THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Rouille to Duquesne
(July 9, 1752)
Rouille in: Archives Nationales, Ministere
des Colonies, B95:246 and in Pease
and Jenison, French Series,
III, pp. 648-651.
MONSIEUR:
I have just learned of the death of M. de la Jonquiere; and I received at the same time the letters of M. le Baron de Longueuil which contain quite unsatisfactory details regarding the Indians of the upcountry. It appears in effect that the unrest has increased on the side of the Miami; and that some French have been killed both by these Indians and by the Piankashaw and the Flatheads. You know that from the last letters which I had re- (page 649) ceived from M. de la Jonquiere I had expected some event of this kind; and the orders which have been given you on this matter have been so conceived.
Our present embarrassment would have been avoided if in the year 1750 or at least in 1751 or perhaps even in the present year sufficient forces had been sent to the Ohio River to expel the English traders. M. de la Jonquiere had unfortunately adopted an entirely different policy. It was to reducing the rebel Indians that he appeared solely to devote himself. M. le Baron de Longueuil is acting on the same principles; and consequently he has formed the plan of sending off in August next M. le Chevalier de Longueuil, his brother, with four hundred men to Detroit, whence he will go to winter in the posts nearest to m rebel tribes; and of sending him next spring five hundred men to enable him to act with all these forces against these tribes as circumstances may direct.
As this plan is contrary to the orders which have been given you as to the conduct which you have to follow, I count that on (page 650) your arrival at Quebec you will have stopped its execution and that you will have at the same time made your arrangements made by M. de la Jonquiere. MM. de Longueuil will be among them. Their affiliations with the Iroquois naturally disposes them to manipulations which are often inexpedient for these Indians. It is for this reason that they have been disposed to turn into an Indian war the affair of the Ohio River, which should be confined to the king's troops and the Eng- (page 651) lish traders who may be found on the lands of France. It is not necessary to involve these Indians except in so far as they would have sustained these traders by force; and that will not happen if you act with sufficient force. Moreover in case of resistance it would only be with the Iroquois that you would run the risk of being embroiled and that would secure us the other tribes who hate them.
I have only two more observations to make on this matter; one that it is proper so far as possible to employ only French in the expedition to the Ohio River and that it would be only to delude one's self to undertake in the actual circumstances to have war seriously made on Indians by other Indians. The other is that it would be very important that this expedition should be cloaked by some other ostensible pretext in order to surprise the English traders with their goods. That would better serve to disgust them with this trade than any other measures that could be taken.
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