TT HE AA MERICAN RR EVOLUTION IN THE OO HIO CC OUNTRY Primary Source Reader A Series of 20 letters from General George Washington, General Lachlan McIntosh, & Colonel Daniel Brodhead pertaining to Fort Laurens, the Indian problem in the Ohio Country, and the progress of the war in the west in 1779 Fort Laurens, Bolivar, Ohio Compiled by Jason Edwin Anderson, Archbishop Hoban High School Special thanks to Professor Edward Lengel - Editor in Chief of the George Washington Papers, University of Virginia. Notes at the end of the selection are from the University of Virginia staff. General George Washington Commander of the American Forces during the Revolutionary War. (1775-1781) He is from Virginia. General Lachlan McIntosh Commander of the Western Department. Builds Fort Laurens in 1778. He is from Georgia. Colonel Daniel Brodhead Commander of the Western Department after McIntosh. In charge of abandoning Fort Laurens in 1779. He is from New York. 2 3 2 1 Map of the American Revolution indicating the locations3 of Fort Pitt (1), Pennsylvania, Fort Laurens (2), west of Fort Pitt across the Ohio River, and Fort Detroit (3), the British fort west of Lake Erie. th Broadside from the Continental Congress, July 25 , 1778, regarding the Indian situation in the Ohio Country, the construction of forts in the Ohio Country, and the possible attack against the British garrison at Fort Detroit. From the Library of Congress 4 To BRIGADIER GENERAL LACHLAN McINTOSH From General George Washington Head Quarters, June 10, 1778. Dear Sir: I have been favoured with your Letter of the 7th. Instant. I am sorry to find, that more vigorous measures have not been pursued for promoting the objects of your command. From the apprehensions which seemed to prevail of inroads by the Savages and the desire to repel them, I hoped by this, that things would have been in a much better train. I assure you, Sir, I would willingly give you every justifiable aid from this Army. At present, the situation of affairs will not permit my doing more than what I have already. The Enemy are yet in Philadelphia with a respectable force, and ours but very little if any increased, since you left us. From what reason I shall not pretend to determine, but certainly there is an unaccountable kind of lethargy in most of the States in making up their Quota of Men. It would almost seem from their witholding their supplies or not sending them into the Field, that they consider the War as quite at an end. Colo. Brodhead will march to morrow with his Regiment, and Major Campbell in consequence of your request will also set out to serve with you. On Saturday the Earl of Carlisle, William Eden Esqr. and Governor Johnston arrived at Philadelphia in Character of Commissioners. What effect this event will have on the operations or movements of the Enemy remains to be known. It may retard the evacuation of Philadelphia for some time. I am etc. 5 To BRIGADIER GENERAL LACHLAN McINTOSH From General George Washington Philadelphia, January 31, 1779. Dear Sir: I have your favr. without date inclosing a Return of the Troops to the Westward and Colo. Gibson's letter and message from the Indians. I make no doubt but you have a sufficiency of difficulties to struggle with, but am glad to find that the steps you have taken have given at least a temporary relief to the Inhabitants upon the frontier, and I hope by pursuing a steady and properly concerted plan next Campaign we may, if we cannot engage the friendship of the savages, reduce them to the necessity of remaining quiet. To effect this, it is determined, at present, to carry the War into the Indian Country next Spring as early as the season and the state of our Magazines will admit. No particular plan is yet fixed, nor are the places which will be the most proper objects of attack yet marked out. But as we may conclude that Fort Pitt will be one of the principal places from whence we shall commence our operations. I must desire you will immediately upon the Rect. of this set about making the following preparations and collecting the necessary intelligence of the state of the Country, Waters &c. over which we shall probably pass. It will in the first place be necessary to provide Batteaus or Canoes, (which- ever may be thought most suitable for the Waters of that Country) for 1000 or 1200 Men, and endeavour to form Magazines sufficient for the same number for three or four months. From your letter to me and those to the Board of War, I imagine you will be able to do little towards the latter, as the provision must chiefly go from below, I shall therefore endeavour to put matters in a proper train for the formation of Magazines as early as possible, before I leave this town. I would wish you to have the Country well explored between Pittsburg and Detroit by the way of Tuscarawas, and also the water Conveyances to that post (Detroit) by the Scioto and other waters, leading out of the Ohio towards Lake Erie, and the distance of portage between the heads of those Rivers and the Waters of the Lake. Attention should also be paid to the face of the Country, whether wet or dry, level or broken, and how furnished with herbage. I would also have you make yourself perfectly informed of the Water and land communication between Pittsburg and Presquisle; what kind of Craft can pass up French Creek (or River la Beuf) and whether such Craft can be transported across from French Creek to the Lake, and if they can, whether they would be of sufficient size and strength to coast it along Lake Erie. The Road from la Beuf to Presquisle is probably much out of repair, it will therefore be necessary that those who are sent to gain information should take particular notice of its condition and whether it would be a work of much labour and time to make it passable for a Body of Men with the common incumbrances of Stores, Baggage &c. If the Batteaus or Canoes that are built in the Ohio can be carried from the River la Beauf to Presquille can live in Lake Erie (I mean by coasting) and could pass in defiance of the Enemy's armed Vessels upon the Lake, I should not hesitate to pronounce this the easiest, cheapest and safest Rout to Detroit should that be made the object: But if an expedition against the Indians of the Six Nations should be determined upon in preference to the other, it will be 6 necessary to enquire how far the Force assembled at Pittsburg seemingly with an intent to operate either against the Indians upon the Ohio or agt. Detroit may be turned to a cooperation with other Bodies from Albany from the Susquehannah, or perhaps from both. To form a judgment of the practicability of this, the distance between Fort Pitt and the Country of the six Nations especially the Senecas, who are most numerous, warlike and inimical of the whole, should be exactly ascertained, and whether the Country is generally level or hilly, dry or swampy. If there are more Routes than one, that which admits of most water carriage should be preferr'd, for obvious reasons. When the Northern Indians go to War with the Southern, they fall into the Allegahany River and come down from thence [to] Fort Pitt. Whether they travel by land to the Allegahany or whether they make use of any water Carriage is a matter worth enquiring into. they probably make use of the easiest and most expeditious Route, and if it serves them to come down to the southward, it will be equally useful to us should we penetrate their Country. let it also be inquired how far this Route is wide of the falls of Niagara and Lake Erie. Persons (either Indians or Whites) of trust should be hired for the several purposes before mentioned; they should not know that we ourselves are undetermined as to the plan of our operations, and then each party will suppose that the Route which they are sent to explore is the one by which we mean to carry on an expedition. If they betray the confidence reposed in them, they will deceive the Enemy in every quarter but that which may happen to be our real object. As the force collected at and the preparations made at Fort Pitt will point equally every way, it will add to the distraction of the enemy should they find out that we are making enquiries concerning the different Routes leading to their posts. Should our Arms be turned against the Six Nations, and the Indians upon the Ohio and Country West of it shew a disposition for peace, they should be encouraged in it by all means, as it would be bad policy to irritate them while we are imployed another way. If we can reduce or force the Six Nations to a submission, it will have an admirable effect upon all the Western tribes, who tho' perhaps full as powerful in fact, yet pay the utmost respect to them, and would not willingly offend a people who had chastised the most warlike Nations. You will inquire what Roads and passes lead from the Northwestern Frontiers of Pennsylvania to Veningo and other places upon the Alleghany River above that post, and whether supplies for Troops in that quarter can be transported by such Roads or passes upon pack horses.