Philadelphia Dec. 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 Major Whitley, under Major Hamtranck of the federal troops, to commanded a separate expedition. The said Militia 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. Notwithstanding the orders issued previously to the march of the troops and Militia from Fort Washington and until they arrived at the Miami Villages, relative to the arrangements for the troops, the order of march, of encampment and 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 favorite Towns before the light infantry could possibly reach them. [2218] Leaving behind them such a vast quantity of corn and vegetables is a certain sign that they decamped in the utmost consternation. Had [undecipherable] — they [undecipherable] The army is to remain at its present position until further orders; in the mean time Quarter Master [undecipherable] is to have the Corn brought in and deposited in one place, on as many [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. [undecipherable] The [Superintendent] of the horse department (Mr. [undecipherable]) is to be responsible that his pack saddles are repaired, and put in as good order as possible, ready for the next movement of the army. The general calls upon the commanding officers of Battallions 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 L^t Col. Trotter consisting of federal troops 30 Maj. Fontanes S^t Horse 40 Active Rifle men 230 Total 390 are to march to [undecipherable] tomorrow early. 2^d L^t. 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 insolent 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 [undecipherable] to prevent it. No party is to go beyond the line of sentries without a commissioned officer, who, if of the Militia, will apply to Col. Hardin for his orders. The regular troops will apply to [undecipherable] 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 M. [undecipherable] the Quarter Master that a fair distribution may take place. The Rolls are to be called at [undecipherable] Evening and every man is to be reported. The General expects that these orders will be punctually attended to; they are to be read to the troops this evening. The army is to march tomorrow morning for [its] new encampment at Chilicothy about [undecipherable] miles from hence. Jos. Harmer Brig. General. General Orders. Camp at Chilicothy, one of the Shawney Towns, on the Omie River. Oct. 20^th. 1790. The party under the command of Captain [undecipherable] 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 which he can find in it, and its vicinity. [2309] 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 firing a gun. On returning to Fort Washington if any officer or man shall [undecipherable] to quit their ranks do not march in the form they are ordered. The General will most assuredly order the Artillery to fire on them. He hopes the check they received yesterday will make them in future obedient to orders. General Orders. Camp at Chilicothy Oct. 21. 1790 [undecipherable] The army having compleatly effected the object for which they were ordered, (viz:) a total destruction of the Maumee Towns, as they are generally called, with [the?] 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 worst [undecipherable: state?] of the pack horses, and several other circumstances, conspire to render it impracticable at present. The general is to beat the order of 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 harass the army on its return, particularly their rear and flanks. It is therefore incumbent on every officer to attend to the duties of their 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 rear Battallion is to be responsible that [these] [undecipherable] of the day. These orders are [undecipherable] strictly into execution. Such horses as Mr. [undecipherable] may absolutely [undecipherable] to be taken from the mounted militia, not attached [to] Major Fontanes' Corps, for public service. If these shall be found insufficient the [remainder] must come from Major Fontaines' 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 [undecipherable] very many of the enemy [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable]. 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 redeemed their character in the opinion of the General, who now knows that they can and will fight. The loss of Major Wyllis (with [undecipherable] many of the federal troops) and Major Fontaine, two gallant officers, he [undecipherable] and deeply laments; but it is the fortune of war. The General begs Col. Hardin, and Major Mc Mullan, and Major Hall of S^t Col. Commandant and Trotter's regiments, 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. On the morning of [undecipherable] the army is to [march?] at 8 o'clock precisely. No Enemy was seen after the action of the 22 of Oct. Private Account of the above by a Militia Man in the Pittsburg Newspaper. On the 20^th of Oct. a detachment marching in column through a swamp, L^t. 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 bayoneting 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] set out and marched 8 miles homeward and encamped. In the night Col. Hardin, Major Wyllis, Major Fontaine, Major Mc Mullan, & Col. Hall, with about 400 men went back to the towns; 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 Mc Mullen drove a party of the Indians into the Miami River. Col. Hardin retreated with [undecipherable]. Major Wyllis with two men were cut off by a party which came in his rear through some hazels. L^t. Frothingham fell at this time. Major Fontaine having ordered his men to retreat in a [undecipherable] 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. [seal] The sum total in specie 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 [undecipherable] thousand pounds — nominal [?] The last purchases of the Public Debt, which were made late in Dec. 1790 were at the following rates, Funded six per cents at 18/ Deferred six per cents at three per cents [undecipherable] 91.