St. Clair and Wayne 393 



mystery of the wilderness. So far from being un 

 usual, the incident attracted no comment, for it was 

 one of every-day occurrence. Its only interest lies 

 in the fact that it was of a kind that befell the family 

 of almost every dweller in the wilds. .Danger and 

 death were so common that the particular expres 

 sion which each might take made small impress on 

 the minds of the old pioneers. Every one of them 

 had a long score of slain friends and kinsfolk to 

 avenge upon his savage foes. 



The subalterns in command of the little detach 

 ments which moved between the posts, whether they 

 went by land or water, were forced to be ever on 

 the watch against surprise and ambush. This was 

 particularly the case with the garrison at Vincen- 

 nes. The Wabash Indians were all the time out 

 in parties to murder and plunder ; and yet these same 

 thieves and murderers were continually coming into 

 town and strolling innocently about the fort; for it 

 was impossible to tell the peaceful Indians from the 

 hostile. They were ever in communication with the 

 equally treacherous and ferocious Miami tribes, to 

 whose towns the war parties often brought five or 

 six scalps in a day, and prisoners, too, doomed to 

 a death of awful torture at the stake. There is no 

 need to waste sympathy on the Northwestern In 

 dians for their final fate ; never were defeat and sub 

 jection more richly deserved. 



The bands of fierce and crafty braves who lounged 

 about the wooden fort at Vincennes watched eagerly 

 the outgoing and incoming of the troops, and were 



