proved an
over-match for him, threw him on the ground, and, in the struggle, the
mother of the children drew an ax from a corner of the cottage, and
cut his head off, while her little daughter shut the door. The savages
instantly appeared, and applied their tomahawks to the door. An old
rusty gun-barrel, without a lock, lay in a corner, which the mother put
through a small crevice, and the savages, perceiving it, fled. In the
mean time, the alarm spread through the neighbourhood; the armed men
collected immediately, and pursued the ravagers into the wilderness.
Thus Providence, by the means of this Negro, saved the whole of the poor
family from destruction. From that time, until the happy return of
peace between the United States and Great-Britain, the Indians did us
no mischief. Finding the great king beyond the water disappointed in
his expectations, and conscious of the importance of the Long Knife, and
their own wretchedness, some of the nations immediately desired peace;
to which, at present, they seem universally disposed, and are sending
ambassadors to General Clark, at the Falls of the Ohio, with the minutes
of their Councils, a specimen of which, in the minutes of the Piankashaw
Council, is subjoined.

To conclude, I can now say that I have verified the saying of an old
Indian who signed Col. Henderson's deed. Taking me by the hand, at the
delivery thereof, Brother, says he, we have given you a fine land, but
I believe you will have much trouble in settling it.--My footsteps have
often been marked with blood, and therefore I can truly subscribe to its
original name. Two darling sons, and a brother, have I lost by savage
hands, which have also taken from me forty valuable horses, and
abundance of cattle. Many dark and sleepless nights have I been a
companion for owls, separated from the chearful society of men, scorched
by the Summer's sun, and pinched by the Winter's cold, an instrument
ordained to settle the wilderness. But now the scene is changed: Peace
crowns the sylvan shade.

What thanks, what ardent and ceaseless thanks are due to that
all-superintending Providence which has turned a cruel war into peace,
brought order out of confusion, made the fierce savages placid, and
turned away their hostile weapons from our country! May the same
Almighty Goodness banish the accursed monster, war, from all lands,
with her hated associates, rapine and insatiable ambition. Let peace,
descending from her native he