The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
A RELIC OF INDIAN DAYS
A FORGOTTEN CIRCULAR, ISSUED BY
GOV. HARRISON IN 1912,
Touching the Protection of Our From.
tier Settlements Against the MUIR
derOus FOrays of the Red Men.


Dillon which have recently been offered for
sale in this city is an old-fashioned circu-
lar printed in columns, issued by Governor
Harrison to the militia officers of the Ter
ritory of Indiana and dated 1872 In his
history of Indiana Mr.. Dillon refers to it
and has cited some extracts, but it is
probable that it has never been republished
in full, and a copy of it may prove inter
esting 1t runs as follows
GENERAL ORDERS FOR THE MILITIA
headquarters, Vincennes.
18th April, 1872.
LAS the late murders upon the frontiers
Of this and the neighboring Territories
leaves us little to hope of our being able
to avoid war with most of the .neighbor-
ing tribes Of Indians, the CONFERENCE.-The
chief directs that the colonies and other
commandments of corps should take imme-
date measures to put their commands in
the best possible state for active service.
The field officers who command battaliOnS
will visit and critically inspect the several
companies which compose them and make
ucularly noting the deficiencies in arms,
ammunition and accoutrementS, and such
measures the laws authorize must be
Immediately taken to remedy those de-
dciencies. The commander-n-chief informs
the officers that the most prompt obedience
and the most unremitting attention 10 their
duty will be required of them-the situa-
ton of the country calls for exertion ON
the part OF the militia, and the officers
must set the example to their men. Ii
there are amongst them any who have ac-
copied appointments for the mere motive
OF gratifying their vanity by the possession
Of a commission to which a title is an
nexed, without having the ability or the
inclination to encounter arduous service,
in justice to their country and to their own
fame they should retire and not stand
in the way of those who are more able
or more willing to encounter the fatigue
and dangers incident to actual service IN
an Indian war. From the specimen which
the commander-in-chief has had of their
conduct in the field ne has every reason TO
be proud of them, nor does he believe that
there are better militia officers to be found
any where than those of Indiana, but in a
GOOD.
THE field officers are to see that proper
places are appointed for the rendezvous of
the companies upon an alarm or the APP
pearance of danger, and will give orders
relatively to the mode of their proceeding
in such exigencies as the situation of the
companies respectively call for. When mis-
settlements, they must be pursued, and the
officers nearest to the spot, ii the number
of men under his command is not inferior
to the supposed number of the enemy, is
to commence it as soon as he can collect
his men. If his force should be too small
he is to send for aid to the next officer
to him, and in the meantime take a position
capable of being defended, or watch the
motions Of the enemy, as circumstances re-
quire. The pursuit must be conducted with
vigor, and the officer commanding will be
held responsible for making every eXer-
ton in his power to overtake the enemy.
Upon his return, whether successful or not,
"a particular account of his proceedings
must be transmitted to the communicating
chief and copy of it to the colonel OF
the regiment.
e. THE commander-in-chief recommends it
to the citizens on the frontiers of Knox
county, from the Wabash eastwardly across
the two branches of the White river,
those on the northwest of the Wabash
and those in the Driftwood settlement in
Harrison, to erect blocked houses or pick
eted forts. 1t will depend upon the dispo-
sition of the -Delawares whether measures
of this kind will be necessary or not upon
the frontiers of Clark, Jefferson, Dearborn,
Franklin or Wayne. Means will be taken to
ascertain this as soon possible and the
result communicated. The Indians who pro-
TESS to be friendly have been warned to
keep clear of the settlements, and the COM
mander-in-chief is far from wishing that
the citizens should run any risk by admit
ting any Indians to come amongst them
whose designs are in the least equivocal.
He recommends, however, to those settle
ments which the Delawares have frequented
as much forebearance as possible towards
that tribe, because they have ever per-
formed with punctuality and good faith
their engagements with the United states,
and yet there is not the least reason
to doubt their fidelity. 1t is also certain
that if they should be forced to join the
other tribes in the war; from their init
mate knowledge of the settlements upon
the frontiers they would be enabled to do
more mischief than any other tribe
''By the cOmmander-in-chie