SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 105 



quired. Mr. Barron has seen the Potawatomis, with the 

 hands and limbs, both of white men and Cherokees, which 

 they were about to devour. 



It is well attested, that one of the officers, attached to 

 General Harmer's command, was taken prisoner by the 

 Miamis, previously to the defeat of the whole army, and 

 tortured by them in the most cruel and unrelenting man- 

 ner for three days, on the west bank of the Maumee. The 

 Indians declared that he had behaved with a remarkable de- 

 gree of fortitude. Pieces of flesh were cut from his 

 body, roasted and eaten by them in the presence of 

 the agonized victim. No exclamation or groan could be 

 drawn from the intrepid prisoner, until a squaw thrust a 

 burning brand into his privates, when he was heard to ex- 

 claim, " Oh my God !'' A young Indian warrior then de- 

 clared, that the prisoner having proved himself a brave 

 man, should no longer be kept in agony, and put a period 

 to his sufferings by despatching him with his tomahawk. 



One of the best attested instances, is that of Captain 

 Wells, who was killed after the capture of Chicago in 1812. 

 This man, who had been a long time among the Indians, 

 haviftg been taken prisoner by them at the age of thirteen, 

 had acquired a great reputation for courage ; and his name 

 is still mentioned as the bravest white man with whom they 

 ever met. He had almost become one of their number, and 

 had united himself to a descendant of Little Turtle. At 

 the commencement of hostilities between Britain and the 

 United States he sided with his own countrymen, while the 

 Indians of this vicinity all passed into the British service. 

 When the fort was afterwards besieged by the united In- 

 dians, Captain Wells was there, having arrived two days 

 prior with the orders from General Hull for the evacuation 

 of the post. Wells was killed after the action, his body 



Vol. I. 14 



