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McARTHUR TO WORTIIINGTON

Detroit Octr 6th. 1613

My Dear friend

Our correspondence has so long been cut off that I scracely know how to address you. But have the pleasure now to say that I think the war is nearly at an end in this quarter. I have just heard from Genl. Harrison on last evening he overtook Proctors on the Thames about 85 miles above this and killed and has taken prisoner all his British force himself excepted. several Indians have been killed among which is said to be Genl Tecumsey My Brigade was ordered across the river from Sandwich on the 29th to disperce some Indians who were piliging the Town and to take possession of the place, we havebeen consequently been left behind.

Five nations of Indians, ti wit, the O-toways, Chipaways Potowatomies Miamies and Kickapoos, have come in since Genl. Harrison left this, pleading for forgiveness and peace, I have agreed that hostilities shall cease on our part for the present provided they will agree to take hold of the sane Toma- hawk with us, and strike all who are the enemies of the US whether British or Indians to which proposition, those five nations have agreed a number of their wives and Children are to be brought in, and incamped near this as hostages, by way of security for their good faith toward us. I do not know whether Genl. Harrison or Government will agree to the arrangement which I have made with those Indians. And god knows I have as little respect for those wretched beings as any person can have, yet I was of opinion that by treating with then we might save the lives of many women and children on our frontier and [illeg. ] expence of hunting them down over a vast wilderness which cannot at present be useful to any human beings but themselves.

If we keep possession of the Lakes and upper Canada (which I trust we will never relinquish) there never can be another Indian War

Duncan McArthur

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