Vol. 10, pp. 567, 568, 569, 586, 587, 588, 589, 600.
PRECAUTIONS-INDIAN SPEECHES |
567 |
Insult this will be the less felt as I purpose immediately to send to that
place the remainder of Sir John Johnson's second Battalion I am but too
sensible that the force at these posts should rather be augmented than
diminished but we are governed by contingencies and not contingencies by us we
must therefore act for the best.
It may not be amis to communicate the inclosed intelligence to Lieut Governor Sinclair, with directions to give what assistance may be in his power with such Indians as he can collect should the attempt be made.
I send you some newspapers they contain all in my power to tell you. You will please to forward them after perusal. You will herewith receive three copies with Duplicates of Regulations for the Freights of goods over the several Lakes, for the Commanding officers of the Posts and Naval Commanders at Niagara, Detroit and Michilimackinac.
I am &c
(signed) |
F. H. |
[B 96 2 p 174]
_______
INDIAN COUNCIL
In Council Detroit 22d April 1782.
|
PRESENT.
Major At S. De Peyster Commandant
Messrs. D. Baby & C. Beaubien, Interpreters
Misshikinackwaa, Chief from the Ouiat.
Kickatassia, Chief from the Eel River with a number of their Warriours.
Misshikinackwaa speaks on a War Belt
Father! Since I have undertaken to fight for the English I have received three War Belts and have been out against the Enemy three different times- I have been always successful but not quite to your wishes nor my own the great Spirit has ordered it to be so.
Father! You see here part of those who made the last Campaigne, who have done nothing but taking Prisoners and have not as yet spilt Blood, we are now desirous to know from the Indians in this Quarter how we are to act in future.
delivers the War Belt
Father! You see some of my people who with me think themselves entitled to demand of you a supply of cloathing and necessaries for ourselves.
568 |
INDIAN SPEECHES |
our Wives and Children as we are the only people from our Village who have
acted for the King.
Some of our Chiefs and Warriours of our Village are now speaking with the Rebels having left the Village with that intent.
delivers several strings
Father! You see here the fruits of my Campaigne (two Prisoners) one of which I had adopted in lieu of a Brother as he is a Loyalist but as I know it will give you pleasure to have him I will therefore forego the happyness by giving him up to you.
Father! As there are some of our people who have skins with them I have to request of you to permit them to trade with the Traders.
Father! The long journey in the cold season we have had prompts us to pray of you to order us an ox that we may drink broth.
delivers several strings Wampum
Father! I shall say but a few words more to you which is to beg of you to dispatch us immediately homewards as we are bordering on the Enemies Gates-
Peck, cossia, spoke a long while on a smoaked skin and strings of wampum representing his and peoples misery having lost his son by the Enemy and therefore craves the assistance of his father the Commandant-
Kawiyachtaa speaks for Le Bornne
Father! What you have just heard is true and I now am going to speak to you not for myself but for my Chief though he has not been out to War himself he has sent his young men, as his disorder is such that it has prevented his going, but without your assistance what can we do, we have neither Powder nor Ball and are nigh the Enemies Gates Governor Hamilton was our friend for he provided for our wants we are anxious to know what is become of him in the mean time you are our father and we expect you will treat us as he did- I will now explain to you what the old man meant to say who spoke last it was to tell you that we had attacked a Pianquishaw and a frenchman between the Post, and the Fall of the Ohio, therefore have compassion on us for we have acted as good children in doing all in our power for your service.
Major DePeyster then address'd Mischikinackwaa the chief from the Ouiat and those who accompanied him.
Children! I return you my thanks for the Prisoners you have delivered over to me, it shews your attention to my orders "to take as many Prisoners as possible and avoid spilling the blood of Women & Children when Warriours meet you and they fall in action it is what they must expect and I
ADMONITION AND ASSURANCES |
569 |
should be pleased if this day I could hear that the Rebels have followed your
example but by report from Fort Pitt I find that they have acted quite in a
different manner and I begin to fear for your Chiefs who have imprudent enough
to go and speak to them.
Children! I must continue to you to continue to avoid cruelties that the Great Spirit may give success to our undertakings, for be assured he does not take pleasure in them, it will yet turn out that the perpetrators of these acts of cruelty will suffer the vengeance they merit- with respect to your demands such as I am used to give to my children I shall order to be provided for you. I have to advise you to get cloathing ammunition or such things that may be necessary for you at home for the skins you have brought here to trade and avoid buying of that pernicious Liquor (Rum) which so often deprives my children of their reason, for such as carry from hence necessaries find the advantage when they arrive at their Village, while those who take rum perceive they gain nothing but indisposition- the General with the Indians below have requested that Liquor be withheld as they find that the Indians drink to excess and ruin their constitutions.
Children! Notwithstanding what I've said to you at this time I fear you may let the Enemy pass you unmolested, if you do, be assured that hereafter you and those who are behind them will become a Sacrifice, should they come and you oppose them at your Village if you find them too strong you can retreat to the Miamis and if overpowered there then come in to me, united we shall be strong enough to defeat all attempts that may be made against us-
Children! I address this speech equally to you all with the distinction only that you who have produced Prisoners shall be treated with greater mark of Esteem than those who come here to trade only.
(Extract from the Minutes) J.
SCHIEFFELIN Secry. |
Endorsed:- No 24 Extract of a Council held by Major DePeyster Commanding Detroit
with the Misshikinackwaa Chief from Oüiat and those who accompanied him. Detroit
22nd April 1782.
[B 123 p 206]
______
FROM MR. LAMOTHE UNADDRESSED
April 24th 1782 |
Plan of an Expedition against the Illinois, which I have the honor to present to your Excellency.
Leaving Detroit with a small army of & some neighboring Indians, Sauteux,
Hurons & Misthey will come by land to St. Josephs a journey of eight or
ten days. Then after having taken the poux [Pottawattamies] Nation,
72
586 |
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS |
MAJOR DE PEYSTER TO GENERAL HALDIMAND
DETROIT the 12th June l782 |
SIR, I have the honour to transmit Copys of Letters just received from the Indian Country, which will serve to acquaint your Excellency with the success the rangers and confederate Indians from this Post, have had in repulsing the Enemy at Sandusky.
I have the honor to be Sir
Your Excellency Most Huml. & Obedt. Servt. AT. S. DE PEYSTER |
His Excellency the Comm in Chief-
Endorsed:- No 14 1782 From Major De Peyster 12th June Rec'd 10th July. (Copy
Entered in Book marked B No 3 Page 23 Moravians.)
[B 123 p 242]
_______
MAJOR DE PEYSTER TO CAPTAIN MCKEE
DETROIT, the 13th June, 1782. |
DEAR SIR. The Gage was getting under way when I received yours of the 8th Inst. The Pottawattamies are very anxious to get off therefore shall only detain her till Mr. Baby can run up and send off the Blankets and such Cappots as he has made; and the Pack Saddles with which they are running down as fast as possible- Believe me Sir it is not in my power to send any Troops or even men to work the cannon so that it will be best not to send any. You certainly will agree with me that a pretty diversion may be made in the Enemy's Country, off hand, without the Incumbrance of Cannon, the loss of which would tarnish all our former success.
I am glad to hear that Capt. Caldwell is so well, and hope he will soon be able to stand, but he cannot flatter himself to be able to enter upon a speedy Campaign. My former letter will inform you that I hope they will consider us at Niagara. If they do not believe me we have enough upon our hands here. It has not cease raining one day since you left us.
I have been all this day in Council with a large band of Miamis, Ouiattonons, Piankeshaws, Meskonties and Peorias. they promise well but seem to come more on account of trading than otherwise. If however any can be moved to join you they shall follow.
Please to give my Compts. to Capt. Caldwell and the Gentlemen at Sandusky, & If possible make my Children sensible that it is not in my power
COUNCIL-SPEECHES |
587 |
to do more than send ammunition and Indians accompanied with proper officers.
I am Dr. Sir Sincerely Yours
AT. S. DE PEYSTER.
|
Serjt. Langdon will give you an account of all he brings. he is a careful good
man.
H. M. S.
Alex. McKee Esq. Dy Agent Indian Affairs Sandusky.
Indian Affairs M. G. III.
_______
INDIANS COUNCIL
In Council, Detroit 14th June 1782.
|
PRESENT.
Major At S. DePeyster, Commandt.
Lieut. T. Bennett
Lieut. D. Saumarez
Ensign R. Pollard }8th Reg't.
Ensign Sheehan
Messrs. D. Baby
C. Baubin }Interpreters.
I. Chesne
About fifty Chiefs and Warriors of the Qui, qu, a pous, Mascontings, Ouiattanong, Pianquishaw, Miamis, and Peyaurias Nations,-
Major De Peyster address'd the several Nations-
Children! I desire to know from you whether you have received the strings which I sent pr. the Fleas, or not? as I desired him he should send them among your people. if you have received them I desire that one of your Chiefs may repeat what has been said upon them.-
A Chief then replies-
Father! Your Strings were just brought to my Cabin which was much to this purport "Take courage my childn, the Qui, qu, a pous. Listen to my speech and make it circulate among all the Nations who border the Ouabach, desiring them to shut up the Ouabach on the approach of an Enemy and that some of our people should go to reconnoitre towards the Falls of the Ohio, you said also, that you would open your Heart and your arms to receive us and those who live near us- this is all I can recollect.
588 |
SPEECHES |
Major De Peyster then said:
Children! Since you cannot recollect my speech, I shall repeat it over to you again. When your War Chief delivered over to me two of my People, they told me "that the Enemy had left the Post and were gone to the Falls. I said it was well, and that the Indians who border the Ouabach might then enjoy quiet, he asked me for Cloathing & Ammunition for his people, I told him he should have some for himself and party but for the absent ones I would not send any until I found they were enclined to act for the King of England- I gave him at the same time a few Strings to deliver to all the Indians Nations on the Ouabach telling them "that since the Enemy was gone from St Vincennes, it was in their power to prevent their returning again, and that I desired to know from them whether or not they were inclined to join me in hindering them from coming in to their country, as my speech is equally addressed to you all I directed that it should be made known to you, requesting an answer to be sent to me by a Deputation of Two Chiefs from each nation, that I would then receive you with open arms-
Children! I am not afraid of the Enemy as I am too strong for anything they can do, it's for your good only that I give my advice that you may become happy and not listen any more to the Rebels, that by their fine speeches they may pass your River and destroy you, as I am well assured they seek your destruction only-
Children! As soon as you have given me Proofs of your Attachment to the British Government I shall then know how to confide in you. You cannot say that you were in want of wherewith to execute it, for I took care to provide a Trader for you at the Miami Town, I now give you these Strings and desire to know immediately if you are of these Sentiments which I have suggested to you?
delivers several strings
Major DePeyster then speaks to the Masconting, telling him as he was present at the time when he delivered his first speech with the Strings, he desired that he would therefore inform his Brethren present, whether or not, what he just said was not the subject of the Speech delivered.
The Masconting, answers, Father! Where is the necessity of repeating what you told us when we were here before, for what you now say is nothing but the truth.
Major DePeyster, tells Pe, can, the Miami chief that he did not address him with the Strings but the Foreign Indians only he being fully satisfied with the Miami because they think as he does.
>The Great Member, got up, and told the other nations that altho' they were younger and not so great as he was, that he hoped they would speak
SPEECHES |
589 |
their sentiments freely, as they were nigh the Enemies Gates it belonged to
them to speak first and not to deceive their Father the Commandant-
La Mine de Plomb, a Ouiat speaks
Father! I salute you in the name of our nation and beg of you to listen to me. We have come a great way to see you and to return you our thanks for the favours we have received, hoping you'll continue them towards us-
Father! I gave us pleasure when we received your speech for by that we found you thought of us for 'till then we were in obscurity, you can see by our faces the satisfaction it gave us-
(delivers 4 white strings)
The Great Member, speaks on a scalp
Father, You urged us to make War against the Rebels and bring you marks that we acted as Warriours, you see by this what we have done, I cannot say I made it, however, I hope you will accept of it from my hands as it came from my chiefs who sent you some time ago a great Pacquet of papers, I have told our Brethren to follow our example by doing which they would gain your favors-
(Delivers the Scalp)
-he then adds,
Father! It would be to little purpose to take too much of your time, let it suffice for me to assure you that the Ouiattanongs, all to a Man are ready to take the War hatchet for the King and do your will-
-Ne me, ka, a Qui qu, a, pous [kickapoo] says-
Father! We the Qui, qu, a, pous with the several nations here present make but one and we have no other thought but yours- when your speech came to our hands, we all rejoiced, as we only wished to please our father-
-he then speaks on a Tobaccoe Pipe-
Father! This Pipe I deliver to you as a token of friendship and alliance, since you desire we should make known our sentiments, this will serve to tell you that we are inclined to do whatever you may desire from us and to keep fast hold of your hands that it may not slip from us-
(delivers the Tobaccoe Pipe)
-he then speaks on 8 Beaver Skins-
Father! We know your sentiments and you know ours, we now hope that you'll not shut your Gates upon us, but permit us to have access to your traders that we may get Goods for the skins we have brought with us-
(delivers 8 Beaver Skins)
Che, u, pi, nin, a Masconting speaks
Father! I remember when I was here before, you gave me a general invi-
600 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT-GENERAL INTERESTS |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Traders from Michilimackinac being engaged in one Joint Concern & Interest from the month of August 1779, to the 30th July 1780. Messrs Louis Chevalier & Pte Hurtibise were employed by the company at St Joseph's, and they as well as others employed for or concerned in said Company were forbid all private Trade- To invalidate therefore all illegitimate Claims, We the subscribed Proprietors & Managers of said Company do hereby acknowledge to have received full payment from Government for all advances made by us for the Crown at the Post of St Joseph's, or for the services of People employed by us at that Post during that Period.
Signed this 21st July 1782
| [B 98 p 61] |
John Macnamara & Co Henry Bostwick William Grant David McCrae |
______
MAJOR DE PEYSTER TO CAPTAIN MCKEE
DETROIT July 27th 1782. |
DEAR SIR, I have received your letter of the 23d and have in Consequence thereof ordered the few Indians present at Detroit to join you. M. Beaubin arrive here at 12 O'clock last Night from the Miamis Town whither I had sent him to get intelligence, he has brought in two Canadians from post Vincent whom he found there, they made no mention of an Enemy coming by the Wabash. A Speech from Le Gris assures me of the fidelity of the Miamis who have sent off thirty of their Warriours to join you. I shall dispatch Beaubin this afternoon to raise the rest of the Miamis and march with them to your assistance. I also expect a large Band of Chippewas from M. Makina who shall be forwarded immediately on their arrival. The Ottawas from thence, already gone forward I hope will have join'd, as well as Captain Bradts Detachment, before Captain Caldwell finds himself under the necessity of attacking the Enemy. By this Opportunity I send some provisions and ammunition to be deposited at the foot of the Rappids of the Miamis. The same Vessel proceeds to fetch Serjt. Langdon with his Stores from Sandusky and to land them at the foot of the Rappids, from whence you are to receive your Supplies. Contrary winds have prevented my seeing Brigadier General Powell here before now, he is on his way to visit this part of his District, as soon as he arrives I will write you again and to Captain Caldwell to whom you'll please to show this letter, and assure him of my good wishes, in the mean time should be glad to hear from you both.
I am, Dr. Sir, your humbl. & obedt. Servt.
AT S. DE PEYSTER |
Alexr. McKee Esq.
Indian Affairs M. G. III.
DISPOSITION OF INDIANS. |
363 |
Indians are well disposed to follow such instructions as they may from time to
time receive, and your Excellency may be assured that the Virginians will be
the first to break the truce.
I doubt not however, that I shall find some difficulty to restrain the Wabash Indians, but nothing shall be neglected that may in any wise contribute to bring it about. I have indulged them with a trader, in order to induce them to stay at home and follow their hunting- It will also prevent so great a run upon the Kings store.
Messrs Le Grand and Cournoyer, arrived here lately from Post Vincennes, which place they left quiet and the people desirous of forgiveness for their past missconduct. As those two gentlemen are know Loyalists, and are to return and settle at Detroit, with their families, I have permitted them to take a few goods to enable them to cloathe their families, and settle their affairs.
The annexed copy of a speech was delivered to me whilst in council with the chiefs, as the courrier was acquainted with the contents and had it verbally to deliver, I communicated it to them, and advised them not to move 'till we should hear of the Enemy being on their march, which was agreed to.
No vessel as yet arrived from Fort Erie, consequently no Indian goods in store.- I have however by borrowing kept up the spirits of the Indians.
I have the Honour to be with great respect
Sir Your Excellencys Most Hum'l & Most obedient Servt. AT. S. DE PEYSTER |
His Excelly. the commd in chief.
Endorsed:- (No. 22)1783 From Major De Peyster 3d May-Rec'd. 25th.
[Copy Ent'd Book B (No 3) fol. 35
_______
MAJOR DE PEYSTER TO CAPTAIN MCKEE.
DETROIT the 6th May 1783. |
DEAR SIR, I yesterday received an Express by hand which left Niagara the 24th of April, informing me that Major Ross had received Information from Sir Guy Carleton that the Enemy were preparing to detach Twelve hundred Continentals from their Army at Newburg, and that he thought they were intended against Oswego. But this morning arrived the Felicity with letters from the Brigadier inclosing a proclamation of Peace. You will see the necessity of restraining the Indians more than ever. I have this day spoken to the Hurons, and Chippawas, and sent off Instructions to Mr. DuQuindre
370 |
MISCELLANEOUS-COUNCIL. |
and if it is meant to keep possession of any part in the Upper Country Four or
six more would be necessary this Fall
I have the Honor to be with esteem, Sir,
Your most obedt. & most humble Servt DANL. ROBERTSON Capt. 84th Regt. |
Captain Mathews
[B 98 p 214]
_______
INDIAN COUNCIL.
In Council Detroit June 28th 1783
|
PRESENT.
Major De Peyster Commandant
Messrs. Baby, Drouillard & Bobin Interpreters
A Band of Ouiats, and Quiquabous
A Ouiattanong Indian speaks-
Father! I address you in behalf of our chief (the Crooked Legs) and others, here is a proof that we have done your will (presents a prisoner) and that we are always ready to act as you may direct, altho' that our services should be no longer wanted, we yet hope that you'll supply our wants our women and children who are almost naked
(Delivers the prisoner)
he then says on Wampum Strings
Father! These strings you may know, we met them on the road.
Father! The ax you gave us last year has not sufficiently had its effect, we still should be glad to use it to some purpose.
Father! We are informed that instead of prosecuting the War, we are to give up our lands to the Enemy, which gives us great uneasyness- in endeavouring to assist you it seems we have wrought our own ruin
Joseph le Renerd, a Qui, qu, abous speaks-
Father! What should I say, you certainly understood the Message I sent to you yesterday
Father! I am the person that was employed to keep the Enemy from entering the Wabash, for I went at the head of fifty Warriours as far as the Ohio, to watch the motions of the Enemy.