76 The Winning of the West 



the extreme reluctance of the Government to enter 

 into, or to carry on, war with the Indians. It was 

 only after every other shift had been vainly tried 

 that resort was had to the edge of the sword. The 

 United States would gladly have made a stable 

 peace on honorable terms, and strove with weary 

 patience to bring about a friendly understanding. 

 But all such efforts were rendered abortive, partly 

 by the treachery and truculence of the savages, who 

 could only be cowed by a thorough beating, and 

 partly by the desire of the settlers for lands which 

 the red men claimed as their hunting grounds. 



In pursuance of their timidly futile policy K of 

 friendliness, the representatives of the National 

 Government, in the spring of 1792, sent peace en- 

 voys, with a flag of truce, to the hostile tribes. 

 The unfortunate ambassadors thus chosen for sacri- 

 fice were Colonel John Hardin, the gallant but ill- 

 starred leader of Kentucky horse, who had so often 

 and with such various success encountered the In- 

 dians on the field of battle; and a Federal officer, 

 Major Alexander Trueman. In June they started 

 toward the hostile towns, with one or two com- 

 panions, and soon fell in with some Indians, who 

 on being shown the white flag, and informed 

 of the object of their visit, received them with 

 every appearance of good will. But this was 

 merely a mask. A few hours later the treach- 

 erous savages suddenly fell upon and slew the 

 messengers of peace. 1 It was never learned 



1 American State Papers, IV, 238, 239, etc. ; also Marshall. 



