The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-25

VINO were endeavorlug TO effect IT..
war ensued, in which the Kentuckian.
found the Indians on the north Of the
Ohio, their most dangerous and deter
termined enemies. Many Of the event.
Of this war may properly be considered
as constituting a part Of the history o.
Ohio, which being at the time, inhabit'
ed by n Of the hostile parties, was
frequently the sceue upon which those
events occurred, for an eruption Of the
Indians into Kentucky was generally
followed by an expedition agains, their
TO WINS in retaliation, and whatever in
jury was inflicted upon the party on
one side Of the river, it was revenged
BY them in reprisals upon the other.
One Of the principal Indian towns
in Ohio was Chillic othe, the Shawnese
capital. 1t was situated upon the Lit.
tie Miami river, being the place now
called Oldtown, between Xenia and
the Yellow Springs. 1t was visited in
tho year l77s,by Capt. Thomas Bullitt,
who was on his way down the Ohio
river to the falls, wi,ha party from Vir-
ginia, who intended 10 make surveys
and settlements there. He knew that
they claimed the country where he
wished to settle,as their hunting ground
and that it would be important to pro.
cure their assent TO the measure rather
than to incur their hostility by what
they would consider an intrusion. He,
therefore, left his party on the river,
and proceeded alone to Chillicothe,
without sending any notice OF his ap-
proach, and, without having been met
or observed By any one, arrived at the
town displaying q white flag as a token
Of peace. The inhabitants were sur
prised at the sudden appearance of a
stranger among them, in the character
Of an ambassador, and gathered around
him. They asked him, what news he
brought-where he came from--and
why, If he was an ambassador, he had
not sent a n Il before him 10 give
notice ofhis approach' He answered
that he had. no bad news---that he had
come from the Long Knife, which was
the common appslIa.ion Of the Virgini-
ans among the Indians, and that his
business was, as the white men and red
men were at peace, to have a talk with
his brothers about living on the other
side Of the Ohio. He told them he had
sent no runner, because he had none
swifter than himself,and could not have
waited his return if he had one. He
ended by a question after their own
manner, whether, if one Of them killed
a deer and was very hungry, he would
send his squaw to the town to tell the
news, and not eat until she returned?
This idea pleased the Indians, and he
was taken to their principal wigwam
and regaled with venison: after which,
the warriors were convened, and he
addressed them in a speech in which he
told them Of his desire to settle upon
The other side Of the river and cultivate
The land, which he declared would not
interfere with their hunting and trap
ping, and expressed his wishes that they
live together as brothers and
The Indians after a c%onsulta-
lion among themselves, returned him a
favorable answer, a%consenting to his
proposed settlement, and protesting
their satisfaction at his promises not TO
them in their hunting. The
being settled to the mutual sat
isfaction Of both parties, Captain Bulli,t
look his leave and returned to his party
On the river, with whom he proceeded
10 the falls, where they selected and
their lands They then re-
to Virginia, in order to make
The necessary preparations for COM
nencing their settlements permanently,
but BuIlitt died before that object was
accomplished. a,,s.s.sa. bs,,,gs, .z.l
4 Notwithstanding the pacific dispo-
iition Of the Indians at the time OF Bull
tits visit 10 them, it was not long un-
j. they evinced one entirely different.
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