Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-01-13

thc iuuian department snail pass Oy Tue
tragedy ofths River Haisin, and tina. equal
iy we'll known which was acted on the Mi
ami River, alter the defeat of Col. Dudley
and select only three other instances OF
savage barbari,y committed under the aus
pices Of Gen. Proctor I'm the beginning OF
June, small party of Indians, conduct
ed by an 0ttowa chief, who believe is now
with the British army under your command
left Maiden in bark canoes, in which they
coasted Lake Erie to the mouth of Portage
River the canoes were taken Esross the
Portage to the Sandusky Bay. over which
the party proceeded to the mouth of Cold
Creek, and from thence by land to the Get
Elements upon the river, where they cap
tured three families, consisting of one man
and i2 women and children. After taking
the prisoners some distance, one of the wo-
men was discovered to be unable TO keep
up with them, IN consequence of her adj
vanced state OF pregnancy. She was inn
mediately tcmahawked, stripped naked
her womb ripped open, and the child ia
ken out Three or four of the children
were successfully bu,chersd as they dscov-
cred their inability to keep up with the
Maiden, two or three of the prisoners were
ransoined by Col. Elliott, and the others
by the citizens of Detroit, where they re-
NAMED until they were taken off by their
friends upon the recovery of that place bv
our army. have been informed that the
savage chief received from Col. Elliott a
reprim and for his cruelty.
On the 29th or seth of the same month,
large party of Indians were sent from
Maiden on war expedition to Lower San
dusky At farm house near that place,
they murdered the whole family, consisting
of man, his wife, son and daughter.
During the last attack upon Fort Meigs
by Gen. Proctor, party headed by a
Seneca, and an intimate friend of Tecum-
seh's, was sent to endeavour to .detach from
our interest, the Shawanese of Wapoeka
nata. In their way thither they murdered
several men, and one woman, who was
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have selected cir, the above from a
long list of similar instances of barbarity,
which the history Of the last fifteen months
could Furnish; because they were perpetrat-
ed, if not in the view of the British com
mander, by parties who came Immediately
from his camp and returned to it--who e.
ven received their daily support from the
kings stores, and who 10 fact, las the do
cuments in my possession will show form
part of his army.
To retaliate then upon the subjects ofthc
king would have been justifabie by the
laws of war and the usages OF the most
civilized nations. To do so has been am
ply in my power. The tide of fortune has
changed in our favor, and an extensive and
fonrishing province opened to our arms
Nor have the instruments ofyengeance been
wanting. The savages who sued to US for
mercy would gladly have shewn their
claims to it, by re-acting upon Thames
the bloody scenes of Sandusky and Cold
Creek. a single sign of appreciation would
have been sufficient to pour upon the sub
jects OF the king their whole fury-The fu-
ture conduct of theBritish officers will deter
mine the correctness of mine in withhold
ing it. Ii the savages should be again let
loose upon our settlements ! shall with jus.
tee be accused of having sacrificed the in
terests and honor of my country, and the
lives OF our fellow citizens, to feelings OF
false and mistaken humanity. You are
soldier, sir, and, as sincerely believe, pos
sess all the honorable sentiments which
ought always to be found in men who fol-
low the profession of arms. Use then.
pray you, your authority and influence to
stop that dreadful effusion of innocent
blood which proceeds from the employment
of those savage monsters whose aid (as
must now be diseoyered) is SO little to be
depended upon when it is most wanted, and
which can have so triAng an effect upon
the issue of the war. The effect of their
barbarities will not be confined to the pre-
sent generation. Ages yet to come will
feel the deep rooted hatred and enmity
which they must produce between the two
nations
| deprecate most sincerely the dreadful
alternative which will be offered to me
should they be continued, but | solemnly
declaro, that if the Indians that remain un-
der the influence of the British government
are suffered 10 commit any depIedations
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