Stone, which is an hundred and twenty miles against a very bad and rappid River. All the other delays were occasioned, by the Transportation of the Artillery Stores &c. which we have got to Monsr Lorimiers by going and returning with the few horses Capt. Hare brought us.

The provisions we had were of infinite service - three days after we arrived at Standing Stone our Provisions were out. His stock will serve us to the entrance of the Miamis, where your goodness, Sir, has provided for us.

The Waters are so low they will not furnish sufficient for a Bark Canoe within 50 miles of Monsr Lorimiers.

I have left Bombardiers Robinson, Crow & Gallougher, who stay Volunteers with the guns - until rains make the waters sufficient for their transportation, there are two paragues here for them. Col. Clarke arrived within a day or so of the time I marked for his certain arrival. Capt. Hinxon who made his escape from us, had candour sufficient to tell Col. Clarke, he and the Prisoners were treated in so different manner from what they expected, that had not his Family been at the Falls, he would have preferred going with us to Detroit.

I have much news from the private conversation with the Prisoners, and other means, respecting the situation of the country, their Force and manner of making Levies &c. &c. many of the Prisoners would not take the oath to Congress, I don't believe we have more than two Families really Rebels, their names McGuire and Mahon - the rest are composed of good Farmers with extreme industrious Familes who are desirous of being settled in Detroit with some Land. They fled, they say, from persecution, & declare if Government will assist them to get them on foot as Farmers, they will, as Militia, faithfully defend the country that affords them protection. [B100, p 436]