OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: George Washington's mission to the Ohio [2] *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 December 25, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Diaries of S. J. Kelly Plains Dealer Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley *********************************************************************** Continuation Of George Washington's Journal-- Mission to the Ohio-- Pt 2 As printed in The Maryland Gazette-- March 21st and 28th, 1754. Shingiss attended us to the Loggs Town, where we arrived between Sun-setting and Dark, the 25th Day after I left Williamsburg; We traveled over some extreme good, and bad land, to get to this Place.--- As soon as I came into Town, I went to Monacatoocha ( as the Half King was out at his hunting Cabbin on little Beaver Creek, about 15 miles off ) who inform'd him by John Davidson, my Indian Interpreter, that I was sent a Messager to the French General; and was ordered to call upon the Sachems of the Six Nations, to acquaint them with it.--- I gave him a String of Wampum, and a Twill of Tobacco, and desired him to send for the Half-King; which he promised to do by a Runner in the Morning, and for other Sachems;--- I invited him and the other great Men present to my Tent, where they stayed about an Hour and return'd. According to the best Observations I could make, Mr. Gist's new Settlement ( which we pass'd by ) bears about W.N.W. 70 Miles from Wills Creek; Shanapins. or Forks N. by W. or N.N.W, about 50 miles from that; and from thence to the Loggs Town, the Course is nearly Well about 18 or 20 Miles; so that the whole Distance, as we went and computed it, is about 135 or 140 Miles from our back inhabitants. 25th, Came to Town four of ten Frenchmen that deserted from a Company at the Cuscuscus, which lies at the Mouth of this River; I got he following Account from them. They were sent from New Orleans with 100, and 8 Canoe Loads of Provisions to this Place; where they expected to have met the same Number of Men, from the Forts this Side Lake Erie, to convoy them and the Stores up, who were not arrived when they ran off. I enquired into the Situation of the French, on the Mississippi, their Number, and what Forts they had built; They inform'd me, That there were four small Forts between New Orleans and the Black Islands, garrison'd with about 30 or 40 Men, and a few small Pieces, in each; That at New Orleans, which is near the Mouth of the Mississippi, there are 35 Companies of 40 Men each, with a pretty Strong Fort mounting 8 Carriage Guns, and at the Black Islands are about 130 Leagues aove the Mouth of the Ohio, which is about 350 above New Orleans; They also acquainted me, that there was a small pallisado'd Fort on the Ohio, at the Mouth of the Obaish, about 60 Leagues from the Misssissipi; The Obaish heads near the West End of Lake Erie, and affords the Communication between the French on Mississippi and those on the Lakes. These Deserters came up from the Lower Shawnee-Town with one Brown, an Indian Trader, and were going to Philadelphia. About 3 o'clock this evening the Half-King came to Town; I went up and I invited him and Davison, privately, to my Tent, and desir'd him to relate some of the Particulars of his Journey to the French Commandant, and Reception there; and to give me an Account of the Ways and Distance. He told me, that the nearest and levellest Way was now impassible, by Reason of large miry Savannas, that we must be obliged to go by Venago, and should not get to the nearest Fort under 5 or 6 Night's Sleep, good Travelling. When he went to the Fort, he said he was received in a very stern Manner by the late Commander; who ask'd him very abruptly, what he had come about, and to declare his Business, which he said he did in the following Speech. Fathers. I am come to tell you your own Speeches; what your own Mouths have declared. Fathers, You in former Days, set a Silver Bason before us, wherein there was the Leg of a Beaver, and desir'd of all Nations to come and eat in Peace and Plenty, and not to be Churlish to one another; and that if any such Person should be found a Disturber. I have lay down by the Edge of te Dish a Rod, which you must scouge them with, and if I your Father, should get foolish, in my old Days, I desire you may use it upon me as well as others. Now Fathers, it is you that are the Disturbers in this Land, by coming and building your Towns, and taking it away unknown to us, and by Force. Fathers, We kindled a Fire a long Time ago, at a Place called Montreal, where we desired you to stay, and not come and intrude upon our Land. I now desire you may dispatch to that Place; for it be known to you. Fathers, that this is our Land, and not yours. Fathers, I desire you may hear me in Civilness; if not, we must handle that Rod which was laid down for the use of Obstreperous. If you had come in a peaceful Manner, like our Brothers the English, we should not have been against your trading with us, as they do; but to come, Fathers, and build great Houses upon our Land, and to take it by Force, is what we cannot submit to. Fathers, both you and the English are white, we live in a Country between; therefore the Land belongs to neither one nor the to other; But the Great Being Above allow'd it to be a Place of Residence for us; so Fathers, I desire you to withdraw, as I have done our Brothers the English; for I will keep you at Arms length. I lay this down as a Trial for both. to see which will have the greatest Regard to it, and that Side we will stand by, and make equal Sharers with us. Our Brothers the English have heard this, and I come now to tell it to you, for I am not afraid to discharge you off this land. This is that account in Substance of what he said to the General, who made this this Reply--- *********************************************** To be continued in part 3-- The Reply.