ins and outs in the British government. This has proved useful to that government, and may prove equally so to this, so long as it serves for a check on ambition, and no longer. Whenever it becomes the tool of ambition, by becoming corrupt, it will be prostituted to the ambitious designs of some idol chief, the balance of power in the government will be destroyed, and a despot will rise upon its ruins.

Thus balanced the parties continued until the 3d of March, 1791, when, after passing an act to augment the military establishment of the United States, Congress adjourned.

CHAPTER XXII.

INDIAN WAR.-AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT, &c.

PENDING this strife of party, and the operations of this wordy war in Congress, an Indian war opened upon the north-western frontier, which became serious, and alarming in its operations, and effects. The president had exhausted the whole field of pacific arrangements to avert this storm; but without effect, and he saw no alternative left, but the sword. Arrangements were made accordingly without delay, and a military force was sent against the settlements upon the Scioto, and Wabash Rivers, under the command of that old revolutionary veteran, Gen. Harmar.

On the 30th of September, Gen. Harmar commenced his operations from Fort Washington, at the head of about three hundred regulars, and was soon joined by the Pennsylvania, and Kentucky militia, which augmented his army to the number of about 1500 men. At the head of this force Gen. Harmar advanced into the enemy's country, and on the 15th of October, he detached Col. Harden, at the head of about 600 Kentucky militia, to advance, and reconnoitre the country, and learn the position, and views of the enemy; at the approach of this detachment the enemy set fire to their villages and fled. Gen. Harmar again detached Col. Harden, at the head of about 200 regulars, and militia, to engage the enemy if possible, and bring them to an action. This detachment fell into an Indian ambush, at the distance of about ten miles from the main army, and was routed with some loss, and the militia fled in great disorder. The regulars of the party made a brave resistance under Col. Armstrong, until 23 out of 30 were killed or wounded, and then the remaining seven secured their retreat, and returned to camp. This

check roused up the spirit of Gen. Harmar, and he commenced a general destruction of the remaining villages upon the Scioto, together with the corn, and other provisions laid in for winter; he abandoned the expedition to the Wabash, for the want of horses, and commenced a retrograde movement, in order to regain his position at Fort Washington.

tion.

Near the village of Chilicothe, Gen. Hamar again detached Col. Harden, under cover of the night, to beat up the enemy's quarters if possible, and bring them to an acCol. Harden at the head of 300 militia, supported by Maj. Wyllis, at the head of 60 regulars, and Majors Mc Millan and Fontain, obeyed the orders of the general so promptly, that they advanced into the enemy's country beyond the reach of support from the main army, where they were attacked by a large body of Indians, and at once engaged with a desperate foe. The troops, both militia and regulars, were true to themselves, and did honor to their leaders; but the conflict was unequal; the brave Majors Wyllis and Fontaine, fell early in the engagement. Col. Harden with his brave officers and soldiers, maintained the unequal combat until they were nearly surrounded by the enemy, and then made a hasty retreat to save from total ruin the scanty remnant which remained, and thus secured their retreat, and rejoined the army.

Col. Harden lost more than 200 men, with nine of his best officers, in the bloody conflict. The loss of the ene

my could not be ascertained.

The severe censure which fell upon Gen. Harmar, for sending so small a detachment in quest of the enemy, beyond the reach of his support, led him to request a court martial to investigate the measure a court was called, and after mature investigation, they acquitted the general.

Gen. Harmar returned, without further molestation, to Fort Washington, and consoled himself with the belief, that if the enemy had not felt, severely, his chastising arm, they would have given him some further trouble on his return.

The failure of this expedition led the president, under the authority on an act of Congress, to cause a body of levies to be raised for six months, under the command of a major general, and a brigadier general, for an indefinite service, to carry into effect the plans of chastising these savages into an equitable peace.

Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed to the command of this force, who had been a veteran of the revolution, and whose reputation as a man, and a soldier, stood high; Gen. St. Clair was also vested with full powers to treat with the savages, and settle a just, and equitable peace.

Things thus being arranged for the north-western expedition, the president commenced his southern tour, to pay a visit to that section of the United States, as he had done in the northern, or eastern. It was highly gratifying to the president, to find in every stage of this tour, the same cordial expressions of the most affectionate regard, esteem, and respect that had so much delighted him in his northern, or eastern tour; but what most gratified him, was the happy effects which every where resulted to these states from the federal government; the followe ing expressions in his letter of July 28th, addressed to Mr. Governeur Morris, will fully shew the feelings of the president upon this subject.

"In my late tour through the southern states, I experienced great satisfaction in seeing the good effects of the general government, in that part of the union; the people at large have felt the security which it gives, and VOL. III.

48

the equal justice which it administers to them. The farmer, the merchant, and the mechanic, have seen their several interests attended to, and from thence they unite in placing a confidence in their representatives, as well as those in whose hands the execution of the laws is placed. Industry has there taken place of idleness, and economy of dissipation; the establishment of public credit is an immense point gained in our national concerns; this I believe exceeds the expectations of the most sanguine among us, and a late instance, unparalleled in this counrty, has been given of the confidence reposed in our measures, by the rapidity with which the subscriptions to the bank of the United States, were filled. In two hours after the books were opened by the commissioners, the whole number of shares were taken up, and four thousand more applied for, than were allowed by the institution. This circumstance was not only pleasing, as it related to the confidence in the government; but also as it exhibited an unexpected proof of the resources of our citizens."

The recruiting service progressed so slowly, that the president availed himself of that part of the act of Congress, that authorised him to call a 'force, to any extent, of mounted militia, in defence of the western frontier.

Under this authority, the president sent forward two expeditions, in the course of the spring and autumn of 1791, against the Indian settlements on the Wabash, which laid waste their villages, and corn-fields; destroyed many of their warriors, and brought off many of their old men, women and children, as prisoners.

The object of this predatory warfare, was to compel the enemy to settle a just and equitable peace. But such was the distance, as well as the difficulties to be overcome, that no decisive operations took place, and no real good