146 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



prepare for a vigorous war against them. Although General 

 Wayne promptly accepted his appointment, and entered on its 

 arduous duties, yet, it was found no easy matter to fill up the 

 minor appointments, even the very next in grade to the Comman- 

 der-in-chief, of this army. Several were appointed to these offi- 

 ces who refused to accept them. It was found difficult too, to 

 enlist soldiers for this hazardous service. Every thing moved 

 along slowly, and the season was spent in doing very little, to 

 any good effect. The British commander of the fort at Detroit, 

 had erected a fort at the head of the Maumee Bay, for the pur- 

 pose, it would seem, of protecting the Indians, in alliance with 

 them. Here the Indians resorted for protection ; here they 

 sold their furs, peltries and skins, received their annuities, 

 and, we doubt not, that they received here, also, the price paid 

 for the scalps of our murdered countrymen. 



General Wayne was not idle, but urged forward all his 

 measures, vigorously, prudently, and in the end, effectually. 



On the 5th of November 1793, congress met at Philadel- 

 phia, to whom the President said in his speech at the com- 

 mencement of that session, " That the reiterated attempts 

 which had been made to effect a pacification with the Indians, 

 had issued only in new and outrageous proofs of persevering 

 hostility, on the part of the tribes, with whom we were at war." 

 He alluded to the destruction of Hardin and Trueman, while 

 on peaceful missions, under the sanction of flags of truce; 

 and their families were recommended to the attention of con- 

 gress. Notwithstanding all these efforts of General Wash- 

 ington-, in favor of this bleeding frontier, congress and the 

 nation, were too much engaged with other objects to bestow 

 much attention on this distant war. 



The French revolution had turned the heads of many mem- 

 bers of congress towards that dazzling object. They were of 

 the opinion that mankind were all to be regenerated by it; 

 that by some secret magic it would make mankind new beings; 

 and that the whole world would soon become something more 

 than its Author ever designed it to be. 



The spring and summer of 1793, having been employed, by 



