Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-01
INDIANS.
VMcENNEs, sfme 1s.

The editor thinking that ne could not pre-
sent any thing more acceptable tohis read
ers than a particular account OF the causes
of alarm which have existed here for some
DAYS past, waited on Governor Harrison
for the purpece of procuring information,
and was favored with the following:
s Since ear ) in Nay, the governor has been
{ posse ssed of information communicated by
Indian traders and by friendly Indians,
? that the Shawanee Prophet was again excit-
ing the tribes of the Wabash to war against
the Unite d States, and indeed that it was
actually agreed upon hy all the tribes west
of that river; this information was commu-
nicated TO he government & was the cause
of the detachment of troops being sent here
which we mentioned in our last. Early IN
MAY also, the interpreter maintained by
the government amongst the Delawares ar
rived here, TO inform the governor that that
tribe had heard of the hostile movements
OF the prophet, and that they had determin.
s4ed to send solemn embassy to the tribes
west of Wabash, to warn them of the dan
ger oflistening TO the advice of the prophet.
The governor did every thing in his power
10 srrne hen them in this resolution, and
composed speech for them TO deliver to
the other tribes. This Sit appears was faith
fully delivered, and it IS more than proba.
bic, that to the influence of the Defawares,
and the impression made by them on the
minds of the other Indians, that thew
has been averted.
From the 10th to the flth instant, the
governor was informed thro' various chan
pels, that the Indians were collecting IN We
nv great numbers about the prophet; that
the Miamies had been SO inundated as to
agree to attend his council--that the Wy
andots had come into his schemes, & they
had agreed with him, that every thing had
been done between white people and In
dians, since the treaty of Granville, was
void and good for nothing, and that they
were determined TO stop the progress OF
che white settlements.
About the 9th and 10th inst. an Indian
came TO Mr.. sDubois(a French gentleman
who lives about mile above this town) in
the dead of night, and told him that his
Friendship, for him had induced him to come
TO him for the purpose OF advising him by
with his family, as he might shortly expect
trouble If he remained where he was. The
old Plank ashaw chief, Croble, came also
10 the governor, and asked his permission
to retme over the Mississippi, observing,
that he heard nothing from the Indians "a
bove, but the cry of war; that he was old
and did not wish any share IN IL; that he
wanted 10 retire TO place OF safety; the
next day he informed the governor that a
particular plan had been laid by the prophet
for the surprise of this town, and told him
what the plan was; about this time also,
boat which had been sent up the Wabash
with the annuity salt for the Indians, re-
turned the master informed the govern
or that the Prophet and the Kiokapoo tribe
had refuse to receive the eight barrels of
salt destined for them; that the phrophet's
brother had insultrd him in the sgrossest
manner Che prophet being presently shaking
him violently by the hair, as well as some
Others of his crew, and asking them whe-
Their Americans (they were all young
Frenchmen.) MIR. BroHillett, trader,
who was suspected of,being in the employ
ment of the government, was also 'insulted,
made 10 deny that he was an American and
his house immediately plundered of his pro-
visions and other articles. The prophet
sent word TO the governor" That his peo-
pie should not come any nearer TO him, that
they should not settle on the Vermillion RI
yer he smelt them TOO strong already"
The governor being 10th to create an a.
larm until there should appear an absolute
necessity for it, from the great injury that
tm'ght produce by stopping the emigration
TO the country, and perhaps driving on the
frontier settlers, had not hitherto made pub