Unholy Alliance with Delaware Indians Concluded at Fort Pitt, September 21, 1778

When General Lachlan McIntosh was sent to relieve General Edward Hand at Fort Pitt it was expected that the frontiers would be made safe, as General Washington ordered the Eighth Pennsylvania and the Thirteenth Virginia detached from Valley Forge and marched to the Western post.

The plan of General McIntosh was to attack Detroit, which involved a march of 300 miles through a wilderness inhabited by savages, most of whom were hostile to the American cause. This army must be carried far from its base of supplies, and Fort Pitt was never strong. This was a stupendous enterprise.

The Delaware tribe, who had removed from the central part of Pennsylvania, were now living on the Tuscarawas and the Muskingum, and were the only Indians who had maintained neutrality between the Colonists and the British.

White Eyes, the head sachem and the greatest chieftain ever produced by this remarkable Indian nation, was devoted to the American cause. He revealed a spirit of intelligent sympathy with the struggle for liberty and even hoped that a Delaware Indian State might form a fourteenth star in the American Union.

Preparations were made for a formal treaty of alliance, and June, 1778, Congress ordered it to be held at Fort Pitt July 23 following, and requested Virginia to name two Commissioners and Pennsylvania one.

On account of the Continental troops being too far distant the treaty was postponed until September.

Colonel Brodhead and the Eighth Pennsylvania, which had been recruited in Western Pennsylvania, reached Fort Pitt September 10, 1778. Already the Delaware Indians were encamped near the shore 655of the river a short distance above the fort. Two days later the conference began.

This was probably the most remarkable treaty ever made in the interest of the United States.

By this treaty, the United States entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with a tribe of savage Indians, recognizing them as an independent nation, guaranteeing its integrity and territory. Each party bound itself to assist the other against enemies.

The treaty even contained a provision for the admission of an Indian State into the American Union. The Commissioners certainly knew this was impossible, yet they deliberately provided for it in solemn treaty, taking care, however, to subject the scheme to the approval of Congress.

In present day parlance it was a “gold brick,” the white men handed to their red brethren.

On the other hand, it was a most courageous act upon the part of the Delaware tribe to form this alliance with the Americans, as all the other Indian tribes of the West were in league with the British, and had for months been trying to persuade the Delaware to join them.

In that alliance White Eyes exposed his people to absolute destruction by the British and their red allies. He fully realized his danger, yet he had the courage to do what he believed to be the right thing, and he fell a martyr to his convictions.

The Shawnee were invited into the alliance, but made no response. At the treaty the Delaware deputies were White Eyes, the chief sachem; Killbuck, a famous medicine man and war chief, and Pipe, the chief warrior of the Wolf clan. All were attired in holiday regalia, paint, feathers and beads.

On the part of the Americans were General McIntosh and his colonels and staff officers. The interpreter was Job Chilloway, the noted Delaware Indian, who resided on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, and who was ever the true friend of the whites. Soldiers patrolled the parade ground or stood about watching the unusual scene.

General Andrew Lewis, one of the Virginia Commissioners, opened the conference on Saturday morning by presenting a belt of white wampum, and praising the Delaware tribesmen because they alone remained faithful to their treaties. He then presented a broad belt which had the wampum so arranged that it depicted a red man and a white man connected by a black line, denoting a road or path. He then proposed a formal alliance, giving a third belt, showing a white man and an Indian clasping hands.

General Lewis stated the intention of sending an army against Detroit and asked permission of the Delaware Indians for passage through their country.

656Chief White Eyes gave thanks for the offer of friendship and alliance. He told them it was to form such an alliance that he and his comrades had come to the council. He promised a prompt consultation and an answer in the afternoon. He was the only Indian who spoke at the conference.

The arrival of another delegation of Indians consumed much time. The new arrivals were led by Wingenund, the Delaware wise man, and Nimwha, chief of the small band of the Shawnee, who lived with the Delaware at Coshocton.

The conference was resumed in the morning, when White Eyes announced the readiness of the Indians to accept the alliance. The Commissioners announced they would submit copy of the treaty in writing.

White Eyes then said: “Brothers, we are become one people. The enemy Indians, as soon as they hear it, will strike us. We desire that our brethren would build some place for our old men, women and children to remain in safety whilst our warriors go with you.”

On Monday the articles of confederation between a civilized and a savage nation were interpreted and explained to the Indians. On Wednesday White Eyes accepted the treaty on behalf of the Delaware and the Shawnee.

On the following day the articles of confederation were signed in triplicate, one copy for Congress, one for the Delaware, and one for General McIntosh. There were six articles:

First, all offenses were to be mutually forgiven; second, a perpetual peace was pledged; third, the Delaware assented to passages through their country for American Army and agreed to sell corn, meat and horses to the army and to furnish guides, while the Americans agreed to erect a garrison, within the Delaware country, a fort for the protection of the old men, women and children; fourth, related to punishment for offenses only by trial by judges of both parties, etc.; fifth, the United States pledged the establishment of a fair trade under the control of an honest agent.

The sixth article was the most remarkable of all. It guaranteed the integrity of the Delaware territory so long as the nation should keep peace with the United States, promised the Delaware nation should have a representative in Congress, etc. All these articles were contingent upon the proviso that “it meets with the approval of Congress.”

On the succeeding day, September 21, presents were given to the Delaware on behalf of Congress and the Indians then departed for Coshocton, to make preparations for joining the expedition against Detroit.

Chief White Eyes was treacherously killed; the soldiers spent the winter in the wilderness, where many hardships were endured, and the expedition proved a failure.

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