tain hours and places. Passed at Vincennes, the fourth day of August, in the year of Christ, 1790."

The preamble and first section of this act are in the words following, viz:-"Whereas the population, happiness and prosperity of all countries, especially infant communities, necessarily depend upon the sobriety and industry of the people, and their attention to the moral and political duties of life, without which neither the great ends of society can be answered, nor the blessings of good government be felt: And whereas many pernicious games have been publicly practiced in this territory, tending to the corruption of morals, and the increase of vice and idleness, and by which the honest and unsuspecting citizen may be defrauded, and deserving families be reduced to beggary and want: Section 1. Be it, therefore, enacted, That if any person or persons within this territory, shall on his, her, or their account, or on the account of any other person or persons, publicly set up, permit, or suffer, or cause or procure to be publicly set up, permitted, or suffered, any species of gaming, play, or pastime whatever, whereby money or other property, shall be betted, won, or lost, or by reason whereof the person so publicly permitting the same, shall or may derive any benefit or advantage, in money, goods, or other property, as a consideration for permission to play or bet thereat, each and every person so offending shall forfeit and pay for every such offense of which he or she shall be convicted, the sum of two hundred dollars, to be recovered with costs, by information, indictment, or action of debt, in any court of record where the same shall be cognizable."

On the 23d of July, 1790, Mr. Sargent received from the principal inhabitants of Vincennes, the following communication:

VINCENNES, July 23, 1790.

"To the honorable Winthrop Sargent, esquire, secretary of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, and now vested with all the powers of governor and commander-in-chief thereof:

"The citizens of the town of Vincennes approach you, sir, to express as well their personal respect for your honor, as their full approbation of the measures you have been pleased to pursue in regard to their government, and the adjustment of their claims, as inhabitants of the territory over which you

GRATULATION OF THE PEOPLE OF VINCENNES. 237

at present preside. While we deem it a singular blessing to behold the principles of free government unfolding among us, we cherish the pleasing reflection that our posterity will also have cause to rejoice at the political change now originating. A free and efficient government, wisely administered, and fostered under the protecting wings of an august union of States, can not fail to render the citizens of this wide extended territory securely happy in the possession of every public blessing.

"We can not take leave sir, without offering to your notice a tribute of gratitude and esteem, which every citizen of Vincennes conceives he owes to the merits of an officer [Major Hamtramck] who has long commanded at this post. The unsettled situation of things, for a series of years previous to this gentleman's arrival, tended in many instances to derange, and in others to suspend, the operations of those municipal customs by which the citizens of this town were used to be governed. They were in the habit of submitting the superintendence of their civil regulations to the officer who happened to command the troops posted among them. Hence, in the course of the late war, and from the frequent change of masters, they labored under heavy and various grievances. But the judicious and humane attention paid by Major Hamtramck, during his whole command, to the rights and feelings of every individual craving his interposition, demands, and will always receive, our warmest acknowledgments.

"We beg you, sir, to assure the supreme authority of the United States of our fidelity and attachment; and that our greatest ambition is to deserve its fostering care, by acting the part of good citizens.

"By order, and on behalf, of the citizens of Vincennes.

FRANCIS VIGO, Major Commd't of Militia,

HENRY VANDERBURGH, Major of Militia."

The civil and military officers who signed the foregoing communication, received the following answer from Mr. Sargent:

"VINCENNES, July 25th, 1790.

"Gentlemen: Next to that happiness which I derive from a consciousness of endeavoring to merit the approbation of the sovereign authority of the United States by a faithful discharge of the important trusts committed to me, is the grateful plaudit of the respectable citizens of this territory: and be assured, gentlemen, that I receive it from the town of Vincennes, upon this occasion, with singular satisfaction.

"In an event so interesting and important to every individual as is the organization of civil government, I regret exceedingly that you have been deprived of the wisdom of our worthy governor. His extensive abilities, and long experience in the honorable walks of public life, might have more perfectly established that system which promises to you and posterity such political blessings. It is certain, gentlemen, that the government of the United States is most congenial to the dignity of human nature, and the best possible palladium for the lives and property of mankind. The services of Major Hamtramck to the public, and his humane attention to the citizens while in command here, have been highly meritorious; and it is with great pleasure that I have officially expressed to him my full approbation thereof.

"Your dutiful sentiments of fidelity and attachment to the general government of the United States, shall be faithfully transmitted to their august president.

"With the warmest wishes for the prosperity and welfare of Vincennes, I have the honor to be, gentlemen,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

WINTHROP SARGENT.”

DURING the spring and summer of the year 1790, numerous small parties of Indians continued to wage an irregular war against emigrating families and settlers, along the borders of the river Ohio, from its mouth to the neighborhood of Pittsburg. Many emigrants, while they were descending the river in boats, were attacked and killed, or taken and carried into captivity. In a letter, dated "Lexington, [Ky.,] 7th April, 1790," Brigadier-general James Wilkinson wrote to General Harmar, as follows:-"I write to you, at the public request, on a subject deeply interesting to Kentucky, our national honor, and to humanity. For more than one month past, a party of savages has occupied the northwestern bank of the Ohio, a few miles above the mouth of the Scioto, whence they make attacks upon every boat which passes, to the destruction of much property, the loss of many lives, and the great annoyance of all intercourse from the northward. By very recent accounts, we are apprised that they still continue in force at that point, and that their last attack was made against five boats, one of which they captured. It is the general, and I conceive a wellfounded opinion, that if this party is not dislodged and dispersed, the navigation of the Ohio must cease. In a case so very critical, the people of this district conceive themselves justified in appealing to arms, because their dearest interests, and the lives of their brethren, are at hazard; but being extremely unwilling to proceed, except in a legal, regular, and authorized way, they call upon you for your advice, succor, and assistance, in the hope and the expectation, that you will be able to coöperate, with a detachment of the troops under your command, and carry an immediate expedition against the before-mentioned party of savages, from Limestone,* where it is proposed to rendezvous a body of militia volunteers."

*Maysville, Kentucky.

On the 18th of April, 1790, General Harmar, (at the head of one hundred regular troops and about two hundred and thirty volunteers from Kentucky, under the command of General Charles Scott,) marched from Limestone, for the purpose of making a circuitous route, by striking the Scioto at a point several miles up that river, and marching thence to its mouth, in order, if possible, to intercept some of the hostile Indians. On this expedition, four Indians were discovered, and killed, and scalped, by a small detachment of the militia under General Scott. In a letter, dated "June 9th, 1790," and addressed to the Secretary of War, General Harmar said: "At the solicitation of the inhabitants of Kentucky, I was induced to endeavor to break up a nest of vagabond Indians, who had infested the river, and seemed to make it an object to establish themselves near the mouth of the Scioto, in order to interrupt the navigation of the Ohio, and to plunder and murder the emigrants. I am sorry that my endeavors were unsuccessful, as the villains had retreated. Wolves might as well have been pursued. Every exertion in my power was made without effect. *** On the first day's march, four moccasin tracks were discovered. General Scott detached a small party of horsemen, who fell in with the savages, killed them, and brought the four scalps into Limestone."

When Governor St. Clair arrived at Fort Washington, from Kaskaskia, he determined, after consulting with General Harmar, to send a strong expedition against the Indian towns about the headwaters of the river Wabash. Being vested with authority, by the President of the United States, to call for one thousand militia from Virginia, and five hundred from Pennsylvania, he addressed circular letters, on the 15th of July, 1790, to several of the county lieutenants of the western counties of those States. Virginia, of which Kentucky then formed a part, was called upon to furnish the following numbers of men: