Alexander McKee, Indian Agent

Alexander McKee, Indian Agent,
To Major De Peyster
From Shawanese Village
July 8th, 1780

Source: National Archives of Canada
Copied from British Library (formerly British Museum)
Haldimand Papers
MG21, Add. Mss. 21760 (B-100), pp. 413-417

Submitted by Lois Sutherland Wark, Philadelphia, 28 June 1999

Shawanese Village
July 8th, 1780

Sir,
The last letter I did myself the honor of writing you was dated from the Plains of the Great Miamis, containing an account of everything material to that time, and that our Force was to be collected upon the Ohio. At the mouth of that River we arrived the 13th of June & waited some days for a few chiefs of Chollicothy, who had fallen upon the River some miles above us. And upon their arrival at our camp, the number of Indians exceeded seven hundred. When it was proposed & strongly urged by us to proceed down the River against the enemies Forts at the Falls of the Ohio, where we could have arrived in four days by water with the current; besides this advantage we had previously received intelligence that Col. Clarke was gone from that place some weeks before with all the troops // (p. 414) under his command, to take post at the Iron Banks upon the Mississippi below the mouth of the Ohio, and that the inhabitants of the Falls, upon receiving advice of our approach (by two prisoners who escaped from the Hurons), they had dispatched an express to recall him to their assistance; but as he had a long distance & against the current, it was not possible for him to return in time to interrupt us in the execution of our design upon that place; but notwithstanding this favorable prospect, which would have been a fatal stroke to the enemies settlements in that country, the Indians could not be prevailed upon to come into it; and in a full council of the chiefs of their several nations, determined to proceed to the nearest forts by way of Licking Creek, going for their reasons, that it could not be prudent to leave their villages naked & defenceless in the neighborhood of those forts. Accordingly we advanced by this river as far up as the Forks, where we found it impracticable to get farther by water on account of its lowness; therefore were obliged to set out by land, and the 26th of June I accompanied about two hundred // (p. 415) Indians, & surrounded the enemies first fort before day, this was done before they were in the least apprised of us. It was then advised to remain in this situation, and by no means to alarm the Fort, if it could be avoided, untill the arrival of the main body with the cannon, unless parties came out, in this case then to endeavour to take prisoners in order to gain intelligence of the enemies force & situation; but the eagerness of some Indians upon our left, fired upon a small party, who came out after day break to cut grass - this commenced a firing, both from the Fort and the Indians, which lasted till about 12 o'clock, when Capt[ain] Bird came up with the small gun, and a battery being erected, after two discharges upon the enemy's Fort, & the Six Pounder at the same time arriving in sight, determined them to surrender the place.

The Indian chiefs agreed to the proposals, as well for the preservation of the prisoners as an equal distribution of the plunder amongst their several nations to prevent jealousies or dissatisfaction; but the violence of the Lake Indians in seizing the prisoners, (p. 416) contrary to agreement, threw everything into confusion; however, the other nations next morning returned all they had taken, back into Captain Bird's charge.

The 27th I had dispatched some spies towards the enemies second Fort, who returned in the afternoon with a prisoner, having intercepted two men going express to alarm the other Forts of our approach. The intelligence received from this prisoner determined us to set out immediately for the second Fort, and reached it the next morning about 10 o'clock, being the 28th. The prisoner taken the day before was sent in to inform them of the situation - they agreed to surrender, & being removed under a guard of the Troops. The great propensity for plunder again occasioned discontent amongst them, and several parties set out towards the adjacent Forts to plunder horses.

The prisoners now becoming numerous, amounting to between three and four hundred, with a scarcity of provisions, added to many other unsurmountable difficulties that must have attended going farther, determined the chiefs to return from this place, and the next day, we were back at the first fort. Here we were overtaken by one of the // (p. 417) small parties with a prisoner, who had left the Falls of the Ohio eight days before; he says that Colonel Clark was daily expected there, and was to command an Army against the Indians, who were to leave that place the 10th July. He also adds that an account was brought there, from the inhabitants, that Charles Town South Carolina was in actual possession of the British Troops. I accompanied Capt[ain] Bird back to the Forks of Licking Creek, from whence he was to proceed by water, & having a very high flood would be able to reach the Big Miami in a very short time. The scarcity of provisions obliged the Indians to disperse.

I engaged a few of the chiefs to stay with Captain Bird, more would be useless and troublesome to him, as there could be no apprehension of danger immediately from the enemy; however I have engaged the chiefs of the lower villages since my arrival to send a party down upon the Ohio in his rear, and to send spies toward the Falls. The enemy abandoned two other Forts, which has been set on fire by the Indians. These are the most material circumstances relative to this expedition carried on by the Indians in conjunction with the King's Troops.

I am, with great respect,
(Signed) A. McKee

Major De Peyster