Speech to the Shawnee Nation
Item
Type
Document
Title
Speech to the Shawnee Nation
Description
Speech to Shawnee chiefs and warriors informing them of the peace treaty signed between Great Britain and the United States. Wilkinson asks the Shawnee to join in a "chain of friendship" with the Americans.
year created
1784
month created
02
day created
07
author
sent from location
Falls of Ohio
secondary recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
James Wilkinson
General Wilkinson
Shawnee
Big Knife
great chiefs
Chiefs and brothers of the Shawnee nation
general council
English and Americans
fathers
brothers
troops
warriors
wives and children
British
children
Mr. Owens
runner
great chief
Chiefs and warriors of the Shawnee nation
notable location
Falls of Ohio
Falls of Ohio [ Falls of the Ohio River ]
notable item/thing
firm peace
chain of Friendship
articles of the peace
time of service
the War
corps
peace and friendship
home
war
talks
treaty
sentiments
rivers and woods
buried the hatchet
our brothers the red People
brothers of America
Fathers the English
buried the tomahawk
covered the blood which has been spilt
gathered together the bones which were scattered on the ground
bury the hatchet
we desire to become one flesh and one blood with you
notable phrase
buried the hatchet
our brothers the red People
brothers of America
Fathers the English
buried the tomahawk
covered the blood which has been spilt
gathered together the bones which were scattered on the ground
bury the hatchet
we desire to become one flesh and one blood with you
document number
1784020790001
page start
1
transcription
Ex Papers
1783-1784
1784-Jan, Feb, Mar
Speech to the Shawneese
Dated 7th Feby 1784.
Sent by General Wilkenson
under the name of the
Big Knife
X
Chiefs & Brothers of the Shawnee Nation.
We the big Knife embrace this opportunity by one of our
great Chiefs lately from our grand Council your Brothers, to
inform you that the English and Americans have at length
buried the Hatchet and concluded a firm Peace, we wish you
and our Brothers the red People to join your hands to the chain
of Friendship thus brightened by us your Brothers of America
& your Fathers the English: â We should have rejoiced to
have had it in our Power to send you the particular articles
of the Peace, but your eldest Brother has not yet forwarded
them to us though we every day expect to hear from him.
We yesterday received the following talk from him.
"I approve the method you have taken to Support your Troops
Their time of service being now expired by the happy con-
clusion of the War, you will be pleased to discharge your
whole Corps" â Thus Brothers we prove to you our since-
rity in delivering Peace and friendship: our Warriors are
discharged and gone home to their Wives & Children-
We have buried the Tomahawk, We have covered the
Blood which has been Spilt, & we have gathered together
the Bones which were Scattered on the Ground and
buried them in a large Grave that they may no
more be seen â Now Brothers we wish you to do the
Same, to join your Hands to ours, bury the Hatchet, and
let War come no more among us; for we desire to
become one flesh and one Blood with you â
When the Peace which the Americans and British
have made comes among you, you Will find that
The British have forgot you their Children â
Nevertheless we wish to consider you as Brothers and take
hold with us the Chain of Friendship â
Mr. Owens informed me that the Talks I sent you
some time ago on the Subject of a Treaty was not yet
opened on account of your Chiefs being absent; as soon
as they have collected & considered of the matter, it will
be necessary to send a Runner to let us know their sentiments,
that I may inform the great Chief who will
send Persons to meet them at this place at any time
they may appoint to conclude a firm Peace, which
we hope may continue as long as the Rivers & Woods shall
last â
Made at the Falls of the Ohio this 7th day of January February 1784 â
To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawnee Nation
1783-1784
1784-Jan, Feb, Mar
Speech to the Shawneese
Dated 7th Feby 1784.
Sent by General Wilkenson
under the name of the
Big Knife
X
Chiefs & Brothers of the Shawnee Nation.
We the big Knife embrace this opportunity by one of our
great Chiefs lately from our grand Council your Brothers, to
inform you that the English and Americans have at length
buried the Hatchet and concluded a firm Peace, we wish you
and our Brothers the red People to join your hands to the chain
of Friendship thus brightened by us your Brothers of America
& your Fathers the English: â We should have rejoiced to
have had it in our Power to send you the particular articles
of the Peace, but your eldest Brother has not yet forwarded
them to us though we every day expect to hear from him.
We yesterday received the following talk from him.
"I approve the method you have taken to Support your Troops
Their time of service being now expired by the happy con-
clusion of the War, you will be pleased to discharge your
whole Corps" â Thus Brothers we prove to you our since-
rity in delivering Peace and friendship: our Warriors are
discharged and gone home to their Wives & Children-
We have buried the Tomahawk, We have covered the
Blood which has been Spilt, & we have gathered together
the Bones which were Scattered on the Ground and
buried them in a large Grave that they may no
more be seen â Now Brothers we wish you to do the
Same, to join your Hands to ours, bury the Hatchet, and
let War come no more among us; for we desire to
become one flesh and one Blood with you â
When the Peace which the Americans and British
have made comes among you, you Will find that
The British have forgot you their Children â
Nevertheless we wish to consider you as Brothers and take
hold with us the Chain of Friendship â
Mr. Owens informed me that the Talks I sent you
some time ago on the Subject of a Treaty was not yet
opened on account of your Chiefs being absent; as soon
as they have collected & considered of the matter, it will
be necessary to send a Runner to let us know their sentiments,
that I may inform the great Chief who will
send Persons to meet them at this place at any time
they may appoint to conclude a firm Peace, which
we hope may continue as long as the Rivers & Woods shall
last â
Made at the Falls of the Ohio this 7th day of January February 1784 â
To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawnee Nation
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (3 pages) | LBJ13 (3 pages) | Collection: Executive Papers, Office of Governors Letters | B: 34 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | James Wilkinson | Falls of Ohio | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Chiefs of the Shawnees | [unknown] | Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawnee Nation |