Seneca chief Cornplanter meets with
George Washington.
Cornplanter and several other Seneca leaders travel
to Philadelphia to see President George Washing-
ton. During their meeting, Cornplanter complains
of the dubious tactics used to obtain Seneca land
cessions during the negotiation of the Treaty of
Fort Stanwix (see entry for OCTOBER 22, 1784).
He claims that negotiators acted “as if our want of
strength had destroyed our rights” and asks rhe-
torically, “Were the terms dictated to us by your
commissioners reasonable and just?” The encounter
likely influenced Washington to urge future nego-
tiators to deal with Indians honestly.
August 7
Creek leaders sign the Treaty of
New York.
At the invitation of George Washington, a del-
egation of 26 Creek leaders led by Alexander
McGillivray (see entry for JUNE 1, 1784) travels
to New York, where they negotiate a treaty with
the United States. In the agreement, the Creek
representatives cede about 3 million acres of hunt-
ing territory and promise that the Creek and their
Seminole relatives will turn over to federal officials
any runaway slaves in their villages. In exchange,
the United States guarantees to protect Creek land
from invasion and gives the Creek the right to
punish white trespassers as they see fit. During the
meeting, McGillivray also persuades the American
negotiators to make him a brigadier general in the
U.S. Army and permit him to import goods with-
out paying duties on them.
The Treaty of New York is the greatest triumph
of McGillivray’s career as a diplomat. The federal
government’s treaty promise to protect the Creek
from white encroachment at least for the time being
blocks Georgia’s efforts to take over Creek territory.
It allows McGillivray to control Creek trade, which
helps solidify his authority within the tribe. (See
also entry for FEBRUARY 27, 1793.)
OctoberLittle Turtle’s force defeats troops led by
Josiah Harmar.
The Shawnee, Miami, Potawatomi, and Ojibway
living north of the Ohio River continue to resist
American settlement in their lands, which the United
States has supposedly purchased by the terms of the
Treaty of Fort Harmer (see entry for JANUARY 9,
1789). To force the Indians to abide by the treaty,
President George Washington sends Brigadier Gen-
eral Josiah Harmar and 1,400 troops to the region.
When Harmar’s troops reach the Indians’ terri-
tory, they are lured into thick forests by fires, believing
that the Indians have set their villages ablaze before
fleeing. The fires, however, were purposely set by the
Indians as a trick. In the forests, the warriors set upon
the unsuspecting soldiers and surround them. Nearly
200 are killed before the Indians’ leader, the Miami
war chief Little Turtle, allows the others to escape.
Because of the defeat, Washington removes Harmar
from his command and replaces him with General
Arthur St. Clair (see entry for NOVEMBER 4, 1791).
(See also entry for AUGUST 20, 1794.)1791November 4Little Turtle’s warriors are victorious at the
Battle of the Wabash.
After Brigadier General Josiah Harmar’s defeat by
Little Turtle’s warriors (see entry for OCTOBER 1790),
approximately 2,000 American troops, many badly
trained and ill equipped, are sent out to attack the In-
dians. They are led by General Arthur St. Clair, the
governor of the Northwest Territories. By the time St.
Clair’s forces approach the Indians encampments on
the Wabash River, many of his men have deserted be-
cause of lack of supplies and rations.
The Indian warriors strike first, in a dawn
attack. In the three-hour battle, they kill 600 sol-
diers—almost half of St. Clair’s men—and wound
more than 300 more. The Indians, in contrast, have