Skirmishes around Vincennes (1786) facts for kids

During the start of the Northwest Indian War (1786–1795), there were many small fights, called skirmishes, around Vincennes in 1786. These fights happened between American settlers and Native Americans near Vincennes. Vincennes was a frontier town located on the Wabash River.

After the American Revolutionary War, many American pioneers moved into this area. This created problems and tension with the Native people who already lived there.

On April 15, 1786, American militiamen from Vincennes responded to an attack on a boat. They attacked Native Americans along the Embarras River. Three American men were killed in this fight. As the fighting continued, Americans asked Virginia Militia officer George Rogers Clark in Kentucky for help. They wanted him to protect Vincennes from the Native Americans.

Meanwhile, Jean Marie Philippe Le Gras, a French leader in Vincennes, tried to keep peace. He believed the problems were caused by Americans attacking friendly Native groups. He tried to make Americans leave Vincennes, but he was not successful.

Why the Skirmishes Happened

Vincennes was once a French outpost on the Wabash River. In 1763, after the French and Indian War, it became part of the British Empire. During the American Revolutionary War, American soldier George Rogers Clark took control of Vincennes for Virginia in 1778. Virginia called this large area "Illinois County."

In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially gave this land to the United States. In 1784, Virginia gave up its claim to the U.S. Confederation Congress. Before leaving, a Virginia official named John Todd appointed Jean Marie Philippe Le Gras to govern Vincennes.

Many Americans moved into the area around Vincennes. They hoped the U.S. government would give them land. This large number of new settlers caused problems with the Native Americans. The Native Americans usually had good relationships with the French people living there. French officials in Vincennes tried to stay out of the violence between Americans and Native Americans.

About 900 French people lived in Vincennes. In early 1786, a land speculator named John Filson visited Vincennes. He found about 70 American families among 300 houses. Filson noted that the French did not like the Americans and their whiskey. The Americans did not like the French and thought they were lazy. The Native Americans did not like anyone taking their lands.

Because of the violence, Filson wrote to George Rogers Clark in Kentucky on March 16, 1786. He asked for help for the people of Vincennes against the "imperious savages."

Embarras River Fight

On April 14, 1786, a group of Piankeshaw warriors attacked an American boat on the Wabash River. They killed one man and wounded two others. The next day, April 15, American militiamen left Vincennes. They were led by John Small, Moses Henry, and Daniel Sullivan. Their goal was to rescue the wounded Americans.

At the Embarras River, they attacked some Native Americans. These Native Americans had recently visited Vincennes. In the fight, three Americans were killed and several were wounded. One Native American was wounded. After this, the Native Americans went to the Vermilion River to get more fighters. Daniel Sullivan and his men built a defensive fort, called Sullivan's Station, near Vincennes.

Le Gras tried to make a peace agreement with the Native Americans, but it did not last. In the following weeks, Miamis killed several Americans near Cahokia. Native Americans also shot one American outside Vincennes. Another American was killed and his body was left in a tree.

On June 1, Filson left Vincennes by boat. He carried a petition asking Congress to send soldiers to Vincennes. His canoe was attacked, and two of his men were killed. He escaped and returned to Vincennes. There, he wrote another letter to Clark about the recent attacks.

On June 21, Native Americans attacked Americans working in a cornfield near Vincennes. Two Americans were wounded, one very badly. Americans led by Daniel Sullivan came to Vincennes. They took a sick Native American who was being cared for by a Frenchman. The Americans killed the Native American.

Because this happened inside Vincennes, the French people could no longer stay out of the conflict. Le Gras ordered all Americans without a special pass to leave the town. But they refused to go.

On July 15, 1786, about 450 Piankeshaw and Wea warriors came down the Wabash River in 47 war canoes. They were determined "to exterminate all the Americans who might be in these lands." Le Gras and François Busseron met with them. They managed to keep the peace again. The Native Americans fired a few shots at Sullivan's house and then left. But they promised to return in the autumn.

Hardin–Patton Expedition

While these peace talks were happening, a group of 130 Kentuckians was on their way. They were led by John Hardin and James Patton. They were supposedly coming to help Vincennes. Before reaching Vincennes, they attacked a Miami and Piankeshaw hunting camp. This camp was on the Saline River, near what is now Shawneetown, Illinois.

The Americans attacked without first finding out if the Native Americans were friendly or not. They killed six and wounded seven. The Kentuckians had one killed and four wounded. They then went back to Louisville, Kentucky.

Among the dead was the father-in-law of Pacanne, a Miami chief. Le Gras was very surprised that the Americans had killed friendly Native Americans. Le Gras blamed the problems on American "outlaws," especially Daniel Sullivan. He sent a message to Clark in Kentucky. He asked Clark to send troops to defend Vincennes before the Native Americans returned with many more fighters.

Clark's Wabash Trip

Virginia Governor Patrick Henry asked the U.S. Congress if they would send soldiers to protect the frontier. When Congress did not act, Henry allowed the militia officers in the District of Kentucky to organize their own defense. On August 2, the Kentucky officers voted to send a force against Native Americans along the Wabash River. General George Rogers Clark was chosen as the main commander. General Benjamin Logan was his second-in-command. The officers asked for 2,000 militiamen to gather at Clarksville on September 10.

By September 13, only 1,200 militiamen had arrived at Clarksville. The officers decided the group was too small to go directly to the Wabash. Some officers, including Logan, were sent back to Kentucky. Their job was to gather more militiamen. Clark would take the 1,200 men to Vincennes and wait for the others. On September 14, Clark changed his plans. He told Logan to lead his men against the Shawnee people instead. Logan eventually gathered about 800 men. He then attacked Shawnee villages along the Mad River in early October.

Clark left Clarksville on September 17 with about 1,200 men. This was "the most formidable force yet collected in the West under American arms." The march to Vincennes took eight days. Even before reaching Vincennes, the militiamen were unhappy. There were rumors that Clark was often unwell, which has been discussed by historians.

The Kentuckians stayed in Vincennes for eight more days. Then they marched north along the Wabash. Their supplies were running low. There were also rumors that a large Native American force was gathering to fight them. Hundreds of Kentucky militiamen left the group. Clark had to return to Vincennes without achieving his goal. In Vincennes, Clark tried to make peace with the Native Americans, but this also failed.

Clark stayed in Vincennes with 150 men to help defend the town. However, this group of soldiers soon became difficult to control. At one point, three Spanish traders arrived in Vincennes with goods. Clark took their goods for the militia, saying they did not have the right passes. The U.S. government later apologized to the King of Spain for this. Vincennes asked Congress for help. One resident was heard praying, "Lord, please send the Kentuckians home and bring back the Indians!"

What Happened Next

Secretary of War Henry Knox sent Colonel Josiah Harmar and the First American Regiment to bring order back to the area. The Kentucky militia left Vincennes when the U.S. Regulars approached. Colonel Harmar arrived in July 1787. He chose not to get involved in land arguments against American settlers. He visited Kaskaskia and Cahokia and met with Wea and Piankashaw leaders. Then he left Jean François Hamtramck in charge of two companies of soldiers. These soldiers built and occupied Fort Knox at Vincennes. This helped to make the situation stable.