456 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
[Continuation of the Letter:]
Monsieur, A few words More to add to our Letter, As it Would be Desirable that Mamantouensa and his band should arrive, for The suspicions and Uneasiness of the Savages are perhaps only too well founded, and I fear that le Chat blanc is afraid that he will hear of Their defeat, because he Knows that the renards went there this winter, and letters also inform us of It; but, If we should delay, he might perhaps think that we have some evil design against Him. If Father Kerebin is of my Opinion, as Monsieur Thomur is, he may Sign this, as we have done, and with us. I Send you, Monsieur, enclosed herewith, Letters For the Fathers. There are some in the packet for Father Beaubois, who will go to France, and Inform Him of that peace made by Monsieur De Lignery. He will Inform the Court of it and you might also write a few words to Monsieur Raudot; for Monsieur de Vaudreuil will amuse the Court by Writing that it is our fault If we have not peace. He seems to have no other desire than to allow the vein of Beaver skins to flow; and, by letting The Renard attack us, to prevent this Country from being settled, and thereby to shut off trade between His Government and Ours. I say nothing further. I send you the packet of spectacles that you request.
__________
1725: SPEECH OF THE ILLINOIS INDIANS, DEFENDING THEMSELVES, AND ACCUSING THE FOXES.
[Source, same as that of preceding document, but fol. 263.]
Copy of the answer given to le chapt blanc by the Illinois, to the renards, regarding the letters of Messieurs Lignery, amariton, and vildonné, officers of Canada, commanding the posts of Missinimaquenak, la baye, and the river St. Joseph.
Answer of
Anakipita [and] Massauga: "Who are we, chapt blanc, that we should decide
anything? We listen only to the
__________
labored among the Illinois until his death in 1728; he was superior of the
Louisiana missions from 1723 to 1725. Thaumur de la Source was one of the
priests sent to Illinois by the Missions Etrangères. - ED.
|
1725] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
457 |
French chief. It is for him to decide on peace or war. Our chiefs are all
absent. When they return this spring the French chief, Monsieur du tisné, will
assemble us from all His villages. We shall Listen to his word, and we shall do
what he commands us. We thank thee for thy visit. We thank thy French chief for
having spoken of us. Thou sayest that the renard does not wish for peace. He
says that his Slaves have not been given back to him. Where are they? Is there
a single one in our villages? Does the renard speak the truth? Is it we who
have broken the peace? Is it not he who in 1716, shortly after peace was
concluded, was The first to attack Lesueur and malbouroug and to carry off his
wife and his Children and an Illinois nephew? Is it not he who was first The
traitor in The affair of la Gruë? Is it not he who has Continued to destroy our
villages? Do we go to their country? We have always remained on our lands to
defend ourselves. Why do they persist in attacking us and in attacking the
French? We beg thee, chat blanc thou who art our ally, not to give any help to
the renard. But we decide nothing; we weep and grieve for our chiefs,
mamenthoüinsa and Aoutgamona, who are thy kindred. They are among the miamis.
Remain some days longer with us, and thou shalt Hear news. If they return not
in a few days, they are dead, and thou shalt bear the news of it. If they
return alive, They will speak, and will perhaps Accompany thee, if the French
chief so orders. Such is our opinion, and to that end here is a feathered
Calumet that I give thee."
Here follows the answer of the Metchicamia, given by the chief named Jouachin and the other chiefs, in our presence and in that of Reverend father Kerebin and of our officers, to le chapt blanc; which is similar to that of Anakipita. Massauga also gave Them a Calumet, which they accepted, to remain seven nights to await the return of Mamentouensa, who delays; and afterward to return Home to induce the nations whom they should find with hearts well disposed - especially the Renards, quicapous, mascoutins, syoux and others - to smoke with these Calumets. Below are The representations made by the said chiefs concerning the bad treatment that they have received from the renards. Here are the names of those whom we recol-
458 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
lect, the other illinois who might know them being away on an inland hunting
expedition.
"The Renards cannot Ignore or dispute what is stated here, both that they have Been the aggressors, and even that they have Induced several nations to come and kill us and to kill the French, our allies. Nor could the French chiefs on the Canada Side have been Ignorant of this; for the scalp dance has Been performed around their scalps and ours among the Mascoutins, quikapous, Renards, syoux, and everywhere around La bay. Thus the peace that was concluded at la bay has no other object than to harass us still more; for when they were At war with the nations They could not come in so Large numbers to destroy us - who have always Listened to the words of Ononthyo, through Monsieur de Boisbriant, forbidding us to go To War. Our heads have been Broken, and the French, our allies, have been killed on our lands. We defended ourselves, but we Never set out to seek them. Monsieur de Boisbriant has Left us Monsieur du Tisné; we Listen to his word; we deliberate only on what he tells us on ononthyo's behalf. Thou tellest us that the renards are to come within a moon; that the French chiefs cannot bind their two arms; that they have bound their left arm, but that the right one is to strike us. If they were true Children of nonthyo, would They not Obey his word? They accuse us of having deceived them; they cannot prove it. The French chiefs and the reverend father, who have directed us, will prove that we merely defended ourselves, and that They were The aggressors; and that we, our wives and Children, and our brothers the French, have Been their victims; and by these details we shall show thee The truth. And thou, chat blanc, thou who hast always acted honorably, and whose heart is Illinois and French, thou thyself knowest the truth of This. Accordingly, these two Calumets show thee that we obey only the will of ononthyo, our father; that thou mayest prove to the French Commandants both of la bay and missilimaquinak, and of the river St. Joseph, that we attack only because we do what Monsieur tisné tells us; It is he who deliberates for us. But as regards the threats of the Renards, we shall be on our Guard When they come to Affront us on our lands, to kill us and the French - as is set forth in the following List:
|
1725] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
459 |
"Is it not true that in 1718, at la pierre a flèche, They killed one of
our people named Nenchwiensicwa?
"In September of the same year, there was a Frenchman, Lesueur, whom they captured with Malbouroug, the wife of Lesueur, his two Children, two Illinois relatives of his wife, a female Slave, and his mother-in-law (whom they killed with The slave); and they pillaged all his effects. They killed these captives on The first day's march; and, when the French redeemed Lesueur and Malbouroug, The Renards promised to make repayment for The pillaged goods, which has not been done.
"In November of the same year, at Kigigwa, was he not killed by Them? Did they not pillage Lafleur and his convoy, without heeding the fact that it was a convoy? Did they not at that time pillage Monsieur de tonty with his detachment, who were bringing us The presents given to us by The chief of Canada on behalf of ononthyo?
"At the same time, at a place near the village of the Kaos [Kaokias], did they not kill St. yves, wound one des ruisseaux, who was Crippled thereby?
"Did they not at the same time lie in wait near the Missouris for Monsieur du tisné, whom Monsieur de boisbriant Sent to make peace with the yoais [Iowas]? although They did not dare to attack Him, because he had soldiers.
"In the spring of 1719, did they not above le rocher, slay an Illinois named Joucherinenga, and three women - of whom one was named Mounechecwa, one's name is not known, and the third was a Young girl, Mechecwenga, very much esteemed, whom they Took prisoner.
"At the same season, also above le rocher, They killed two illinois, and a woman, And Carried off three Children.
"In June of the same year, did not the renards come, to the number of thirty, to attack the village of pemetewoy, and kill a woman named Petechechenoucta; and scalp a girl named Kintuwa and leave her for dead, after giving her three stabs with a Knife, and as many blows with a War-club?
"Two days after that blow had been struck, a band of Pemetewoy, having found the track of the renards, Overtook and defeated them, taking a scalp and carrying off two renard pris-
460 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
vol. xvi |
oners - one named Chinguouhensa, a son of the Great chief, and The other
Wachateché. Monsieur de Liette and father Kereben, wishing to have peace made,
redeemed Them; then they sent back Wachateché with a Collar and some other
goods, a flag, some Letters for the commandant of la bay and for The father,
and The message of the illinois. He promised to return within twenty days with
some renard chiefs, if he succeeded; and, if not, to return himself to pay with
his Person and that of his comrade. He came back, but at the head of a band to
attack the village once more. Notwithstanding that, we sent back the son of the
Chief with presents which le brochet gave him. This one made a better use of
them, and sent back an illinois whom they had detained as a prisoner among
Them.
"The said renards should remember what they did in their own villages to the People of le rochér, whom they invited by a flag to enter their place, but of whom they burned eleven, and Broke the heads of four; and two when they thus saw themselves betrayed, stabbed themselves. Those whom they burned were: Ounensilechi, a chief greatly esteemed; mengilchiwa, and Waseganensa. Thou knowest that what we tell thee is true, chapt blanc, thou who art our ally. Is it not the truth? Did not the renards in their treachery cause the following to be burned also: atakereni and Ounsachachaiwa, chiefs held in high esteem; nepata; Wabecoupiseta; Wabecoukeasata; Ounelchinsa, a man of high standing; atchengwensa, a chief killed by a gunshot; perewé; Amawensa, his son, who killed himself among Them, out of chagrin; with cacacharounsa, chaowanounsa; and the son of owabechacanensa; besides thirty whom they killed while in flight? Is it we who in 1722 Treacherously killed two Metchy women - one named Keancewa, the other cakecowocowa - near the village? At the same time, they inflicted tortures at le rocher, And they carried off our Children. Did they not defeat Monsieur de St. Ange, fils, while coming from the Caos [Caokias], and wound and kill a soldier - taking his gun and Removing his scalp, and Sending him adrift in a canoe so that he might be seen from the French fort?
"In the same year, they killed lesueur, whom the French had ransomed, and slew Lafond, and Carried off their Heads; they
|
1725] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
461 |
offered Base Insults to their corpses, and carried away the brother of a chief
who was hunting with Them.
"In 1721, did they not kill a Frenchman named Langevin, who was working at the Caos, in Monsieur thaumur's house?
"In 1722, did they not Carry away near the village, eight illinois, named: Kitchia, a man held in esteem; the son of ouepacé; the son of Cassowakia; the son of arapaoumeta; the son of aragaia; and the son of macaturinia? The other two were brought back by the French, who redeemed them. They were all our Children and thy kindred, chat blanc. See how our bodies are treated by the renards.
"In the same year, at the gate of the Metchy village, they killed a woman named Ouroniowita, and took Her scalp; and they slew the son of mellebouensa, whose father was a chief of the caos.
"And in the same year, On this side of Ouabache, they killed neveu, his wife, a Boy, and two of his daughters, and Carried off their heads. Is The French chief of Missilimaquinak, or are the others, ignorant of this? These deeds ought to show them who are the traitors.
"In 1723, they killed a Young girl in the Great forest of le rocher, near the Kaskaskias.
"In 1724, they killed four Frenchmen, also a negro belonging to Monsieur de boisbriant; they Scalped the Frenchmen and heaped shameful Indignities upon the dead bodies. Can the French chief of la bay have been ignorant of this when the scalp-dance was performed around those scalps among the nations where the renards dwell?
"In the same year did they not come to kill our brothers near Marameck, who defended themselves and put the renards to flight?
"If they would Listen, chat blanc who are our ally, as thou and we do to the word of our father ononthyo, They would not, as they do, kill us and our brothers, the French. If the nations And the French of la bay did not supply powder and arms to our common Enemies, The earth would be level and our true father, the Great Ononthyo from the other side of the great lake, would be Listened to. Harken, Chat blanc our ally, repeat faithfully what we say to thee in the presence of our
462 |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
father, Monsieur du tisné, whose word we Heed, that we will not go to attack
any one; but he and we, with all the chiefs, will keep on our Guard. We look
upon thee as our ally. Therefore as thou lovest us and art a friend of the
French, seek, by the right that thou knowest we possess, to smooth the road
that thy Ancestors kept so well. I admit that we do not kill as many Beavers as
the People of the lakes; but our traders here are not Interested, and do not
supply our Enemies either with powder or with guns to kill us, or those of
their own blood who are our allies.
"Let the renards remember their treacherous Attack on our ally la Grue and his party under the flag of our father Ononthyo in their own village.
"Are not our brothers the French, killed daily at the Ouabache? This year again do not the allies of the renards dance the scalp-dance around their scalps before the traders from Canada, who are of the same blood, and who supply them with powder in exchange for their Beaver and marten skins? How can they be ignorant of it at present? Thou tellest us, chapt blanc, and sayest that these things were told at la bay. Seest thou not their deceit? Didst thou not see Monsieur tisné come today from Montreal, passing by Missilimaquinak on behalf of ononthyo? Is it not ononthyo who has sent him to us in the place of our father Monsieur de Boisbriant? Thou sayest that thou didst see him and all his brothers at Montreal. The commandants of La bay Know Him. Thou seest the bad faith of the renards and of those who seek their Beaver-skins. Didst thou not see the Canadians, who are thy allies as they are ours, pass by missilimaquinak, la bay, and river St. Joseph? Didst thou not give them food? Didst thou not see the two brothers separate, one remaining at thy village and the other coming to stay with us? Didst thou not see the black gowns and the white collars1 whom ononthyo Sends to Teach and to baptize us, pass through thy village? This proves to thee that the renards wish only to betray and to deceive our allies.
"This is
what we prove by Monsieur de Boisbriant, our father, and by Monsieur du tisné,
the black gowns and the white
__________
1Apparently having reference to the ruffs worn by the French officers.
- ED.
|
1726] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
463 |
Collars who have always Governed us. That is the way, our ally, that we are
treated. Ask thy allies, who are our kindred and the friends of ononthyo, not
to strike us and our brothers, the French."
|
C. C. DU TISNE. |
At Fort de Chartre this 14th January, 1725.
__________
1726: DE LIGNERY MAKES A TEMPORARY PEACE WITH FOXES; POLICY OF THE FRENCH TOWARD THAT TRIBE.
[From a MS. in Quebec Provincial archives, copied from a MS. in Paris archives.1]
The nation of the Renards has been at all times the enemy of the other savage nations of the upper country; these savages have on different occasions killed Frenchmen. Upon the representations which were made on this subject, in 1711 [sic; probably 1714], by Monsieur de Vaudreuil, that it was absolutely necessary to take measures to destroy them, orders were issued from the court to maintain some kind of peace with them - without, meanwhile, compromising the honor of the nation - and at the same time to proceed as if preparing for war; and to reassemble for this purpose the coureurs de bois at Michilimackinak, granting them an amnesty on this account.
The following
year, these savages having again committed several lawless acts, Sieur de
Louvigny was detailed from Montreal on the 1st of May, 1716, with 429
Frenchmen, in order to proceed against them; He drove them into their
strongholds, and constrained them to ask for peace - on conditions so onerous
that he believed they would not accept them. Among the principal articles were
these - that they should keep peace with all the savage nations who were
dependent upon the King; that they should bind their allies, the Kikapous and
Mascoutins,
__________
1This is apparently a resumé (intended for the use of the Council of
Marine, or of the Minister) of affairs in 1726 relating to the Fox-Illinos war.
Documents giving detailed accounts of these events were published in Wis.
Hist. Colls., iii, pp. 148-60. - ED.
Continue
to next page
Continue
to Dft. Ex. 65
Return
to Docket 317 Table of Contents
Return to Ohio Valley -
Great Lakes Ethnohistory Archive Menu
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home
Last updated: 4
October 2000
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1997, Glen Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University.