VIL

CHAPTER acter of individuals, and as tending to throw light upon subsequent events, by exhibiting the position in which 1794. Randolph really stood to the policy of the administration and his colleagues in it. It certainly must be confessed that Washington was at least very unfortunate in the Virginia members of his cabinet.

Among numerous other bugbears suggested by those who had opposed the use of force against the Pennsylvania insurgents, the danger had been much dwelt upon that they might cut off the supply of provisions for the army in the West, thereby exposing it to disbandment or destruction. But as the militia were crossing the mountains, news arrived of a complete victory gained by Wayne over the Indians.

Wayne had commenced operations early in the summer by pushing forward a strong detachment from his camp at Grenville to occupy St. Clair's battle-field, twenty-four miles in advance. Fort Recovery, built June 30. upon this spot, was presently attacked by a large body of Indians, who were repulsed, however, after a two days' fight. But the Indians were not entirely unsuccessful, since they carried off three hundred pack-mules, and inflicted a loss of fifty men upon an escort of three times that number, which had just guarded a provision train to the fort, and lay encamped outside. Meanwhile, General Scott was employed in Kentucky in raising a body of mounted militia to re-enforce Wayne's legion, which, garrisons deducted, did not much exceed two thousand effective men. Upon Scott's arrival with eleven hundAug. 8. red of these volunteers, Wayne advanced to the confluence of the Au Glaize and the Maumee. The Indians had expected the advance in another direction, Taken by surprise, they fled precipitately, and this "grand emporium" of the hostile tribes, as Wayne styled it, was

VIL.

gained without loss. Here were fields of corn, planted CHAPTER by the Indians, more extensive than any which Wayne had ever seen. The fertile margins of these beautiful 1794. rivers, for several miles above and below their junction, appeared one continued village. For the permanent occupation of this important district, a strong stockade was built, called Fort Defiance, and another, called Fort Adams, on the St. Mary's, as an intermediate post, to connect it with Fort Recovery. The main body of the Indians had retired down the Maumee about thirty miles, to the foot of the rapids, where the British had recently built a new fort. Wayne sent a messenger proposing to treat, to which the Indians replied by asking delay for ten days. On receiving this answer, the army was at once put in motion. Two days they marched down the Aug. 16. Maumee; a third was spent in reconnoitering the enemy, who were found encamped in a bushy wood, their left protected by the rocky bank of the river. The position of the Indians having been ascertained, the advance was resumed in the same order as before, the right flank of Aug 20. the legion leaning on the river, one battalion of the mounted volunteers on the left, another in the rear, and a strong detachment in front, to give notice when the enemy were found. As soon as the Indian fire was heard, the legion was formed in two lines, in the midst of a thick wood, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, prostrated in some tornado, a position very favor able to the enemy, since the mounted volunteers could hardly act. The Indians were in three lines, extending from the river at right angles within supporting distance of each other. They seemed, from the weight of their fire, to be endeavoring to turn the left flank of the legion, whereupon Wayne ordered the second line into position on the left of the first. He also directed

CHAPTER the mounted volunteers to attempt to gain the enemy's VII. rear by a circuitous route, and Captain Campbell, with 1794. the legionary cavalry, to push in between the Indians and the river, the ground there being somewhat more open. Orders, simultaneously given, for the first line to start the enemy from his covert at the point of the bayonet, were obeyed with such alacrity that, before the other troops could get into position, the Indians were completely routed. Wayne lost a hundred and seven men in killed and wounded. Neither the loss nor the number of the Indians was ever ascertained. The Indian cornfields were ravaged close up to the British fort, and the establishment of M'Kee, the British Indian agent, was burned with the rest. It was the universal opinion in the army that the British had encouraged the Indians to fight. It was even believed that some of the militia from Detroit had been in the action; but that was ut terly improbable. Some very tart correspondence passed between Wayne and the commander of the British fort, to whom a deserter had reported that Wayne intended to attack him, for which, indeed, the army was sufficiently ready, had a good excuse and opportunity occurred.

Three days after the battle, Wayne fell back to Fort Defiance. The defenses were completed, intermediate posts were established, garrisons were left in Fort Defiance and Fort Recovery, and, after a very successful campaign of ninety days, during which he had marched three hundred miles along a road cut by the army, had gained a victory, driven the Indians from their principal settlement, destroyed their winter's provisions, and Nov. 2. left a post in the heart of their country, Wayne returned with the legion into winter quarters at Greenville. The mounted volunteers, who had suffered severely from sick. ness, had been dismissed some time before.

VII.

The day fixed for the opening of the session of Con- CHAPTER gress was the fourth of November. Washington had hastened back from Bedford in order to be present; but 1794. it was two weeks before a quorum of the Senate was obtained.

Hith

While the Senate were waiting for á quorum, the House took up a report on the standing rules and orders made at the last session, but not acted upon, Hitherto there had been but one standing committee, that on Elections; the amended rules and orders provided for another on Private Claims, which already began to occupy no inconsiderable part of the time of the House. erto it had been the custom to refer petitions of this sort to one or the other of the secretaries for report; but Hamilton, to whose share most of this business had fallen, had loudly complained of the burden. He had requested the adoption of some other organ of investigation; and hence this new standing committee.

The late insurrectionary movements in Western Pennsylvania formed the main subject of the president's

1

speech their origin, progress, and the means finally Nov. 19. adopted for their suppression. Among the causes of the extremity to which things had been carried, the speech alluded to certain "self-created societies" which had taken upon themselves to criticise and condemn the government, and to stimulate resistance to the laws, the president leaving it to the "calm reflection" of the people to determine whether the insurrection had not been fomented by combinations of men, who, from an ignorance or perversion of facts, had disseminated suspicions, jealousies, and accusations of the whole government, careless of consequences, or forgetful that those who rouse can not always appease a civil convulsion."

Another important paragraph referred to the foreign

CHAPTER policy of the government, which had been, so the speech. VII. declared, "to cultivate peace with all the world; to ob1794. serve treaties with pure and absolute faith; to check every deviation from the line of impartiality; to explain what may have been misapprehended, and to correct what may have been injurious to any nation; and having thus acquired the right, to lose no time in acquiring the ability, to insist on justice being done to ourselves."

The recommendations of the speech were, a complete organization of the militia; further attention to fortifications; the promotion of friendly relations with the Indians by the establishment of public trading houses; and the adoption of some regular system for the final redemption of the public debt.

Though the leaders of the Republican opposition were by no means willing to identify themselves with the Democratic societies, they were not the less disinclined to give offense to allies so useful in undermining and breaking down the existing administration. In spite, however, of the efforts of Burr and Jackson, the Senate, in their answer to the president's speech, fully responded to his sentiments, giving to them, indeed, a more emphatic expression. "Our anxiety, arising from the licentious and open resistance to the laws in the western counties of Pennsylvania, has been increased by the proceedings of certain self-created societies, relative to the laws and administration of the government, proceedings, in our apprehension, founded in political error, calculated, if not intended, to disorganize our government, and which, by inspiring delusive hopes of support, have been instrumental in misleading our fellow-citizens in the scene of insurrection."

The answer of the House, as originally reported, took no notice of the president's allusion to the Democratio