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.
Memoir Upon the Late War
in North America
Pouchot in: Hough, Franklin B., trans.
and ed., Memoir Upon the Late War
in North America, between the
French and English, 1755-60,
vol. 2, Roxbury, Mass.,
1866, pp. 3-7.
On the 27th of June, 1760, a Chouegatchi Indian brought in an Onondaga from the Kenchiag river.1 He was one of a party sent against us, composed of three Senecas, two Cayugas, four Mohegans, two negroes and an Englishman, with the son of Sonnonguires. He announced a visit from the latter on the morrow. Our Indian related that the Mohegans had done all they could to induce the others to take his scalp, but that the Onondagas did not wish to do this, representing that this was not necessary, as in wars betw4een Indians, that the whites were satisfied with prisoners, from whom they could get news, that they might give them something, and that therefore they had let them go. The two Onondagas came, having relatives at La Presentation, and the remainder of the party were released. We may judge of their simplicity, as they thought they could tell us something of their mission.
Our Loups who arrived from their war party, brought in two English prisoners, and one scalp. One was a militia captain, and the other his brother, who lived on the Mohawk river. M. Pouchot had lodged at their house when he was going down to New York, and they had not received him very well, and would scarcely admit him. The Indians had dressed and painted them after their manner. They were about six feet high, and they made them dance the chichicoy, the common dance of the slaves. This is an indispensable ceremony. They were very happy in escaping the ordinary beating, by coming directly upon the island to the quarters of M. Pouchot, who recognized them in the dance. This mortification did not absolutely humble them. They were directed to lodge in the quarters of the post surgeon, and sent to eat at his mess.
They informed us that General Amherst commanded the army, which was composed of eleven thousand men, who had much artillery, and that they were every day passing towards Oswego.
M. Pouchot also heard the son of Sonnonguires, who told him that all the Indians had sung for the war against the French, and that we would be threatened by them. The Five Nations had carried belts as far as to the Miamis, to engage all the nations to lay down the hatchet, and that they should be all reconciled among themselves. M. Pouchot questioned the truth of these statements, and replied; "See how (page 5) your father is, he can never believe what the Indians say." He also said that there were only two regiments at Oswego, and that he did not know whether any more would come, as he was confused by the accounts of the English themselves.
On the 30th, Saoten arrived. He said that eight days before, he had left the Onondaga's village, that he had crossed the river near Oneida lake, that they had heard the strokes of oars along the river for twenty days, and that he had passed eight bands,2 and eight chiefs. They were wagoning provisions constantly, and had a great many cannon, mortars and howitzers.He added that they said there were few people in the direction of St. Frederic, and that at the arrival of the army, the Iroquois and Mohegans were going to assemble at Oswego. According to his account, the English had made some large bateaux to carry forty men each, and a great cannon, and that while they did not wish to take but a little artillery, the Mohawks had advised them to take a great deal, because they might sink some of it in going down to Montreal.
He also told M. Pouchot, that the Onondaga chiefs to whom he had sent some strings to keep them quiet, had charged him to reply verbally and without formal words, but that they would not the least believe him. According to him, four great chiefs had deliberated together, to not allow their warriors to follow the (page 6) army, and that one of them had assured him, they would do all they could to prevent it, although they had many in their tribe who were too affectionate towards the English.
The same Indian also related that the Five Nations had begun to have some reflections, and feared that when they should no longer have the French, the English would wish to destroy them,3 and that now they saw themselves encircled by their forts, and they could tell what would be their lot, by that which had happened to four nations who having asked for some powder, but got only a dozen pounds. The chiefs according to him were undecided, as to the course they should take, and the young men did not want to listen to them. They had also been notified by the Flat-Heads,4 that the English wanted to destroy them, and they had made an incursion upon the English, and had killed a great number and taken several forts.5 Finally they had returned to their cabins, where they were waiting for the news, and a decision (page 7) from the Five Nations, but that they had not replied to them.
On the 1st of July, M. Pouchot sent the prisoners with the news to Montreal. Several other Indians made similar reports. They described the uniforms of each regiment, and M. Pouchot knew, from having seen them, that they told the truth.
On the 3d of July, the son of Sonnonguires came to say to M. Pouchot, that
he would return to his village, and hereafter remain quiet. His father pledged
himself for his good behavior, and to prove this, he sent to M. Pouchot some
certificates from the Ohio, which had been given him by a friend who was in the
battle of Niagara, and who had taken them from some inhabitants of the Illinois
to whom they belonged. He assured him that sooner than go to war against the
French, he would go among the Flat Heads, the ancient enemies of his nation,
and that when the English army was ready to leave, he would come to notify us.
_______________________________
1 (1, p. 3) Black river.- ED.
2 (1, p. 5) Regiments.- Note in Original.
3 (1, p. 6) They had cause to dread this, and made efforts to prevent it. Johnson alone was able to quiet them and make them forget their ancient political system in this war. Before this they were well convinced that they could not renounce it without the greatest danger. They appeared at all times to feel the necessity of putting France and England under obligation to seek them, and consequently to prevent one from prevailing against the other. On this principle they had in 1709, caused the loss of an English army destined to besiege Quebec, by corrupting the waters of a river near which they were encamped.- Note in Original.
4 (2, p. 6) Cherokees and Catawbas.- Ib.
5 (3, p. 6) This account was true as we have already spoken in a note.- Ib.
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