ARRIVAL AT FORT PITT.

He passed safely over the historic field of Bushy Run to Fort Pitt, where he was rejoiced to receive the Virginia. reinforcement. Ten Indians came to the opposite bank of the river, proposing a conference. Finding that they were evidently spies, endeavoring to gain important information, he detained two of them as hostages, and sent another one with two messengers to Bradstreet and a statement to the Ohio Indians that if any harm was done to these two men, the Indian hostages in his hands should be put to death at once and dire vengeance executed against their entire nation. Several Iroquois Indians came into the fort, pretending great friendship, and assuring him that the Ohio Indians would speedily return all the white captives. They spoke of the difficulty of penetrating the hilly forests and the great numbers of the Indians who would oppose the army, but who would soon fulfil all his stipulations if he only remained quietly at Fort Pitt. The whole object of these crafty envoys was evidently to delay the campaign until bad weather and lateness of the season made it impossible.

Bouquet saw through their designs and sent them to tell the Delawares and Shawanese, &c., that he was on his way to punish their cruel and perfidious conduct unless they made prompt and complete submission to his terms.

THE MARCH INTO OHIO.

Early in October the army left Fort Pitt to cut a road directly through the unexplored wilderness of Ohio. The Colonel assured the troops of his confidence in their bravery and told them that "he did not doubt but that this war would soon be ended, under God, to their own honor and the future safety of their country, provided the men were strictly obedient to orders and guarded against the surprises and sudden attacks of a treacherous enemy, who never dared to face British troops in an open field.

Large droves of sheep and cattle were taken along for subsistence, besides great droves of packhorses loaded with flour and other provisions. The Virginia woodsmen acted

as scouts and flankers in front and on the sides, whilst the pioneers cleared the road through the dense forest. The army, with flocks and herds and camp equipage, followed the pioneers at the rate of seven or eight miles a day, moving constantly in a series of concentric hollow squares, with flocks, herds, baggage, packhorses, &c., in the centre.

Thus in line of battle and guarding carefully against ambush and surprise, they moved steadily forward. Skulking Indians were watching every movement, but no direct attempt was made to interfere with the progress of the troops. The strictest discipline was enforced. Before leaving Fort Pitt two soldiers had been shot for desertion, and all superfluous women ordered back to the settlements. One woman was allowed to each corps, and two nurses for the general hospital. These were needed to look after the children and female captives, whose recovery was one chief object of the expedition. In ten days the army reached the Muskingum, and was now in the heart of the Indian country. Near the fording of that river, they saw the wigwams of 100 families of Tuscarora Indians who had fled in terror at their approach. The two soldiers sent to Bradstreet, now appeared, having been detained by the Delawares on trifling pretexts until they saw the invasion was an overwhelming success. They brought word that the chiefs would come in a few days to hold a conference.

COUNCIL ON THE MUSKINGUM CAPTIVES RESTORED.

Bouquet marched along the Muskingum until he found ample forage in the broad meadows for his cattle, sheep and packhorses; he erected a palisaded depot for provisions and baggage. Soon a number of chiefs appeared, stating that great numbers of warriors were eight miles distant, and that a place and time should be appointed for council. He designated a spot near the river bank where he would meet them next day. A party of woodsmen soon prepared a rustic arbor, where English officers and Indian chiefs might meet under shelter. Every precaution was used to prevent a surprise or attack. Guards

were doubled and no straggling allowed. The soldiers were drawn up so as to make the most stunning impression upon the minds of the savages. And truly it was a wonderful sight to see such a vast body of troops fully equipped in the midst of the wilderness, with flocks and herds, and other resources needed for a protracted campaign. The scene was as picturesque as it was astounding in its display of miltary prowess.

The Highland grenadiers were there with their plaids, kilts and tartans, whom the Indians styled, "petticoat warriors" on account of their queer dress. The Royal Americans were on hand with their bright red British uniforms, the duller garb and duller trappings of Pennsylvania troops and the fringed hunting frocks of the Virginia backwoods riflemen made such a combination of military pomp and power as has been rarely seen in any land.

The chiefs came at the appointed hour-Kiashuta, or Guyashuta, the chief of a band of Senecas, Custaloga chief of the Delawares, Keisnauchtha, chief of the Shawanese, each with a band of warriors, were the leaders along with Turtle Heart, Beaver, &c., they tried to frame excuses for their teacherous conduct, blaming it on the rashness of their young men and the western tribes led in person by Pontiac, they begged for peace and promised to return to him all white prisoners in their hands.

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Bouquet thoroughly understood the Indian character, and knew what demeanor and tactics suited the occasion. He told them to return next day to receive his answer. Inclement weather prevented their proposed meeting until the twentieth. Instead of calling them brothers he began: 'Sachems, War chiefs and Warriors." He then addressed them with great spirit, and in severe and impassioned language. He pointed out the absurdity of their trifling excuses, and reminded them of their unparalleled treachery and cruelty in plundering traders and settlers, capturing children and in assulting the king's troops in the woods at Bushy Run, last summer. He denounced their continued murderous forays upon the border settlements, and condemned their repeated failures to bring back the white prisoners in their hands. He will

not be deceived longer by their false promises. "If," said he, "it were possible that you could convince us that you sincerely repent of your past perfidy, and that we could depend on your good behavior for the future, you might yet hope for mercy and peace. If I find that you faithfully execute the following preliminary conditions, I will not treat you with the severity you deserve. I give you twelve days from this date to deliver into my hands at Waukatamake, all prisoners in your possession without any exception, Englishmen, Frenchmen, women, children, whether adopted in your tribes, married or living amongst you under any denomination and pretence whatsoever, together with all negroes. And you are to furnish the said prisoners with clothing, provisions and horses to carry them to Fort Pitt. When you have fully complied with these conditions, you shall then know on what terms you may obtain the peace you sue for."

Bouquet was as wise and sagacious as he was brave and generous. The manner as well as the sentiments of his address made a deep and lasting impression upon the supplicating savages. Their haughty spirit was completely humbled.

They abjectly promised to comply fully with all the conditions. The Delawares had already delivered up eighteen prisoners. They handed over eighty-three small sticks indicating the remaining number of prisoners in their hands, whom they promised to bring in as soon as possible. The Shawanese failed to respond properly to the Colonel's wishes, either by appearing at the council with their kings or by bringing in the captives in their hands. A sharp message was sent to them not to trifle with the patience of the commander. The army marched some thirty odd miles further to the Forks of the Muskingum, where it was agreed to await the prisoners instead of at Waukatamake. The principal chiefs of each tribe he kept in his possession as hostages to secure the fulfillment of pledges. Great care had to be taken to prevent a general stampede of the tribes and the murder of all the prisoners in their hands as well as to secure a full compliance with the conditions of restoration. Bouquet's management in

spired them with confidence and respect, while at the same time it filled them with terror and brought them into complete submission to his commands. Runners were sent out in all directions, and soon several hundred captives were brought into camp. Among these were ninety Virginians, of whom thirty-two were adult males and the rest were women and children; one hundred and sixteen Pennsylvanians, forty-nine men and sixty-seven women and children were also returned. Many of the volunteers had wives, children and relatives among the captives, and the scenes that took place at the recovery and recognition of the long lost loved ones were touching in the extreme. With great sorrow and reluctance the Indians parted with these adopted members of their households. For, be it remembered, that when once an Indian had adopted a captive, the captive was henceforth treated as a member of the family and not as a slave. The captive women were, as a rule, absolutely free from insult and were not even obliged to marry against their will. The reverse of this is the case among many of the Western and South-western tribes of Indians at the present day, who treat their captives as slaves and always outrage the women. Many of the Shawanese warriors were absent on hunting expeditions, so that nearly a hundred captives could not be reached. Hostages were given for the safe delivery of these at Fort Pitt. Bouquet maintained a stern and indignant demeanor until all conditions were fulfilled as far as possible, knowing that any other deportment under circumstances would be mistaken for timidity and indecision. Kindness can only be appreciated by a savage when he knows you have ability to overwhelm him if refractory. Having fully convinced them of his prowess and displeasure at everything like duplicity, Bouquet convened the chiefs in the rustic council house again and intimated his satisfaction with their conduct and his desire to arrange for a lasting peace.

Guyasutha, the celebrated Seneca chief, who had been the leading spirit of the eastern wing of Pontiac's conspiracy, and had led the forces around Fort Pitt and at Bushy Run, made the opening speech in the metaphorical