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.
Macarty to Vaudreuil
(December 7, 1752)
Macarty in: Huntington Library
Mss., Loudoun Coll. 412 and
in Pease and Jenison,
French Series, III,
pp. 746-777.
M. de Ligneris informs me that the Wea had all returned. They made him many protestations of fidelity. He thinks them caused by fear of the expeditions of which they have been told. He complains much of the shortage of provisions. He begs me to send him the most I can by merchants.
Our escaped prisoners at the end of August joined the ill-disposed band on White River.
The Sieur Delisle, a Frenchman, and two chiefs, one of them (page 752) Vincennes, met twelve Pinakashaw of the ill-disposed band who offered them no indignities.
Le Petit Plat Cotee, chief of the seven Illinois cabins which left the hunt this summer to go to the rebels, gave back to St. Ange the belt he had received, with protestations of attachment to the French which at best are dubious. This officer made them (page 761) take up their winter quarters on the lower Wabash. Le Gros Bled, chief of the rebel Piankashaw, came to seek him twice to ask pardon. He thinks it more likely that it was to seduce those who remained at the post. The chief was not well received; he lives two days from the post, on White River. This chief reported that since the Miami had killed two English who were with L'Enfant and La Mouche Noire, no one came to supply their needs. The son of La Mouche Noire has abandoned his father's party, along with seven cabins. He came to beg us to have pity on him as he wished to join the French. That officer refused to accept his speech, telling him he must carry it to me. As these are the most guilty, they are afraid of being held if they come here. They have spread the report that we killed Le Maringouin seeing that he wished peace established. If the project of M. Longueuil is executed, it will make them all hear reason. If his detachments do not come, everything will begin again worse than ever according to the officers of the Wabash posts. The voyageurs have spread reports of war which has an ill effect.
The first of this month Le Gros Bled and La Babiche, chiefs of the Peoria, came to smoke with me and to ask that Frenchmen should winter with them. I had ordered the French to winter at the garrisoned post so that they might all be together, and have no quarrels such as daily occur; I had had complaints of trade in brandy, which is the god of these tribes, and which is given them whatever one does. Since the voyageurs arrived very late this year and the Indians had left for their winter camps, I acquiesced in their request as I wished to refuse this tribe nothing in the present circumstances. I let these two chiefs see all that I was doing for them, how I was laboring to recover their prisoners from the Sauk and Foxes, how I was a good father, and how I saw no fruits of their attachment to us. I enlarged much on this point and on the attack made on us. Addressing myself to Le Gros Bled I said, "I count on your replacing the dead chiefs of the soldiers, and that in a little while I shall see you here with a party of sixty to eighty men to give chase to the Chickasaw."
He answered that if he had the men with him he would set out at once, but that if he could gather them he would soon be here. Since these tribes make no account of anything but brandy I gave them some with some goods for their tribes, promising them more on their return from the Chickasaw with some French, and telling them that I am going to invite the tribes of the Missouri also to raise some parties to go against the Chickasaw. Before sending them away I told them of the sad plight of the hostile Piankashaw as M. de St. Ange reported it; how they daily asked to be forgiven, lacking ammunition and everything else. They told me they knew that the Miami had killed two English and had since wanted for everything. I told them not to give these people a share of what we were giving them. They told me that these Indians that winter were to bring them a great belt one end of which was red. If it came they would, so they said, send it to me and not keep it. They left satisfied and promised to come and see me soon.
I have written MM. Ligneris and St. Ange to get information as to the force of rebels on the Ohio River. It appears from what I am informed that the number daily diminishes. You will see it (page 769) because I had the honor to indicate it to you both from Le Maringouin's story and from what these Messieurs write me.
Immediately on my arrival I would have sent out a strong party of French and Indians, if our domiciled Indians had not been allied with our enemies; and so long as our Indians are not in our favor I think it impossible to march large parties of the Missouri. I do not doubt that the Miami will return. They make advances and labor to enter into our graces. I have forewarned the Illinois and Peoria that if they give me proofs of their attachment I can forget the past but that they should fear deferring to do so. Perhaps the proposed expedition from Canada of which they have been told makes them begin to move in the direction of peace. They have sent me word by an Illinois that they were sorry for what had happened and that they had been involved in it by the upper tribes; they wished to keep quiet but could not come to see me. There is every appearance that we shall arrange peace between the Illinois, Foxes and Sauk since they remain quiet. It will cost something to get the Illinois slaves back from (page 770) the Foxes; but I wish them to give us proofs of their attachment either against the Chickasaw or the Miami. I lose no occasion of making them feel how much they should consult our wishes.
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