A Treaty of Peace [Treaty of Greenville]. Fort Greenville, [in present day Ohio]. August 3, 1795. From the Lewis Cass Papers.
Contents
Case 1: Early Encounters - Before 1600
Case 2: Early Encounters - Samuel de Champlain
Case 3: Early Encounters - Early British and Native American Interactions
Case 4: William Penn's Treaty with the Lenni Lenape Indians
Case 6: Sacred Objects, Instruments of Negotiation, and Commodities
Case 7: Land Speculation and the Northwest Passage
Case 9: 18th Century Conflicts
Case 12: The Dakota War of 1862
Case 14: Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin) Texts
Case 16: Recent Library Acquisitions
Indian Queens and Indian Princesses: Allegorical Representations of America
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A Treaty of Peace, between the United States of America and the Tribes of Indians called the Wyandot’s, Delaware’s, Shawanoe’s, Ottawa’s, Chipewa’s, Putawatime’s, Miami’s, Eel River, Weea’s & Kickapoa’s.
To put an end to a destructive War, to settle all controversies and to restore harmony and a friendly intercourse between the said United States and the Indian Tribes, Anthony Wayne, Major General, commanding the Army of the United States & sole Commissioner for the good purposes abovementioned, and the said Tribes of Indians by their Sachem’s, Chief’s, and Warriors, met together at GreeneVille, the Head Quarters of the said Army, have agreed on the following Articles, which when ratified by the President with the advice & consent of the Senate of the United States, shall be binding on them and the said Indian Tribes.
Article 1st;
Henceforth all hostilities shall cease; peace is hereby established, & shall be perpetual; and a friendly intercourse shall take place, between the said United States and Indian Tribes.
Article 2nd;
All prisoners shall on both sides be restored, The Indians, prisoners to the United States shall be immediately set at liberty; The people of the United States still remaining prisoners among
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the Indians, shall be delivered up in ninety days from the date hereof to the General, or commanding Officer at GreeneVille, Fort Wayne or Fort Defiance, and ten chiefs of the said Tribes shall remain at GreeneVille as hostages, until the delivery of the prisoners shall be effected.
Article 3d;
The general boundary line between the lands of the United States and the lands of the said Indian Tribes, shall begin at the mouth of Cayahoga River & run thence up the same to the portage between that and the Tuscarrawa’s branch of the Muskingum, then down that branch to the crossing place above Fort Lawrence, thence westerly to a fork of that branch of the Great Miami River running into the Ohio, at, or near which fork stood Loromies Store, and where commences the portage between the Miami of the Ohio, & St Marys River which is a branch of the Miami which runs into Lake Erie, thence a Westerly course to Fort Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash, then Southwesterly in a direct line to the Ohio, so as to intersect that River opposite the mouth of Kentucke or Cuttawa River.
And in consideration of the peace now established, of the Goods formerly received from the United States, – of those now to be delivered, and of the yearly delivery of Goods now stipulated to be made hereafter; and to indemnify the United States for the injuries & expences they have sustained during the War; the said Indian tribes do hereby cede & relinquish for ever all their claims to the Lands lying Eastwardly and Southward of the general boundary line now described; and those lands or any part of them, shall never hereafter be made a cause or pretence, on the part of the said Tribes, or any of them, of War or injury to The United States……….. Or
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or any of the people thereof.
And for the same considerations and as an evidence of the returning friendship of the said Indian Tribes, of their confidence in the United States, and desire to provide for their accomodation & for that convenient intercourse which will be beneficial to both parties, the said Indian Tribes do also cede to the United States the following pieces of Land; to wit, (1) one piece of land six miles square at or near Loromies store, beforementioned. (2) one piece two miles square at the head of the Navigable Water or landing on the St. Mary’s River near Girtys Town, (3) one piece six miles square at the head of the Navigable water of the Auglaize River. (4) one piece six miles square at the confluence of Auglaize & Miami Rivers where Fort Defiance now stands, (5) One piece six miles square at or near the confluence of the Rivers St. Marys & St. Josephs where Fort Wayne now stands or near it, (6) One piece two miles square on the Wabash River at the end of the portage from the Miami of the lake, and about eight miles westward from Fort Wayne, (7) One piece six miles square at the Ouatonon, or old Weea towns on the Wabash River, (8) One piece twelve miles square at the British Fort on the Miami of the Lake, at the foot of the rapids, (9) One piece six miles square at the mouth of the said River where it empties into the Lake, (10) One piece six miles square upon Sandusky lake, where a Fort formerly stood. (11) One piece two miles square at the lower rapids of Sandusky River. (12) The Post of Detroit and all the land to the North, the West, and the South of it, of which, the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or English Governments; and so much more land to be annexed to the District of Detroit, as shall be comprehended between the River Rosine on the South, Lake St. Clair on the North and a line the general course whereof shall be six miles distant from the West end of Lake Erie and Detroit River, (13) The post of Michilimackinac, and all the land on the Island on which that post stands, and the main land adjacent, of which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts
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or grants to the French or English Governments, and a piece of land on the Main to the North of the Island to measure six miles on Lake Huron, or the streight between Lakes Huron and Michigan and to extend three miles back from the Water of the lake or Streight; And also the Island of de Bois Blanche, being an extra and voluntary gift of the Chipawa Nation. (14) One piece of land six miles square at the mouth of Chikago River emptying into the S.W. end of lake Michigan where a fort formerly stood, (15) One piece twelve miles square at or near the mouth of the Illinois River emptying into the Mississippi. (16) One piece six miles square at the Old Pioria’s Fort & Village near the South end of the Illinois Lake on said Illinois River.
And whenever the United States shall think proper to survey and mark the boundaries of the lands hereby ceded to them, they shall give timely notice thereof to the said Tribes of Indians, that they may appoint some of their Wise Chiefs to attend and see that the lines are run according to the Terms of this Treaty.
And the said Indian Tribes will allow to the people of the people of the United States a free passage by Land and by Water, as one and the other shall be found convenient, thro’ their Country along the chain of posts herein beforementioned, that is to say, from the commencement of the portage aforesaid, at or near Loromies Store, thence along said portage to the St. Mary’s, and down the same to Fort Wayne, and then down the Miami to Lake Erie, again from the commencement of the portage at or near Loramies Store along the portage from thence to the River AuGlaize and down the same to its Junction with the Miami at Fort Defiance. Again from the commencement of the Portage aforesaid, to Sandusky River and down the same to Sandusky bay & Lake Erie
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and from Sandusky to the Post which shall be taken at or near the foot of the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake; and from thence to Detroit; again from the mouth of Chikago, to the commencement of the Portage between that River & the Illinois, and down the Illinois River to the Mississippi. also from Fort Wayne along the portage aforesaid which leads to the Wabash and then down the Wabash to the Ohio.
And the said Indian Tribes will also allow to the People of the United States the free use of the harbours and mouths of Rivers along the Lakes adjoining the Indian lands for sheltering vessels and Boats, & liberty to land their cargoes where necessary for their safety.
Article 4th: In consideration of the peace now established and of the cessions and relinquishments of Lands made in the preceding Article by the said Tribes of Indians & to manifest the liberality of the United States, as the great means of rendering this peace strong & perpetual, the United States relinquish their claims to all other Indian lands northward of the River Ohio, Eastward of the Mississippi and Westward & Southward of the Great Lakes and the waters uniting them, according to the boundary line agreed on by the United States and the King of Great Britain, in the treaty of Peace made between them in the year 1783. But from this relinquishment by the United States, the following tracts of land are explicitly excepted,
1st: The Tract of 150.000. acres near the rapids of the River Ohio, which has been assigned to General Clark, for the use of himself, and his Warriors.
2d: The Post of St. Vincennes on the River Wabash & the lands Adjacent, of which the Indian title has been extinguished.
3d: The lands at all other places in posession of the French people & other white settlers among them, of which the Indian title has been extinguished as mentioned in the 3d. Article. And…………………………4th.
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4th: The post of Fort Massac towards the mouth of the Ohio; To which several parcels of land so excepted, the said tribes relinquish all the title & claim which they or any of them may have.
And for the same considerations & with the same views, as abovementioned, the United States now deliver to the said Indian Tribes a quantity of Goods to the value of Twenty thousand Dollars the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, and henceforward every year for ever the United States will deliver at some convenient place northward of the River Ohio, like usefull Goods, suited to the circumstances of the Indians of the value of Nine thousand five hundred Dollars, reckoning that value at the first cost of the Goods in the City or place in the United States where they shall be procured. The tribes to which these Goods are to be annually delivered & the proportions in which they are to be delivered are the following
1. To the Wyandots, the amount of One thousand Dollars
2. To the Delawares, the amount of One thousand Dollars
3. To the Shawanoes, the amount of One thousand Dollars
4. To the Miamis, the amount of One thousand Dollars
5. To the Ottawa’s, the amount of One thousand Dollars
6. To the Chipewas, the amount of One thousand Dollars
7. To the Putawatimes, the amount of One thousand Dollars
8. To the Kickapoo, Weea, Eel River, Piankashaw & Kaskaskeas tribes, the amount of five hundred dollars each tribe.
Provided, that if either of the said tribes shall hereafter at an annual delivery of their share of the Goods aforesaid, desire that a part of their annuity should be furnished in domestic animals, implements of husbandry and other Utensils convenient for them, & in compensation to useful artificers who may reside with, or near them, and
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be employed for their benefit, the same shall at the subsequent annual deliveries be furnished accordingly.
Article, 5th: To prevent any misunderstanding about the Indian lands relinquished by the United States in the fourth article, it is now explicitly declared that the meaning of that relinquishment is this. The Indian Tribes who have a right to those lands are quietly to enjoy them; hunting planting and dwelling thereon so long as they please without any molestation by the United States. But when those tribes or any of them shall be disposed to sell their Lands or any part of them, they are to be sold only to the United States, and until such sale the U:States will protect all the said Indian Tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their Lands against all Citizens of the United States and against all other white persons who intrude upon the same. And the said Indian Tribes again acknowledge themselves to be under the protection of the said United States and no other power whatever.
Article, 6th: If any Citizen of the United States or any other white person or persons, shall presume to settle upon the lands now relinquished by the U:States, such Citizen or other person shall be out of the protection of the U:S. and the Indian tribe on whose land the settlement shall be made may drive off the setler, or punish him in such manner as they shall think fit. and because such settlements made without the consent of the U:States will be injurious to them as well as to the Indians, The United States shall be at liberty to break them up & remove & punish the settlers as they shall think proper & so effect that protection of the Indian Lands herein before stipulated.
Article. 7th: The said tribes of Indians parties to this treaty shall be at liberty to hunt within the Territory & lands which they have now ceded
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to the United States without hindrance or molestation, so long as they demean themselves peaceably & offer no injury to the people of the U:States.
Article. 8th: Trade shall be opened with the said Indian Tribes and they do hereby respectively engage to afford protection to such persons with their property as shall be duly licensed to reside among them for the purpose of trade & to their Agents & Servants, but no person shall be permitted to reside at any of their towns or hunting Camps as a trader who is not furnished with a license for that purpose under the hand and Seal of the Superintendant of the Department North West of the Ohio, or such other person as the President of the U. States shall authorize to grant such Licences, to the end, that the said Indians may not be imposed on in their trade. and if any licensed trader shall abuse his priviledge by unfair dealing, upon complaint & proof thereof, his licence shall be taken from him, and he shall be further punished according to the laws of the United States, and if any person shall intrude himself as a trader without such license the said Indians shall take & bring him before the Superintendant or his Deputy, to be dealt with according to law. And to prevent impositions by forged licenses, the said Indians shall at least once a year give information to the Superintendant or his deputies, of the Names of the traders residing among them.
Article, 9th: Lest the firm peace & friendship now established should be interrupted by the misconduct of Individuals, The U:States and the said Indian tribes agree, that for injuries done by Individuals on either side, no private revenge or retaliation shall take place; but instead thereof complaint shall be made by the party injured to the other,
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By the said Indian tribes or any of them, to the President of the United States, or the Superintendant by him appointed; and by the Superintendant or other person appointed by the President, to the Principal Chiefs of the said Indian tribes, or of the tribe to which the Offender belongs, and such prudent measures shall then be pursued as shall be necessary to preserve the said peace and friendship unbroken, until the Legislature (or Great Council) of the U:States shall make other equitable provision in the Case, to the satisfaction of both parties. ” Should any Indian tribes meditate a war against the U:States, or either of them, and the same shall come to the Knowledge of the beforementioned tribes, or either of them, them do hereby engage to give immediate notice thereof to the General or Officer commanding the Troops of the U:States at the nearest post. and, should any tribe with hostile intentions against the United States or either of them, attempt to pass thro’ their Country, they will endeavour to prevent the same; and in like manner give information of such attempt to the General or Officer commanding, as soon as possible, that all causes of mistrust & suspicion may be avoided between them and the United States; In like manner the United States shall give notice to the said Indian Tribes of any harm that may be meditated against them, or either of them that shall come to their knowledge, and do all in their power to hinder and prevent the same; that the friendship between them may be uninterrupted.
Article. 10th. All other Treaties heretofore made between the United States and the said Indian Tribes, or any of them since the treaty of 1783 between the United States and Great Britain, that come within the purview of this treaty, shall henceforth cease and become void.
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In testimony whereof the said Anthony Wayne, and the Sachems, and War Chiefs of the beforementioned Nations and Tribes of Indians have hereunto set their hands and affixed their Seals. Done at GreeneVille in the Territory of the United States North west of the River Ohio, on the third day of August, One thousand seven hundred & ninety five.
In Presence of-
[Names and marks (copies) of U.S. constituents, interpreters, and representatives from the Delaware and Wyandot tribes]
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[Names and marks (copies) of representatives from the Potawatomi, Miami, Eel River, Wea, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Shawnee tribes]
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[Names and marks (copies) of representatives from the Kickapoo and Delaware tribes]
I Certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original treaty.
H De Butts.
Secretary
Head Quarters
Greeneville 9. August. 1795