CHAPTER XII.

Suspected duplicity of the British authorities--Conduct of Simon Girty--Disclosures upon the subject by Captain Brant--Council at Buffalo, and Indian report of the doings of the Great Congress--Speech of Captain Brant respecting the Miami council--Mission of General Chapin to Philadelphia, with the speech--Answer unsatisfactory to the Indians--Red Jacket--Indian council--Speech of Captain Brant in reply to the answer of the United States--Troubles thickening between the United States and Great Britain--Inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester--Question of its authenticity settled--Conduct of Governor Simcoe--Indignation of President Washington--His letter to Mr. Jay--Speech of Captain Brant against holding a council at Venango--The design frustrated--Affairs farther in the West--Singular message from the distant Indians under the Spanish and French influence--Their speech--Operations of General Wayne--Encroachments of Pennsylvania upon the Indian lands--Indian council upon the subject--Address to General Washington--Important letter of Brant to Colonel Smith--Pennsylvania relinquishes Presque Isle--Defeat of Major McMahon near Fort Recovery--Indians repulsed in their attack upon the fort--Letter to Brant giving an account of the battle--Advance of Wayne to the Au Glaize and Miamis of the Lakes--Little Turtle apprised of his movements and strength by a deserter--The Chief determines to give battle--Wayne makes one more effort for peace--Failure of the attempt--Advance of Wayne to the Rapids--Position of the Indians--Battle and defeat of the Indians--Little Turtle opposed to the hazard of a battle--Opposed by Blue-Jacket and overruled--Tart correspondence between Wayne and Major Campbell--Destruction of Indian property by fire, and burning of Colonel McKee's establishment--Disappointment of the Indians that Major Campbell did not assist them--Letter of Governor Simcoe to Brant--Aggression at Sodus Bay--Simcoe and Brant repair to the West--Interfere to prevent a peace--Indian council--The hostiles negotiate with Wayne--Simcoe's address to the Wyandots--Division in their counsels--Brant retires displeased--Letter of apology from the Chiefs--The distant Indians become weary of the war.

Page 357