A Timeline of Indiana History - 1795 - 1800
August 07, 1795 – Greenville Treaty Copies Distributed
General Wayne opened the council by passing the calumet of peace to all the chiefs represented. After all had smoked, he passed copies of the treaty, along with the quill pen used by the chief to sign it, to each of the nations assembled. He instructed them to keep the "instrument of writing," and the copy of the treaty to pass along to their children, who would in turn pass it on to their children. He told them to keep in remembrance of the day the Fifteen Fires gave them peace and took them under its protection.
He next admonished them for two incidents that threatened to mar their good work. Someone had stolen the horse of a French trader that had accompanied them. Wayne told the chiefs that they must keep their young men under control. He informed them that a family of settlers that had thought they were safe during the negotiations had been murdered in their cabins the day before. He warned them that they must control themselves lest those seeking vengeance on the slain come into their territory and slay the wrong Indians in retribution.
The general next told them that gift distribution would begin the next day and would proceed in order of the tribes that signed the treaty. The Wyandotte had signed first, thus would receive their first. He assured them that it made no difference who received their gifts first; all would receive them as they became available.
Tarke next rose to praise those assembled for the good work they had concluded and to thank the Great Spirit for appointing this day.
After interpreters had translated Tarke’s speech to those assembled, the general concluded the session by distributing medals to each chief, commemorating the day and the treaty they had signed.
At this, the meeting adjourned.
