[FN] Letter of General Knox, Secretary of War—11th May, 1786.
This address, the ultimatum antecedent to the general war that afterward arose, was not signed by individual chiefs, but by the nation, the name of the nation being written, and the bird or animal adopted as the national emblem rudely marked upon the paper. Thayendanegea was present and active at this council, as will appear by the annexed letter, found among his papers, from the American Secretary of War, General Knox:—
"General Knox to Captain Brant.
"War Office, July 23d, 1787.
"Sir:—
"On the 17th instant, and not before, I received the favor of your letter, dated 'Huron Town, Dec. 18th, 1786,' enclosing the original speech by the several nations of Indians met at the same time and place, to the United States in Congress assembled.
"It appears from the information of General Butler, the Superintendent, that the Shawanese neglected to forward the above despatches at the time it was expected they would; and it appears by a letter from Captain Pipe, of the Delawares, and the Half-King of the Wyandots, dated at Sandusky the 3d of June, that they forwarded the despatches finally to Fort Pitt—at which place, and at the same time also, your messengers arrived with your letters to General Butler, dated Buffalo Creek, the 16th of May, 1787, enclosing a copy, or translation, of the speech of the chiefs, transmitted by Captain Pipe and the Half-King of the Wyandots.
"I mention these circumstances, to convince you that the result of your council, at the Huron village, in December, has been a long time in traveling to this city.
"On the receipt of your papers, they were submitted to Congress, who have taken the same, into consideration, and will soon come to some decision thereon, which will be communicated to the Superintendent, in order to be transmitted to you.