On Thursday last the Owl, a Miami chief arrived at this place, being sent by a party of Indians which are encamped about 400 miles from this place to know whether the governor would receive a deputation from the Kickapoos and Winebagos [Winnebago], who were in the late action and who had solicited the chiefs of the Wea tribe to intercede witht eh governor to grant them an interview -- We are informed that the governor declined receiving their visit and declared that he would listen to no propositions for peace until the Prophet, and all his followers, who did not properly belong to the Wabash were removed from the country.

Last evening Mr. M'Cullough, whom the Gov. had sent express to Fort Wayne, returned, he there saw the chief who came to meet the Governor from the Prophet's town, the night before the action.  This man informed M'Collough that it was at first intended by the Indians to meet the Governor in a conference, as they promised, with the intention of assassinating him -- That one of the Winebago warriors had agreed to devote himself for that purpose, when the conference ended he was to watch an opportunity, and kill the Governor -- when this was done they supposed that the army could easily be defeated.  The information given by the negro who deserted, was the occasion of the attack being made at night.

Made possible by the Rivers Institute and the
History Department of Hanover College.

 

How to cite this article:  "On Thursday last the Owl, a Miami chief," Western Spy (Cincinnati, Ohio), 4 Jan. 1812, p. 2, available at http://history.hanover.edu/texts/1811.