[Deposition of Charles Johnson, taken before the Secretary of War]
Item
Type
Document Signed
Title
[Deposition of Charles Johnson, taken before the Secretary of War]
Description
Describes Indian attacks and murder of several people, including burning one man alive. Goods and property taken, quoted "several thousand pounds value." Believed that there were many Americans currently held prisoner by Indian Nations.
year created
1790
month created
07
day created
29
author
secondary recipient
in collection
in publication
notable person/group
Charles Johnson
Shawnee
Cherokee
Indians
Indian Nation
hostiles
savages
John May
Miami
prisoner
captive
Wyandot
Huron
William Flin
Miami
notable location
Sandusky
river
frontier
Virginia
territory
Indian country
notable item/thing
property
boats
deposition
notable idea/issue
Indian attacks
murder
captives
slavery
Indian relations
captivity
capture
document number
1790072990001
page start
1
transcription
Deposition of Charles Johnston taken before the Secretary of War July 29th, 1790.
"On the 20thof March 1790, going down the
River Ohio, in company with John May
Esquire of Virginia, with four other persons
in our Boat (two of whom were Women)
we were attacked by a party of 54 Indians
consisting chiefly of Shawnese and Cherokees.
In this attack, Mr. May and one of the
women were killed - the rest of us made
prisoners.
"The day following, a Canoe coming up
the River, with Six men in it, were fired
upon and all killed.
"In a few hours afterwards two Boats
(the Owners of which had abandoned
them, and got on board a third Boat
that was in Company) were taken by
the Savages, with Goods and other property
in them, which, in my opinion, must have
amounted to Several Thousand pounds
value.
"Two days afterwards the Indians -
divided themselves into Several parties
when they set off to this Town and arrived
in about 5 or 6 weeks as Sandusky,
where the Nation of Wyandot or Huron
Indians live.
"Whilst in the Indian Country, I
was informed that one of our Party,
whose name was Wilm Flin, and whom
on a division, had fallen to the Cherokees,
was carried to the Nation of Miamies â
there tied to a Stake, and in the most
inhuman manner was roasted alive.
"I further understood that there are
a number of Americans, who have been
made prisoners by the Indians, and are
now in the Shawnese and Miami Nations
languishing in Slavery and
all its bitter appendages. "
"On the 20thof March 1790, going down the
River Ohio, in company with John May
Esquire of Virginia, with four other persons
in our Boat (two of whom were Women)
we were attacked by a party of 54 Indians
consisting chiefly of Shawnese and Cherokees.
In this attack, Mr. May and one of the
women were killed - the rest of us made
prisoners.
"The day following, a Canoe coming up
the River, with Six men in it, were fired
upon and all killed.
"In a few hours afterwards two Boats
(the Owners of which had abandoned
them, and got on board a third Boat
that was in Company) were taken by
the Savages, with Goods and other property
in them, which, in my opinion, must have
amounted to Several Thousand pounds
value.
"Two days afterwards the Indians -
divided themselves into Several parties
when they set off to this Town and arrived
in about 5 or 6 weeks as Sandusky,
where the Nation of Wyandot or Huron
Indians live.
"Whilst in the Indian Country, I
was informed that one of our Party,
whose name was Wilm Flin, and whom
on a division, had fallen to the Cherokees,
was carried to the Nation of Miamies â
there tied to a Stake, and in the most
inhuman manner was roasted alive.
"I further understood that there are
a number of Americans, who have been
made prisoners by the Indians, and are
now in the Shawnese and Miami Nations
languishing in Slavery and
all its bitter appendages. "
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (3 pages) | NKZ05 (3 pages) | Collection: First Congress: Reports and Communications Submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War [1A-D2] (RG 233) {reference microfilm} | P: 26-27 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | [unknown] |
| [view document] (2 pages) | NJQ23 (2 pages) | Collection: First Congress: Reports and Communications Submitted to the Senate by the Secretary of War [1A-F2] (RG46) | V: 1, P: 129-130 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: American State Papers | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Charles Johnson | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |