men composing the escort were killed and one wounded. The provisions fell into the hands of the Indians. The regiment of Kentucky volunteers, under the command of Colonel Wilcox, remained at Fort Harrison. The two regiments of Indiana militia, and the three companies of rangers, which had marched to the relief of the fort, returned to Vincennes."

In this connection we do not enter into any account of General Harrison's second campaign against the British and Indians in the war of 1812, partly because that part of the war which directly concerns Indiana is noticed in the history of the county where it took place, and partly because we desire to include in this volume only the history of Indiana, and not the history of the States around it.

CHAPTER XV.

CIVIL MATTERS.

HE history of the Indiana territory closes with an account of the administration of Acting Governor Gibson, and Governor Posey. William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the territory at its organization, in 1800, but in 1812, owing to General Harrison's absence on military duty, the functions of the executive devolved on John Gibson, the secretary of the territory.

On the first of February, 1813, the legislature of the territory was convened at Vincennes. In his message on the occasion, General Gibson used the following language: "The Governor of the territory having been for some time absent from us, the gubernatorial functions consequently devolving upon, have been exercised by me. In my discharge of this important trust, I have been actuated by none other than a wish to preserve public rights and protect private property. If I have, at any time, failed in my official duties, or erred in

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my plans, you must attribute in to the head and not the heart. My address to you, gentlemen, shall be laconic, for I am not an orator, nor accustomed to set speeches; and did I possess the abilities of Cicero or Demosthenes, I could not portray in

more glowing colors, our foreign and domestic political situation, than it is already experienced within our own breasts. The United States have been latterly compelled, by frequent acts of injustice, to declare war against England. I say com

pelled; for I am convinced, from the pacific and agricultural disposition of her citizens, that it must be a case of the last necessity that would induce such a measure. For the detailed causes of the war, I beg leave to refer you, gentlemen, to the message of his excellency, the President, to Congress, at the commencement of the present session. It is highly worthy

the serious perusal of the sage and the patriot. It does honor to the head and heart of Mr. Madison. Although I am not an admirer of wars in the general, yet, as we are now engaged in a necessary and justifiable one, I can exultingly say that I am happy to see, in my advanced days, our little but inimitable navy riding triumphant on the seas; but chagrined to find that our armies by land are so little successful. The spirit of "76 appears to have fled from our continent; or, if not fled, is at least asleep, for it appears not to pervade our armies generally. On the contrary, lassitude-and, too often, schismshave crept in and usurped the place of patriotic ardor.

"At your last assemblage, gentlemen, our political horizon seemed clear; our infant territory bid fair for rapid and rising grandeur; our population was highly flattering; our citizens were becoming prosperous and happy; and security dwelt everywhere, even on our frontiers. But, alas! the scene has changed; and whether this change, as it respects our territory, has been owing to an over anxiety in us to extend our dominions, or to a wish for retaliation by our foes, or to a foreign influence, I shall not pretend to decide. But that there is a

change, and that, too, a distressing one, is evident. For the aboriginees, our former neighbors and friends, have become our most inveterate foes. They have drawn the scalping knife and raised the tomahawk; and shouts of savage fury are heard at our threshholds. Our former frontiers are now our wilds, and our inner settlements have become frontiers. Some of our best citizens, and old men worn down with age, and helpless women, and innocent babes, have fallen victims to savage cruelty. Our citizens, even in our towns, have frequent alarms and constant apprehensions as to their preservation. I have not been inattentive to my duty, gentlemen; but have hitherto, and shall continue to exert every nerve to afford to our

citizens all possible protection; and it is to be hoped that the all-wise and powerful Creator and Governor of the Universe will not forget his people, but cover us from our savage and sanguinary foe by His benign interposition."

During the session the seat of government of the territory was declared to be at Corydon. This session was prorogued by Governor Gibson to meet at Corydon, the new capital, on on the first Monday of December, 1813. During this year the territory was almost defenseless. Indian outrages were of common occurrence, but no general outbreak was experienced. The militiamen that were called into service during this year were each armed with a rifle and a long knife, and many of the rangers carried tomahawks.

In 1813, Mr. Thomas Posey, who was at that time a senator in Congress from the State of Tennessee, and who had been an officer of the army of the Revolution, was appointed Governor of the territory of Indiana, to succeed General Harrison. The new Governor arrived at Vincennes, and entered upon the discharge of his official duties, on the twenty-fifth of May, 1813. During this year there were several expeditions set on foot in the Indiana territory, against the Indian settlements, but these will be considered so fully in the SECOND PART of this work as to make a reference to them here inexpedient. The general assembly of the Indiana territory met at Corydon, in December, 1813, where the new Governor delivered his first message, in which he remarked: "The present crisis is awful, and big with great events. Our land and nation is involved in the common calamity of war. But we are under the protecting care of the benificent Being, who has, on a former occasion, brought us safely through an arduous struggle and placed us on a foundation of independence, freedom, and happiness, He will not suffer to be taken from us what he, in his great wisdom, has thought proper to confer and bless us with, if we make a wise and virtuous use of his good gifts. ** Although our affairs, at the commencement of the war, wore gloomy aspect, they have brightened, and promised a certainty of success, if properly directed and conducted, of which I have no doubt; as the president and heads of departments of the

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General Government are men of undoubted patriotism, talents and experience, and who have grown old in the service of their country. ** * It must be obvious to every thinking man,

that we were forced into the war. Every measure consistent with honor, both before and since the declaration of war, has tried to be on amicable terms with our enemy. * * * You