Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-24


bout us and every effort was made oy the il-
terpreters to speak to them, but In vali--new
attempts Of the kind were now made, put
proving equally Intellectual, Captain Duoo's
of the spies and guides, offering to go win
Aae to the town, / dispatched him with an IN
terpreter to request a conference Win inc
Prophet-in few moments message was
sent by Capt. Dubois to inform me that IN his
ATTEMPTS to advance, the Indians appeared IN
both bis tanks, and although he had spoken
,o them in tie most friendly manner they re-
G,ed to answer, but beckoned to him to go
forward. and constantly endeavored to cut him
off from the army Upon this informatioP
recalled the Captain, and determined to en-
camp for the night and take some other mea-
sures for opening conference with the FRO
phet. Whilst was engaged IN tracing the
lines for the encampment, MAJOR Davelss, WHO
commanded the dragons, came to inform me
that he had penetrated to the Indian helds,
that the ground was entirely open and isVofa-
hIr-tbat the Indians in front mad manifested
nothing but hostility and had answered every
attemnt to bring them 10 parley with con-
tempt and insolcnce. was immediately au-
visea nv al, the officers around me to move
forward A similar wish indeed peryaded all
the arrpy-it was drawn up in excellent Or
DER ss,d every man appeared eager to decide
S6 ee-cSnyest Immediately. Being informed that
= aoodsancampment might be had upon the
Wabash, yielded to what appeared the gene
r., wish, and directed the troops TO advance,
taking care however to place the interpreters
IL 'front.' with directions 70 invite conference
win eov Indians they might meet with
we had not advanced above four hundred
vards. when | was informed that three
Indians had approached the advanced guard
and had expressed wish to speak to me,
f,uod mon their arrival that one OF them was
. ma, IN GREAT estimation with the Prophet.
He informed me that the chiefs were much
surprised at my advancing upon them so IA
njdjy-that they were given to understand
by the Delawares and Nllamles whoin had
sent to them few days before, that would
not advance to their town, Until had recelv-
ed an answer to my demands made through
them. That this answer had been dispatched
Inv the Potawatimie chief Winemac, who had
,ccornpanied the Miamies and Delawares on
their return that they had leit the Prophets
Town TWO DAYS before with design to meet
me. but bad unfortunately taken the road on
the south side of the Wabash | answered
that I had no intention of attacking them I'M
til | discovered that they would not comply
with the demands which had made-that
would go on and encamp at the Wabash, and
in the morning would have an interview with
the Propbet and his chiefs, and explain to
them the determination OF the President
that in the mean time no hostihtles should be
committed. He seemed much pleased with
fins and Dronised that it should be observed
on their part | then resumed my march,
we struck the cultivated grounds about FIVE
hundred wards below the town, but as these
extended to the bank of the Wabash there
was no possibility of getting an encampment
which was provided with both wood and wa
ter. NV guards and interpreters being still
with the advanced guard, and taking the d.
rection Of the town, the army followed and
had advanced within about so yards, When
so or 90 Indians sailed out and with loud
EXPLANATIONS, called to the cavalry and to the
militia infantry, which were on our right flank
TO halt. Immediately advanced to the front
caused the arrAv to halt, and directed an m
terpreter to request some OF the Chiefs to
come to me. In few moments the man who
had been with me before made his appearance.
I informed him that my object for the present
was to procure good piece OF ground to en-
camp on, where we could get wood and wa
ter-he informed me that there was creek
20 the north west which he thought would
suit our purpose. Immediately dispatched
two officers to examine it, and they reported
that the situation was excellent. then took
leave OF the chief and mutual promise was a
rain made for a suspension of hostiities until
we could have an interview on the following
day. ] found the ground destined Tor the en-
campment not altogether such as | could wish
lit was indeed admirably calculated tor the
encampment of regular troops, that were OPP
posed to regulars, but it afforded great faciii-
ty to the approach Of savages 1t was piece
of dry oak land, rising about ten feet above
the level of a marshy prairie IN front towards
the Indian Town and nearly twice that height
above similar prairie in the rear, through
which and near to this bank ran small stream
clothed with willows and other brush wood.
Towards the left flank tbs bench OF high
land widened considerably, but became grad