Aiaking after a great number who had ablcond
•d ; and that an eminent counficl, the treafury
folicitor, and Juttice Bond, had arrived from Lon
don, to affilt in the enquiries into the origin and
cause of the late disturbances.
The total amount of the several branches of
public revenue, under the heads of Customs, Ex
cise, Stamps and Incidents, for the last week, is
399,7571. js. 11 i-2d. The Excise duty alone,for
the lad week, produced the amazing sum of
302,7681.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 20,
On Saturday last the President of the United
States, and his Lady, arrived in town, from Phi
ladelphia, on their way to Mount Vernon, and
the next morning proceeded on their journey.
NEW-YOR K, Sept. 21
Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, a mod
alarmingfire broke out in Mill-street—the flames
raged with the utmolt violence for fix hours, and
notwithitanding the usual and very spirited ex
ertions of the fire men and citizens in general, a
very great deftrudtion of property, efti mated at
more than twenty thousand pounds, took place.
The fire firft broke out 111 a bake-house.
The following is a lift of lioufes burned down
by the fire yesterday morning.
A house ofthe widow l evy, in Duke-street,
and a back store in Mill-street.
A house of John Miller in Duke-street, and a
back store in Mill-street.
A house of Capt. Hugh Stocker in Duke-street,
and a back store in Mill-street.
A house of Mr. Tinney in Duke-street, and
back dwelling-house in Mill-ftreec.
A house of Mr. Rogers in Duke-street, and a
back store in Mill-street.
A house of R. and J. Suydam 111 Duke-street,
and a back store in Mill-street.
A house of John Henry in Duke-street, and a
back store in Mill-street.
A house of R. Pinto in Duke-street, and aback
store in Mill street.
The house of the Rev. Mr. Seixas ; the honfe
of the widow Miller ; and the coach-house and
stables of Mr. Goelet in Mill-ftreet;—Mr. Goe
let's horses perished in the stables.
The custom-house, which was on fire several
times, was saved only by the greatest exertions
of a number of very active citizens.
The wind being very high, great quantities of
coal and burning shingles, were carried over the
city to a great diltance,occafioning much diftreft
and anxiety, from an apprehenfiou that the town
would take fire in another quarter.
Several houses and (lores adjoining the burnt
buildings are much injured ; and very consider
able lofles have been by this disaster.
Two children were rescued from the flames of
a li.jufe in Duke-street, by means of the pole and
balket :—They were aileep in the third story of
the honfe—and were not awakened till the Hair
cafe was all on fire.
• |C 7* The citizens of New-York will be pleated
to accept dur most grateful acknowledgements,
in behalf of the United States, and ourselves, for
their generous and particular attention and very
great exertions, at the late fire, in preserving
the Custom-House, and the public papers lodged
therein. JO.HN LAMB, Colle«flor.
BENJ. WALKER, Naval-Officer,
JOHN LASHER, Surveyor.
R I C H M O N D, Sept. 14.
Extra<St of a letter from Edward Carrington, Efq,
the supervisor of the diftricft of Virginia, dat
ed Southampton court-house, Sept. 9, 1791.
" In my tour through the Isle of Wight and
Southampton, being at the courts ofboth, where
there were conliderable collections of the people,
I have the pleasure to find a prevailing spirit of
conformity to the excise —In Isle of Wight where
at the preceding court there was fouie riotous
conduct againil the collector of the revenue, it
appears upon ascertaining theperfons concerned
in the riot that they were but few, who are de
cidedly despised and discountenanced by the
great body of the county ; the misrepresentati
ons which had been indnftrioully circulated thro
the county, created a very general disapprobati
on of the law ; many are however now con
vinced, and do now approve, whilst those who
retain the former opinion determine, as good ci
tizens, to yield to the decisions of a majority of
their country in the general legislature, where
every individual has a right to add hisaffiftance,
by way of memorial, when he is confident of be
ing enabled to give new lights to that bodv which
represents the feelings as well as intererts of the
people. As an evidence that this is the temper
of the county, 78 stills have already been enter
ed with the collector. In Southampton, where
much discontent has prevailed, there appears
now to be a pretty general approbation of the
law, and a very uniform determination to comply
■with it. '
PHILADELPHIA, September 24.
Gen. Wilkinfon's Expedition.
Authentic Report of ListiVenant-Golonel-Commandant
Wilkinson, to his Excellency Gov. St. Clair,
containing the Particulars of the late Expedition
againji L,'Anguills, and the Indians on the H abash.
Frankfort, on Kentucky,
SIR, August ?\th, 1791.
HAVING carried into complete effcft the enterpriz.c which
you were pleased to direffc againfl L'Anguille, and having
done the savages every other damage on the Wabafh, to which I
conceived my force adbqu?te r I'embrace the firft; moment's rccels
from a£live duty, to detail to voar Excellency the operations of
the expedition intruded to my conduit.
I left the neighbourhood of Fort-Walhmgton on the firft inft.
at one o'clock, and agreeable to rhv original plan, feinted boldly
at the Miami village?, by the mod dire& course the nature of the
ground, over which I had to march, would permit; I persevered
in this plan until the morning of the 4th inft. and thereby avoided
tiie hunting ground of the enemy', and the paths which lead direct
from White River to the Wabafh, leaving the head waters of the
firft to my left; I then being about 'seventy miles advanced of
Fort-Washington, turned north-weft. I made no discovery until
the sth, about 9 o'clock, A. M. when I crofted three much fre
quented paths within two miles of each other, and all bearing East
of North ; my guides were urgent for me to follow these paths,
which betrayed their ignorance ot the country, andconvinced me
I had to depend on ray own judgment only. In the afternoon of
that day, I was obliged to cross a deep bog, which injured fcyeral
of my horses exceedingly, and a few miles beyond 1 struck a path
hearing Norih by Weft, marked by the recent footfteps of five or
fix savages. Mv guides renewed their application to me to fol
low this path, but I pursued my course which had been N. 60 W.
since 2 o'clock. I had not got clear of my encampment, next
morning, before my advancc reported an impaflable bog in my
front, extending several miles on cither hand, and the guides as
serted that the whole country tothfeWabafti was cut by such bogs,
and that it would be impoilible for me to proceed unless I fol
lowed the Indian paths, which avoided these bogs, or led through
them at places where they wtre least difficult. Although I paid
little regard to this informatnn, as delav was dangerous, and eve
ry thing depended on the preieivation of my horses, I determined
to turn to the right, and fall into the path, I had pa fled the even
ing before, which \ai ied in its course from N. by W. to N. E.
The country had now becomcpondy, in every dire&ion, I there
fore resolved to pursue this _path until noon, in the hope that it
would conduit me to better ground, or to fomc devious trace
which might lead to the object fought.
At 7 o'clock I crofted au East branch of Calumet River, about
40 yards wide, and about noon my advance guard fire d on a fmaM
parly of warriors and took a prisoner, the red run oft to the East
ward. I halted about a mile beyond the spot where this affair
happened, and on examining the prisoner found him to be a De
laware, living near the site of the late M'.ami Village, which he
informed me was about-thirty miles distant; I immediately rc
trogaded four miles, and filed off by the right over some rifmo
ground, which I hadobferved between the East branch of Calumet
River and a Creek four or five miles advance of it, taking my
course N. 60 W. This roeafure fortunately extricated me from
the bogs and ponds, and soon placed me on firm ground ; late in
the afternoon I crofted one path running from N. to S. and short
ly atter fell into another varying from N. W. to N. by W. I pur
sued this about two mile/i, when I encamped—but finding it still
inclined Northward, I determined to abandon it in the morning.
I resumed my march on the 6th at 4 o'clock, the Calumet beino
to the Weftard of me, I was fearful I should strike the Wabafh
too high up, and perhaps fall in with the small Town, which you
men ioned to me, at the mouth of the former River. I therefore
steered a due Weft course, and at 6 o'clock, A. M croflcd a road
much used both by horse r,nd foot bearing due North. I now
knew that I was near a Shawanefe Village, generally supposed to
be on the Waters of White River, but actually on those of the Ca
lumet, and was sensible that every thing depended on the celerity
and silence of my movements, as my veal obje& had become man
ifeft, I therefore my march vigorously, leaving an officer
and 20 men in ambush, to watch the road, in order to intercept
or beat off any party of the enemy which might casually be paf
firig that way, and thereby prevent as long as poflible the disco
very of my real intentions.
At 8 o'clock. I crossed Calumet River, now 80 yards wide, and
running down N. N. W. and" purluing my courfc, I crossed one
path near the western bank of the river, taking the fame course,
and at fix miles distance another bearing to the N. E. I was now
fcnfible from my reckoning compared with my own observations
during the late expedition under Gen. Scott, and the information
received from your Excellency and others, that I could not be
very distant from L'AngJille.—The party ieft at the road, soon
tell ip with four Warriors encamped half a mile from
the right of my line of march, killed one, and drove off the
others to ihc northward.——My fiiuaiion had now become ex
tremely critical, the wnole country to the North being in alarm
which made me greatly anxious to continue my march during the
night, but I had no path to diteft me, and it was impoflible to
keep my course, or for horsemen to march thro' a thick fwanipy
country, in utter darkness. : 1 quilted my camp on the 7th, as
soon as I could fee my way, crossed one path at three miles
distance, bearing N. E. and at seven miles I fell into another very
much used, bearing N. W. by N. which I at once adopted, as the
direfl route to my objett, and pushed forward with the utmoll
dispatch. I halted at 12 o'clock to refrtfh the horses, and exa
mmcthe men's armsand ammunition; marched again at half after
one, and at 15 miuutes before five I struck the Wabalh, at one
and a half leagues above the mouth of Eel River, being the very
spot for which I had aimed from the commencement of my march.
I crossed the river, and following the path a N. by E. courf- at
the distance of two and a half miles my reconnoitring party'an
nounced Eel River in front, and the town on the bdnk
I demounted, ran forward, and examined the fituatton of the
town as far as was practicable, without exposing myfelf, but the
whole face of the country from the Wabalh, to the margin of Eel
River, being a continued thicket of brambles, black jacks weeds
and (lirubs of different kinds, it was imooffible for me to E et a
Utisfaftory view without endangering a di'fcoverv. I immediately
determined to post two companies near the bank of the river on
polite to the town, and above the ground I then occupied to
make a detour will, Major Caldwell, and the second battalion
until I fell i.ito the Miami Trace, and by that route to cross
the river above, and gain the rear of the town, and to leave di
ctions with Major M'Dowell, who commanded the firft bat'a
ion, to he perdue until I commenced the attack, then to daJh
ffiult iV 1 r ' V ; Cr - W f " llh,S Cor P s and thc advanced guard, and
that I \ and " POn the left ' Ir > the moment
was h 8 about to put this arrangement into execution, W o"d
™! fT e 'i thjt , thei!nem >' h:,d taken th e alarm, and were
with al " rdc 'ed a general charge, which was obeyed
Dluntred rh It™" their Wa " °" r obft.e e
plun..ed through the river vith vast intrepidity. h:- ™,'
tT"CrV e andTo k nfur^ fl r^' a,nce - Si * warriors and (m
-S&w ssr-i
170
fttfe #»ptiv* rcleaM—with the'lofi of t,.-i m n ki"
wounded. 1 found this town scattered along I I Vu'* T"
full three miles, on an uneven f rubby oak barren, tirr r 7>-
alternately by bo S sa!moft irnpaflab uid iroprmoiuVk?"' -
plumb, hazle and black jacks—Motwithlbndingthefcditli ' !
if I may credit the report of the prisoners, very few wnoV.'
townefcaped ; evpe£ting a second expedition,their ur "'
generally packed up or buried. Sixu warriors had croli'vTT
Wabalh to watch the paths loading from the Ohm- t ;!
chief, with ail the prisoners, and a number of families' wjr
dig?intr a root which they substitute in the place of the
and about one hour before my arrival, all lit;- warriors '
eight, had mounted their horses and.rode up the i V" r< n , y
a l r -T-t lUi rrcii
itore, to purcnaie ammunition. —1 lr.s ammunition had
from the Miama Village that very clay, arid the fquawg ml,.,'> ' u \
me was stored about two miles from the town, i
Majoi Caldwell in quest of it, but lie failed to make any
very, altho' he fcouied the country for seven or ei lu i - i o „ 0 j
river. I encamped in the town that night, and th_ n P1
ing I cut up the com scarcely in the milk, hur.it the
mounted my young warriors, squaws and children in ;.ie b'<t
manner in my power, and leaving two infirm squaws and ach i
with a short talk (a copy of which I have the honor ;o enc c
you) I commenced my march for the Kickapoo Town in •
Prarie.—l felt my prisoners a vast incumbrance, but I was t
in force to juftify a dctachment, having barely 523 rank and ft e
and being then in the bosom of the Ountianon country, na
dred and eighty miles removed from succour, and not morei 1
one and a half days forced march from the Pattawattamecs s lld
wanefe and Delawares.
Not being able to discover any path in the dire# course to :'ie
Kickapoo Town, I marched by the road leading to Tidd- c. n »
in the hope of finding some diverging trace which might ( nour
my clefign. 1 encamped that eveningabout fix miles from Ken
apacomaqua, the Indian name for the, town I had deftrovcd jnd
marched next morning at four o'clock. Mycourle c iMtni.jed
Weft till nine o'clock, when I turned to the North \V it on a
small hunting path, and at a short distance I launched into the
boundless Prarics of the Weft, with the intention 10 j>uriue that
course, until I could strike a road which leads from ;(ie Pa : .
watamees of Lake Michigan, immediately to the town I sou it.
With this view I ptifhed forward, through bog after to ;he
saddle skirts in mud and water, and aftrr persevering for eight
hours. I found myfcjf environed on all fides with mora lies which
forbad my advancing, and at the fame time rendered it difficult
for me to extricate my little armv. The way by which we had
entered was fomuch beat and foftcned by the horses, that it wjs
almost impoflible to return by that route, and my guides pro
nounced the morass in front impsffable.—A chain of thm groves
extending in thedire&ion to the Wabafh, at this time presented
to my left, it was necefTnry I (hould gain these groves, and for
this purpose I difmountcd, went forward, and leading myborfe
through a bog to the arm-..its in mud and water, with greatdiffi.
cultv and fatigue I accomplifned my object, and changing my
course to S. by W. I regained the Tipecanoe road at five o'clock,
and encamp'd on it at 7 o'clock, after a march of thirty" miles,
which broke down several of my horses.
I am the more minute irj detailing the occurrcnccs of this day,
because thev produced the most unfavourable effe&t. 1 was in
motion at four next morning, and at eight o'clock my advanced
guard made some discoveries, which induced me to believe we
were near an Indian village, I immediately puttied that body
forward in a trot, and followed with Major Caldwell and the 2d
Battallion, leaving Major M'Dowell to take charge ot theprifon
ers. I reached Tipeeanoe at 12 o'clock, whic'i had been occupied
by the enemy, who watched my motions and abandoned ;he
place that morning. After the definition of this town in June,
last, the enemv had returned and cultivated their com and pulse,
which I found in high perfe&ion and in much greater quantity
than at L'Anguill'*. To refrtih my horses and give time to cut
down the corn, I determined to halt until the next morning and
then to resume my march to the Kickapoo Town, in the Prarie*
by the road which leads from Ouiattanon to that place. In the
course of the day I had difr.overcd some murmuring* and discon
tent among the men, which I found on enquiry to procccd from
their reludanee to advance farther into the enemy's country; this
induced me to call for a state of the horses and provisions, when
to my great mortification 270 horses were returned lame and tired,
with barely five days provisions for the men.
Under these circumstances I was compelled to abandon my df
figns upon the Kickapoos of the Prarie ; and with a degree of an
guifti not to be comprehended but by those wi o have experienced
similar difappointmcnts, I marched forward to a town ot the
lame nation, lituate about three leagues weft of Ouiattanon ; —as I
advanced to that town, the enemy made some fhewof fighting me,
but vanifiied at my approach. I destroyed this town, confining
of thirty houses, with a considerable quantity of corn in the milk,
and the fame dav I moved on to Ouiattanon, where I forded the
Wabafh, and proceeded to the site of the villages on the margin
of the Prarie, where I emcamped at 7 o'clock.—At this town and
the villages destroyed by Gen. Scott, in June, we found the corn
had been replanted, and was now in high cultivation, several fields
being well ploughed, all destroyed On the 12th, I
resumed my march, and falling into Gen. Scott's return trace, I
arrived without any material incident, at the Rapids of Ohio, on
the 21 ft inft. after a march by accurate computation, of 451 miles
from Fort Washington.
The Volunteers ot Kentucky have on this occrifion arquitfed
thcmfelves with their ufua' good condu£t, but as no opportunity
offered for individual diftin&ion, it would beunjuft to give one
the plaudits to which all have an equal title. I cannot, however,
in propriety forbear to express my warm approbation of the good
conduct of my Majors M Dowell and Caldwell, and of Col. Rus
sell, who in the chara£ler of a volunteer, without commiflion, led
my advance ; and I feel myielf under obligations to M-tjor Adair
and Capt. Parker, who a£led immediately about my person, for
tbe ferviccs they rendered me, by the moil prompt, a£live and
energetic exertions.
The services which I have been able to render, fall thortof my
wishes, my intention and expectation—but fir, when you reflect
on the canfes which checked my career, and blasted my defigus;
I flatter mytelf you will believe every thing has been done, waich
could be don.- in mv circumstances ; I have destroyed the chief
town of the Omattanon Ration, and made piiloners the Tonsaud
(ifters of the King ; I have burnt a respectable Kickapoo Village,
and cut down at lealt 430 acres of corn, chiefly in the milk, Ih e
Ouiattanons left without houlcs, home or provision, must ccafe to
war, and will find adlive employ to subsist their squaws and chil
dien during the impending winter.
Should these services secure to the country which I immediately
represented, and the corps which I had the honor to command,
the favourable conlideration of government, I {ball infer the ap
probation of my own conduct, which, added to a confcioufnels
of having done my duty, will constitute the licheft reward I can
enjoy. '
Mr. Charles Vancouvre will have the honor to deliver thi* letter
to your Exccllency, who attended me as Quartermaster to the ex
pedition and rendered me important fcrvices. He is able to g
you a fatisfaflory idea of the filiation of the country over whtC'
I pad d, and can ascertain with precision the coui fe and li e
to any point of my route. I recommend him to you as a Gene
man ot worth.
With the wannest and moll pcrfcft rcfpcft, I have the honor
to be your Excell nev's
Obliged, obedient and mod faithP 1 f rvant,
5 JA. WILKINSON.
His Excellency Major General St. Clai r,
Fort Wathington,