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William Wells (c. 1770 – 15 August 1812), also known as Apekonit ("Carrot top"), was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miami. He fought for the Miami in the Northwest Indian War. During the course of that war, he became an United States Army officer, and also served in the War of 1812. ==Apekonit of the Miami== Wells was born at Jacob's Creek, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Samuel Wells, a captain in the Virginia militia during the American Revolutionary War.〔Allison, 100〕 The family moved to Kentucky when William was a small child, and his mother died soon after. Wells' father was killed in an Indian raid on Beargrass Creek at what became Louisville, and the young boy was sent to live with a family friend. Three years later in 1782, he was taken captive by Miami while on a hunting trip. Wells was 12 years old. Wells was adopted by a chief named Gaviahate ("Porcupine"), and raised in the village of Kenapakomoko, on the Eel River in northern Indiana. His Miami name was "Apekonit" (carrot), perhaps in reference to his red hair.〔Carter, pg 84.〕 He seems to have adapted to Miami life quite well, and accompanied war parties- sometimes as the decoy. Wells was located and visited by his brothers around 1788 or 1789. He visited Louisville but remained with the Miami, perhaps because he had married a Wea woman and had a child. His wife and daughter were later captured in a raid by General James Wilkinson in 1791, and presumed dead.〔Carter, pg 102〕 Enraged, Wells organized a 300-man "suicide squad" that fought with distinction against the U.S. Army at St. Clair's Defeat in northern Ohio, having been responsible for directly attacking and destroying the artillery squadron.〔Allison, 102〕〔Winkler, 65〕 Wells attracted the attention of war chief Little Turtle. He eventually married Little Turtle's daughter ''Wanagapeth'' ("Sweet Breeze"), with whom he had four children.〔The children of William and Wanagapeth were Anne, wife of Dr. William Turner of Fort Wayne; Mary, who married James Wolcott; Rebecca, wife of James Hackley of Fort Wayne; Jane Turner, who married John H. Griggs, and William Wayne Wells, the grandson of Little Turtle who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Poinsatte, 31〕 He served the tribe as a scout during his new father-in-law's wars with the United States. At Vincennes in 1793, Wells met with his eldest brother, Samuel, a survivor of St. Clair's Defeat two year before.〔Winkler, 68〕 The two travelled to Fort Nelson, where they met with General Rufus Putnam. William Wells warned Putnam that the British had been inciting Native American tribes to violence against the United States and negotiated a release of prisoners as a goodwill gesture. General Putnam wanted to organize a grand council of tribal chiefs to discuss peace terms, but the Native Americans- still undefeated by the Americans- rejected his offer.〔Allison, 104〕 With Little Turtle's permission, Wells continued to serve the United States. Putnam next sent him to attend a Grand Council on the Lower Sandusky River, where the Native American nations negotiated with United States commissioners to end the war. On 11 September 1793, Wells arrived at Fort Jefferson with news of the Grand Council's failure, blaming the failure of the council on Alexander McKee and Simon Girty. He also brought a dire warning that a force of over 1500 warriors was ready to attack Fort Jefferson and the Legion of the United States, then camped near Fort Washington. Wells became the equivalent of a captain in the Legion of the United States, acting as a scout and interpreter, and agreeing to obey the orders of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne "as far as practicable." Captain Wells led the First Sub-Legion to the battleground of St. Clair's Defeat (which he had fought in), and located abandoned U.S. cannons, which the American Indians had buried. General Wayne ordered the Legion to bury the bones found, and then build Fort Recovery on the battle site.〔Allison, 106〕 When Native American forces under Blue Jacket attacked the fort on 30 June 1794, Wells led a scouting mission that discovered British officers who had brought cannonballs and powder, not knowing that the United States had already recovered the buried cannons.〔Allison, 110〕 Wells was wounded in the Battle of Fallen Timbers.〔Allison, 120〕 He went on to act as an interpreter in treaty negotiations〔William Wells is listed on the (report ) for the Treaty of Greenville as the interpreter for the Miamis, Eel Rivers, Weeas, Piankshaws, Kickapoos, and Kaskaskia Indians.〕 and state visits by Indian chiefs. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Wells (soldier)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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