Philadelphia Dec^r. 16. 1790. Further particulars, &Ca — relative to General Harmar's expedition against the hostile Indians Extract of a letter from the Secretary at War to the President of the United States. Lieutenant Denny reports verbally, that after he left Fort Washington he found in Kentucky several of the Militia of that District, who had been out with [undecipherable: probable reading "Capt."] Whitley, under Major Hamtranck of the federal troops, to commanded a separate expedition. The said Militia en informed Lieutenant Denny, that Major Hamtranck had destroyed several of the hostile Indian Towns on the Wabash, and had returned to his garrison at Post Vincennes, without having met any opposition." Extract from Orders. Nota: the orders issued previously to the march of the troops and Militia from Fort Washington, and until they arrived at the Miami Villages, relate to the arrangements of the troops, the order of march, of encamping, and of battle, and the discipline necessary to be observed, all of which are particularly detailed. General Orders. Camp at the Miami Village about 170 miles from Fort Washington. Oct. 17^th 1790 The General is highly pleased with the zeal and alacrity shown by the army (particularly with the corps that was detached under the command of Col. Hardin) come up, with the Savages altho' it was impracticable, they had evacuated their favourite Towns, before the light infantry could possibly reach them. [2218] Leaving behind them such a vast quantity of [undecipherable] in vegetables is a certain sign that they decamped in the utmost Confusion. [undecipherable] The army is to encamp on its present position until further orders; in the mean time Quarter Master Pratt is to have the Corn brought in and deposited in one place, on such [undecipherable] troops as he can find, and a guard is to be placed over it for its security. He will [receive?] directions how it is to be distributed. The [first?] Superintendent of the horse department (Mr. McDowell) is to be responsible that his [pack?] saddles and [undecipherable], and put in as good order as possible, ready for the next movement of the army. The general calls upon the commanding officers of Battalions not to suffer their men to straggle from their encampments, otherwise they will certainly stand in danger of being scalped. The guards are to be extremely vigilant, to which the field officers of the day is to pay the most pointed attention. A detachment under the command of Lt Col Trotter, consisting of federal troops 30 Maj^r. Fontaine's St. Horse 40 Active Rifle men 230 Total 390 are to march to morrow early. Lt. Col. Commandant Trotter will receive his orders from the General. General Orders. Camp at the Miami Village. Oct. 11. 1790 The General is much mortified at the [undecipherable] behaviour of many of the men in this army, who make it a practice to straggle from the Camp in search of plunder. He in the most positive terms forbids this practice in future, and the guards will be authorized to prevent it. No party is to go beyond the line of Centinels without a commissioned officer, who if of the Militia will apply to Col. Hardin for his orders. The regular troops will apply to the General. All the plunder that may be hereafter collected will be equally distributed among the army, the kettles and every article already taken is to be collected by the commanding officers of Battalions, and to be delivered tomorrow morning to Mr. [Billy?] the Quarter Master, that a fair distribution may take place. The Rolls are to be called at [undecipherable] and Sunset, and every man is to be reported. The General expects that these orders will be particularly attended to. They are to be read to the troops this evening. The army is to march tomorrow morning for their new encampment at Chilicothy about two miles from hence. Jos. Harmer Brig. General. General Orders. Camp at Chilicothy, one of the Shawnee Towns, on the Omie River. Oct. 20^th. 1790. The party under the command of Captain Strong is ordered to destroy and burn every house & wigwam in this village together with all the corn or wheat he can collect. A party of 100 men, militia, properly officered under the command of Col. Hardin, is to burn and destroy effectually this afternoon Pickaway Town with all the corn, &c which he can find in it, and its vicinity. [2319] The cause of the detachment being worsted yesterday was entirely owing to the shameful cowardly conduct of the Militia, who ran away and threw down their arms without scarcely firing a gun. In returning to Fort Washington, if any officer or man shall be found to quit their ranks, do not march in the form the [general?] orders. The General will most assuredly order the Artillery to fire on them. He hopes the check they met yesterday will make them in future obedient to orders." General Orders. Camp at Chilicothy. Oct. 21. 1790. The army having complitely effected the object for which they were ordered viz. a total destruction of the Maumee Towns, as they are generally called, with the great abundance of corn and vegetables in them and their vicinity, are now to commence their march, and to return to Fort Washington. The General was in fond hopes that he should be able to break up the Wheat Towns on his return, but the want [state?] of the pack horses, and several other circumstances, conspire to render it impracticable at present. The general is to beat the [Reveille?] at the assembly at half past nine, and the whole army to take up the line of march at 10 precisely. It is not improbable that the Savages may attempt to harrass the army on its return, particularly the rear and flanks. It is therefore incumbent upon every officer to attend to the duties of his station, and by no means to quit their ranks or create the least confusion; but on the contrary to keep Silence and good order. Otherwise the Artillery, agreeably to the order of yesterday, shall be certainly ordered to be fired upon such men as are so lost to every principle of honor as to run away in the time of danger. The cattle & pack horses are to be kept up in the most compact order; and the officer commanding the [near?] Battalions is to be responsible that the [field?] officers of the day, those orders are correctly [into execution?]. Such horses as Mr. McDowell may absolutely stand in need of [undecipherable] to be taken from the mounted militia, not attached, [to?] Major Fontaine's [those?] Corps, for public service. If these shall be found insufficient, the remainder must come from Major Fontaine's corps. General Orders. Camp, 8 miles from the ruins of the Maumee Towns, on the return to Fort Washington. Oct. 22. 1790. The Army is to remain at the present encampment until further orders. After Orders. The General is exceedingly pleased with the behaviour of the Militia in the action of this morning. They have laid very many of the enemy dead on the spot. Although our loss is great, still it is inconsiderable in comparison to the slaughter made among the Savages. Every account agrees that upwards of one hundred warriors fell in the battle. It is not more than man for man, and we can afford them two for one. The resolution and firm determined conduct of the Militia this morning has effectually retrieved their character in the opinion of the General. "he now knows that they can and will fight." The loss of Major Wyllis (with [so?] many of the federal troops) and Major Fontaine, two gallant officers, he forcibly and deeply laments, but it is the fortune of war. The General begs Col. Hardin, and Major McMullan, and Major Hall of Lt. Col. Commandant Trotter's regiment, together with the officers and privates of the Militia under their command, to accept his thanks for the bravery displayed by them on this occasion. [4323] On The morning of tomorrow the army is to march at 8 o'clock precisely. No Enemy was seen after the action of the 22 of Oct^r. Private Account of the above by a Militia Man in the Pittsburg Newspaper. On the 20^th of Oct^r. a detachment marching in columns through a Swamp. Lt. Armstrong, who commanded one column, was ambuscaded by a party of Indians formed in a half moon. Our people retreated; the Indians rushed in with their tomahawks; the regulars bayonetting them till Armstrong's men were all cut off. Many of the Indians fell: we lost 70 men this day. Next was employed in burning corn; we killed two Indians. The day following [undecipherable] and marched 8 miles homewards & encamped. In the night Col. Hardin, Major Wyllis, Major Fontaine, Major McMullan & Col. Hall with about 400 men went back to the town; they arrived about day light and in four different parties marched to different quarters of the town. Each party was attacked and skirmished about three hours. Major McMullen drove a party of the Indians into the Miami River. Col. Hardin retreated with loss. Major Wyllis with two men were cut off by a party which came in his rear through some Hazels. Lt. Frothingham fell at this time. Major Fontaine having ordered his men to retreat, in a frenzy of courage, rode directly into the throng of the Indians, cutting & slashing, till he was wounded: he was afterwards seen dead & scalped. Major Wyllis was left mortally wounded; he wished to be helped on his horse to give them another charge; but in the hurry of retreat it could not be done." [blot] The sum total in specia with which the public funds have been purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury — amounts to upwards of one hundred & fifty thousand dollars. The quantity purchased upwards of two hundred & seventy thousand pounds nominal. The last purchases of the Public Debt, which were made late in Dec^r. 1790 were at the following rates, Funded six per cent at 18/. Defer[r]ed six per cent at three per cents [undecipherable] 9/.