Speech Requesting U.S. to Converse with the Indian Nations
Document 1794Warriors request peace with U.S. and to converse in the manner of the Indian Nations.
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[Blessings [undecipherable] and tranquility. —
Signed
Anthony Wayne
Grand Glaize
August 13th, 1794.
To all the Sachems & Warriors belonging to the Chippewas, Delawares, Shawanese, Wyandots, Miamies, Iawas, Pottawatimies & all other tribes or nations of Indians whom it may concern —
Brothers
The President of the United States General Wonshington, the great Chief of America, Once more speaks to you thro' me his Principal Warrior Major General and Commander in chief of the Federal Army & Commissioner Plenipotentiary for Settling a permanent fair & Honourable peace with all and every tribe or tribes Nation or Nations of Indians North of the Ohio.
Brothers,
Summons your utmost powers of attention & listen to the voice of truth & Peace. It is now one moon since I addressed you by a long from this place inviting you to appoint deputies to meet me and my asking without delay, between this place and [undecipherable], in order to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace. I also informed you that the United States loved mercy & Kindness, more than War and desolation. & I likewise requested you to be no longer deceived on his asking by the false promises & language of the bad white men at the foot of the rapids. But you were deaf to this request and to the voice of peace — you again took the advice of those bad white men — and in place of meeting me as friends, you preferred war. & instead of the Blessings of peace you suddenly presented from your secret Councils in Scalping Knives & tomahawks — but in return for the few drops of blood we lost upon that occasion we caused Rivers of yours to flow. & told you that the arm of the United States was strong enough to [undecipherable] the weight of its [undecipherable] hinges. I informed you that the British had neither the [undecipherable] nor [strikethrough: a enclamation] [undecipherable] to protect you — you have sensibly experienced the truth of that assertion — be therefore no longer blinded to your own [undecipherable] and Happiness, but listen to the voice of peace and [undecipherable] measures to draw a veil over the late horrors & loss; and to bury in deep oblivion and to obliterate from the minds all remembrances of past injuries.
Brothers
Eight Moons ago you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and Stephen Young, George [undecipherable] and another warrior with a [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] accompanied by a Mr [undecipherable] Robert Nelson as your Interpreter, in order to [undecipherable] upon what terms [undecipherable] consent to a [undecipherable] peace, with the Delawares, Shawanese, Miamies &c. [undecipherable] for answer; that the Ears & heart of the President of the United States, General Washington were open to the voice of peace, and that he had instructed me, his chief warrior to listen to that [undecipherable] from whatever Quarter it came provided it was from proper Authority & from the Mouth, the terms mentioned were equitable, clear & Explicit...
Brothers
If you now wish for peace and to be restored to the possession of your civilized Lands and hunting ground come forward with all the American Prisoners now in your hands — and in exchange you shall receive all such prisoners as I have belonging to your Nations. — Appoint a number of your Sachems and Chief Warriors to attend thereon, bring with you some of your most confidential Interpreters — & I hereby pledge my sacred Honour for your safe return & for your kind treatment whilst with me. Open your minds freely to me, and let us try to agree upon such fair and equitable terms of peace, as shall be for the true interest and Happiness of both the White and red people and that your many in future [undecipherable] your Corn and Hunt in peace and safety — and that by an interchange of Kindness and good Offices towards each other, We may cement that brotherly love and affection which shall endure to the end of time.
The Commanding Officer at this place has orders to receive and treat you with kindness and to send with you one of his Officers to conduct you safe to [undecipherable] Quarters, where you shall receive a sincere welcome from your friend and Brother
Signed
Anthony Wayne
Grand Glaize
17th September 1794
Answer of the [undecipherable: Battle/Hostile?] Indians to the Speech of Major General Wayne, 15th August 1794.
Brothers Big Knives.
The Warriors of all our Nations were here on our feet to meet you when we heard you were coming against us — then we received your Speech by a woman who had been with us before & a Shawanoe man you had taken prisoner a few days ago — Brothers you cant imagine how glad we were to find you had [undecipherable] some pity for our Women & Children — Brothers dont be in too great a hurry — you know very well we are not like you white people who do not consult in the manner we do — You have only to write and your business is done, but we Indians must do all our business with every Nation of the Confederacy which takes up a great deal of time — Brothers if you are sincere in your hearts you will sit down [undecipherable] where you are & not build Forts in our [undecipherable: Village?] — And in the space of ten days you shall see us coming with the flag before [undecipherable] you have [undecipherable] — The flag which is now sent to you in return — It is the wish of the Warriors that this shall be a continual communication of our Speeches to each other — And when you have read our Speech which is greatly [undecipherable] by sincere tokens of your Friendship & your pity to our Women & Children — then we further expect that we shall have likewise an answer to our Speeches — We will also sit down again here with our warriors till that time.
15th August 1794.
Type
Document Signed
Description
Warriors request peace with U.S. and to converse in the manner of the Indian Nations.
Date
08/13/1794
Author
Recipient
Repository
Collection
Document number
1794092790101
Page start
7
Note
Poor legibility.
Notable persons
Anthony Wayne
John Williams
Chippewas
Delawares
Shawnees
Pottawatomies
Federal Army
Notable items
money
kindness

