isa-normaladvance-1913-00242

Description:	242THE NORMAL ADVANCEHOSTILITIES LESSEN, 1814.In the later part of the year Perry won hisfamous victory on Lake Erie, and a little laterHarrison defeated the British at the RiverThames. The war wyas then transferredfarther east, to the Niagara frontier, but Indian hostilities continued on the Indiana border. On the western border, along the Wabash, hostilities continued till the end of 1815.Occasionally murders were reported, and stockwas frequently run off. The Western Sun, August 14, 1814, stated that a number of horseshad recently been stolen from Busseron Creek,north of Vincennes, and that near Fort Harrison thirty-two horses and a large number ofcattle had been stolen by the Indians.On the eastern border of Indiana, along theupper branches of the Whitewater and EastWhite River, the settlers began to feel secureabout the middle of the year 1814. The British war had not yet ceased, so this cessation ofIndian hostilities on the eastern frontier mayhave been due to the treaty of peace and alliance which Cass, Harrison, and Shelby negotiated with the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee,Potawatomi and Kickapoo, July 22, 1814. Thistreaty was made in pursuance of a letter fromthe War Department, instructing those officeisto ally the Indians to the United States againstGreat Britain. It was signed by 112 Indians,including the three head chiefs of the Wyandot,Delaware, and Shawnee tribes—all three ofwhom signed the treaty negotiated by Waynein 1795. It might be added that the UnitedStates later granted about all of these signersindividual grants of land in Ohio.SPECULATION BEGINS.As hostilities ceased in the eastern part ofthe territory in 1814, settlers came in in greatnumbers. On the seaboard, times Avere dull,the coast was blockaded, taxes Avere high, andthe currency Avas in disorder. Neither Avasagriculture flourishing, so there began a flow ofemigration westward that threatened to depopulate some of the eastern states. The legislatures of Virginia and North Carolina lamented this great exodus of their people.15Dearborn County received a goodly share ofthe emigrants, including some NeAV Engenders.18 The additions of population to thiscounty Avere such as to Avarrant the formationof a neAv county, SAvitzerland, out of Jeffersonand Dearborn Counties, Avith about the sameboundaries as at present.17 The main settlements of SAvitzerland County were those of theSaauss colonists who had settled there in 1802,to start the culture of grapes. VeAay, Avhichhad been laid out in 1813, was made the countyseat. It Avas only a collection of huts, but itbegan a period of rapid groAvth.18Farther doAvn the Ohio, the toAvn of Evansville Avas laid out, and the lots Avere put onsale. The site for this future cuyr was described as having an excellent harbor forboats, and as to situation, it is perhaps surpassed by none in the Avestern country. Theproprietor thought he could see its advantagesfor inland trade. He predicted that the timewas not distant Avhen merchants and tradersAvill from economy, transport their goodsacross from EAransville to Princeton and Vincennes, in preference to the circuitous route ofthe Ohio and Wabash riA7ers. HoAvever, thetoAvn did not groAv much during the next twodecades. There Avas another toAvn adA^ertiseda few miles from Evansville as being a possible center for the inland trade.19 The settlements along this part of the Ohio had been somuch augmented by the middle of 1814, thatthe legislature Avhich met in August, erectedtAvo new counties out of Warrick. Posey AvasbetAveen the Ohio and Wabash rivers, andPerry was just west of the Principal Meridian.Warrick Avas betAveen these iavo counties.20With the increasing immigration, the landsales increased greatly. At Vincennes the increase Avas 245%, and at Jeffersonville it wasState Pioneer Convention, Oct. 2, 1878, P. 382. (Indianapolis.)McMaster, Hist, of the People of the U. S.. IV, P. 383.Matthews, L. K., Expressions of New England, P. 201.Territorial Laws, 1814, P. 30.McMaster, IV, P. 385.^Western Sun, July 2 Sept. 24, 1814.•Territorial Laws, 1814, P. 18.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34687
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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